Raleigh Zoning Guide: O&I-2 Office and Institution-2 Legacy Designation
The O&I-2 (Office and Institution-2) designation is a legacy zoning district in the City of Raleigh that is currently being phased out and replaced by the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Under the Raleigh UDO, the City prohibits the creation of any new O&I-2 districts or the modification of existing O&I-2 boundaries, and all development processes on these lands must now follow modern UDO regulations [Section 1.3.4, Section 1.2.3].
Legacy Status and Use Interpretation
In the City of Raleigh, the O&I-2 district is no longer a standard part of the active zoning menu. Instead, it is maintained as a "Legacy District" for properties that were already zoned under the previous "Part 10 Zoning Code" [Section 1.3.4].
Allowed and Prohibited Uses in O&I-2
The Raleigh UDO determines the allowance of uses in the O&I-2 district through a specific rule of interpretation. The document does not provide a standalone list of O&I-2 uses because they are inherited from the older code; however, it establishes the following criteria for what is permitted today:
- Continuation of Legacy Uses: Use limitations and allowances established in the original O&I-2 ordinance continue to apply to the property [Section 1.2.3].
- UDO Compliance Requirement: A legacy use originally allowed in an O&I-2 district is now prohibited if that use is not also permitted in the new UDO general use zoning district that corresponds to the property [Section 1.2.3].
- Prima Facie Prohibitions: Any use of a business, commercial, or industrial character is prohibited in Raleigh unless it is specifically allowed in the active UDO districts (such as RX-, OP-, or OX-). This restriction essentially filters legacy O&I-2 uses through the modern UDO's allowed principal use tables [Section 6.1.5].
- Limited and Special Uses: The determination of whether a use is "Limited" (allowed with standards) or a "Special Use" (requiring Board of Adjustment approval) is now governed by the modern Raleigh UDO [Section 1.2.3].
Priority of Modern UDO Standards
When a property in the City of Raleigh is subject to O&I-2 legacy conditions, the modern UDO standards take precedence over the legacy rules if the UDO standards are more stringent. This ensures that old institutional and office properties eventually meet the City's updated development goals [Section 1.2.3].
| Regulatory Category | Controlling Code in Raleigh |
|---|---|
| Zoning District Classification | The new UDO general use district is controlling. |
| Building Height Calculations | UDO standards control if they are more stringent than legacy conditions. |
| Setback Requirements | UDO standards control if they are more stringent than legacy conditions. |
| Parking and Landscaping | UDO standards control if they are more stringent than legacy conditions. |
| Approval Processes | All development approval processes must follow the UDO. |
| Use Determination | Modern UDO standards define Limited and Special uses. |
Administrative Restrictions on O&I-2
The City of Raleigh enforces strict administrative limits on O&I-2 districts to encourage the transition to modern Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) districts:
- No New Mapping: No new O&I-2 districts may be added to the Raleigh Official Zoning Map [Section 1.3.4].
- No Boundary Changes: Existing boundaries of O&I-2 districts cannot be modified or expanded [Section 1.3.4].
- Mandatory Compliance for Additions: Lots subject to legacy build-to requirements that add additions exceeding 25% of existing gross floor area (or 1,000 square feet) must bring the property into conformity with modern UDO frontage and build-to standards [Section 3.4.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Section 3.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 3.4.2. General Requirements (Frontage)
- Section 6.1.5. Prohibited Uses