BUS: Business Legacy District Regulations in the City of Raleigh
The BUS: Business designation is classified as a Legacy District within the City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These districts are governed by the predecessor "Part 10 Zoning Code" and are currently being transitioned into modern City of Raleigh Mixed Use districts, such as Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) or Commercial Mixed Use (CX-). Under the current City of Raleigh code, no new land may be added to the BUS: Business designation, and existing boundaries cannot be modified [Section 1.3.4].
Legacy Status and Transition Rules
In the City of Raleigh, the BUS: Business district is part of a category of zoning designations that exist in the "Part 10 Zoning Code" and will eventually be replaced by modern City of Raleigh UDO districts. Because these are transitioning categories, the City of Raleigh applies specific "Rules of Interpretation" to manage development [Section 1.3.4].
Interpretation of Legacy Uses
If a conditional zoning ordinance in the City of Raleigh limits property uses to the former BUS: Business legacy district, those specific use limitations continue to apply with the following caveats:
- Conflict with General Use: If a former allowed use in the BUS: Business district is not allowed in the new corresponding City of Raleigh UDO general use zoning district, the use is no longer permitted [Section 1.2.3.D].
- Standards for Limited/Special Uses: For properties in the City of Raleigh retaining a legacy designation, any "Limited Use" or "Special Use" determinations are made based on the requirements of the new City of Raleigh UDO general use district [Section 1.2.3.D].
- Process and Calculations: All approval processes, as well as the calculation of height, setbacks, and parking, must follow the modern City of Raleigh UDO regulations rather than legacy standards [Section 1.2.3.B, Section 1.2.3.C].
General Prohibitions in the City of Raleigh
The City of Raleigh explicitly prohibits certain activities and uses across all districts, including legacy districts like BUS: Business. Any use not explicitly permitted by right, as a limited use, or as a special use in the City of Raleigh Allowed Principal Use Table is prohibited [Section 6.1.4, Section 6.1.5].
Prohibited Uses and Structures
According to the City of Raleigh UDO, the following are prohibited:
- Unlisted Business Uses: Any use of a prima facie business, commercial, or industrial character not specifically allowed in the current City of Raleigh zoning districts [Section 6.1.5.A].
- Open Dumps: The establishment or operation of an open dump is forbidden in all City of Raleigh jurisdictions [Section 6.1.5.E].
- Certain Vehicles: The storage of two or more unlicensed, uninspected, wrecked, crushed, or partially dismantled automotive vehicles, except as temporarily allowed in authorized towing yards [Section 6.1.5.H].
- Specific Signage: Signs that rotate, move mechanically, flash, or mimic traffic signals are prohibited throughout the City of Raleigh [Section 7.3.15].
Successor Mixed Use Districts
Because the BUS: Business designation is a legacy category, the City of Raleigh has established a new suite of Mixed Use districts to accommodate modern business and commercial activity. These are the districts intended to eventually replace all BUS: Business properties [Section 1.3.1, Section 3.1.2].
| District Component | Raleigh UDO Designation | Purpose/Intent |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Mixed Use | NX- | Residential, retail, and service uses within walking distance of neighborhoods. |
| Commercial Mixed Use | CX- | Variety of residential, retail, service, and commercial uses. |
| Downtown Mixed Use | DX- | Intense mixed-use development for the City’s downtown area. |
| Office Mixed Use | OX- | Balanced office and employment uses with convenience retail. |
| Office Park | OP- | Preservation of land for office and employment uses. |
| Industrial Mixed Use | IX- | Light industrial and manufacturing with limited upper-story housing. |
Allowed Signage for Business Districts
For properties currently under a City of Raleigh legacy or mixed-use designation that allows business activity, the following signage standards apply [Section 7.3.2]:
| Sign Type | Permission Status | Standard Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.4 |
| Projecting Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.5 |
| Awning/Gallery Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.6 |
| Window Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.7 |
| Low Profile Ground Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.8 |
| Medium Profile Ground Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.9 |
| High Profile Ground Sign | Permitted | Section 7.3.10 |
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3 Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.1 General Use Zoning Districts
- Section 1.3.4 Legacy Districts
- Section 3.1.2 District Components
- Section 6.1.4 Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 6.1.5 Prohibited Uses
- Section 7.3.2 Signs Allowed by District
- Section 7.3.15 Prohibited Signs