What we do Last updated or reviewed on May 3, 2023 The Planning and Urban Design Department provides sound, professional land use planning, zoning, urban design and historic preservation services to achieve livable and sustainable neighborhoods for everyone. The department is committed to collaborating with our community on its vision for equitable growth and development consistent with Asheville’s comprehensive plan. OPEN ONLINE FOR BUSINESS: Access online development-related services, including paying fees, submitting a digital permit application, scheduling an inspection, and reporting a food truck. See other Related Services below for additional development services available to you. ZONING SERVICES: Zoning-related services by the Development Services Department, such as zoning enforcement resources and zoning verification letters. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Planning & Urban Design is responsible for several boards and commissions. The Boards and Commissions information can be found at the tab at the top of the page. Updated information regarding the operations of all boards and commissions can be found on the City Clerk’s page. OTHER SERVICES: Check up on other department projects and initiatives by clicking any of the tabs of your interest at the top of this page. Connect Address 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801 Mailing Address P. O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802 Phone Number 828-259-5830 Business HoursMonday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Interim DirectorBen WoodyAdditional LinksStaff Directory Related Services Learn about large-scale development Keep up to date on current projects and applications. Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov. Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews. Apply for a homestay permit Apply for a new homestay permit or apply to renew your existing permit. Look up information about a permit Use online tools to look up information about permits Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction. Find location and zoning information Find the zoning information for your project. Explore Related ServicesRelated Projects Missing Middle Housing Study The purpose of the study is to identify regulatory or policy barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply and to develop recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps to better align regulations with city goals. Art in the Heart Art in the Heart is a way to unite, heal, and strengthen the community. Installations, artwork, and performances over the next 6 months will help spark important conversations on how to make this public space a place that resonates with Asheville’s diverse community and history. Open Space Zoning Updates A task force has been created to review the city’s open space zoning regulations and to consider amendments to update the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These regulations relate to the open spaces that are required primarily for new development projects, not to be confused with larger public open spaces of city parks and greenways. Explore Related ProjectsPlanning and Urban Design News City of Asheville Open Surveys: Make your Voice Heard Posted on April 21, 2023 by Kim Miller Those of us who live, work, and play in and around Asheville know how magical our mountain city can be. We all have ideas and opinions on how to keep it that way – or even make it better. One way to share those ideas with City leaders is to take part in City issued surveys [...] City of Asheville Approves Missing Middle Housing Study Contract Posted on March 6, 2023 by Sam Parada Asheville, North Carolina – On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the City of Asheville’s City Council approved a $115,000 contract to Opticos Design, Inc., and their subcontractor Cascadia Partners, for a Missing Middle Housing study. Missing Middle Housing refers to housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, quadruplexes, and townhomes that are largely missing [...] The City announces February and March artist schedule for Art in the Heart Posted on January 30, 2023January 31, 2023 by Sam Parada The final line up of Art in the Heart artworks and experiences will be in Pack Square Plaza for February and early March 2023. To learn more about the artists and their projects, visit ashevillenc.gov/artintheheart. Members of the public from Buncombe County and beyond are invited to come to Pack Square Plaza, in [...] Explore Planning and Urban Design News
Explore city data Public datasets and maps are available on the open data portal at data.ashevillenc.gov.
Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews.
Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction.
Missing Middle Housing Study The purpose of the study is to identify regulatory or policy barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply and to develop recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps to better align regulations with city goals.
Art in the Heart Art in the Heart is a way to unite, heal, and strengthen the community. Installations, artwork, and performances over the next 6 months will help spark important conversations on how to make this public space a place that resonates with Asheville’s diverse community and history.
Open Space Zoning Updates A task force has been created to review the city’s open space zoning regulations and to consider amendments to update the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These regulations relate to the open spaces that are required primarily for new development projects, not to be confused with larger public open spaces of city parks and greenways.
City of Asheville Open Surveys: Make your Voice Heard Posted on April 21, 2023 by Kim Miller Those of us who live, work, and play in and around Asheville know how magical our mountain city can be. We all have ideas and opinions on how to keep it that way – or even make it better. One way to share those ideas with City leaders is to take part in City issued surveys [...]
City of Asheville Approves Missing Middle Housing Study Contract Posted on March 6, 2023 by Sam Parada Asheville, North Carolina – On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the City of Asheville’s City Council approved a $115,000 contract to Opticos Design, Inc., and their subcontractor Cascadia Partners, for a Missing Middle Housing study. Missing Middle Housing refers to housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, quadruplexes, and townhomes that are largely missing [...]
The City announces February and March artist schedule for Art in the Heart Posted on January 30, 2023January 31, 2023 by Sam Parada The final line up of Art in the Heart artworks and experiences will be in Pack Square Plaza for February and early March 2023. To learn more about the artists and their projects, visit ashevillenc.gov/artintheheart. Members of the public from Buncombe County and beyond are invited to come to Pack Square Plaza, in [...]