Raleigh Special Residential Parking Overlay District (-SRPOD) Regulations
The Special Residential Parking Overlay District (-SRPOD) in the City of Raleigh establishes strict regulations for the surfacing, location, and size of vehicular parking areas for detached houses and tiny houses. These rules are designed to prevent soil compaction and erosion while ensuring the orderly parking of vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The district limits front yard vehicular surface areas to a maximum of 40% of the front yard or a specific calculated square footage, whichever is less.
Purpose and Applicability
The -SRPOD is applied to specific areas within the City of Raleigh to protect the character of residential neighborhoods and the integrity of the municipal storm sewer utility. The regulations primarily restrict parking area, location, and surfacing for detached structures used for single-unit living [Section 5.1.1.F].
Unless otherwise specified in the overlay, the allowed uses and base dimensional standards of the underlying zoning district continue to apply [Section 5.6.1.A].
Parking Surface Requirements
Vehicular surface areas within the City of Raleigh -SRPOD must be constructed using permanent, non-erodible materials. This requirement applies to all such areas constructed after July 19, 2012 [Section 5.6.1.B].
Approved Surfacing Materials
- Porous or semi-porous monolithic materials or pavers.
- Masonry or concrete pavers.
- Poured concrete or asphalt.
- Crushed stone or "crush and run" with a minimum depth of 4 inches.
If crushed stone or "crush and run" is used, the borders of the parking area must be delineated with anchored man-made or natural landscape edging materials to contain the stone [Section 5.6.1.B.2].
Prohibited Locations
Vehicular surface areas (except for circular and semi-circular drives) are prohibited from being located in front of the primary entrance of the dwelling [Section 5.6.1.B.3].
Front Yard Parking Limits
The City of Raleigh limits the size and orientation of parking areas located within the front yard of a property in the -SRPOD. Property owners must comply with one of the two following arrangement options:
Front Yard Parking Standards
| Standard Type | Requirement / Calculation |
|---|---|
| Standard Maximum Area | (Linear depth of front yard × 12 feet) + 380 square feet OR 40% of the front yard area (whichever is less) [Section 5.6.1.C.1]. |
| Circular/Semi-Circular Driveway Max Area | 12-foot maximum width with no more than two access points + 380 square feet OR 40% of the front yard area (whichever is less) [Section 5.6.1.C.2]. |
Pre-existing and Erodible Surfaces
Vehicular surface areas that lawfully existed prior to July 19, 2012, are permitted to continue even if they do not meet current -SRPOD surfacing standards [Section 5.6.1.C.3].
Existing erodible surfaces (such as grass or dirt) may be used for off-street parking without retrofitting provided the following conditions are met:
- Parking must be limited to single-file, perpendicular to the street right-of-way.
- The Development Services Director may permit angled parking for one vehicle or side-by-side parking for two vehicles if existing man-made structures prevent a standard 44-foot-deep parking area.
- Vehicles must be angled with headlights toward the building and must not extend more than 10 feet beyond the face of an adjoining car parked perpendicular to the street [Section 5.6.1.C.4].
Landscaping and Screening
The City of Raleigh requires specific landscaping when vehicular surface areas in the -SRPOD are highly visible from the public right-of-way.
Screening Standards
| Feature | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Applicability | Required when a parking space is designed at an angle of 45 degrees or less to the public street [Section 5.6.1.D.1]. |
| Screening Type | A continuous berm or a row of evergreen shrubs. |
| Location | Within 5 feet of the edge of the parking space nearest the street. |
| Berm Dimensions | Minimum height of 1.5 feet; minimum crown width of 2 feet; maximum side slope of 2:1. |
| Shrub Dimensions | Minimum 24 inches tall at planting; maximum 5 feet on center spacing. |
| Growth Target | Must reach a minimum height and spread of 36 inches within 2 years of planting. |
Temporary Parking and Prohibitions
Vehicles may not be parked or stored outside of designated vehicular surface areas, with the exception of vehicles actively being loaded, unloaded, washed, or repaired [Section 5.6.1.C.5].
A property owner in the City of Raleigh may apply for a temporary zoning permit to allow parking on grass or other erodible surfaces. This permit is issued for an initial 90-day period and may be extended for an additional 30 days. This temporary allowance is available only once every three years per premise [Section 5.6.1.E].
Locational Guidelines for District Establishment
New -SRPOD overlays must meet specific locational criteria:
- At least 75% of the land within the proposed district must be developed.
- The district must contain at least 15 contiguous acres. While Public and Institutional uses or outdoor recreation can be included within the boundaries, they do not count toward the minimum 15-acre requirement [Section 5.6.1.F].
Sections Cited
- Section 5.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 5.6.1. Special Residential Parking Overlay District (-SRPOD)