Planning Department

**If you need a Zoning Permit from the Town for any project, please call ahead prior to stopping by the office. In most cases the information needed for the permit can be gathered over the phone. The Zoning Permit can then be prepared for you and left at the drive through window for you to pick up at your convenience.**

The Town of Granite Falls Planning Department serves the community by managing growth, administering development regulations, working with volunteer citizen boards such as the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment and serving as a liaison between the Town and other local, regional and state agencies.
 
Planning Department staff is available to answer questions concerning any land development ordinances including: the Zoning Ordinance, the Land Subdivision Ordinance, Water Supply Watershed Protection Ordinance and Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. For example, please contact us if you wish to find out how a property is zoned, whether a structure is located in a floodplain, where a storage building may be located, how large a sign can be or if you are ready to obtain a Zoning Permit. Planning Department staff also enforces several other Town Codes including overgrown or neglected properties and junked or abandoned vehicles. 
 
To promote growth and revitalization of the downtown business district, the Town of Granite Falls offers a Building Facade Grant to encourage downtown businesses to renovate their storefronts to historic standards.
 
In 2011, the Planning Department was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Town of Granite Falls Pedestrian Master Plan which is a policy document that evaluates the existing pedestrian network and looks at recommendations for the future. This document guides policy, planning, and design for pedestrian infrastructure throughout Granite Falls.
 

TOWN OF GRANITE FALLS IMPLEMENTS STAGE 2 MANDATORY WATER REDUCTIONS TO PROTECT LOCAL WATER SUPPLY

GRANITE FALLS, NORTH CAROLINA – Due to continued dry conditions across the region and declining water supply indicators, the Town of Granite Falls has implemented Stage 2: Mandatory Water Reductions under its Water Shortage Response Plan.

This action follows regional drought conditions identified within the Catawba-Wateree River Basin, where Stage 2 drought conditions require immediate conservation efforts to protect shared water resources and preserve drinking water availability.

Stage 2 conditions indicate that water supply levels are significantly below seasonal norms and that prolonged shortages are possible without immediate reductions in water use.

Town officials are urging all residents, businesses, and institutions to take immediate action to reduce nonessential water use.

Under Stage 2, the following restrictions are required for all Granite Falls water customers:

·         No lawn watering or irrigation is permitted

·         Watering of shrubs, trees, and flowers is limited to:

o   7:00–9:00 a.m. and 7:00–9:00 p.m.

o   Hand-held hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles only

·         Washing of driveways, sidewalks, and exterior surfaces is prohibited, except when necessary and approved

·         Restaurants may only serve water upon customer request

·         Filling of swimming pools is restricted to Wednesdays and Saturdays and requires a permit

·         All customers must eliminate unnecessary water use, including commercial and industrial operations

These restrictions build upon previously encouraged conservation measures, which are now mandatory and enforceable.