Chatham County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

Living in an RV permanently is unlawful. An RV may be occupied for up to 180 days while a single-family home is built or a modular/mobile home is placed, or while a disaster-damaged home is replaced; the zoning official can extend it while work continues under a valid building permit.

“A Recreational Vehicle can be utilized for temporary occupation for no more than 180 days if the following requirements are met”

§ 8.1(4)(b)-(c), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsWith conditions

Tiny houses are not defined. A towable unit fits the RV definition (a park model RV is up to 400 sq ft on a single chassis), so the same rule applies: no permanent habitation, 180 days during construction or disaster rebuild.

“Recreational Vehicles are not designed for permanent occupancy.”

§ 7 definitions; § 8.1(4), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Site-built and modular single-family dwellings are permitted by right in R5, R2 and R1. No minimum dwelling floor area was found in the zoning ordinance (the only size cap found is a 1,500 sq ft maximum for accessory dwelling units).

“Dwellings, single - family, site built and modular P P P P”

§ 10.13 Table 1, Zoning Table of Permitted Uses, read 2026-11-13

State law: farm buildings outside town limits skip the building code (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-138(b4)).

State law: homes on 10+ acres in farm districts (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(b)).

State law: building permits (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-1110).

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

ChickensAllowed

Avocational farming (farming on land that is not a bona fide farm) is permitted by right in R5, R2 and R1, and the ordinance's definition of farming includes raising poultry. No numeric limit on birds was found.

“The use of land for those activities which constitute farming , but does not meet the definition of a bona fide farm .”

§ 7 definitions; § 10.13 Table 1, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

State law: right to farm (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-701(a)).

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockAllowed

Avocational farming is permitted by right in R5, R2 and R1, and farming includes raising livestock. Specialized animal husbandry (game birds, fur-bearing or exotic animals, not general livestock) needs a special use permit and double the district's lot area and setbacks.

“Dairying and the raising, management, care, and training of livestock, including horses, bees, poultry, and other animals”

§ 7 definitions (Agriculture, Avocational Farming); § 10.13 Table 1, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

State law: right to farm (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-701(a)).

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

BeesAllowed

Bees are named in the ordinance's definition of farming, and avocational farming is permitted by right in R5, R2 and R1. No beekeeping-specific setbacks were found.

“raising, management, care, and training of livestock, including horses, bees, poultry, and other animals”

§ 7 definitions; § 10.13 Table 1, read 2026-11-13

State law: real farms are exempt from county zoning (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160D-903(a), (a1)).

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched the full zoning ordinance text for compost, toilet and privy; no match.

full text searched, read 2026-11-13

State law: composting toilets are allowed, but you still need a septic permit (15A NCAC 18E .1001 (eff. Oct. 1, 2021)).

Confirm with Chatham County before you buy land or build.