Edgecombe County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

Using an RV as a permanent residence is prohibited everywhere. An RV may be a temporary construction dwelling for the occupants of a home being built or repaired: temporary use permit after a building permit, max 12 months (renewable for good cause), removed within 30 days of the CO. Separately, an RV may be a temporary recreational dwelling on a vacant lot up to 180 days a year with an annual permit.

“A temporary dwelling may be either a dwelling that meets all applicable North Carolina Building Code requirements for a dwelling or a recreational vehicle.”

§ 4.6.4.H.1-2 and H.4; § 4.4.1 (4. Residential Uses, iii); § 4.5.6.Q, read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsRestricted

The UDO prohibits everywhere the use of a tiny home that does not meet the State Building Code as a permanent residence, and the use of an RV as a permanent residence.

“Use of a tiny home that does not comply with the State Building Code requirements as a permanent residence”

§ 4.4.1 Prohibited Everywhere (Residential Uses ii-iii), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-Family Detached Dwelling is permitted in AR-30, R-30, R-20 and R-10; the UDO only bars tiny homes that do not meet the State Building Code, and no minimum dwelling floor area was found.

Table 4.2.1 Principal Use Table; § 4.3.95; § 4.4.1, 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 Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

ChickensWith conditions

Poultry falls under 'Animal Husbandry (other than swine or exotic animals)', permitted in AR-30 and R-30 only (not R-20/R-10 outside the Speed Community Overlay), with manure storage, barns or stables at least 100 ft from adjacent residentially zoned property.

“There shall be minimum 100-foot distance between manure storage areas, barns or stables, and any adjacent residentially zoned property.”

Table 4.2.1 (Livestock-Related: Animal Husbandry); § 4.3.6, 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 Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockWith conditions

Goats, cattle, horses, sheep etc. are 'Animal Husbandry', permitted in AR-30 and R-30 with the 100-ft barn/manure separation from adjacent residentially zoned property; swine and exotic animals are excluded from this use.

“Example use types include the raising and production of cattle (beef and dairy), pigs, mules, ducks, horses, goats, poultry, sheep”

§ 4.7 Livestock-Related use category; § 4.3.6, 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 Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

BeesAllowed

Apiculture is named in the Agricultural Production use category, whose listed use types (row, field and tree crops; silviculture; viticulture) are permitted in every district including AR-30 and R-30. No beekeeping-specific standards found.

“Example use types include agronomy, aquaculture, biotechnical, crop farming, fisheries, apiculture, silviculture, plant nurseries, and similar uses.”

§ 4.7 Agricultural Production use category; Table 4.2.1, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched the full UDO for composting toilet, privy and compost; compost appears only in industrial/waste use categories.

full text search, 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 Edgecombe County before you buy land or build.