Chapter 18 — Subdivisions and Land Development, Article 10 — GENERAL BUFFER REGULATIONS
Buffer Protection Requirements.
All undisturbed buffers (whether exterior buffers or stream buffers or any other designation) shall be identified with orange, four-foot tree-save fencing prior land-disturbance. Tree-save fencing shall remain in place until issuance of Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion.
Augmentation.
All buffers are required to be undisturbed, except as provided below. Undisturbed buffers shall be augmented, however, with plantings in order to satisfy requirements of the Forsyth County Buffer Standards if sparsely vegetated.
Prohibited Encroachments.
Prohibited buffer encroachments include, but are not limited to, buildings, pavement, parking, service areas, detention ponds, roads, septic tanks, septic drain fields, and walls, unless otherwise specified in Section 18-11. A buffer may be disturbed for approved access and utility crossings including, but not limited to, water and sewer lines, drainage pipes, and gas lines provided that it does so via a perpendicular crossing that does not run parallel within the buffer. An exception to a perpendicular crossing restriction may be requested for Side and Rear Buffers. In addition, the removal of non-native, invasive species is allowed within zoning buffers at the discretion of the county arborist. If a required buffer cannot provide a visually impervious screen, it shall be supplemented with additional plantings as specified in the Forsyth County Buffer Standards. Specific buffer types are defined below.
Buffer Measurement.
The specified width of a buffer is measured as extending along the entire portion of the common property line and from the common property line extending into the interior of the subject parcel.
Buffer Controls by Type.
The following regulations are found in various chapters of this Code, including Chapter 10 General Provisions, Chapter 16 Supplementary Regulations and Chapters 11, 12, 14 regulating Zoning Districts. For convenience, these regulations are itemized here.
Forsyth County Buffer Standards.
The intent of the Forsyth County Buffer Standards is to provide visual screening between adjoining uses. Required buffers must be planted where vegetation is non-existent or where disturbed for approved access in accordance with the following standards. In cases where the buffer is sparsely vegetated, supplemental planting, incorporating existing trees, shall be required in a manner and utilizing materials as approved by the County Arborist in order to satisfy the intent of these Buffer Standards.
Buffer Width Minimum Planting Rows <30’ 2 30’ to 39’ 3 40’ to 49’ 4 50’+ 5 plus 1 row for each additional 15 feet