Dare County began the process of updating the Land Use Plan in April 2018, utilizing a series of public workshops to gather public input.  This updated plan was certified through the North Carolina Coastal Resource Commission on February 5, 2024.  The plan posted on this website is current.

Under the provisions of the NC Coastal Area Management Act, all coastal counties must prepare and update guidelines and policies for land use development within their jurisdictions. Such documents, commonly known as Land Use Plans (LUPs), provide local elected officials with a set of guidelines for development patterns and other land use issues that are important to the community.

Land Use Plans include policies on various topics, and implementation activities for the policies. Typically, LUPs include policies on such issues as water quality, residential and commercial development patterns, beach access, oceanfront and estuarine development, stormwater management, wastewater, and transportation.

Current Dare County Land Use Plan (2022)