Raleigh R-10: Residential-10 Zoning District Guide
The R-10: Residential-10 District in Raleigh is a high-density residential zone that permits a variety of housing types, including detached houses, townhouses, and apartments. The district is characterized by a minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet for conventional dwellings and generally limits building heights to 3 stories (between 40 and 45 feet).
Purpose and Intent of the R-10 District
The primary intent of the Residential Districts in the City of Raleigh is to protect established residential neighborhoods while promoting planned and efficient future residential growth [Section 2.1.1.A]. Specifically, the Raleigh R-10 District allows for:
- Single-unit living in detached or tiny houses.
- Two-unit living in attached houses, townhouses, or tiny houses.
- Multi-unit living in townhouses or apartment buildings [Section 2.1.1.F].
The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) designed this district to discourage uses that would interfere with the residential nature of the area, though compatible parks, open spaces, utilities, and civic uses are permitted [Section 2.1.1.A].
General Character
The R-10 District represents one of the higher-density residential designations in Raleigh. It encourages a mixture of housing patterns through several development options:
- Conventional Development: Provides standard yards on individual lots without a common open space requirement [Section 2.1.2.A].
- Compact Development: Allows for reduced lot sizes in exchange for providing at least 20% (or a minimum of 0.5 acres) of the project area as common open space [Section 2.1.2.B, Section 2.3.1.B].
- Conservation Development: Trades smaller lot sizes and reduced setbacks for a high volume of preserved open space (at least 40% of the project area) [Section 2.1.2.C, Section 2.4.1.B].
Permitted Land Uses
The following table outlines the primary land uses allowed within the Raleigh R-10 District.
| Use Category | Specific Use | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Single-unit living | Permitted (P) |
| Two-unit living | Permitted (P) | |
| Multi-unit living | Permitted (P) | |
| Cottage court | Permitted (P) | |
| Manufactured home development | Not Permitted (--) | |
| Group Living | Boardinghouse | Special Use (S) |
| Congregate care / Rest home | Limited (L) | |
| Continuing care retirement community | Limited (L) | |
| Public/Institutional | Civic (Museum, Library, Religious) | Permitted (P) |
| School, public or private (K-12) | Limited (L) | |
| Parks, Open Space, Greenways | Permitted (P) | |
| Minor Utilities | Permitted (P) | |
| Commercial | Day care, home | Limited (L) |
| Day care center | Special Use (S) | |
| Golf course | Limited (L) |
Key: (P) Permitted by right; (L) Allowed subject to specific use standards; (S) Requires Board of Adjustment approval. [Section 6.1.4]
R-10 Dimensional Standards
Dimensional standards for the R-10 District vary based on the chosen building type and development option. The standards below reflect the Conventional Development Option.
Lot Dimensions
| Standard | Detached House | Attached House | Townhouse (Site) | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Area | 4,000 sf | 4,000 sf | 3,000 sf/unit | 7,500 sf |
| Min. Width | 45' | 45' | 45' | 45' |
| Min. Depth | 60' | 60' | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Height | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories | 45' / 3 stories | 45' / 3 stories |
[Section 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4]
Principal Building Setbacks
| Building Type | Primary Street | Side Street | Side Lot | Rear Lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached / Attached | 10' min | 10' min | 5' min | 20' min |
| Townhouse (Site) | 10' min | 10' min | 6' min | 20' min |
| Apartment | 10' min | 10' min | 5' min | 20' min |
| Tiny House | 10' min | 10' min | 5' min | 10' min |
[Section 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.8]
Vehicle Parking Requirements
In the Raleigh R-10 District, parking requirements are determined by the specific use of the property.
| Use Type | Maximum Vehicle Parking |
|---|---|
| Single-unit living | No maximum |
| Two-unit living | No maximum |
| Multi-unit: 0-1 bedroom | 1.5 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit: 2 bedrooms | 2.25 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit: 3 bedrooms | 3.0 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit: 4+ bedrooms | 4.0 - 5.0 spaces per unit |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Sections Cited
- Section 2.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 2.1.2. Housing Options
- Section 2.2.1. Detached House
- Section 2.2.2. Attached House
- Section 2.2.3. Townhouse
- Section 2.2.4. Apartment
- Section 2.2.8. Tiny Houses
- Section 2.3.1. Compact Development General Requirements
- Section 2.4.1. Conservation Development Option General Requirements
- Section 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 7.1.2. Required Parking