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Article 6 Density Bonuses
6-21 Workforce Housing
Wake County Unified Development Code
6-2
6-21-2 Bonuses
The following density bonuses will be granted to developments in which the developer commits to
restricting housing rental or sales prices to the following levels:
(A)
One extra dwelling unit is allowed for each 4 rental units restricted to occupancy by
households with incomes of less than 50% of the Wake County median income, as
determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
(B)
One extra dwelling unit is allowed for each 4 sales (ownership) units restricted to
occupancy by households with incomes of less than 80% of the Wake County median
income, as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD).
6-21-3 Combination with County Financial Incentives
Workforce housing density bonuses are not allowed for housing units that receive direct financial
assistance or subsidies from Wake County.
6-21-4 Rental Contracts
Approval of any plans or plats that include bonus density for providing rental workforce housing units
may not occur until there is a contract between the property owner and Wake County, which must be
binding on future owners of the designated workforce housing lots. The contract must be
administered by the Housing and Community Revitalization Division of the Wake County Human
Services Department, and include at least the following provisions:
(A)
All rentals must be approved by the Housing and Community Revitalization Division of the
Wake County Human Services Department to ensure occupancy by qualifying households
in accordance with the following eligibility criteria:
(1)
Family income at the time of occupancy may not exceed the limits set forth in Sec. 6-
21-2. Families whose income increases above the eligibility requirements may
continue to occupy the rental unit, unless otherwise required through terms of the
lease.
(2)
At least one member of a qualifying household must have lived or worked in Wake
County for the past 12 months.
(B)
The contract must apply to each of the designated workforce housing units, and continue to
affect a particular unit for a minimum period of 15 years after the initial rental of that unit.
(C)
Every change in occupancy during the 15-year term of the contract must be approved by
the Housing and Community Revitalization Division of the Wake County Human Services
Department to assure continued compliance with eligibility criteria.
(D)
The maximum rent allowed must be computed by multiplying the applicable percentage of
median income by HUD’s reported Wake County median income at the time of the
transaction, then multiplying the resulting value by the maximum percentage of income
spent for housing, as recommended by the mortgage banking industry. The value for
median income used in calculating maximum allowable rent must be adjusted to reflect the
maximum family size appropriate for the number of bedrooms, as determined by the
Housing and Community Revitalization Division of the Wake County Human Services
Department.