Town of Chapel Hill, NC
Home MenuFee Schedule: Planning
Fees are updated on July 1st with each new Town budget. The following fees are effective July 1, 2025 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
The Manager may negotiate and charge a fee or reimbursement for plan review, amendment or other types of applications not listed in this schedule adopted by the Town Council based on a determination that such fees and reimbursements are reasonably calculated to reflect the cost of Town services associated with said review.
| Type of Application/Permit | Fee Schedule | |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Adjustment (BOA) |
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Variance or Appeals
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$695
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| Community Design Commission (CDC) |
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Building Elevations, Lighting Plan, or Alternative Buffer
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$455
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| Concept Plan |
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Planning Commission or Council Concept Plan Review
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$420
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| Conditional Zoning Districts |
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Conditional Zoning or Major Modification Conditional Zoning Minor Modification Final Plan Zoning Compliance Permit for Conditional Zoning
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$9,465 + $32/100 SF* $1,460 $4,505 + $16/100 SF*
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| Development Agreement |
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Development Agreement Development Agreement Minor Change Site Development Permit - Carolina North Development Agreement Compliance Permit - All Others Consultant Support and Analysis
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To be negotiated $1,460 $5,555 $13,480 + $53/100 SF* Actual cost of service
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| Form District Permit (FDP) |
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Form District Permit Form District Permit Major Modification Special Appearance District Certificate of Appropriateness or FDP Minor Modification
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$13,485 + $53/100 SF* $1,390 $460 |
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| Historic District Commission (HDC) |
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Major Works Minor Works Building Elevations, Lighting Plan, or Alternative Buffer COA Amendments COA Time Extension
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$455 $150 $455 $150 $25
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| Master Land Use Plans* |
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Master Land Use Plans or Major Modification Abandonment, Reinstatement
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$9,465 + $32/100 SF* $1,390
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| Signs |
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Individual Sign or Individual Sign Compliant with Approved Unified Sign Plan (single business on one zoning lot) Unified Sign Plan (multiple businesses on one zoning lot)
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$210 $345 |
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| Site Plan Review |
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Site Plan Review or Major Modification* Extension, Renewal, Minor Modification Final Plan Zoning Compliance Permit for Site Plan Review Project Name Change
Northside and Pine Knolls Neighborhood Conservation Districts (Single and Two-Family Applications only): Combined Single-family Site Plan Review and ZCP Application Site Plan for parking exemption/exception
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$3,465 + $32/100 SF* $1,040 $1,330 + $16/100 SF* $125
$278 $135 |
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| Special Use Permits |
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Special Use Permit or Major Modification* Final Plan Zoning Compliance Permit for Special Use Single Family Development unrestricted by Floor Area Extension, Renewal, Minor Modification, Abandonment, or Reinstatement Extraction of Earth Products, Landfill, Cemetery, Park/Ride Terminal Radio/TV Transmitting/Receiving Facility
|
$9,465 + $32/100 SF* $4,505 + $16/100 SF* $9,465 + $331/unit $1,390 $9,465 + $331/unit $9,465 |
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| Subdivisions & Plats |
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Exempt Plat (recombination, easement, or other exempt plats) Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat Re-approval Minor Subdivision Preliminary Plat Minor Subdivision Preliminary Plat Re-approval Final Plat - Major and Minor Subdivision Final Plan Zoning Compliance Permit for Major Subdivision Final Plan Zoning Compliance Permit for Minor Subdivision
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$280 $9,465 + $331/lot $1,390 $1,040 + $68/lot $280 $695 + $63/lot $4,505 + $165/lot $555 + $34/lot |
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| UNC Development Permit |
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UNC Development Plan (OI-4) UNC Site Development Permit
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$7,290 + $137/acre $5,555
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| Zoning Compliance Permit (ZCP) | ||
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Limited Review Zoning Compliance Permit Administrative Zoning Compliance Permit
RCD Encroachment for all other properties RCD Encroachment for one- and two-family dwellings
Short-Term Rental Zoning Compliance Permit (STR ZCP) Indoor Pop-Up Event Permit
Food Truck ZCP - Property Owner Exceptions to Front Yard Parking Requirements
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$310 $555 + $16/100 SF* $555 $250 $70
$160
$135 $150 $135 $135 $135
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Zoning Map and Text Amendments (for Conditional Zoning, see above) |
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Zoning Map and Text Amendments (Including Transition Areas & Neighborhood Conservation District Overlays)
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$1,390 + $68/acre*** |
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| Wireless Communications Facility |
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-Small Wireless Facility in Town Right-of-Way or outside Town Right-of-Way on property other than Single- Family Residential property, Staff Review
-Small Wireless Facility in Town Right-of-Way or outside Town Right-of-Way on property other than Single- Family Residential property, Consultant Review
-Co-Location or Modification, Streamlined Review (eligible facility), Consultant Review -Co-Location, Modifications, and Upgrades (non-eligible facility), Site Review and Report, Consultant Review -All Others, Consultant Review
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$110 per facility for the first 5 facilities in a single application plus $53 per each additional facility up to a total of 25 in a consolidated application
$550 per application
$1,105 $4,410 $7,165
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| Other Planning Fees |
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Resubmittal Fee After 3rd Round of Review Revised Final Plans/Revised Phasing Plan Application Revision, Requiring Additional Review, After Staff Memorandum is Written**
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$1,455 $1,455 50% of original application fee
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Research (involving one or more of the following: Zoning Opinion Letter, Paper archives, micro fiche, Zoning Project case history or code compliance history)
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$68/hr
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Development Notification Postcards
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$1 per postcard
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| Plan Amendments |
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Proposed revision to adopted Transportation Plan or Transportation Facility Design
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$1,390
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| Development Fee Caps |
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Development Fee Cap for Zoning Compliance Permit and Subdivision Development Fee Cap for Conditional Zoning
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$90,000 No Cap
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* Based on square footage of floor area, rounded to the nearest 100 square feet ** Changes to an active application, post-completion of an advisory board or council memorandum that results in additional staff review and revisions to staff memorandum. *** Neighborhood Conservation Districts fees are waived for areas in which it is documented that 51% of the property owners are low to moderate income as defined by HUD. |
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Notes:
After the Fact Permits: All review fees are doubled if the activity or site change requested has already occurred or been started unless the Manager or their designee find that there are mitigating circumstances.
Modifications: Revisions requested more than 30 days after a permit is issued require a new permit application and fee.
Refunds: Potential refunds of fees for projects that are withdrawn prior to completing the development review process shall be issued consistent with the Planning Department's adopted internal refund policy.
Public Project Fee Waivers: All Planning review fees are waived for Town of Chapel Hill development applications. All other development applications submitted by public agencies are subject to fees.
Affordable Housing Fee Waivers: All Planning review fees are waived for the affordable units within projects that provide affordable home-ownership opportunities and/or provide rental housing that remains affordable for at least 20 years. Affordable is defined as being sold or rented to households earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income, as determined and approved by the Town. To qualify for the waiver, the applicant must commit to executing an Affordable Housing Performance Agreement with the Town. If application fees are paid for a proposed development that subsequently converts existing approved market rate units to affordable units, a pro rata refund of any such fees that have already been paid shall be provided to the applicant upon approval of the development to reflect the conversion to affordable units. The refunded amount will be determined by the percentage of the affordable units within the development. In addition, any existing development that receives approval to construct new affordable units may have the fees waived for the new affordable units. This refund or waiver does not apply to any market rate units.
Service Project Fee Waivers: All Planning review fees are waived for service projects by non-profits, for a non-profit organization.
Master Plan and Special Use Permits: In the case of a Master Plan and a Special Use Permit submitted concurrently, the application fee shall be waived for the application with the smaller fee.
| Ordinances and Reports | Cost |
|---|---|
| Printing Land Use Management Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, Data Book, Design Guidelines, Historic District Guidelines Handbook, Bicycle Plan, or Pedestrian Plan (per page) | $0.10 (B&W) $0.15 (Color) |
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maps and COPYING |
Cost |
|---|---|
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Copying and Printing per page (smaller format, less than 11 x 17) |
$0.10 (B&W) $0.15 (Color) |
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Copying and Printing per page (larger format, larger than 11 x 17) |
$1.00/page (B&W) $2.00/page (Color) |
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Miscellaneous Scanning, Printing, and Copying (less than 11 x 17) |
$0.10 (B&W) $0.15 (Color) |
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Professional Training Registration (per session) |
$10 |