Zoning Library › North Carolina › Concord, NC
Concord, NC zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed
Is a drive-thru allowed in Concord, NC?
A drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right (no conditional use permit, special exception or rezoning) in these zoning districts: C-1, C-1-CD, C-1-CU, C-2, C-2-CD, C-2-CU.
It is not allowed in 28 districts (mostly residential; see the table).
10 districts are not confirmed yet.
Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district
| District | Drive-thru restaurant | What the code says | Section | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| AG-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| B-1 | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| B-1-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-1 | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-1-CD | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-1-CU | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-2 | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-2-CD | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| C-2-CU | By right | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" marked P in C-1 and C-2 (read from PDF cell positions). Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. No Sec. 8.3 supplemental standard cited on the row; normal site plan, parking/stacking and buffer rules apply. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| CC | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8 cell blank for CC; Sec. 7.9.4.B: "No 'auto-oriented' use(s)." | CDO Table 8.1.8; 7.9.4.B | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| CC-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8 cell blank for CC; Sec. 7.9.4.B: "No 'auto-oriented' use(s)." Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Table 8.1.8; 7.9.4.B | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| CD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| I-1 | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| I-1-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| I-1-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| I-2 | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| I-2-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| I-2-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| MX-CC2 | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| MX-IB | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| MX-NC | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| not-yet-zoned | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| O-I | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| O-I-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| O-I-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| PID | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| PRD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| PUD | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| R-CO | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 | |
| RC | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RC-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RC-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RE | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RE-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RL | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-1 | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-2 | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-2-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RM-2-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RV | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RV-CD | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| RV-CU | Not allowed | Table 8.1.8: "Restaurant, drive-thru or drive-in" cell blank (not allowed) in this district. Conditional/special-use version of the base district: base rule applies unless the approved conditions limit uses. | CDO Art. 8, Table 8.1.8 | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
| TND | Not confirmed | Not read closely enough to state a rule. | apps.concordnc.gov | 2026-11-14 |
"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.
Official zoning map layer
To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://location.cabarruscounty.us/arcgisservices/rest/services/opendata/MapServer/36 (district field: ZONINGCODE)
Cabarrus County open-data zoning layer, Concord districts (field ZONINGCODE). -CD = conditional district, -CU = older conditional use district.
Sources
How to confirm before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
- Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
- Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.
Why this library exists
I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.
If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.