The City of Mount Airy currently exercises zoning and subdivision powers in a one-mile
area adjacent to the municipal limits, otherwise known as the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
The ETJ encompasses 9,023 acres of land and is primarily zoned R-20 (Residential). Land usage
in the ETJ varies and includes: agricultural lands, low-density residential dwellings,
residential (manufactured & site-built) subdivisions, strip commercial development, light
industrial uses and two (2) quarries.
On February 7, 2019, the City of Mount Airy Board of Commissioners voted (4-1) to begin the process
of eliminating the ETJ and returning zoning and subdivision powers to Surry County.
The first step in that process is to conduct a public hearing to receive public comment on the
potential elimination.
The public hearing will be held at a special meeting on Monday, May 20, 2019 at 7:00PM in the
Auditorium at Mount Airy High School, 1011 N. South Street, Mount Airy, NC. All interested
persons are invited to attend.