Show All Answers

1. Where can I find information about the owner or zoning district of a property?

Information regarding property parcels can be found on the Forsyth County Property Tax Viewer.

2. Where can I find information about past developments in Clemmons?

Check out our Developments Map on the Map Viewer for site plans and their conditions

3. Where can I find information about developments before a public hearing?

Details regarding development, including site plans, Technical Review Committee comments, and staff reports can be found under the Site Plan Reviews tab.

4. What is Planning?

Urban planning is the process of designing and regulating land use to guide development.

5. What is the Community Compass?

The Community Compass is the future land use plan for Clemmons. You can find the plan under the Long-Range Comprehensive Planning tab. It was adopted in 2010 and updated in 2019 after a two-year process seeking community input. It is advisory and meant to provide goals, guidelines, and objectives for Clemmons to meet.

6. What is the Planning Board?

The Planning Board is an advisory board appointed by the Village Council and composed of 9 citizens each serving staggered three-year terms. The board recommends approval or denial to Council for zoning issues. Additional information about the board, including meeting times and minutes, is located under the Planning Board tab.

7. What is Zoning?

Zoning creates different districts that each contain specific rules about how the land can be used.

8. What is the UDO?

The Unified Development Ordinances, otherwise known as the UDO, contain the definitions and specifications of development standards that are the basis of enforcement.

9. How is zoning enforced?

If a property owner is in violation of the UDO, they will receive a Notice of Violation. If compliance is not made within 10 days, they may face civil and/or criminal penalties. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division enforces zoning regulations consistent with the Clemmons UDO.

10. What constitutes a sign violation?

• Detached signs have regulations concerning height, size, quantity, and locations within the public right-of-way. Wall signs have regulations regarding the amount of signage allowed on a wall, height, projection, and placement.
• The following signs or use of signs is prohibited:
  • Flashing lights
  • Use of warning symbology
  • Temporary, non-permanent signs
  • Moving and flashing signs
  • Exterior exposed neon signs
  • Electronic message boards
  • Abandoned signs

11. What kind of accessory structures are allowed on my property?

An accessory structure is “a structure detached from a principal building on the same zoning lot, the use of which is customarily incidental to the principal building.” Examples of accessory structures include storage buildings, swimming pools, detached garages, carports, and satellite dishes. Most structures require a permit. For other inquiries about accessory structures, please contact the Planning Department at 336-766-7511.

12. Who is responsible for inspections and permitting?

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division performs all permitting and completes inspections for the Village of Clemmons. For questions regarding inspections, permits, and zoning enforcement, the Inspections Division can be reached by phone at 336-727-2624.

13. How were the digital billboards on Lewisville-Clemmons Road approved?

We are receiving a lot of questions regarding billboards on Lewisville-Clemmons Road and would like to provide the details. 

 

In June 2019, a company called Visible Properties applied to the Village of Clemmons for a permit to set up a digital billboard, also known as an off premise sign. Clemmons denied the sign permit, and the request was then presented to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval. The Zoning Board denied the permit, Visible sued, and a trial judge upheld Clemmons’ decision in December 2020. Visible Properties appealed the decision and despite Clemmons’ rigorous argument against the digital billboard, the appellate judges ruled in favor of Visible Properties.

The two billboards on Lewisville-Clemmons Road were applied for and permitted due to the court order and renovation stipulations.

 The Village fought against the installation of the digital billboards for over three years to protect the standards of the residents. 

 Following the court of appeals decision, the Village Council adopted a moratorium against off premise signs. This moratorium allowed the Village time to rewrite the entirety of the sign code. The newly adopted code was adopted by Village Council on May 8, 2023. 

Among other things, the code defined various sign types and are expressly prohibited off premise signs in 3-2.1 (B) 1 (d): 

(d) Prohibited Signs. The following signs are prohibited except where they are exempt from regulation in B.3.2.1(B)(1)(c) Exempt Signs:
(1) Off-premise signs. Off-premises signs, including but not limited to both digital and static billboards or other large outdoor advertising structures, are prohibited both on-premise and off-premise.

If you have questions about existing signs or any proposed signs, please contact the Planning Department at 336-766-7511.