Key Intergovernmental Relationships

The Town of Chapel Hill works closely with neighboring municipalities, Orange County, and state and federal agencies to coordinate services, plan for regional growth, and secure funding for key initiatives. Through partnerships in areas like public safety, transit, housing, and infrastructure, Chapel Hill ensures efficient service delivery and alignment with broader regional and governmental goals.

Town of Carrboro

  • Receives fixed-route, EZ Rider and Shared Ride transit services from Chapel Hill 
  • Appoints two members to Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Board and two members to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Board of Directors 
  • Receives traffic signal system services from Chapel Hill 
  • Mutual aid agreement for fire protection; limited joint training with Chapel Hill; uses Chapel Hill’s fire training facilities 
  • Mutual aid agreement for police services 
  • Chapel Hill operates 30 public housing apartments in Carrboro 
  • Open facilities policy for recreation services 
  • Participates in the Orange County Joint Planning Agreement 
  • Regular staff communication regarding services and policies 
  • Development at borders affect each community 

Orange County

  • Mutual aid agreement for police services 
  • Appoints two members to Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Board, provides landfill and recycling services to Chapel Hill 
  • Appoints two members to OWASA Board of Directors 
  • Participates in Joint Planning Agreement 
  • Operates 911 emergency communications system; dispatches fire and police service units 
  • Provides jail services for Chapel Hill 
  • Provides tax assessing and collection services for Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill provides a tax collection service point for Orange County 
  • Provides grants to Chapel Hill for recreation, library services, and Project Turnaround; Chapel Hill provides grants to Orange County Senior Center, Economic Development Commission and Retired Senior Volunteer program. 
  • Open facilities policy for recreation services 
  • Enforces soil and erosion control in Town of Chapel Hill and Regulated Recyclables Ordinance 

Town of Hillsborough

  • Mutual aid agreement for fire protection; uses Chapel Hill’s fire training facilities 
  • Mutual aid agreement for police services 
  • Appoints two members of the Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Board

Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA)

  • Chapel Hill appoints five members of the nine-member OWASA Board of Directors 
  • Reviews utility plans related to standards and specifications 
  • Mutual aid agreement for emergency response 
  • Extends water and sewer services in Chapel Hill zoning jurisdiction in accordance with the policies of the Council 
  • Maintains fire hydrants used by Chapel Hill fire department 
  • Chapel Hill purchases water and sewer services from OWASA

Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System

  • Must submit development applications to Chapel Hill for approval when sites are in the Chapel Hill zoning jurisdiction 
  • Joint use agreements for use of some recreation facilities 
  • Pays for school resource officers provided by Chapel Hill police department in high school and middle schools 
  • Chapel Hill pays cost of providing school crossing guards at elementary schools 
  • May designate and “reserve” school sites under Chapel Hill zoning ordinance 
  • Issues permits required under the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance

University of North Carolina

  • Purchases fixed-route and Shared Ride transit service from Chapel Hill; provides on-campus service equivalent to EZ Rider; provides Point-to-Point transportation service for students, staff and faculty 
  • Provides refuse collection and recycling services for University properties 
  • Traffic signals and Town streets in University campus are maintained by Chapel Hill 
  • Fire protection services are provided by Chapel Hill; University budget contributes part of the revenues used by the state to pay part of the cost of fire protection services 
  • Mutual aid agreement for police services and other emergencies 
  • Must submit development applications to Chapel Hill when sites are within the Chapel Hill zoning jurisdiction 
  • Joint Staff Committee meets quarterly

City of Durham

  • Competes with Chapel Hill for transportation funding 
  • Provides staff for Metropolitan Planning Organization (Transportation Advisory Committee) 
  • Durham-Chapel Hill Work Group and request by Town of Chapel Hill for joint planning process 
  • Development at border affects each community

Durham County

  • Portion of Chapel Hill is in Durham County 
  • Provides tax assessing and tax collection services for Chapel Hill portion of County 
  • Durham-Chapel Hill Work Group

Chatham County

  • Development at border affects each community 

Triangle Transit Authority

  • Chapel Hill appoints one member of the 13-member governing board 
  • Provides bus service in Chapel Hill connecting to Durham, Research Triangle Park and other areas of the Triangle 
  • Competes with Chapel Hill for transit funding from the federal and state governments

Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG)

  • Chapel Hill appoints one delegate and one alternate to the board of delegates 
  • The Town pays dues to support basic operations of the TJCOG and receives planning and other services

State of North Carolina

  • The State established the Town by granting a municipal charter 
  • The Town’s powers are granted by the State, and the State imposes limits on the powers of the Town 
  • The State constructed and maintains a road network within Town limits 
  • The State is the conduit for transportation improvement funds used to maintain roads and to maintain and operate the transit system 
  • The State collects certain taxes and shares proceeds with the Town (sales tax, beer and wine tax, etc.) that amounts to about 19% of the total General Fund revenues

United States Government

  • The Town is subject to relevant federal laws and regulations 
  • Federal agencies provide grants that help support the transit system and transportation planning 
  • The Town’s Community Development and HOME programs are fully funded by the federal government 
  • The Public Housing program is funded almost entirely by the federal government 
  • The Town occasionally receives grants for special purposes from federal agencies, including the Department of Justice
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