Raleigh Zoning Districts for Duplexes and Townhomes
Attached Houses (the City of Raleigh term for duplexes) and Townhouses are permitted in the R-2, R-4, R-6, and R-10 Residential Districts, as well as the RX-, OX-, NX-, CX-, and DX- Mixed Use Districts. Under the City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Townhouses in the R-2 and R-4 districts are generally restricted to a maximum of two dwelling units unless located within a Transit Overlay District (-TOD), while the R-6, R-10, and Mixed Use districts allow for multi-unit integrated Townhouse developments [Sec. 1.4.2].
Building Type Definitions in the City of Raleigh
The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) uses specific classifications for these residential forms:
- Attached House: A building constructed to accommodate two principal dwelling units on a single lot. This building type is the City of Raleigh's equivalent to a duplex [Sec. 1.4.1.B].
- Townhouse: A building constructed to accommodate two or more dwelling units that are horizontally integrated, where each unit is separated vertically by a party wall [Sec. 1.4.1.C].
Allowed Zoning Districts
The following table outlines the districts within the City of Raleigh where these building types are permitted.
| District Category | Zoning District | Attached House (Duplex) | Townhouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | Residential-1 (R-1) | No* | No |
| Residential-2 (R-2) | Allowed | Allowed (Max 2 units)** | |
| Residential-4 (R-4) | Allowed | Allowed (Max 2 units)** | |
| Residential-6 (R-6) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Residential-10 (R-10) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Mixed Use | Residential Mixed Use (RX-) | Allowed | Allowed |
| Office Mixed Use (OX-) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Commercial Mixed Use (CX-) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Downtown Mixed Use (DX-) | Allowed | Allowed | |
| Office Park (OP-) | No | No | |
| Industrial Mixed Use (IX-) | No | No |
*In the R-1 district, two-unit living is only permitted in association with the Tiny House building type [Sec. 6.2.1.C.2]. **In R-2 and R-4 districts, townhouse developments are restricted to a maximum of two dwelling units unless located in a -TOD overlay [Sec. 1.4.2, Footnotes 1 & 2].
Residential District Dimensional Standards
In Residential Districts, the City of Raleigh mandates specific lot sizes and setbacks for duplexes and townhomes under the Conventional Development Option.
Attached House (Duplex) Requirements
| Standard | R-2 | R-4 | R-6 | R-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Lot Area | 20,000 sf | 10,000 sf | 6,000 sf | 4,000 sf |
| Min. Lot Width | 80' | 65' | 50' | 45' |
| Primary Street Setback | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10' |
| Side Setback | 10' | 10' | 5' | 5' |
| Rear Setback | 30' | 30' | 20' | 20' |
| Max. Height | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories |
[Sec. 2.2.2]
Townhouse Requirements
| Standard | R-2 | R-4 | R-6 | R-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Site Area/Unit | 10,000 sf | 5,000 sf | 4,500 sf | 3,000 sf |
| Min. Site Width | 80' | 65' | 50' | 45' |
| Min. Unit Width | 16' | 16' | 16' | 16' |
| Primary Street Setback | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10' |
| Rear Site Setback | 30' | 30' | 20' | 20' |
| Max. Height | 40' / 3 stories | 40' / 3 stories | 45' / 3 stories | 45' / 3 stories |
[Sec. 2.2.3]
Mixed Use District Base Dimensional Standards
Mixed Use districts in the City of Raleigh provide more flexible standards, particularly in the Downtown Mixed Use (DX-) district where there are no minimum lot areas for these building types.
Attached House and Townhouse Base Standards
| Standard | RX-, OX-, NX-, CX- | DX- |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Lot Area (Attached) | 4,000 sf | N/A |
| Min. Lot Area (Townhouse) | 3,300 sf | N/A |
| Min. Lot Width | 45' | N/A |
| Primary Street Setback | 10' | 5' |
| Side Setback | 5' (Attached) / 10' (TH) | 3' (Attached) / 6' (TH) |
| Rear Setback | 20' | 10' (Attached) / 6' (TH) |
[Sec. 3.2.2, Sec. 3.2.3]
Important Restrictions and Overlays
- Transit Overlay District (-TOD): In the City of Raleigh -TOD, the Townhouse and Apartment building types are permitted in all residential districts. Furthermore, the minimum height for any principal building in the -TOD must be at least 2 stories [Sec. 5.5.1].
- Neighborhood Transitions: If a multi-family townhouse project in a Mixed Use district abuts a low-density Residential District (R-1 through R-10), the City of Raleigh requires "Neighborhood Transitions" involving protective yards and height restrictions to ensure compatibility [Sec. 3.5.1].
Sections Cited
- Article 1.4. Building Types
- Sec. 1.4.1. Building Type Descriptions
- Sec. 1.4.2. Building Types Allowed by District
- Article 2.2. Conventional Development Option
- Sec. 2.2.2. Attached House
- Sec. 2.2.3. Townhouse
- Article 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards
- Sec. 3.2.2. Attached House
- Sec. 3.2.3. Townhouse
- Article 5.5. Transit Overlays
- Sec. 5.5.1. Transit Overlay District (-TOD)
- Article 6.2. Residential Uses
- Sec. 6.2.1. Household Living
- Article 12.2. Defined Terms