Moore County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

Living in an RV as a permanent residence is prohibited countywide; an RV or manufactured home may be a temporary dwelling during construction of the home, after the building permit, for up to 12 months plus one 6-month extension (longer after a declared disaster).

“A temporary dwelling may be permitted concurrently with or after the issuance of the building permit for the principal dwelling for up to 12 months”

§ 8.69 (temporary use); § 6.4.A.xv prohibits 'Use of a recreational vehicle as a permanent residence', read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Moore County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsRestricted

The UDO does not define a tiny home; a single-family dwelling may not be a travel trailer, park model or RV, and RV use as a permanent residence is prohibited countywide, so a tiny house on wheels cannot be a permanent home.

“Permanent single-family dwellings shall not include a travel trailer, park model, recreational vehicle, motel, hotel, or other buildings designed for transient residence”

§ 8.44.C; § 6.4.A.xv, read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Moore County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

A single-family dwelling built to the NC Building Code is permitted by right in RA, RA-20, RA-40, RA-2, RA-5, RA-USB and RE; no minimum floor area for dwellings was found in the UDO text.

“A detached dwelling unit containing sleeping, kitchen, and bathroom facilities constructed in accordance with the standards set forth in the NC Building Code”

§ 8.44.A; Principal Use Table (Chapter 6), 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 Moore County before you buy land or build.

ChickensWith conditions

'Agricultural Uses and Buildings (Not in a Bona Fide Farm)', which includes poultry, is permitted by right in every RA district, but § 8.7 says such uses must receive zoning and building approval. No acreage minimum found.

“when not associated with a bona fide farm, shall receive zoning and building approval”

§ 8.7.A; Principal Use Table, 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 Moore County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockWith conditions

Livestock (cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, etc.) fall under the same § 8.7 agricultural use: permitted by right in all RA districts, subject to zoning and building approval. No acreage minimum found.

“Feeding (including grazing), breeding, managing, selling, or producing livestock (such as cattle, hog, poultry, sheep, horses”

§ 8.7.A; Principal Use Table, 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 Moore County before you buy land or build.

BeesWith conditions

Bee hives are listed within the § 8.7 agricultural use: permitted by right in all RA districts, subject to zoning and building approval.

“bee hives, fish, poultry, dairying and the sale of dairy products, animal and poultry husbandry”

§ 8.7.A and § 8.7.E, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Moore County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

Searched the full UDO text for composting toilet, privy and compost; the only compost provision is the Compost Facility use, which excludes backyard composting.

full text search; § 8.39.1 Compost Facility (under Debris Management Facilities), 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 Moore County before you buy land or build.