Raleigh Business (BUS) Legacy Zoning District Overview
The Business (BUS) district is a legacy zoning classification in the City of Raleigh that is being phased out and replaced by current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) districts. Under the provided regulations, no new areas may be zoned as a Business (BUS) district, and the boundaries of existing BUS districts cannot be modified [Section 1.3.4].
Status and Purpose of the BUS District
In the City of Raleigh, the Business (BUS) district is categorized as a "Legacy District." These districts originated in the prior Part 10 Zoning Code. The primary purpose of maintaining this designation in the current UDO is to provide a transitionary framework for properties that have not yet been rezoned to a modern UDO district [Section 1.3.4].
The City of Raleigh stipulates that these legacy districts may exist as either a general use district or a conditional district, but they are essentially finite in geography. The long-term goal for the Municipality is to replace all Business (BUS) designations with current UDO zoning districts [Section 1.3.4].
Permitted Land Uses
Because the Business (BUS) district is a legacy category, its permitted land uses are determined by a combination of historical regulations and new UDO restrictions. The City of Raleigh applies the following rules to land uses within this district:
- Continuation of Former Uses: Use limitations established under former conditional zoning ordinances continue to apply to Business (BUS) properties [Section 1.2.3.D].
- UDO Overriding Authority: A formerly allowed use is only permitted to continue if it is also allowed in the new corresponding UDO general use zoning district. If the new UDO district prohibits a specific use, that use is no longer permitted on the Business (BUS) property [Section 1.2.3.D].
- Determination of Special/Limited Uses: For any property zoned Business (BUS), whether a use is classified as "Limited" or "Special" is determined by the regulations of the corresponding UDO general use district [Section 1.2.3.D].
General Character and Technical Standards
The character of the Business (BUS) district is strictly controlled to prevent the expansion of outdated zoning standards. While these areas remain under legacy zoning, the City of Raleigh requires them to adhere to modern UDO standards whenever the UDO is more restrictive than the original zoning [Section 1.2.3.B].
Administrative and Development Restrictions
| Feature | Regulation/Standard |
|---|---|
| New Districts | No new Business (BUS) districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map [Section 1.3.4]. |
| Boundary Changes | Existing boundaries of the Business (BUS) district may not be modified [Section 1.3.4]. |
| Height and Setbacks | UDO standards for height and setbacks are controlling if they are more stringent than the legacy district ordinance [Section 1.2.3.B]. |
| Parking and Landscaping | UDO parking, landscaping, and screening regulations are controlling if they are more stringent than the legacy district ordinance [Section 1.2.3.B]. |
| Approval Processes | All development approval processes for Business (BUS) properties must follow current UDO regulations [Section 1.2.3.C]. |
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3 Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4 Legacy Districts