Resources

An expandable list of the many resources useful for the development process in the City of Charlotte is provided below.  The resources are useful for Citizens, Design Professionals, and Developers and Contractors.  The list is categorized by Resource type including: Applications, Checklists, Forms, Information, Manuals, and relevant City Ordinances.  Click the + symbol next to the category to view and/or download the resources.

 

Accessibility and PROWAG

Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations - Special Report prepared by PROWAC of the Access Board detailing accessible layouts for alterations within the public ROW

CDOT ADA Field Guide(PDF, 4MB) - General guide to aid in field inspection for ADA/PROWAG.

PROWAG - The U.S. Access Board's Proposed Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way.  The guidelines address access to newly constructed and altered public streets and sidewalks covered by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

CLDSM - Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual contains various standard details for elements in the public ROW including sidewalks and ramps.

 

Applications

Brownfield Assessment Grant Application(PDF, 94KB) - The City offers assistance to developers through a City-funded Brownfield Program. The program offers matching funds for assessment and cleanup activities for properties within the Business Corridor Revitalization Area.

Charlotte Historic District Commission - Certificate of Appropriateness

Fence and Wall Certificate Application

NCDOT Driveway Permit Application

Notification to Issue Single Family Certificate of Occupancy Sidewalk Agreement(PDF, 18KB) - When sidewalk is not constructed to City standards, but a homebuilder needs to obtain the CO for a SF home, this can be submitted to LD Inspection staff to demonstrate the builder’s intent to repair the sidewalk in a timely manner.

Plat Application Signature Form(PDF, 66KB) – All plat applications must include the owner and/or the duly authorized agent’s signature.  Please attach the signature page during the attach document phase in Accela Citizen Access (ACA).

Rezoning Applications

SWAC Appeal Application(PDF, 1MB) - Storm Water Advisory Committee Appeal Application

Transit Corridor Adjacent Development Process(PDF, 162KB) - For CATS (includes application info) 

 

Bond forms

Cash Surety Requirements and Form - Automated Form(DOC, 105KB) - Cash Surety Requirements and Form (Automated Version)

Cash Surety Requirements and Form -Printable Form(DOC, 82KB) - Cash Surety Requirements and Form (Printable Version)

Final Inspection Bond Release Form - Complete this form to request Bond/Surety Release upon completion of required work in a Subdivision.  This form also contains the Continuous Maintenance Request and Final Inspection request.

LOC Requirements and Form(DOC, 217KB) - Automated Form - Letter of Credit Requirements and Form (Automated Version)

LOC Requirements and Form(DOC, 160KB) - Printable Form - Letter of Credit Requirements and Form (Printable Version)

Surety Action Request Form(PDF, 55KB) - Surety Action Request Form used for Renewal, Adjustment and Replacement Requests

Surety Bond Requirements and Form(DOC, 252KB) - Automated Form - Surety Bond Requirements and Form (Automated Version)

Surety Bond Requirements and Form(DOC, 140KB) - Printable Form - Surety Bond Requirements and Form (Printable Version) 

Surety Preferences Selection Form(PDF, 322KB) - Complete this form to select preferences for surety estimation.

 

CDOT

UDO Data Tables(XLSX, 18KB) – Required data table formats for projects that trigger the Comprehensive Transportation Review process. The other data table is for listing any new curb ramps provided by a project and/or existing curb ramps being replaced.

 

RP_AssetID Instructions(PDF, 1MB) – Instructions for finding the RP_AssetID for existing curb ramps that are going to be replaced as part of a project.

 

Common Comprehensive Transportation Review (CTR) Land Use Trip Thresholds(PDF, 111KB) – Common CTR land use trip thresholds for low intensity development (page 1) and medium to high intensity development (page 2).

 

Charlotte Fire Department

City Fire - LD Requirements Checklist(PDF, 35KB) - City Fire - Residential and Commercial Land Design Requirements Checklist

Uptown Fire District Map(PDF, 2MB)

 

Checklists

ADA Field Guide(PDF, 4MB) - General guide to aid in field inspection for ADA/PROWAG.

As-built Checklist - Bioretention (PDF, 194KB)- Checklist for As-built Survey of Bioretention

As-built Checklist - Extended Dry Detention(PDF, 162KB) - Checklist for As-built Survey of Extended Dry Detention Facilities

As-built Checklist - Infiltration (PDF, 162KB)- Checklist for as-built survey of Infiltration SCMs

As-built Checklist - Permeable Pavement(PDF, 195KB) - Checklist for As-built survey of Permeable Pavments including Pervious Pavers. 

As-built Checklist - Sand Filter(PDF, 194KB) - Checklist for As-built Survey of Sand Filter

As-built Checklist - Storm Drainage(PDF, 16KB)  - Checklist for As-built Survey of Storm Drainage systems

As-built Checklist - Wet Pond(PDF, 194KB) - Checklist for As-built Survey of Wetpond

As-built Checklist - Wetland(PDF, 193KB) - Checklist for As-built Survey of Constructed Wetland

CDOT Land Development Site Plan Checklist(PDF, 242KB) - CDOT Land Development Site Plan Checklist

Check List for Hold Release(PDF, 203KB) - Commercial and Residential projects

City Fire - LD Requirements Checklist(PDF, 35KB) - City Fire - Residential and Commercial Land Design Requirements Checklist

Cross Section Guidelines (PDF, 49KB)- Stormwater / CDOT / NCDOT / Mecklenburg County LD - Roadway improvement Cross-Section Guidelines

Final Plat Checklist - Engineering (PDF, 42KB)- Checklist used by Engineering to review Final Plats

Final Plat Checklist - Planning(PDF, 102KB) - Final Plat Checklist for Planning Review

Home Builders Guidelines for Inspection(PDF, 98KB) - Home Builder's Guidelines for Inspections

Pre-Construction Information Packet(PDF, 1MB) - Packet of Information including checklists for presentation to contractors at Pre-construction Meetings

Private Street Acceptance Checklist(PDF, 30KB) - Steps for petitioning for Private Streets to be accepted by CDOT for maintenance

Roadway Cross Section Guidelines(PDF, 49KB) - City Engineering, CDOT, NCDOT, and Meck. County Land Development - checklist for roadway improvement cross-sections

Site Checklist - Engineering(PDF, 242KB) - Engineering Site Checklist for Residential and Commercial site, grading, erosion control, and stormwater management plans reviewed by the City of Charlotte Engineering & Property Management Department

UDO Self-Certified Gateway Checklist for Commercial Plans(PDF, 250KB) - gateway checklist required to be filled out by the submitting design professional and uploaded along with Commercial plan submittals

Storm Water Checklist Tier 1(PDF, 221KB) - review on Individual Residential Lot projects

Storm Water Checklist Tier 2(PDF, 140KB) - review on Individual Residential Lot projects

Storm Water Checklist Tier 3(PDF, 142KB) - review on Individual Residential Lot projects

Subdivision Gateway Checklist(PDF, 200KB) - Subdivision Gateway Checklist

SWIM Buffer Checklist(PDF, 32KB) - SWIM Buffer Checklist

Tree Ordinance Checklist(PDF, 94KB) - for Commercial and Urban Plan Submittals

 

Fees

Commercial User Fee Schedule - Commercial User Fee Schedule

Subdivision Fee Schedule- Subdivision Fee Schedule - Planning

Plat Review Fees- Plat Fee Schedule -Planning

Forms

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Form(PDF, 14KB) - Form to be sent to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, containing information for projects that will be using the Public Utility System.

City Engineering Commercial Project CO Hold Release Request - On-Line form to request the release of a City Engineering Hold on a commercial property

City Engineering Residential CO Hold Release Request - On-line form to request the release of a "Subdivision Single Family City Engineering Hold" on a residential property (formerly known as Sidewalk Inspection Request)

Final Inspection Bond Release Request Form - Complete this form to request Bond/Surety Release upon completion of required work in a Subdivision. This form also contains the Continuous Maintenance Request and Final Inspection Request

Financial Responsibility Form(PDF, 161KB)  

Request for Informal Review per Session Law 2014-120(PDF, 120KB) - "Informal review" with respect to regulatory review requirements issued under Charlotte's PCO, EC Ordinance, and Zoning Ordinance Watershed Overlay Districts

Sediment Basin Agreement(PDF, 30KB)

Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Weekly Monitoring Form(DOCX, 44KB) (DOCX, 44KB)

Tree Planting Delay Request Form(PDF, 11KB)

Tree Work Permit Form(PDF, 301KB)

 

Information

ADA Field Guide(PDF, 4MB) - General guide to aid in field inspection for ADA/PROWAG.

Addressing Information (Meck. County) - Addressing Information (Meck. County)

Annexed Street Acceptance(PDF, 57KB) - Information and steps required for Street Acceptance in Annexation Areas

CDOT Bridge Policy (PDF, 354KB)- Requirements for the Approval of New City of Charlotte Bridges 

City NCDOT Concurrent Subdivision Review Process Flowchart (PDF, 16KB)-
City NCDOT Concurrent Subdivision Review Process Flowchart

City NCDOT Concurrent Subdivision Review Process (PDF, 35KB)- City NCDOT Concurrent Subdivision Review Process Summary 

Development Services Technical Advisory Committee Charter (DOC, 70KB)-
Development Services Technical Advisory Committee Charter 

E-recording of Plats in North Carolina(PDF, 4MB) - Information guide about how to utilize electronic signatures for plat recordation

Erosion Control Facts for Homebuilders (PDF, 22KB)- Erosion Control Facts for Homebuilders

Erosion Control Policies and Procedures(PDF, 236KB) - Erosion Control Policies and Procedures Manual 

Pre-Construction Information Packet (PDF, 1MB)- Packet of information including checklists for presentation to contractors at Pre-construction Meetings

Shared Responsibilities Venn Diagram(PDF, 88KB) - Land Development - Staff and Customers - Shared Responsibilities Venn Diagram 

Transit Corridor Adjacent Development(PDF, 162KB) Process - CATS (includes application) 

 

Manuals, standards and guidance

Accela Citizen Access How To Instructions(PDF, 220KB)  - Accela Citizen Access How To Instructions 

Accessible Public Rights-of-Way Planning and Design for Alterations - Special Report prepared by PROWAC of the Access Board detailing accessible layouts for alterations within the public ROW

ADA Field Guide(PDF, 4MB) - General guide to aid in field inspection for ADA/PROWAG.

BMP Design Manual - Charlotte-Mecklenburg BMP Design Manual

CATS Bus Stop Detail Drawings(PDF, 2MB) - Details for construction of bus stops for Charlotte Area Transit Services (CATS).

CDOT Bridge Policy (PDF, 354KB)- Requirements for the Approval of New City of Charlotte Bridges

CDOT Sight Distance Policy(PDF, 2MB) - CDOT Sight Distance Policy and Diagrams, 2023

CDOT Street Cut Regulations and Procedures(PDF, 523KB) - document detailing utility and other street cut procedures

Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) - Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) - online library of standard details, drawings, and specifications for use in land development projects in the City.

E-recording of Plats in North Carolina(PDF, 4MB) - Information guide about how to utilize electronic signatures for plat recordation

Stormwater Design Manual - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Design Manual (CMSWDM)

Charlotte Water Design Manual - Water and Sewer design manual

HARP Manual(PDF, 13MB) - Selection and Planting Guide for Aquatic and Wetland Plants in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina

Landscape Construction Standards(PDF, 673KB) -  Landscape Management Division's standards book for Landscape Construction.

NCDOT Manuals and Handbooks - Important guides and handbooks from NCDOT

NCDOT Roadway Standard Drawings Library - NCDOT Roadway Standard Drawings Library

PCSO Administrative Manual(PDF, 1MB) - Administrative Manual for Implementation of the City of Charlotte Post Construction Stormwater Ordinance (PCSO)

Pervious Pavement - Chapter 18 of the Old NCDWQ BMP MANUAL (PDF, 3MB)- Chap. 18 of old NCDWQ BMP Manual - Permeable Pavement design state BMP manual chapter regarding design of pervious pavements, including % credit as BUA in density calculation.

Tryon Street Mall Design and Streetscape Guidelines - Planning Dept. guidelines for design of streetscape along Tryon Street in the Uptown Area

Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG)(PDF, 6MB) - Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG) is the implementation tool for planning and designing Charlotte's streets and for providing viable transportation choices for all Charlotteans .

Water Quality Buffer Implementation Guidelines Manual(PDF, 5MB)

 

Maps

Charlotte Explorer - City of Charlotte's Online GIS Map

POLARIS 3G- Mecklenburg County on-line GIS map

Time Machine - Mecklenburg County GIS map of historic aerial photos with slider comparison tool (Includes 1978 Aerial Photos)

Uptown Fire District Map(PDF, 2MB)

 

PCSO, detention and stormwater items

Pervious Pavement - Chapter 18 of the Old NCDWQ BMP MANUAL (PDF, 3MB)- Chap. 18 of old NCDWQ BMP Manual - Permeable Pavement design state BMP manual chapter regarding design of pervious pavements, including % credit as BUA in density calculation.

Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance (PCSO) Information - City of Charlotte Stormwater Services page for PCSO regulations and information 

BMP Design Worksheets(ZIP, 77KB)  - .Zip file of all of the BMP Design Worksheets - to be included with design calcs for BMPs

BMP Inset Tables(XLSX, 471KB) - Inset Tables for all BMP types in one Excel Spreadsheet for use on stormwater management plan sheets

BMP Design Manual

BMP Design Spreadsheet(XLSX, 166KB) - Charlotte BMP Design Calculation Spreadsheet (Excel format) providing a simple format for design calculations of various BMPs, following the requirements of the BMP Design Manual.

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Guidelines(PDF, 42KB) - information for use in determining what is considered built-upon area for compliance with water supply watershed and post-construction ordinance requirements in Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Declaration of Transfer of Inspection and Maintenance Responsibilities of Stormwater SCM faclities(PDF, 48KB) form (Appendix O of the PCSO Admin Manual)

Detention Worksheet Rev 2010(DOC, 116KB) - Detention Worksheet Revised in 2010

Determining Built-Upon-Area Restrictions in Mecklenburg County(PDF, 468KB) - Guidance for determining Built-Upon-Area Restrictions in Mecklenburg County

Floodplain Development Permit Info - Link to Mecklenburg County LUESA website for information on Floodplain Development Permits

PCSO Compliance Flowchart (PDF, 93KB)- PCSO Compliance Flowchart - for assistance in navigating the requirements of the PCSO

PCSO Summary Table(XLSX, 26KB) - Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance (PCSO) summary table for use on all plan submittals to Engineering for PCSO review.  

Operations and Maintenance Agreement and Easement Agreement 2016(PDF, 39KB) - PCSO Operations and Maintenance Agreement and Easement Agreement version 2016 - (PDF Format)

SWIM Summary Document Mecklenburg County(PDF, 364KB) - Document from Mecklenburg County LUESA describing the S.W.I.M. program background

Water Quality Buffer Implementation Guidelines Manual(PDF, 5MB)

 

Erosion and Sediment Control

Erosion and Sediment Control Team - Click here to find specific resources related to E&SC, contact info for E&SC Inspection Staff, CMCSI Training info, and more

 

Zoning

Matrix showing submittal types for Zoning reviews(PDF, 196KB) - Bulletin Drawings, Zoning Only reviews, or RTAPs

UDO Data Tables(XLSX, 30KB) - Required data table formats for zoning (site, elevation, buffers)

Zoning Checklist(PDF, 178KB)