Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant

Bryan County, in parternship with the cities of Richmond Hill and Pembroke, has been awarded a SS4A Planning Grant. This is a federal grant, which will fund the development of a comprehensive safety action plan, also known as a Vision Zero Plan. This plan will study existing conditions and the number of fatalities and serious injuries of all users of the County and City roads. This information will inform a list of projects and strategies to reduce or eliminate these fatalities and injuries. The plan will also outline how this reduction will be measured and the timeline and metrics for reducing or eliminating these incidents. The County and Cities will have future public input events for input on developing this plan, which will be publicized here and on our social media.

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Planning and Zoning Commission/Board of Adjustment

Bryan County will have an opening on the Planning and Zoning Commission/Board of Adjustment Board starting January 1, 2026.  The Planning and Zoning Commission is responsible for conducting public hearings on rezoning, conditional use permits and sketch plat applications, proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance, and proposed amendments and updates to the County's Comprehensive Plan.  The Planning and Zoning Commission makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on these issues.  The Planning and Zoning Commission also serves as the Board of Adjustment, which conducts public hearings on variance applications and appeals of administrative decisions.  The Board of Adjustment makes the final decision on these matters.

This Board meets once a month (third Tuesday of the month) at 6:30 p.m.  Meeting location alternates between Pembroke and Richmond Hill.  Individuals interested in serving on this Board must be a resident of unincorporated Bryan County and be committed to attending the monthly meetings.  If you are interested in serving on this Board, submit an application through the County's website.  Even if you have previously applied for this Board or another board/committee, you need to submit a new application.  Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, but the Community Development Department encourages interested individuals to apply as soon as possible, as the Board of Commissioners should make the appointment at their January or February 2026 meeting.  

Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission/Board of Adjustment serve a four-year term, but the person appointed to this vacancy will be completing an un-expired term.  This appointment will be until February 28, 2027, but the person selected for this vacancy may be re-appointed at the end of this term at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners.

If you have questions about the Planning and Zoning Commission/Board of Adjustment or would like more information, contact Amanda Clement, Assistant Community Development Director or Audra Miller, Community Development Director.  

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Business and Alcohol License Renewals

Business License (Occupation Tax) and Alcohol License renewal period has ended.  Community Development processed 107 commercial, 175 home office, 13 home service, and 2 home trade business renewals from October 1, 2025, through January 30, 2026.  Thank you to everyone who renewed their business license and paid their occupation tax by the January 31, 2026, deadline.  For those businesses who have not renewed their license/paid their occupation tax, you can still renew, but a 1.5% penalty will be charged monthly until paid.  For those businesses and home occupations that do not renew by July 30, 2026, the Community Development Department will note these businesses as inactive/closed.  

For alcohol licenses, Community Development processed 29 renewals during the same time period.  Thank you to alcohol license holders for timely renewing.  As a reminder, anyone selling alcohol in unincorporated Bryan County must have a local alcohol license in addition to the state license.  

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Historic Preservation Survey

The results of the Historic Preservation Survey are now available. You can access the report of the results and the interactive map results by clicking on the buttons below.