Raleigh Legacy District Guide: Office and Institution-1 (O&I-1)
O&I-1 (Office and Institution-1) is a Legacy District within the City of Raleigh that exists under the older Part 10 Zoning Code and is slated for eventual replacement by modern Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) designations. The City of Raleigh prohibits the creation of new O&I-1 districts or the modification of existing O&I-1 boundaries, effectively freezing the district in its current state until rezoning occurs [Sec. 1.3.4].
Legal Status and Character in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, the Office and Institution-1 (O&I-1) district is officially classified as a "Legacy District." These districts are recognized as remnants of the previous Part 10 Zoning Code. While they still exist on the City's Official Zoning Map, they are essentially in a state of transition. The general character of O&I-1 areas is defined by professional offices and institutional uses, but the Raleigh UDO intends to replace these designations with more modern mixed-use or office park categories, such as Office Mixed Use (OX-) or Office Park (OP-) [Sec. 1.3.4, Sec. 3.1.1].
Legacy District Restrictions
The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance places strict limitations on properties currently zoned O&I-1 to encourage the adoption of new UDO standards:
| Constraint Category | Regulatory Requirement in Raleigh |
|---|---|
| New Districts | No new O&I-1 districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map. |
| Boundary Changes | No boundary of an existing O&I-1 district may be modified. |
| District Evolution | All O&I-1 districts will eventually be replaced with a UDO zoning district. |
| Zoning Type | May exist as either a general use district or a conditional district. |
[Section 1.3.4]
Permitted Land Use Policy
Permitted land uses for O&I-1 properties in Raleigh are determined through a specific hierarchy of interpretation. While the original use limitations from the legacy code generally continue, they are subject to the following UDO oversight:
- Continued Use: Former allowed uses under the legacy O&I-1 code are permitted to continue [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
- UDO Override: If a formerly allowed use in the O&I-1 district is specifically prohibited in the "new UDO general use zoning district" that would correspond to the property, that use is no longer permitted [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
- Special and Limited Uses: Determinations for any limited or special uses are made based on the standards of the corresponding UDO general use district [Sec. 1.2.3.D].
Summary of Regulatory Hierarchy
For development or renovation within an O&I-1 district in Raleigh, the UDO serves as the controlling authority whenever its standards are more restrictive than the legacy zoning conditions.
| Standard Type | Controlling Regulation |
|---|---|
| Height | UDO standards control if more stringent than O&I-1 conditions. |
| Setbacks | UDO standards control if more stringent than O&I-1 conditions. |
| Parking | UDO standards control if more stringent than O&I-1 conditions. |
| Landscaping | UDO standards control if more stringent than O&I-1 conditions. |
| Screening | UDO standards control if more stringent than O&I-1 conditions. |
| Approval Process | All approval processes must follow UDO regulations. |
[Section 1.2.3.B, 1.2.3.C]
Sections Cited
- Sec. 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Sec. 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Sec. 3.1.1. District Intent Statements