Raleigh R-10: Residential-10 District Land Use and Standards Guide
The R-10: Residential-10 district in the City of Raleigh is designed to support a variety of residential housing types, including single-unit, two-unit, and multi-unit living, with a base requirement of 10 dwelling units per acre. In the City of Raleigh, the R-10 district allows for diverse building types such as detached houses, apartments, and townhouses, while strictly limiting non-residential activities to specific civic, institutional, and minor utility uses.
Allowed Building Types and General Intent
The City of Raleigh established the R-10: Residential-10 district to protect existing neighborhoods while promoting efficient future residential growth [Section 2.1.1]. The district intent specifically allows for single-unit living in detached or tiny houses and two-unit living in attached houses, townhouses, or tiny houses with a minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet [Section 2.1.1.F]. Multi-unit living is also permitted in townhouse or apartment building types within the R-10 district [Section 2.1.1.F].
According to the Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance, the following building types are authorized within the R-10: Residential-10 district:
- Detached House
- Attached House
- Townhouse
- Apartment
- Civic Building
- Open Lot
- Tiny House [Section 1.4.2]
Permitted and Prohibited Uses in R-10
Land uses in the City of Raleigh are categorized as Permitted (P), Limited (L), Special (S), or Not Permitted (--). Any use not explicitly listed in the Allowed Principal Use Table is prohibited within the R-10: Residential-10 district [Section 6.1.5].
Residential Use Category
The R-10: Residential-10 district is primarily a residential zone. While many housing patterns are permitted by right, others require special approval or meet specific limited standards.
| Specific Use | Status in R-10 | Definition/Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Single-unit living | P | [Section 6.2.1.B] |
| Two-unit living | P | [Section 6.2.1.C] |
| Multi-unit living | P | [Section 6.2.1.D] |
| Cottage court | P | [Section 6.2.1.E] |
| Multi-unit supportive housing residence | L | [Section 6.2.1.I] |
| Supportive housing residence | L | [Section 6.2.1.J] |
| Boardinghouse | S | [Section 6.2.2.B] |
| Congregate care | L | [Section 6.2.2.C] |
| Continuing care retirement community | L | [Section 6.2.2.E] |
| Rest home | L | [Section 6.2.2.F] |
Public and Institutional Use Category
Raleigh allows certain public services and assemblies within the R-10: Residential-10 district to serve the local community, though some require special use permits from the Board of Adjustment.
| Specific Use | Status in R-10 | Definition/Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Civic (Police, Fire, EMS, Library, etc.) | P | [Section 6.3.1.A] |
| Parks, Open Space, and Greenways | P | [Section 6.3.2.A] |
| Minor utilities | P | [Section 6.3.3.A] |
| Cemetery | L | [Section 6.3.1.B] |
| School, public or private (K-12) | L | [Section 6.3.1.D] |
| Telecommunication tower (<250 ft) | L | [Section 6.3.3.C] |
| Telecommunication tower (≥250 ft) | S | [Section 6.3.3.D] |
Commercial and Open Use Category
Most commercial and industrial uses are strictly prohibited in the R-10: Residential-10 district to maintain its residential character. Only a few specific "open" or service-oriented uses are allowed.
| Specific Use | Status in R-10 | Definition/Use Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Day care, home | L | [Section 6.4.1.B] |
| Day care center | S | [Section 6.4.1.C] |
| Golf course | L | [Section 6.4.5.B] |
| Community garden | L | [Section 6.6.1.B] |
| Produce stand | L | [Section 6.8.2.D] |
| Urban farm | S | [Section 6.6.1.E] |
Prohibited Uses
The following uses are expressly prohibited within the R-10: Residential-10 district in the City of Raleigh:
- Commercial Uses: Most commercial activities including adult establishments, health clubs, medical facilities, offices, overnight lodging (except short-term rentals which are L), passenger terminals, personal services, restaurants, bars, and retail sales [Section 6.1.4].
- Industrial Uses: All industrial uses including heavy and light industrial, manufacturing, research and development, self-service storage, and vehicle service [Section 6.1.4].
- Specific Prohibitions: Open dumps and school administrative offices located outside of a school building [Section 6.1.5].
Dimensional Standards for R-10 Conventional Development
The City of Raleigh mandates specific lot dimensions and setbacks for the R-10: Residential-10 district to ensure uniform neighborhood density and character.
| Standard | Detached House | Attached House | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot Area (min) | 4,000 sf | 4,000 sf | 7,500 sf |
| Lot Width (min) | 45' | 45' | 45' |
| Lot Depth (min) | 60' | 60' | N/A |
| Primary Street Setback (min) | 10' | 10' | 10' |
| Side Street Setback (min) | 10' | 10' | 10' |
| Side Lot Line Setback (min) | 5' | 5' | 5' |
| Rear Lot Line Setback (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' |
| Max Height | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories | 45' / 3 stories |
Note: Outdoor amenity areas are required for apartment developments in the R-10 district, set at a minimum of 10% of the site [Section 2.2.4.A].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.3.1 General Use Zoning Districts
- Section 1.4.2 Building Types Allowed by District
- Section 2.1.1 District Intent Statements
- Section 2.2.1 Detached House
- Section 2.2.4 Apartment
- Section 6.1.4 Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 6.1.5 Prohibited Uses
- Section 6.2.1 Household Living
- Section 6.2.2 Group Living
- Section 6.2.3 Social Service
- Section 6.3.1 Civic
- Section 6.3.2 Parks, Open Space and Greenways
- Section 6.3.3 Utilities
- Section 6.4.1 Day Care
- Section 6.4.5 Outdoor Recreation
- Section 6.6.1 Agriculture
- Section 6.8.2 Temporary Use Permit Required