Vance County

Living in an RV on your landWith conditions

RVs and camping trailers may be used as temporary living quarters for no more than 90 days in any 12-month period and must be able to move within 48 hours. Exceptions: an approved RV/camper park, or a government-provided RV after a disaster. On a lot with a well, septic or temporary power pole but no house, a camper may stay at most 14 consecutive days, and wells, septic or power poles may not be installed for camper use. No year-round RV living on your own land.

“Recreational vehicles and camping trailers shall not be used as temporary living quarters for more than ninety (90) days in any twelve (12) month period”

§ 12 Definitions, "Recreational Vehicle"; § 3.2 Note F(3)-(4), read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Vance County before you buy land or build.

Tiny house on wheelsWith conditions

Not named. A tiny house on wheels meeting the RV definition (single chassis, 400 sq ft or less, towable) would fall under the 90-days-per-12-months limit. This classification is inferred.

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

§ 12 Definitions, "Recreational Vehicle", read 2026-11-13

Confirm with Vance County before you buy land or build.

Small house on a foundationAllowed

Single-family detached dwellings (stick-built or modular) are permitted by right in A-R, R-30, R-20, R-10, OS and WOZ. No minimum dwelling floor area found; the minimums are lot sizes (1 acre in A-R).

“Detached/Subdivisions (stick built, modular- Definitions)”

Table of Permitted Uses, Residential Uses; § 3.2.1 A-R, 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 Vance County before you buy land or build.

ChickensNot addressed

The use table lists only 'Bona Fide Farms (includes raising poultry, or livestock for commercial use)': permitted in A-R and R-30, special use in R-20, prohibited in R-10 and commercial zones. No rule on non-commercial backyard poultry found.

“Bona Fide Farms (includes raising poultry, or livestock for commercial use)”

Table of Permitted Uses, Agricultural; § 1.5 Bona Fide Farms Exempt, 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 Vance County before you buy land or build.

Goats and livestockNot addressed

Same as poultry: only the commercial 'Bona Fide Farms' row (P in A-R and R-30, SUP in R-20, X in R-10) and commercial stables appear. No standard for keeping livestock non-commercially.

Table of Permitted Uses, Agricultural, 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 Vance County before you buy land or build.

BeesNot addressed

Bees appear only in the bona fide farm definition; no beekeeping standard (full text searched).

§ 1.5; § 12 Definitions, read 2026-11-13

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

Confirm with Vance County before you buy land or build.

Composting toiletNot addressed

No toilet, privy or composting provision in the zoning ordinance (full text searched); septic is handled by the Vance County Health Department.

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 Vance County before you buy land or build.