Residential Districts in the UDO

The intent of the Residential District is to protect established residential neighborhoods as well as promote planned and efficient future residential developments. There are five residential zoning districts: R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, and R-10.

Housing Options

If your property is zoned with a residential district, there are four different 'Options' that you can choose to develop under:

• Conventional Development Option - A pattern of residential development that provides a majority of property owners with substantial yards on their own property. Under the Conventional Development Option no preserved common open space is required, and the minimum lot size is limited to the lot size for the respective district. It is important to know that properties zoned R-4, R-6, or R-10 may be held to ‘Residential Infill Compatibility’ standards. See UDO Sec. 2.2.7.B to determine applicability.
  • Consult the following UDO sections to view the specific standards for each building type developed under the Conventional Development Option.
    • Detached House (UDO Sec. 2.2.1), Attached House (UDO Sec. 2.2.2), Townhouse (UDO Sec. 2.2.3), Apartment (UDO Sec. 2.2.4), Civic Building (UDO Sec. 2.2.5), Open Lot (UDO Sec. 2.2.6), Tiny House (UDO Sec. 2.2.8), General Building (UDO Sec. 2.2.9).
• Compact Development Option - A Compact Development permits a reduction in lot size for residential subdivisions in exchange for an increase in common open space. This allows for efficient residential subdivisions and ample amenity area for the residents. See UDO Sec. 2.3.1 for General Requirements.
  • Open space thresholds are district-based and are listed in Sec. 2.3.1. For projects under these minimum open space thresholds, only the Conventional option can be used. 
  • Applicants that choose the Compact Development option must set aside common open space. Requirements for the configuration, use and management of common open space are set forth in UDO Sec 2.5. Common Open Space Requirements.
  • Consult the following UDO sections to view the specific standards for each building type developed under the Compact Development Option.
    • Detached House (UDO Sec. 2.3.2), Attached House (UDO Sec. 2.3.3), Townhouse (UDO Sec. 2.3.4), Apartment (UDO Sec. 2.3.5), Civic Building (UDO Sec. 2.3.6), Open Lot (UDO Sec. 2.3.7).

• Conservation Development Option - A Conservation Development trades smaller lot sizes (with reduced setbacks) and additional density in exchange for preserving common open space. This allows for more efficient layout of lots, streets and utilities, promotes a mix of housing, and maintains the natural character of an area through the preservation of open space, recreation areas, environmental features, and scenic vistas.
  • Open space thresholds are district-based and are listed in UDO Sec. 2.4.1. For projects under these minimum open space thresholds, only the Conventional option can be used.
  • Applicants that choose to use the Conservation Development Option must set aside 40% of the total project area or the minimum district-based requirements, whichever is greater, as common open space. Requirements for the configuration, use and management of common open space are set forth in Article 2.5. Common Open Space Requirements.
  • Consult the following UDO sections to view the specific standards for each building type developed under the Conservation Development Option.
    • Detached House (UDO Sec. 2.4.2), Attached House (UDO Sec. 2.4.3), Townhouse (UDO Sec. 2.4.4), Apartment (UDO Sec. 2.4.5), Civic Building (UDO Sec. 2.4.6), Open Lot (UDO Sec. 2.4.7).
• Frequent Transit Development Option - A Frequent Transit Area as designated in the City's Comprehensive Plan encourages density and growth in areas served by high-frequency transit, defined as bus or other transit service where the time between vehicles will be 15 minutes or less during peak service periods. The Frequent Transit Development Option permits higher-density development than the underlying zoning might otherwise allow.
  • To determine whether or not a property is within a Frequent Transit Area (as identified in the City’s Comprehensive Plan) consult the online mapping application, iMAPS and turn on the layer titled 'Urban Form' (this layer can be found under 'Planning and Development' 'Raleigh Planning and Development' groups). To learn more about utilizing iMaps please consult the 'Find my Zoning' webpage.
  • To view the specific standards for the Frequent Development Option, navigate to UDO Sec. 2.7.1.

Additional Housing Patterns

In addition to the four different Housing Options, there are other Housing Patterns which have their own set of standards. The guiding standards for the following Additional Housing Patterns in Residential Districts can be found below:

• Cottage Court - UDO Sec. 2.6.1: A Cottage Court is a group of small, detached houses, attached houses, townhouses (two-unit maximum per building), or tiny houses sharing a common courtyard. The courtyard enhances the character of the area through the provision of consolidated open space. A Cottage Court may be developed on individual lots or with a common form of ownership.
• Accessory Dwelling - UDO Sec. 2.6.3:The Accessory Dwelling housing pattern provides for the development of additional dwelling units on a lot as an ‘accessory’ use to another ‘principal’ use.
• Flag Lots - UDO Sec. 2.6.4: A Flag Lot is an irregularly shaped property with a narrow portion of land touching a street only wide enough to provide access to a larger portion of the lot where buildings are permitted. The creation of a Flag Lot typically results in an adjacent residual lot with greater frontage along the same street. Flag Lots promote efficient use of land where existing lots are very deep. In exchange for some alternative minimum dimensional standards, only Tiny Houses are permitted on Flag Lots. ADUs are not permitted on Flag Lots.
• Detached House Additions - UDO Sec. 2.6.2: A Detached House Addition is when an existing detached house is expanded and converted into an attached house or apartment building. Additional regulations are required for these conversions.

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