Chowan County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

RV dwellings are otherwise allowed only in campgrounds/RV parks. On a private lot (R5-A1), one occupied RV is allowed only while a single-family home is built on the same lot, up to 12 months plus two 3-month extensions, anchored after two weeks. A separate hardship permit (§ 19.53) covers a home made uninhabitable by disaster.

“Recreational vehicles for temporary occupancy shall not be allowed on individual lots, except for during the construction of a single-family dwelling”

§ 19.113(B); § 19.75.1; § 19.53; Table of Permitted Uses (Art. 15), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Chowan County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsWith conditions

An RV is defined as single-chassis, no wider than 8 feet and towable. A tiny house on wheels meeting that is an RV (construction-period use only, § 19.113); one that does not is treated as a single-family dwelling that must meet the NC Building Code.

“Tiny homes and park models that do not meet these requirements are considered to be a single-family dwelling”

Art. 2 Definitions, "Recreational Vehicle", read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Chowan County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-family detached dwellings are permitted by right in R5, R15, R25, RMH25, R40, A1 and B1-B3. No minimum dwelling floor area found (only a 200 sq ft minimum for hardship manufactured homes and shelter space rules).

“Single-Family Detached Dwelling”

Art. 15 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 Chowan County before you buy land or build.

ChickensAllowed

Domestic fowl are not counted as livestock, so the 3-acre livestock limit does not apply. Chickens may not run at large in a residential district; a fence or coop is encouraged, and free-range birds must stay on the owner's parcel.

“For the purposes of these Regulations, domestic fowl shall not be considered livestock.”

§ 15.8(A), 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 Chowan County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockWith conditions

In residential districts R-5, R-15, R-25, RMH-25 and R-40, a home lot under 3 acres may not keep livestock (horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, etc.). The section does not restrict A1 land or residential lots of 3 acres or more.

“The keeping of livestock or wild animals, as defined in subsection B, shall not be considered an appropriate accessory use in such an instance.”

§ 15.8(A)-(B), 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 Chowan County before you buy land or build.

BeesNot addressed

Bees appear only in the definition of agriculture/bona fide farm; no beekeeping or hive standard for non-farm lots, and bees are not in the § 15.8 livestock list (full text searched).

Full text searched; § 15.8; Art. 2 definitions, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Chowan County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched the full Land Use Regulations for toilet, privy and composting: toilets appear only as RV park amenities. Sewage is left to the Albemarle Regional Health Department and state rules.

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 Chowan County before you buy land or build.