resource guides
10 Triangle Dance Schools for Aspiring Ballet Dancers
From first-position beginners to more serious training, these programs give South Durham families a range of options across the Triangle.
Southpoint Access
Get the Latest SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide for Spring 2026!
Updated with information about restaurants, seasonal activities, and faith congregations. Got ideas for additions to the guide? Let me know!
durham
The "Track a Project" Toolkit
A step-by-step checklist for following a proposal from first notice to final decision.
durham
Design Districts and Corridors: Why Some Streets Have Different Rules
When nonconforming uses, lots, and structures can continue, and when they can’t.
durham
"Grandfathered" Uses: What Can Stay, Expand, Rebuild, or Change
When nonconforming uses, lots, and structures can continue, and when they can’t.
durham
Unified Development Ordinance Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the zoning terms you’ll see in Durham notices, staff reports, and neighborhood meetings.
durham
Height, Setbacks, Density: Rules That Decide Building Size and Shape
Why two nearby lots can have totally different outcomes.
durham
Housing Types in Durham: ADUs, Duplexes, Townhouses, and More
More housing doesn’t always mean big apartments - here are the in-between options Durham regulates.
durham
Buffers and Landscaping: What Separates New Developments from Homes?
What Durham requires between new development and existing homes — from boundary buffers to screening and street trees.
durham
Trees, Streams, and Floodplains: Environmental Rules Shaping What Durham Can Build
Why environmental rules can shrink the buildable area, and reshape a project’s layout.
durham
Parking and Traffic Studies: What the UDO Requires
Why parking rules vary by place - and when a project has to study its traffic impacts.
durham
Site Plans and Subdivisions: What "Approved" Actually Means
The difference between a site plan and a recorded plat (and why it matters).