Raleigh DX- District Setback and Build-To Requirements
In the City of Raleigh DX-: Downtown Mixed Use district, base primary and side street setbacks for general and mixed-use buildings are 3 feet, while residential building types like detached houses and apartments require a 5-foot minimum street setback. These base requirements are frequently overridden by specific frontage designations, such as the Shopfront frontage, which mandates a "build-to" range of 0 to 15 feet to ensure an active, walkable street edge. Side and rear setbacks in the DX- district vary by building type, ranging from 0 feet for urban buildings to 10 feet for detached houses [Article 3.2].
DX-: Downtown Mixed Use Base Dimensional Standards
The City of Raleigh establishes base setback requirements based on the specific building type being constructed within the DX- district. These standards define the minimum distance a structure must be from the primary street, side street, side lot lines, and rear lot lines.
| Building Type | Primary Street Setback (min) | Side Street Setback (min) | Side Lot Line Setback (min) | Rear Lot Line Setback (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached House | 5' | 5' | 3' | 10' |
| Attached House | 5' | 5' | 3' | 10' |
| Townhouse | 5' | 5' | 6' | 6' |
| Apartment | 5' | 5' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| General Building | 3' | 3' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| Mixed Use Building | 3' | 3' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| Civic Building | 5' | 5' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| Tiny House | 5' | 5' | 3' | 10' |
| Open Lot | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' |
Note: For building types listing "0' or 6'" for side or rear setbacks, the 0' option generally applies to buildings utilizing a common party wall or abutting the property line, whereas the 6' option is required if a gap is provided [Article 3.2].
Frontage Overrides and Build-To Requirements
In the City of Raleigh, Mixed Use Districts like DX- often utilize "Frontages." When a frontage is applied to a property, its requirements for building placement (expressed as a "build-to" range) override the base setbacks listed above [Sec. 3.4.1].
| Frontage Type | Primary Street Build-To Range | Side Street Build-To Range |
|---|---|---|
| Shopfront (-SH) | 0' to 15' | 0' to 15' |
| Urban General (-UG) | 0' to 20' | 0' to 20' |
| Urban Limited (-UL) | 0' to 20' | 0' to 20' |
| Parking Limited (-PL) | Base Setback to 100' | 0' to 100' |
| Green (-GR) | 20' to 50' | 20' to 50' |
| Green Plus (-GP) | 30' to 50' | 20' to 50' |
| Detached (-DE) | Per Sec. 2.2.7 (Infill) | Per Sec. 2.2.7 (Infill) |
| Parkway (-PK) | 50' Minimum | N/A (50' Setback) |
[Article 3.4]
Frequent Transit Development Option Setbacks
If a developer utilizes the City of Raleigh's Frequent Transit Development Option within the DX- district, specific modified setbacks apply to encourage transit-oriented growth [Sec. 3.7.1].
| Setback Type | Requirement (min) |
|---|---|
| From Primary Street | 10' |
| From Side Street | 10' |
| From Side Lot Line | 0' or 5' |
| From Rear Lot Line | 15' |
| From Alley | 4' or 20' |
[Article 3.7]
General Rules for Setback Measurement
The City of Raleigh defines and measures setbacks according to the following rules:
- Primary and Side Street Setbacks: Measured perpendicular from the edge of the existing or proposed right-of-way, whichever is greater [Sec. 1.5.4.B.1].
- Side Setbacks: Measured perpendicular from the side property line [Sec. 1.5.4.B.2].
- Rear Setbacks: Measured perpendicular from the rear property line. If an alley exists, it is measured from the edge of the existing or proposed right-of-way, whichever is greater [Sec. 1.5.4.B.3].
- Encroachments: Certain building features may legally extend into required setbacks. For example, porches and stoops greater than 1 foot in height may extend 9 feet into a primary or side street setback, provided they remain at least 3 feet from the vertical plane of the property line [Sec. 1.5.4.D.1.a].
Sections Cited
- Article 3.1. General Provisions
- Article 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards
- Article 3.4. Frontage Requirements
- Article 3.7. Frequent Transit Development Option
- Sec. 1.5.4. Building Setbacks