Raleigh, North Carolina: Regulations for Places of Worship and Religious Assembly

In the City of Raleigh, places of worship—including churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples—are permitted by right (P) in all Residential districts, all Mixed Use districts, and most Special districts. They are prohibited only in the Conservation Management (CM) zoning district. These facilities are classified under the "Civic" use category and are subject to Site Plan Group B requirements [Section 6.1.4, Section 6.3.1].

Allowed Zoning Districts

According to the Allowed Principal Use Table, "Places of Worship" (as part of the general Civic category) are permitted in the following districts within the City of Raleigh:

District Category	Specific Zoning Districts	Permission Status
Residential Districts	R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, R-10	Permitted (P)
Mixed Use Districts	RX-, OP-, OX-, NX-, CX-, DX-, IX-	Permitted (P)
Special Districts	AP (Agricultural Productive), IH (Heavy Industrial), MH (Manufactured Housing)	Permitted (P)
Special Districts	CM (Conservation Management)	Not Permitted (--)

[Section 6.1.4]

General Development Standards

Places of worship in the City of Raleigh are classified as Site Plan Group B for the purpose of development review [Section 7.1.2.C].

Parking Requirements

The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) establishes the following parking standards for places of worship:

Standard Type	Requirement
Vehicle Parking (Maximum)	No maximum limit
Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum)	None required
Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum)	None required

[Section 7.1.2.C]

Accessory Uses: Religious Shelter Units

A place of worship may include a "Religious Shelter Unit" to provide temporary housing for counseling, education, and referral services. These units are subject to specific City of Raleigh standards:

Permit Required: A zoning permit is mandatory for any religious shelter unit.
Capacity: The unit may house no more than 12 residents at one time.
Space Requirements: A minimum of 100 square feet of floor space must be provided for each individual sheltered.
Floor Area Limit: The facility must not occupy more than 10% of the total gross floor area of the place of worship complex.
Duration: No individual or family may reside at the facility for longer than 18 months.
Spacing: No religious shelter unit may be located within a 3/4-mile radius of another religious shelter unit.
Prohibited Areas: These units are not allowed within a Primary Reservoir Watershed Protection Area or the Airport Overlay District (-AOD).

[Section 6.7.3.H]

Definitions

The City of Raleigh defines the Civic Use Category as places of public assembly that provide ongoing governmental, life safety, educational, and cultural services to the general public, as well as meeting areas for religious practice. This specifically includes churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples [Section 6.3.1.A].

Sections Cited