City of Raleigh TD: Thoroughfare District Legacy Zoning Regulations
The TD: Thoroughfare District is classified as a "Legacy District" within the City of Raleigh, meaning it is a carryover from the previous zoning code and is slated for eventual replacement by current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) designations. The City of Raleigh prohibits the addition of any new TD districts to the Official Zoning Map and strictly forbids the modification of any existing TD district boundaries [Sec. 1.3.4].
Status and Applicability of the TD District
The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance identifies the TD: Thoroughfare District as part of the "Part 10 Zoning Code" [Sec. 1.3.4]. Because this district is a legacy designation, the current UDO does not provide a standard "Allowed Principal Use Table" for it, as it does for new districts like CX (Commercial Mixed Use) or RX (Residential Mixed Use) [Sec. 6.1.4]. Instead, the TD District is maintained to govern properties already zoned as such until they are formally rezoned to a current UDO classification.
| Regulation Category | Standard/Requirement |
|---|---|
| District Classification | Legacy District [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Future Status | Slated for replacement with a current UDO zoning district [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Zoning Map Restrictions | No new TD districts may be added to the City of Raleigh Official Zoning Map [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Boundary Restrictions | Existing TD district boundaries may not be modified [Sec. 1.3.4] |
| Permitted Use Source | Governed by the prior Part 10 Zoning Code or specific conditional ordinances [Sec. 1.3.4] |
Rules of Use Interpretation
For properties within the City of Raleigh that remain under the TD: Thoroughfare District designation, the Unified Development Ordinance provides specific rules for interpreting allowed uses, particularly for conditional districts:
- Continuation of Limitations: If a conditional zoning ordinance limits property use to the legacy TD district standards, those specific use limitations continue to apply [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
- Conflict with New UDO: If a former use allowed under the legacy TD district is explicitly prohibited in the new corresponding UDO general use zoning district, that use is no longer permitted [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
- Limited and Special Uses: The determination of whether a use is "Limited" (requiring specific standards) or "Special" (requiring Board of Adjustment approval) is dictated by the current City of Raleigh UDO general use district standards [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
- More Stringent Standards: In cases of conflict, the current Raleigh UDO height, setback, parking, landscaping, and screening regulations control if they are more stringent than the original legacy district requirements [Sec. 1.2.3.B].
Generally Prohibited Uses in Raleigh
While the specific list of allowed uses for the TD district is found in the prior code, the current City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance establishes a list of uses that are prohibited across all districts, which would include the TD legacy district [Sec. 6.1.5]:
- Unauthorized Uses: Any use that is not explicitly allowed as a permitted use, limited use, or special use in the zoning district is prohibited [Sec. 6.1.5].
- Open Dumps: The establishment or maintenance of open dumps is forbidden [Sec. 6.1.5.E].
- Wrecked Vehicle Storage: The storage of two or more unlicensed, uninspected, wrecked, crushed, or partially dismantled automotive vehicles is prohibited, except as temporarily allowed in authorized towing yards [Sec. 6.1.5.H].
- Prohibited Signage: Any sign not explicitly allowed by the UDO's sign regulations or signs erected in violation of those regulations are prohibited [Sec. 6.1.5.G].
- Administrative Offices: School administrative personnel offices are prohibited from being located outside of a school facility if the site is within a Residential District [Sec. 6.1.5.F].
Sections Cited
- Sec. 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Sec. 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Sec. 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Sec. 6.1.5. Prohibited Uses