Frequently Asked Questions

The UDO is the adopted law of the Village that regulates land use, growth, and development. It divides the Village into different zoning districts that are applied in different geographic areas of the Village. The geographic area where each zoning district applies is identified on the Village’s Official Zoning Map. For each district, the UDO establishes zoning district standards that allow specific types of uses (for example, single-family homes) and regulate the location and size of development. They include standards such as maximum building height, the minimum distance a building must be set back from the front of the lot, and the maximum size of secondary buildings. The UDO also includes general development standards that apply to most or all development in the Village, such as the amount of required off-street parking, the maximum height of fences, and requirements for landscaping and signage. The UDO also includes provisions that establish the procedures for how development proposals are reviewed and approved or denied.

A link to the Village’s current UDO can be found under the Background Documents tab of this site.

The Official Zoning Map is the map that identifies where each zoning district included in the Zoning Ordinance is applied within the Village. This map is linked here on the website.

The Work Products page of this website will be updated regularly to include links to all documents produced as part of this project, as well as supporting information.

The UDO has served the Village well, but it falls short of meeting the Village's needs today. A key goal of the project is to update the UDO to be consistent with the Village’s recently updated comprehensive plan, Clemmons Community Compass 2040. Clemmons Community Compass sets out the community’s vision and policy direction for growth and development in Clemmons, including village-scale mixed-use centers and a general balance between different types of land uses to support the Village’s fiscal health while protecting rural areas and maintaining open spaces. Another project priority is to develop an updated Ordinance that is more user-friendly and better organized, with features such as graphics and images that improve readability and make it easier to use. The updated Ordinance will incorporate enhanced development standards such as landscaping and lighting, adopt zoning best practices where appropriate, and help improve the efficiency, predictability, and outcomes of the development process in the Village. An interesting fact about the UDO was that it was originally developed for Forsyth County and the Town of Winston-Salem. While the Village has updated the UDO many times to address changing conditions, the UDO includes some provisions that are not relevant to the Village. This project provides an opportunity to streamline the code and to better meet the Village’s development goals.

The updated UDO is expected to be adopted by October 2025.

Public engagement is a key element of the project. Throughout the project there will be multiple “touchpoints” during which members of the community will have the opportunity to provide input that will help shape the updated UDO. Some engagement opportunities will take place in person, while others will occur online. All meetings will be announced on this website and the Village’s other communications channels.

This project web site is the central location for information about the project and to review work products as they are made available. It will be maintained and updated throughout the project. Individuals can sign up on the project email list at the bottom of this page to stay updated on meetings and major announcements.

The project is being conducted under the direction of the Village’s Planning Department, with assistance from a consultant team led by Clarion Associates.