Character Preservation Overlay Districts

The City of Raleigh implements overlay districts in targeted areas to supplement the base zoning districts. Overlay districts are meant to achieve a specific purpose, such as preservation of existing neighborhood-built characteristics, protecting public safety and welfare, or conserving natural areas.

View the Character Preservation Overlay Districts Brochure for more information.

Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD)

An NCOD is a zoning overlay district intended to preserve and enhance the general quality and appearance of established neighborhoods by regulating built environmental characteristics such as lot size and frontage, building setback, and building height. This district reduces conflicts between new construction and existing development and encourages compatible infill development.

Historic Overlay District (HOD)

A Historic Overlay District is a zoning overlay district more specifically crafted for preservation of neighborhoods with identified historic assets. Similarly, Raleigh Historic Landmark (RHL) designation protects individual sites of significance. Local historic designation is designed to protect and enhance the existing character of the community. Through HOD zoning, a neighborhood is protected from unmanaged change.

This is accomplished through a design review process that prioritizes preservation of historic building features and overall exterior appearance. Regulations associated with an HOD are tied to external changes to the building and property such as building materials, landscape features, architectural features, additions, demolition, or new construction.

There are two types of HOD:

General HOD (HOD-G) regulates 100 percent of all exterior changes to the lot.
Streetside HOD (HOD-S) only regulates what can be seen from the street (as defined in the Unified Development Ordinance [UDO] and explained in the “What is typically regulated?” section of this page).

What is the process for creating and implementing the Overlay District?

NCOD

Citizens submit a petition to City Council requesting analysis of neighborhood built environmental characteristics and regulations.
City Council directs staff to complete the analysis.
Staff from the City Planning Department completes the analysis and holds a neighborhood meeting for all affected property owners.
Staff presents findings to City Council. Council decides whether to authorize a text change to incorporate the neighborhood characteristics and regulations into the Unified Development Ordinance.
The Text Change public process occurs, which results in either an approval or denial. The process requires review by both the Planning Commission and City Council, including a public hearing.
If the text change is approved, it is adopted into the UDO.
A rezoning petition may then be submitted to apply the NCOD to a specific area. Rezoning petitions must be signed by a majority of the property owners within the area to be rezoned and must be received within four years of the adoption of the NCOD into the UDO.

HOD

Citizens request to meet with staff to discuss eligibility, requirements, and process.
A staff-led meeting organized by the community is held to inform residents of the request and explain benefits and responsibilities of HOD designation and the difference between Streetside and General HOD.
Citizens demonstrate neighborhood support for preparing a study.
Either the neighborhood or the city funds an architectural and historical investigation (designation report) of the significance of the buildings, structures, and/or sites of the potential HOD, as well as the boundaries of the area.
The Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC) receives the report from the investigation and determines whether the neighborhood has sufficient “special significance and integrity” to warrant overlay protection.
The designation report, RHDC’s recommendation, and citizen support are presented to City Council. If City Council direct staff to initiate the Zoning Overlay Process, the report is sent to the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR) for review.
Upon receipt of any comments received from NCDCR, staff initiates the rezoning process.
HOD Checklist
HOD FAQ

What is typically regulated?

NCOD

Lot size
Setbacks
Street frontage
Parking (total square footage and location)
Building height

HOD-G/HOD-S*

Building design
Setbacks
Materials
Architectural features
Parking (including configuration)
Building height
Landscaping/fences

*The HOD-S regulations are the same as HOD-G, except regulations only apply to the first 50 percent of a primary building, some additions, the front yard, and the first 25 percent of a vacant lot (adjacent to the street right-of-way), and when new construction is proposed. Corner lots are subject to more review because they are adjacent to two rights-of-way and measurements will be taken from both streets.

How does this affect the permitting process?

NCOD

Regulations are enforced with other zoning regulations during the standard permitting process.

HOD-G/HOD-S

Prior to standard approval processes, applicants must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for changes to the exterior of the building and property. Depending on the work proposed, this may either be a Minor Work COA, which is reviewed by staff, or a Major Work COA, which is reviewed and decided by a City Council appointed citizen commission. Applications are assessed according to the Design Guidelines for Raleigh Historic Districts and Landmarks, a document providing guidance for reviewing proposed changes in Historic Overlay Districts and to Raleigh Historic Landmarks. The guidelines are context based, and decisions may vary from district-to-district based on each neighborhood’s special character.