The Board is composed of seven regular members and an additional two alternate members who are appointed by the Council for three-year terms.  Regular and alternate members hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified.  Any vacancy resulting from a cause other than expiration of term is filled only for the unexpired portion of the term.  Regular members cannot succeed themselves after serving a second full term without an intervening period of one year, and appointment for more than half of the unexpired portion of term is considered as appointment for a full term.  Alternate members will attend all meetings and will substitute to maintain a voting body of seven members.  They will additionally substitute for those members who have to recuse for a particular request.  In the case of recusals, substitution shall be allowed by rotation on a case by case basis.

  The Board holds meetings regularly once each month unless there is not sufficient business to warrant a meeting, but not more than sixty days shall expire without a regular or special meeting. 

            Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson.  Notice shall be given verbally or in writing and delivered personally to each member or left at their residence not less than forty-eight hours prior to the time of the meeting; provided, that the minimum time period for notice to a member may be waived by such member if he/she is present at the special meeting.

            The Board must also cause written notice of the special meeting, stating its general purpose, to be posted at the door of its meeting place, to be mailed or delivered to each news media, and/or person(s) who has filed a request for notice with the City Clerk's Office, at least forty-eight hours before the special meeting.

            All regular and special meetings are held in the Melvin Municipal Office Building, except when adjourned to another location or conducted as a remote meeting in accordance with State law.  All meetings are open to the public.  Four members constitute a quorum, but the concurrence of at least four members is required before the Board may reverse any order, requirements, decision, or determination of the Zoning official, or decide in favor of the applicant any matter upon which it is required to pass under the zoning regulations.  Every decision of the Board is subject to review by the Superior Court of Guilford County by proceedings in the nature of certiorari instituted within thirty (30) days of the decision of the Board, but not otherwise.

The Board of Adjustment shall have the following powers and duties:

            (a) To hear and decide appeals from and review any zoning order, requirement, decision, determination, or interpretation made by an administrative official charged with enforcing this Ordinance;

            (b) To review appeals from the proceedings of the Historic Preservation Commission concerning the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness, limited to certiorari review on the official record of proceedings;

            (c) To hear and decide requests for any special exceptions which are specifically delegated to it by this Ordinance;

            (d) To vary and modify application of zoning regulations in harmony with their general purpose and intent and in accordance with general and specific rules contained therein;

            (e) To hear and decide requests for variances from the zoning provisions of this Ordinance in cases where special conditions would make strict and literal interpretation and enforcement of the zoning provisions of this Ordinance result in a loss of privileges shared by other properties within the same zoning district;

            (f) To hear and decide requests for special use permits which are specifically delegated to it by this Ordinance;

            (g) To interpret zoning maps and pass upon disputed questions of district boundary lines and similar questions as they arise in the administration of this Ordinance;

            (h) To determine upon application of an owner, or referral from the Enforcement Officer, whether a proposed nonconforming use is equal or less intensive than an existing, legal nonconforming use, in accordance with Section 30-4-11.2 (nonconforming use of land); and’

(i) To hear and decide all other matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under this Ordinance; 

The Board elects a Chairperson and Vice Chair from its members, each of whom serves for a term of one year and can be reappointed.  An employee of the City shall serve as secretary to the Board and shall be responsible for the official records of the Commission and transmit official decisions of the Commission to the City Council and the public.

            The Board can make no expenditure or contract any indebtedness for which the City is liable without approval of the Council.  Members serve without compensation.

Pursuant to City Code of Ordinance Section 2-142, no member may discuss, advocate, or vote on any matter in which he/she has a separate, private, or monetary interest, either direct or indirect, and no member may discuss before the Council any matter which has been, is, or will be considered by the Board and in which he/she has a separate, private, or monetary interest, either direct or indirect.  Any member who violates this provision is subject to removal.

            Pursuant to NCGS 160D-109, a member of the Board shall not participate in or vote on any quasi-judicial matter in a manner that would violate affected persons' constitutional rights to an impartial decision maker. Impermissible violations of due process include, but are not limited to, a member having a fixed opinion prior to hearing the matter that is not susceptible to change, undisclosed ex parte communications, a close familial, business, or other associational relationship with an affected person, or a financial interest in the outcome of the matter.  If an objection is raised to a member's participation at or prior to the hearing or vote on a particular matter and that member does not recuse himself or herself, the remaining members of the Board shall by majority vote rule on the objection.  A "close familial relationship" means a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, grandparent, or grandchild. The term includes the step, half, and in-law relationships.

            The Board follows the procedures set forth in Section 30-3-7 and Article 4 of the Land Development Ordinance (Chapter 30 of the Greensboro Code of Ordinances).  In addition, the Board has the power to adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper discharge of its duties, which may be filed with the City Clerk.

            The Board makes a report to the City Council annually before the first day of August, giving summary information regarding the matters brought before it for consideration and the action taken on those matters.