Forsyth County recently amended its Unified Development Code to allow smaller lots in the RES3 zoning category.  RES3-zoned properties must now be developed with minimum 2,000 sq. ft. homes, but the Board of Commissioners approved the reduction of minimum lot sizes in this zoning category from 14,500 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft.  The Board maintained RES3’s maximum density of 2.5 units per acre.

In its effort to make the RES3 zoning category more attractive, Forsyth County also made development of the RES4 category more difficult.  The Commission increased minimum RES4 lot sizes from 6,000 sq. ft. to 8,000 sq. ft., and decreased the maximum density from 4.0 units per acre, to 3.5 units per acre.

RES4 zoning applications filed prior to July 18th’s code amendments may continue under the prior code, though our firm is already experiencing pressure to increase RES4 lot sizes to at least 8,000 sq. ft.

Please contact Ethan Underwood with Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey & Smith, LLP  at 770-887-7761 if you have any questions regarding these code changes.