Download GIS Data
The tables below list a number of GIS layers that may be downloaded to your computer. The layers are contained in zip files and are in shapefile format. They are intended for use with GIS or CAD software. Each zip file contains the components of a shapefile and may contain metadata in XML format. New shapefiles are generated on a weekly basis via export from the Town’s corporate geodatabase. The Updates column indicates when the layer may be modified.
Shapefiles can be viewed with the current version of ESRI's ArcExplorer, available on ESRI's download page.
Base Map Layers
| Layer | Description | Updates | Feature Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address Points | Point features representing locations of all street addresses | weekly | point | 2,185 KB |
| Street Centerline | Centerline of street corridors | weekly | line | 815 KB |
| Stream Centerlines | Centerline of hydrographic features | weekly | line | 3,252 KB |
| Waterbodies | Hydrographic polygon features | weekly | polygon | 2,854 KB |
| 2ft Elevation Contours | 2 ft topographic contour lines derived from 6” resolution digital orthophotography |
~5 years last revised 2003 |
line | 71,220 KB |
| 2003 Planimetrics (DXF) | Planimetric features including roads, sidewalks, parking lots and building footprints digitized from 2003 orthophotography. (CAD format) | last revised 2003 | polygon | 12,840 KB |
| 2003 Planimetrics (SHP) | Planimetric features including roads, sidewalks, parking lots and building footprints digitized from 2003 orthophotography. (Shapefile format) | last revised 2003 | polygon | 19,052 KB |
| Building Footprints | Outline of structures digitized from 6” resolution digital orthophotography | weekly | polygon | 3,259 KB |
| Points of Interest | Point features representing locations of various places within the community | quarterly | point | 7 KB |
Boundary Layers
| Layer | Description | Updates | Feature Type | File Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate Limits | Limits of Chapel Hill incorporated area |
as needed last revised 6/2006 |
polygon | 28 KB |
| Jurisdictional Limits | Limits of Chapel Hill zoning jurisdiction |
as needed last revised 6/2006 |
polygon | 13 KB |
| Urban Service Boundary | Area within which Town provides urban services (water and sewer) |
as needed last revised 5/2000 |
polygon | 30 KB |
| Zoning Districts | Zoning district boundaries with primary zoning designations |
as needed last revised 9/2008 |
polygon | 238 KB |
| Overlay Zoning Districts | Historic, Neighborhood Conservation. & Airport Hazard overlay zoning districts |
as needed last revised 1/2008 |
polygon | 65 KB |
| Watershed Protection District | Jordan Lake watershed protection district boundary |
ongoing updated per NC Division of Water Quality last modified 6/1993 |
polygon | 12 KB |
| FEMA Floodplain Boundaries | Floodway, 100 year, and 500 year floodplain boundaries from FEMA digital flood insurance rate maps |
updated per NC Floodplain Mapping Program last revised 2006 |
polygon | 6,788 KB |
| Neighborhoods | Chapel Hill neighborhoods including single family subdivisions, townhouse/condominium developments and apartment complexes | as needed last revised 11/2011 |
polygon | 145 KB |
| Town Owned Property | Parcels owned by the Town of Chapel Hill | quarterly | polygon | 135 KB |
