Topics

Here is a list of general topics covered in this resource. If there is a specific term or topic that you are looking for, please use the search icon located at the top of the page.

Priority Issues & Policy Watch

The UDO Modernization & “The Big Pause”: Tracking Durham’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) rewrite into the Land Development Code (LDC), including the impact of state law Senate Bill 382 (SB 382) regarding down-zoning consent and current legal challenges.
Durham’s 33,000-Home Supply Gap: Data on Durham’s 7.2% population growth rate and the 32,992 new homes needed by 2029 to keep pace with demand.
Property Tax Revaluation & Housing Costs: How Durham’s 2025 property tax revaluation (where median home values jumped from $239,500 to $416,000) impacts property operating costs and drives rent adjustments.

Zoning, Land Use & Comprehensive Planning

Comprehensive Plan vs. UDO: Explaining the relationship between Durham’s 30-year community vision (adopted in October 2023) and the enforceable rules in the UDO.
Durham’s Zoning Districts: A guide to Residential (e.g., RR, RC), Nonresidential (OI, Industrial), and overlay designations across Durham’s GIS map.

Development Governance & Municipal Approvals

Comprehensive Plan vs. UDO: Explaining the relationship between Durham’s 30-year community vision (adopted in October 2023) and the enforceable rules in the UDO.
Administrative vs. Legislative Approvals: Clarifying why city/county staff handle over 7,000 administrative applications annually “by-right” without discretionary vetoes, while elected officials vote on only ~300 legislative cases.
Zoning Map Changes (Rezonings): Walkthrough of the public rezoning process, including neighborhood meetings, the 90-day Planning Commission review, and public hearings.
Development Timelines & Review Schedules: Benchmarks for how long development approvals take and the primary factors causing project delays.
Ordinance Trade-Offs & Density Incentives: How height and density bonuses are offered to developers in exchange for deed-restricted affordable units.

Housing Affordability & Economics

Severe Rent Burden: Examining why over 20% of Durham renters spend more than half their paycheck on housing costs.
The Vanishing Starter Home: Barriers to entry-level construction, where only 1.3% of homes for sale are priced under $200,000.
Anatomy of Housing Costs: A breakdown of the structural factors—land, materials, local taxes, and regulatory delays—that dictate rental rates and listing prices.

Local Housing Solutions & Innovations

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Details on Durham’s $1.75 million ADU Pilot Program, offering $80,000 low-interest construction loans at 2% with 30-year affordability covenants for tenants at or below 80% Area Median Income.

Get Involved!

Durham is changing rapidly. Explore this website to learn more about the issues shaping Durham's housing future, and then stay up to date on the latest housing tools, zoning updates, and development facts that impact our neighborhoods. Sign up for our mailing list to get clear information delivered straight to your inbox.

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