Raleigh Zoning: Setback Standards for NB (Legacy) and NX (Neighborhood Mixed Use) Districts
The NB: Neighborhood Business district is officially classified as a Legacy District in the City of Raleigh and does not have specific dimensional setback tables within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) [Section 1.3.4]. For modern development of neighborhood-scale business and mixed-use sites, the City of Raleigh utilizes the NX: Neighborhood Mixed Use district, which requires a 5 to 10-foot primary street setback and 0 to 20-foot side and rear setbacks depending on the building type [Section 3.2.1, Section 3.2.5].
The Legacy Status of the NB District
In the City of Raleigh, the NB: Neighborhood Business district is a legacy classification that exists in the older Part 10 Zoning Code [Section 1.3.4]. According to the Raleigh UDO, no new NB districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map, and the boundaries of existing NB districts may not be modified [Section 1.3.4]. Properties currently zoned as NB are intended to be eventually replaced with UDO zoning districts, such as NX: Neighborhood Mixed Use.
NX: Neighborhood Mixed Use Setback Standards
Because the NB Legacy District standards are not provided in the current UDO document, the NX: Neighborhood Mixed Use standards serve as the active UDO equivalent for neighborhood-scale commercial and retail activity [Section 3.1.1.D]. In the City of Raleigh, the specific setbacks for the NX district are determined by the building type selected for the site.
Base Dimensional Standards for the NX District
The following table outlines the minimum building setbacks for various building types within the NX: Neighborhood Mixed Use district in the City of Raleigh:
| Building Type | Primary Street Setback (Min) | Side Street Setback (Min) | Side Lot Line Setback (Min) | Rear Lot Line Setback (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 20' |
| Attached House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 20' |
| Apartment | 5' | 5' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| General Building | 5' | 5' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| Mixed Use Building | 5' | 5' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
Note: For Apartment, General, and Mixed Use buildings, the side and rear lot line setbacks are specified as "0' or 6'," typically depending on whether the building is attached to a structure on an adjacent lot or requires fire-code separation [Section 3.2.4, Section 3.2.5, Section 3.2.6].
Factors Modifying Setbacks in the City of Raleigh
Frontage Requirements
In many Mixed Use districts, including the NX district, a "Frontage" may be applied to the property on the Official Zoning Map. Frontages like -SH (Shopfront) or -UL (Urban Limited) replace the standard primary street setback with a mandatory "Build-to" range [Section 3.4.1]. For example, a property in an NX district with a Shopfront (-SH) frontage must have its building facade located within a 0' to 15' build-to range from the primary street, rather than a simple minimum setback [Section 3.4.9].
Neighborhood Transitions
The City of Raleigh requires additional protections when an NX or other Mixed Use district site immediately abuts a residential district (R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, or R-10) [Section 3.5.1]. In these instances, a Zone A: Protective Yard must be established along the shared district boundary line. This protective yard functions as a mandatory vegetated buffer where no buildings or structures are allowed, effectively increasing the building setback [Section 3.5.2, Section 3.5.3].
- Type 1 (Narrow): 10-foot average width.
- Type 2 (Medium): 20-foot average width.
- Type 3 (Wide): 50-foot minimum width.
Sections Cited
- Sec. 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Sec. 3.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Sec. 3.2.1. Detached House (Mixed Use Base Standards)
- Sec. 3.2.2. Attached House (Mixed Use Base Standards)
- Sec. 3.2.4. Apartment (Mixed Use Base Standards)
- Sec. 3.2.5. General Building (Mixed Use Base Standards)
- Sec. 3.2.6. Mixed Use Building (Mixed Use Base Standards)
- Sec. 3.4.1. Frontage Requirements: Purpose and Intent
- Sec. 3.4.9. Shopfront (-SH)
- Sec. 3.5.1. Neighborhood Transitions: Applicability
- Sec. 3.5.2. Transition Zones
- Sec. 3.5.3. Zone A: Protective Yard