Franklin County

Living in an RV on your landRestricted

The UDO lists living in a camper or RV while your house is built as a prohibited temporary use; RVs may not be used as accessory structures and are otherwise allowed only in RV parks (special use permit) or as outdoor storage.

“The use of a camper or recreational vehicle for temporary housing or contractor’s office while a single-family residence is being constructed.”

Sec. 5.4 Temporary Uses, Prohibited Temporary Uses, read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Franklin County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsRestricted

Tiny houses are not defined. A wheeled unit of 400 sq ft or less fits the RV definition ('not for use as a permanent dwelling'), so it falls under the RV restrictions above.

“designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling, but as temporary living quarters for recreational camping, travel, or seasonal use.”

Art. 10 Definitions, 235 Recreational Vehicle (RV), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Franklin County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-family detached houses are permitted by right in AR, R-80, R-30 and R-8 (one principal dwelling per lot). No minimum dwelling floor area found in Article 5 or Article 10.

“Single-family detached dwellings are limited to one principal dwelling per lot.”

Table 5-1; Sec. 5.3.4 (Single-family Detached Dwellings, item 2.a), 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 Franklin County before you buy land or build.

ChickensNot addressed

Read Table 5-1 and the Agriculture Use Group (which covers only selling farm products) and the Article 10 definitions: no rule on keeping poultry. Note: the use table says a use not listed needs Tier 2 conditional zoning, but whether hobby animals count as a 'use' was not confirmed.

Table 5-1; Sec. 5.3.8, 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 Franklin County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockNot addressed

Same as chickens: Article 10 defines agricultural uses including animal and poultry husbandry, but Table 5-1 lists no livestock-keeping use and the Agriculture Use Group covers only farm sales. 'All other agriculture related' uses need a special use permit in AR and R-80.

“The “Agriculture” use group includes uses that sell agricultural products to the public.”

Table 5-1; Sec. 5.3.8, 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 Franklin County before you buy land or build.

BeesNot addressed

No mention of bees or beekeeping in Article 5 or Article 10 (honey appears only as a farmers-market product).

Article 5 and Article 10 full text, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Franklin County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched Articles 5 and 10 for compost, toilet and privy: only composting facilities (waste uses) appear.

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 Franklin County before you buy land or build.