UDO Rewrite
UDO & MSSD Rewrite
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD) are being rewritten to implement the policies and recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan, which includes, among other adopted plans, the 2021 Northeast Community Plan, the 2022 Wake Forest Community Plan, and the 2024 Wake Forest Downtown Plan. Drawing on best practices in zoning and land use regulations, the rewrite addresses the current conditions in Wake Forest, which are very different from what they were in 2013. Another objective of the rewrite is to ensure the UDO and MSSD comply with current state and federal law. The zoning map, which is a legal document that illustrates the zoning districts where different development rules apply, will also be repealed and replaced as part of this project.
The rewrite project began in 2022. Following over two years of in-depth analysis, broad public engagement, and an iterative drafting process, the draft UDO was proposed for adoption in December 2024. That same month, state legislation was introduced and went into effect that limited the ability of local governments, state-wide, to make certain zoning map and ordinance amendments. After careful evaluation of the law, the Town is moving forward with full-scale repeal of the current UDO and adoption of a new, comprehensively rewritten UDO rather than an amendment of the existing ordinance.
Since 2025, Town staff has been updating the draft UDO that was circulated in December 2024 to ensure it is consistent with changes in state and federal law. Staff also made minor revisions to address issues identified since the last draft was completed.
The 2026 Draft UDO is now available. All who are interested are encouraged to review it before it moves forward for a public comment session and recommendation at the November 10, 2026, Planning Board meeting. Comments on the 2026 Draft UDO may be submitted using the "Share Your Feedback" comment form below. It is anticipated that the UDO will be brought forward for public hearing and adoption by the Board of Commissioners in January 2027.
Share Your Feedback
All who are interested are encouraged to review it before it moves forward for a public comment session and recommendation at the November 10, 2026, Planning Board meeting. Comments on the 2026 Draft UDO may be submitted using the "Share Your Feedback" comment form below. It is anticipated that the UDO will be brought forward for public hearing and adoption by the Board of Commissioners in January 2027.
Following the UDO adoption, a new Zoning Map, which is the official map showing the boundaries of the UDO’s zoning districts in the Town’s jurisdiction, will be prepared and made available for public input before being presented for adoption. This change is necessary to ensure the Zoning Map aligns with the zoning districts in the new UDO.
Open Office Hours
In addition, the Planning Department will host Open Office Hours in the Wake Forest Town Hall Ground Floor Meeting Room, 301 S. Brooks St., on the following dates and times:
- Monday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7-9 a.m.
- Monday, Nov. 2, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
During Open Office Hours, Planning staff will be available to answer questions and receive input on the 2026 Draft UDO from community members who drop in during the scheduled times. No appointment is necessary, and there will be no formal presentation. Please note: Attendees are urged to access the Ground Floor Meeting Room via Town Hall’s Taylor Street entrance.
For any questions or comments on the 2026 Draft UDO or the adoption process, please email Tim Richards at trichards@wakeforestnc.gov or call the Planning Department at 919-435-9510.
Current UDO
The Wake Forest Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), along with the Town’s Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD), establish the requirements for all development activity in the Town’s jurisdiction. The UDO combines into a single document the regulations for zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater management, and historic preservation. The MSSD includes the technical standards and specifications for roads, parking lots, stormwater infrastructure, etc. The current UDO and MSSD were originally adopted in 2013 and have undergone numerous amendments in the intervening years.
The UDO combines into a single document the Town's zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management, and historic preservation regulations. It outlines the requirements for all development activity.
The UDO was first adopted in 2013, along with the Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD). With the update and adoption of several comprehensive plans, including the 2022 Community Plan and 2021 Northeast Community Plan, as well as several other comprehensive plans that are underway, the UDO and MSSD need to be updated to implement the policies and recommendations of the plans.
The zoning map, which is a legal document that illustrates the zoning districts where different development rules apply, will also be updated as part of this project.
In addition to reflecting the goals and actions of the comprehensive plans, the UDO needs to maintain compliance with state, federal and case law, which are constantly evolving. Finally, the update will exam best practices and trending topics.
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This page feels out of date.
Can we have road/bike/walking infrastructure catch up before adding even more residential developments? There's been no noticeable attempts to ease traffic flow. No additional stop signs or traffic lights or lane changes on my regular routes. Traffic has become a nightmare over the past few years with thousands of new cars on the same old tiny roads.
Hi all, I want to offer 2 recommendations to make the UDO more consisten when it comes to Townhomes:
Page 59 of proposed UDO - b. GR District. i. Development Sites Five Acres or More in Area.
If located adjacent to existing Single Family Detached Dwellings, the subdivision plan shall site new Single Family Detached Dwellings, so they provide a transition between the existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings and the new Dwelling Townhome buildings and provide a mix of uses
Page 60 of proposed UDO - c. MUR District.
ii. Single-Family Detached Transition. When adjacent to existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings, Townhome development shall incorporate Single-Family Detached Dwellings along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings to serve as transition and provide a mix of residential types.
RECOMMENDATION #1: The wording for GR District should be conformed to the wording for the MUR district as to the Single Family Detached dwellings to say should be “along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings” . This was discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 60 noted above requires that detached single family homes be sited along the perimeter in a MUR to serve as a transition and provided a mix of residential types.
RECOMMENDATION # 2: This transition should be required for all types of building in the MUR, not just in the instance of the Townhomes. Otherwise, the UDO as written appears to allow development such as residential buildings - Residential Care Facility, Retirement Housing, Single Room Occupancy, Institutional Buildings such as Child /Adult Day Care Center, Client Meeting Center, Cultural/Community Facility, Entertainment/Recreation, Commercial development such as Bars Entertainment/Recreation, General Commercial and Restaurant, to be along the boundary of the existing Single Family Detached Dwellings. Existing Single Family Detached Dwellings should not abut any of these buildings. This was also discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 59 - b. GR District. i. Development Sites Five Acres or More in Area.
If located adjacent to existing Single Family Detached Dwellings, the subdivision plan shall site new Single Family Detached Dwellings, so they provide a transition between the existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings and the new Dwelling Townhome buildings and provide a mix of uses
Page 60 - c. MUR District.
ii. Single-Family Detached Transition. When adjacent to existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings, Townhome development shall incorporate Single-Family Detached Dwellings along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings to serve as transition and provide a mix of residential types.
The wording for GR District should be conformed to the wording for the MUR district as to the Single Family Detached dwellings to say should be “along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings” . This was discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 60 noted above requires that detached single family homes be sited along the perimeter in a MUR to serve as a transition and provided a mix of residential types. This transition should be required for all types of building in the MUR, not just in the instance of the Townhomes. Other wise the UDO as written appears to allow development such as residential buildings - Residential Care Facility, Retirement Housing, Single Room Occupancy, Institutional Buildings such as Child /Adult Day Care Center, Client Meeting Center, Cultural/Community Facility, Entertainment/Recreation, Commercial development such as Bars Entertainment/Recreation, General Commercial and Restaurant, to be along the boundary of the existing Single Family Detached Dwellings. This was also discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
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Phone 919-435-9537 Email trichards@wakeforestnc.gov
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