Madison County, North Carolina
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Planning and Zoning 

In 1974 the citizens of Madison County adopted its zoning ordinance. Over the past 40 years the ordinance has had a few revisions and updates based on growth and new development that has entered the county. Our now current Land Use Ordinance deals with several aspects relating to our county, such as subdivions, watershed, and communication towers. As well as staying current with our ever changing legislative rules and any new definitions that may arise.

The County Commissioners established a Planning Board and a Board of Adjustment. These Board are set in place to oversee zoning, plan for future development and growth along with handling appeals and conditional uses.

The current Citizens of Madison County owe a debt of gratitude to the Leadership and voters of the County who had the foresight in 1974 to implement county wide zoning. Zoning was not intended to tell everyone what to do with their land, but to regulate the development and growth that the county has. Orderly land use planning ensures property owners that they will have a voice in decisions made regarding land use decisions that may directly affect them.
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The towns of Mars Hill, Marshall and Hot Springs respectively each have their on zoning. They adopted ordinances, and have appointed boards of their own to oversee the planning and zoning. For information on how to contact them please go to our contacts link.
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Staff:
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Tom Herdelin Planning and Zoning Administrator
[email protected]

John Noor, Land Use Attorney
[email protected]

Sylvia Shelton, Office Administrator
[email protected]

Planning Board:
  • Wayne Brigman
  • Terry Burnette
  • Clayton Honeycutt 
  • Ken Kashuba
  • Wesley Keith 
  • Robin Reeves 
  • Daniel Rice
  • Jered Silver 
Board of Adjustment:
  • Robert Briggs
  • Hart Barnhill
  • Frank Carr 
  • Tyler Harwood
  • Ernest Ramsey
  • Dewayne Goforth-Alternate 
  • David Witt-Alternate 
Land Use Ordinance Violation Citizen Reports

Public Hearing Notices & Meeting Agendas for the Planning Board:
2025 Planning Board Regular Meeting Schedule
Public Hearing Notices & Meeting Agendas for the Board of Adjustment:
2025 BOA Regular Meeting Schedule
BOA Meeting Agenda May 28th 2025
Meeting Minutes

Applications

Subdivisions Application
  • Pre-Development Meeting 
  • Public Quasi Judicial Evidentiary Hearing
Rezoning Application
Text Amendment Application
Special Use Permit Application
Variance Application
Plat Review Application
Land Use Permit Application
Zoning Applications
  • Communication Tower Application
  • Planning Board / BoA Application
  • Subdivision Application
  • Watershed SIA Application
  • Watershed SIA Checklist
  • Floodplain Development Permit
  • Flood Damage Repair Permit
  • Application for Vacation Rental Certificate
  • Vacation Rental Inspection Checklist

Comprehensive Plan
  • Adopted Version (May 10, 2010)


​Maps
  • 1 - Western North Carolina
  • 2 - Madison County Townships
  • 3 - Current Zoning & Land Use
  • 4 - Parcel Ownership
  • 5A - Recreation & Motorcycle Routes
  • 5B - Hiking & Biking
  • 6 - Water Resources
  • 7 - Land Cover
  • 8 - Topography
  • 9 - Educational Institutions
  • 10 - Agricultural Soils
  • 11 - Present Use Value Parcels
  • 12 - Transportation
  • 13 - Building Permits
  • 14 - Fire Districts & Stations
  • 15 - Communications Infrastructure
  • Transportation

Ordinances, Plans and Zoning
 Permit Fee Schedule
Comprehensive Plan
Land Use Ordinance
Noise Ordinance
Subdivison Ordinance
Zoning Parcel Lookup
Watershed Protection Ordinance
​Mountain Ridge Protection Ordinance
2023 Fee Schedule

Planning Fee Schedule

Facts Sheets
Land Use Districts
  • [RA] Residential-Agricultural Land Uses
  • [I] Industrial Land Uses
  • [C] Commercial Land Uses

Sketch Plans
  • Specifications for Sketch Plans

Preliminary Plats
  • Specifications for Preliminary Plats

Final Plat
  • Specifications for Final Plats​
Special Uses
  • Special Uses Procedure​

Vacation Rentals
  • Special Requirements for Vacation Rentals
  • Vacation Rentals Projects Over Three

Zoning Changes
  • Zoning Fact Sheet

Variances
  • Variance Fact Sheet​

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  • Home
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