Gates County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

Using an RV or travel trailer as a permanent residence is a prohibited use in every district. An RV may be a temporary dwelling on the lot while the principal home is built or repaired, with a temporary use permit issued only after a building permit; limited to 6 months (renewable for good cause) and removed within 30 days of the certificate of occupancy.

“Use of a recreational vehicle or travel trailer as a permanent residence.”

§ 155.026 Prohibited Uses (B)(3)(b); § 155.025 Temporary Uses (D)(6), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Gates County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsWith conditions

No tiny-house definition. A structure on a chassis built for temporary living counts as a travel trailer 'regardless of other titles', so the RV rule applies: no permanent residence, temporary only during permitted home construction.

“Such structures shall be considered travel trailers regardless of other titles that may also be applicable such as camper, mini, mobile homes”

§ 155.101 Definitions (Overnight Camping Trailer; Travel Trailer), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Gates County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-family dwellings are permitted by right in A-1, R-1, RMH-1 and O&I (special use in C-1); no minimum dwelling floor area was found in Chapter 155. The A-1 district has its own minimum lot size in § 155.008.

§ 155.022 Summary Use Table (Residential Uses: Single-Family Dwelling), 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 Gates County before you buy land or build.

ChickensAllowed

'Agriculture or Horticulture' is a principal use permitted by right in A-1, R-1, RMH-1, C-1, I-1 and O&I. Chapter 155 does not define 'agriculture' or set separate rules for backyard poultry, and the accessory use table has no animal row.

§ 155.022 Summary Use Table (Agricultural Uses), 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 Gates County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockAllowed

'Agriculture or Horticulture' is permitted by right in A-1 and R-1 (and most other districts); no acreage minimum or setback for keeping livestock was found. Commercial stables and livestock sales are separate uses limited to A-1/C-1/I-1.

§ 155.022 Summary Use Table (Agricultural Uses), 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 Gates County before you buy land or build.

BeesNot addressed

Searched Title XV (including Chapter 155) for bees, beekeeping and apiary; no mention.

County ordinance, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Gates County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched Title XV for compost and toilet; no rule on composting toilets.

County ordinance, 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 Gates County before you buy land or build.