RB: Residential Business District in Raleigh
The RB: Residential Business zoning district is classified as a Legacy District within the City of Raleigh, meaning it exists from the previous Part 10 Zoning Code and is slated for eventual replacement by current Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) districts. Under the Raleigh UDO, no new land may be zoned as RB, and the boundaries of existing RB Districts cannot be modified. Development and land use within the RB District are governed by a combination of original legacy conditions and the more restrictive requirements of the modern Raleigh UDO.
Classification and Purpose
The RB: Residential Business District is part of a category known as "Legacy Districts." These districts were established under the former Raleigh zoning regulations and are maintained during the transition to the current UDO framework [Section 1.3.4].
The primary regulatory status of the RB District is defined by its eventual obsolescence. The City of Raleigh prohibits the creation of new RB Districts or any expansion of existing RB District boundaries on the Official Zoning Map [Section 1.3.4]. The RB District may exist either as a general use district or as a conditional district [Section 1.3.4].
| Feature | Regulation |
|---|---|
| District Type | Legacy District (Former Part 10 Zoning Code) |
| New Additions | Prohibited from being added to the Zoning Map |
| Boundary Changes | Prohibited from being modified |
| Eventual Status | To be replaced with a modern UDO zoning district |
| Permitted Forms | May exist as General Use or Conditional |
Rules of Interpretation and Conflicts
Because the RB District originates from an older code, the Raleigh UDO provides specific rules for interpreting how it interacts with modern standards. If a property is in a legacy district like RB, and there is a conflict between an approved zoning condition and the standards of a corresponding new UDO general use district, the Raleigh UDO established a hierarchy of control [Section 1.2.3].
- General Use Control: The new general use district standards are typically controlling [Section 1.2.3.A].
- Stringency Rule: UDO regulations for height, setbacks, parking, landscaping, and screening apply if they are more stringent than those in the legacy conditional zoning district ordinance [Section 1.2.3.B].
- Calculation Methods: All calculations for height, setbacks, and parking must be performed in accordance with modern Raleigh UDO methods [Section 1.2.3.B].
- Process: All approval and development processes must follow the regulations of the current UDO [Section 1.2.3.C].
Permitted Land Uses
The Raleigh UDO does not include the RB District in its primary "Allowed Principal Use Table" (which covers districts R-1 through MH). Instead, uses in the RB District are managed through transitionary rules:
- Continuation of Uses: If a conditional zoning ordinance for an RB property limits uses, those limitations continue to apply [Section 1.2.3.D].
- UDO Compatibility: A former legacy use is only allowed to continue if that use is also permitted in the new UDO general use zoning district that corresponds to the property [Section 1.2.3.D].
- Determination: Limited uses and special uses for the RB District are determined by the standards of the corresponding UDO general use district [Section 1.2.3.D].
General Character
The character of the RB: Residential Business District is defined by its transitional nature. In the City of Raleigh, legacy districts like RB act as holding zones for historical development patterns that are being phased out in favor of the more detailed building types and frontage requirements found in the current UDO [Section 1.3.4].
While specific building types for the RB District are not itemized in the UDO's building type tables, any new development or substantial renovation within an existing RB District must adhere to the administrative and enforcement provisions of the current code, including standards for nonconformities [Section 10.3.1].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Section 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 10.3.1. In General (Nonconformities)