Planning and Urban Design

Planning and Urban Design Department staff are prioritizing storm-related recovery needs.

Visit https://www.ashevillerecovers.org for the latest updates

The Planning and Urban Design Department provides sound, professional land use planning, zoning, urban design and historic preservation and other 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 adopted plans.

Learn more about department services, projects and initiatives by clicking any of the tabs at the top of this page. Scroll down for quick links to some of our more popular services.

QUICK LINKS

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 such as zoning enforcement resources and zoning verification letters. To reach the Planner of the Day for your zoning-related questions, please call 828-259-5450 or email POD@ashevillenc.gov.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: Planning & Urban Design is responsible for managing nine 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.

Connect

Address

70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801 and 161 S. Charlotte Street (Zoning and Site Plan Review)

Mailing Address

P. O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802

Phone Number

828-259-5830

Business Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Department Director

Stephanie Dahl

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 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.

Related Projects

River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project

The River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP) was completed in 2021. The purpose of the $35 million project was to rebuild the transportation network along the east side of the French Broad River in the River Arts District, with the long term vision of supporting businesses, residents, artists and the greater community vision adopted in the 2004 Wilma [...]

Coxe Avenue Streetscape

Project Overview The goal of this project is to transform Coxe Avenue to improve the safety and overall experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users of the street. The design will include improvements to sidewalks, stormwater and water infrastructure, lighting and streetscape elements and a reconfiguration of parts of the street. For project updates, timeline, and background [...]

Urban Forest Master Plan

Project Overview The City of Asheville Planning and Urban Design department is developing an Urban Forest Master Plan that will guide policies and recommendations for sustainable growth and preservation of Asheville’s urban canopy. The project started in September 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in late fall of 2025. For project updates, timeline and [...]

Planning and Urban Design News

People with cleaning carts in downtown Asheville

Downtown Improvement District launches services

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Kristina Israel

The Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) began to roll out services this spring, officially launching on June 2, 2025. Targeted services supplemental to those provided by the City are being delivered throughout the downtown area within the defined district boundary. Services include enhanced cleaning, maintenance and hospitality programs designed to help keep downtown Asheville [...]

Community invited to help create Asheville’s newest public art at a tile making event

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Kim Miller

The public is invited to a fun-filled afternoon of clay tile making on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Odyssey Clayworks in the River Arts District. Finished tiles will adorn a new public art installment – a playable harp – on the Reed Creek Greenway near the intersection with Ocala Street. Originally planned to be installed [...]

City of Asheville launches Temporary Activation Program (TAP), facilitating temporary initiatives to support Helene Recovery in partnership with the community

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Kim Miller

Is your organization looking to help out with post Helene recovery? TAP into a new program designed to streamline the authorization of quick-action, community-led recovery initiatives on public properties impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.

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