Matthews is one of the most competitive suburban markets around Charlotte, and buyers who want horses at home should plan to widen the search to Mint Hill, especially east of I-485, or to nearby Union County towns and unincorporated land. Riding typically means trailering out, since Mecklenburg County's park system lists one horseback riding destination. This guide covers how to sort those options by jurisdiction, tax rate and land, and what it takes to keep horses on a small acreage.
What the Matthews market looks like to a horse buyer
A 2016 NC State case study on the town's development ordinance summed up how Matthews has changed:
"Once a wooded outpost between the larger towns of Charlotte and Monroe, Matthews has largely been absorbed into the Greater Charlotte area, though it remains distinct in its own character."
NC State Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Matthews, NC: Allowing Room for Desirable Growth
Demand is strong. In Canopy Realtor Association's August 2026 report, buyer interest was strongest in Matthews, where listings averaged 4.8 showings each. Matthews recorded 80 closed sales with a median price of $522,500. Mint Hill recorded 25 sales with a median of $525,000, and Mecklenburg County's median was $468,000.
Those figures cover all homes sold. A horse property is priced on comparable farm sales, so ask for those rather than relying on a town median. Our Matthews acreage page shows land currently on the market.
First question: which government controls the parcel?
Three layers can apply in this corner of the county:
- Inside Matthews town limits, the Town of Matthews development ordinance controls whether horses and barns are allowed. Get the parcel's zoning district and the horse standards from Matthews planning staff in writing.
- Mint Hill applies its ordinance across what it calls the Mint Hill Planning Area: its corporate limits plus its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Mint Hill also straddles two counties: the state's tax table lists it in both Mecklenburg and Union.
- In a town's ETJ, a working farm can be treated differently. State law says:
"Property that is located in a city's extraterritorial planning and development regulation jurisdiction and that is used for bona fide farm purposes is exempt from the city's zoning regulation to the same extent bona fide farming activities are exempt from county zoning pursuant to this section."
The exemption applies only while the property is used for bona fide farm purposes, and the statute lists the kinds of evidence that show it, such as a farm sales tax exemption certificate or a Schedule F. A family keeping two pleasure horses may not qualify, so ask the planning department how it applies the rule to your parcel and confirm with an attorney before relying on it.
Where the horse-friendly pockets are
Mint Hill east of I-485
Mint Hill's comprehensive plan, dated November 14, 2022, points to where its farm character survives:
"Remnants of the area’s agrarian heritage can be found throughout the planning area and primarily east of I-485 with some farms still in operation."
The same plan says those areas should be preserved where appropriate to keep the town's rural, small-town character. That is a policy goal, not a zoning guarantee, so check each parcel's district. Our Mint Hill area page has more on the town.
Nearby Union County towns
Several nearby Union County towns carry very low town tax rates. The table below uses the N.C. Department of Revenue's fiscal year 2025-26 table, the latest statewide list. Union County kept its own rate at 43.42 cents for 2026-27; check Mecklenburg's and each town's current rate on the bill.
| Area | County | Town rate per $100 | Combined with county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews | Mecklenburg | 27.95 cents | 77.22 cents |
| Mint Hill | Mecklenburg | 22.50 cents | 71.77 cents |
| Mint Hill | Union | 22.50 cents | 65.92 cents |
| Stallings | Union | 18.90 cents | 62.32 cents |
| Indian Trail | Union | 17.00 cents | 60.42 cents |
| Wesley Chapel | Union | 2.25 cents | 45.67 cents |
| Fairview | Union | 2.00 cents | 45.42 cents |
| Unionville | Union | 2.00 cents | 45.42 cents |
| Mineral Springs | Union | 1.75 cents | 45.17 cents |
| Hemby Bridge | Union | 0 | 43.42 cents |
Worked example: on a property assessed at $700,000, the combined rate in Matthews works out to about $5,405 a year, compared with about $3,179 in Fairview ($700,000 divided by 100, times 0.7722 or 0.4542). Unincorporated Union County parcels pay the county rate plus a fire district rate instead of a town rate.
A low town rate tells you nothing about horses. Ask the town, or the county, which zoning rules govern the parcel, just as in the jurisdiction check above. Our Union County page covers the county more broadly.
Making a small acreage work
Small horse properties run on stored feed and good drainage. Two NC State Extension resources are worth knowing before you buy one.
Plan a dry lot from the start. Polk County Extension puts it plainly:
"Permanently installed sacrifice or dry lots are essential to smaller acreages or farms operating with higher than recommended stocking rates."
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Polk County Center, Managing Drought-Stressed Pastures
The same article says a dry lot needs plenty of water and shade. When you tour a property, look for a spot that drains well, can be fenced separately from pasture, and is reachable by a hay truck in wet weather.
Line up hay before you need it. NC State Extension reported in June 2026, and updated in September, that drought conditions were intensifying across much of North Carolina and reducing pasture growth. Its answer for buyers and sellers of hay:
"NC Hay Finder offers a free online marketplace that connects hay buyers and sellers across North Carolina."
NC State Extension, NC Hay Finder Helps Producers Navigate Drought Conditions
The tool lets you search by ZIP code and filter by distance, hay type and price. The article also recommends forage testing through the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Farmer Forage Testing Program or a commercial lab. Union County's Extension office lends a hay probe for core samples at no fee for up to three days; you supply the handheld drill it attaches to.
Where to ride
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's hiking and horseback riding page lists one equestrian option:
"Latta Nature Preserve offers 15 miles of equestrian trails for public use."
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Hiking and Horseback Riding
The county says riders can pull a horse trailer in for the day, that trails are subject to closure when wet, and that the trail hotline at (980) 314-1004 has current conditions. For other public trails within driving distance, including Union County options, see our guide to public riding trails near Charlotte.
Boarding while you search
Some riders board first and buy later. If that is your plan, read our guide to land and boarding options south of Charlotte, which covers boarding contracts and North Carolina's boarding-stable lien law. Our Matthews area page covers the town itself.
Checklist before you make an offer near Matthews
- Confirm the jurisdiction: Matthews, Mint Hill (and which county), another town, an ETJ, or unincorporated land.
- Get the zoning district and horse rules in writing from that jurisdiction.
- If you are counting on a bona fide farm exemption, document how the property qualifies and have an attorney review it.
- Walk the land for a well-drained dry lot location separate from pasture.
- Price a year of hay and bedding before you set your budget.
- Map your trailer route to the trails you will actually use.
- Ask for comparable horse property sales, not the town median.
If you want help sorting Matthews-area properties by jurisdiction and usable land, contact us.
Sources
- NC State Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Matthews, NC: Allowing Room for Desirable Growth (2016)
- Canopy Realtor Association, More Choice, Stable Prices Define Charlotte's August Housing Market
- Canopy Realtor Association, Housing Market Sortable Statistics, August 2026
- Town of Mint Hill, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)
- Town of Mint Hill, Comprehensive Plan (Nov. 14, 2022)
- North Carolina General Statutes, G.S. 160D-903, Agricultural uses
- N.C. Department of Revenue, Fiscal Year 2025-2026 County and Municipal Property Tax Rates
- Union County Weekly, Union County maintains property tax rate
- N.C. Cooperative Extension, Polk County Center, Managing Drought-Stressed Pastures
- NC State Extension, NC Hay Finder Helps Producers Navigate Drought Conditions
- N.C. Cooperative Extension, Union County Center, Equipment Rental Program
- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Hiking and Horseback Riding
