Guide to Hotel, Motel, and Lodging Regulations in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, hotels, motels, and inns are primarily permitted in Mixed Use districts, including the Office Park (OP-), Commercial Mixed Use (CX-), Downtown Mixed Use (DX-), and Industrial Mixed Use (IX-) districts. While high-intensity lodging like hotels is restricted in residential zones, the City of Raleigh allows smaller-scale options such as Bed and Breakfasts in the Residential-10 (R-10) district and Short-Term Rentals across all residential and mixed-use districts subject to specific limited use standards [Section 6.1.4].
Allowed Zoning Districts for Lodging
The City of Raleigh categorizes overnight lodging into five distinct types: Bed and Breakfast, Hospitality House, Hotel/Motel/Inn, Hostel, and Short-Term Rental. Each has a specific set of permissions across the various zoning districts.
Overnight Lodging Use Table
The following table outlines where different lodging types are permitted (P), allowed with limited use standards (L), or require a Special Use Permit (S).
| Use Category | R-1 to R-6 | R-10 | RX- | OP- | OX- | NX- | CX- | DX- | IX- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel, Motel, Inn | -- | -- | -- | P | S | -- | P | P | P |
| Bed and Breakfast | -- | L | L | -- | P | P | P | P | -- |
| Hospitality House | -- | L | P | -- | P | -- | P | P | P |
| Hostel | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | P | P | P |
| Short-Term Rental | L | L | L | -- | L | L | L | L | -- |
[Section 6.1.4]
Specific Use Standards by Lodging Type
Hotel, Motel, and Inn
In the City of Raleigh, these facilities are defined as having one or more rooms for overnight guests, including registration facilities and on-site management.
- Acreage Requirements: In the Office Park (OP-) and Office Mixed Use (OX-) districts, a hotel, motel, or inn must be located on a lot with a minimum size of 2.5 acres [Section 6.4.6.D].
- Approval in OX-: In the Office Mixed Use (OX-) district, these uses require a Special Use Permit approved by the Board of Adjustment [Section 6.1.4].
Bed and Breakfast
Raleigh defines a Bed and Breakfast as a structure with no more than five guest rooms where breakfast is customarily served.
- Historic Location: The facility must be located within a General Historic Overlay District, a Streetside Historic Overlay District, or be designated as a Historic Landmark or listed on the National Register of Historic Places [Section 6.4.6.B].
- Restrictions in R-10: Special events, such as wedding receptions, are prohibited in the Residential-10 district. Signage is limited to a single unlit announcement sign no larger than 2 square feet [Section 6.4.6.B].
Short-Term Rentals
This category covers dwelling units provided to renters for no longer than 30 days for compensation.
- Permit Required: Operators must obtain a miscellaneous zoning permit from the City of Raleigh [Section 6.4.6.E].
- Capacity Limits: In multi-unit living uses, no more than 25% of the units (or two units, whichever is greater) may be used for short-term rentals within a single building [Section 6.4.6.E].
- Prohibitions: Short-term rentals are prohibited from hosting special events or gatherings in residential districts. They also cannot be used as "Live-Work" spaces or home daycares [Section 6.4.6.E].
Hospitality House
These are detached houses associated with a hospital that provide lodging for families of patients.
- Location: In the Residential-10 (R-10) district, they must be located within one-half mile of the associated hospital [Section 6.4.6.C].
- Capacity: They are limited to a maximum of 6 bedrooms and a total occupancy of 12 persons [Section 6.4.6.C].
General Development Standards for Lodging
Vehicle and Bicycle Parking
The City of Raleigh enforces specific parking ratios for lodging uses to ensure infrastructure sufficiency.
| Lodging Type | Vehicle Parking (Max) | Short-Term Bicycle (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight Lodging | 1.5 spaces per room | None | 1 space per 20 rooms (min. 4) |
| Hostel | 1 space per 2 beds | 1 space per 20 beds (min. 4) | 1 space per 10 beds |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Height Limitations
Lodging buildings in Mixed Use districts must adhere to the height designation applied to the specific property (e.g., -3, -4, -5, -7, -12, -20, -30, -40). For example, a property zoned CX-5 is limited to 5 stories and 80 feet [Section 3.3.1].
Sections Cited
- Section 3.3.1 Applicability (Height)
- Section 6.1.4 Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 6.4.6 Overnight Lodging
- Section 7.1.2.C Parking Requirements by Use