Zoning, Permitting, and Annexations

A Zoning Approval is required for various types of residential accessory structures, commercial uses, new construction, signs, home occupations and various additional items as deemed necessary by Iredell County Inspections and Code Enforcement.

A Zoning Permit Application must be submitted to the Planning Department along with any required plans, drawings and fees. For your convenience, a zoning permit application can be e-mailed, faxed or delivered to our office with any accompanying required paperwork to complete the approval. Zoning Approvals are $50 each. The Town accepts Visa and MasterCard, check or cash as payment. See the Town of Mooresville Fee Schedule for a complete list of applications and their associated fees.

The purpose of a variance is to allow for certain deviations or relief from the standards of the Zoning Ordinance (such as height, yard setback, lot coverage or similar numeric standards) when the property owner demonstrates that special circumstances or conditions would result in undue and unique physical hardships. A variance request should not be based on financial hardship of an applicant. Once an application is filed with the Planning Department, a hearing is set for the Board of Adjustment to consider the request. All adjacent property owners are notified by mail and the public hearing to consider the variance request is locally advertised.

Building permits and inspections in the Town of Mooresville and its zoning jurisdiction are provided by Iredell County. Any property located within the Town of Mooresville and its extra-territorial jurisdiction is required to have a Zoning Approval from the Town prior to obtaining a building permit from Iredell County. There are many properties located within town zip codes that are not in our zoning jurisdiction and may not require a zoning approval from the Town of Mooresville. Call 704-662-7040 to find out if your property is in our zoning jurisdiction.

Annexation is the process in which a property is incorporated into the Town of Mooresville. The Town’s Planning Department administers the annexation process in accordance with state laws governing annexation. Annexation is one of several growth management tools afforded municipalities in North Carolina. Through voluntary annexation, the development or growth pattern is controlled by the Town and utilities are extended by the developer. In most circumstances, voluntary annexation of unincorporated property is driven by development interest, the desire to receive water and sewer services, or due to the failure of private well or septic systems. With involuntary annexation, the Town incorporates an existing growth pattern or pattern of development that is typically more rural in nature.

Both annexation processes require that the Town immediately provide fire, police and sanitation services at the effective date of the annexation. Under involuntary annexation, the Town must bear the cost of extending the utility services. State statutes require the Town to make municipal utility infrastructure available to properties involuntarily annexed within a two-year period.

The Town’s adopted utility extension policy requires that a voluntary annexation petition be submitted to the Town’s Planning Department along with a request to extend utilities which is approved at the discretion of the Town Board of Commissioners. As a prerequisite to receiving municipal utility services, a property should be located within the Town’s zoning jurisdiction or municipal zoning should be established. If a property lies within Iredell County’s zoning jurisdiction, an applicant shall request release of zoning jurisdiction from Iredell County. Municipal zoning provides the Town development review authority and the authority to require development to municipal standards.

Deadline for submittal of the application for voluntary annexation is January 31 of each year and, if approved, the annexation becomes effective June 30 of that same year.

For more information, call the Planning Department at 704-662-7040.

Voluntary Annexation Petition
Municipal Utility Extension Policy