Drive-Through Facility Regulations in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, drive-through facilities are primarily permitted in the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-), Commercial Mixed Use (CX-), Downtown Mixed Use (DX-), and Industrial Mixed Use (IX-) Districts. The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance strictly prohibits drive-through windows and lanes in the Residential Mixed Use (RX-) and Office Mixed Use (OX-) Districts for most commercial applications, and generally excludes them from the Transit Overlay District (-TOD) with the exception of pharmacies.
Permitted and Prohibited Districts
The allowance for drive-through operations in the City of Raleigh is determined by both the base zoning district and the specific use of the property. While the use itself (such as a restaurant or bank) might be permitted in a district, the drive-through component is often restricted to ensure pedestrian safety and neighborhood compatibility.
Prohibited Locations and Uses
Drive-through facilities are explicitly prohibited in the following scenarios within the City of Raleigh:
- Residential Mixed Use (RX-) and Office Mixed Use (OX-) Districts: These districts prohibit drive-throughs for Medical facilities [Sec. 6.4.3.B], Offices [Sec. 6.4.4.B], Personal Service uses [Sec. 6.4.9.G], Eating Establishments [Sec. 6.4.10.C], and Retail Sales [Sec. 6.4.11.D].
- Transit Overlay District (-TOD): All drive-through facilities are prohibited in the -TOD except for those associated with pharmacies [Sec. 5.5.1.B].
- Specific Housing Patterns: Drive-throughs are prohibited for Live-Work units [Sec. 6.7.3.E] and Residential Accessory Service uses [Sec. 6.8.2.I].
- Height Bonus Sites: Any building in a Frequent Transit Area that utilizes the provided height bonus is prohibited from incorporating a drive-through [Sec. 3.7.1.D6].
Restricted Locations
In high-intensity or pedestrian-oriented areas, the City of Raleigh limits the placement of drive-throughs rather than banning them entirely:
- Downtown Mixed Use (DX-) and Urban Frontages: Drive-through windows and lanes may not be placed between the street right-of-way and the building. They must be located at the side or rear of the structure [Sec. 7.2.5.A].
- Urban Frontages: No drive-through window is permitted on the side of a building that faces any Residential District [Sec. 7.2.5.A].
Technical Standards for Drive-Throughs
The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance requires specific queuing capacities and site designs to prevent traffic congestion and minimize the visual impact of drive-through lanes.
Queuing Requirements
Establishments with drive-through facilities must provide the following minimum number of on-site stacking spaces:
| Use Type | Minimum Queuing Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (with 1 drive-through lane) | 8 spaces |
| Restaurant (with more than 1 lane) | 6 spaces per lane |
| Bank (per drive-through lane) | 3 spaces |
Source: [Sec. 7.1.5.F]
Setbacks and Spacing
The City of Raleigh mandates specific distances between drive-through components and public rights-of-way or sensitive zoning districts.
| Requirement Type | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Outdoor service facility to an abutting Residential District | 100 feet |
| Fuel pump island to a public street right-of-way | 25 feet |
| Fuel pump island to a Residential District (NX-, CX-, DX-, IX- Districts) | 50 feet |
Source: [Sec. 5.3.1.J, Sec. 6.4.11.D]
Screening and Design
All drive-through lanes in the City of Raleigh must be screened from view if they are located between the building and the street. Screening must consist of a continuous evergreen hedge that is at least 36 inches high at the time of installation and reaches 48 inches within three years [Sec. 7.2.5.A]. Alternatively, a screening wall of at least 48 inches in height may be used if it is compatible with the material and color of the principal building [Sec. 7.2.5.A].
Sections Cited
- Article 3.7. Frequent Transit Development Option
- Sec. 3.4.9. Shopfront (-SH)
- Sec. 3.7.1. Frequent Transit Development Option
- Sec. 5.3.1. Special Highway Overlay Districts (-SHOD-)
- Sec. 5.5.1. Transit Overlay District (-TOD)
- Sec. 6.4.3. Medical
- Sec. 6.4.4. Office
- Sec. 6.4.9. Personal Service
- Sec. 6.4.10. Restaurant/Bar
- Sec. 6.4.11. Retail Sales
- Sec. 6.7.3. Additional Standards for Specific Accessory Uses
- Sec. 6.8.2. Temporary Use Permit Required
- Sec. 7.1.5. Additional Vehicle Parking Provisions
- Sec. 7.2.5. Screening