Setback Regulations for the R-30 Residential-30 District in the City of Raleigh

In the City of Raleigh, the R-30: Residential-30 district is classified as a Legacy District. Because the specific dimensional standards for this district are maintained under the previous "Part 10 Zoning Code" and not the current "Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)," numeric setback requirements (such as specific feet for front, side, or rear) are not listed in the UDO’s standard residential dimensional tables [Sec. 1.3.4].

Classification as a Legacy District

The City of Raleigh identifies the R-30: Residential-30 district as a Legacy District. These districts were established under older zoning regulations and are subject to the following restrictions within the current Unified Development Ordinance:

Code Authority: The standards for the R-30 district exist in the previous Part 10 Zoning Code. The City of Raleigh intends for these districts to eventually be replaced with modern UDO zoning districts [Sec. 1.3.4].
Prohibition on Expansion: No new R-30: Residential-30 districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map of the City of Raleigh [Sec. 1.3.4].
Boundary Modifications: The City of Raleigh prohibits any modification to the boundaries of an existing R-30 district [Sec. 1.3.4].

General Rules for Measurement

While the specific numeric setbacks for the R-30 district are found in the legacy code, any development within the City of Raleigh jurisdiction must follow the UDO's general rules for measuring setbacks:

Setback Measurement Standards

Setback Type	Measurement Method
Primary Street Setback	Measured perpendicular from the edge of the existing or proposed right-of-way, whichever is greater [Sec. 1.5.4.B.1].
Side Street Setback	Measured perpendicular from the edge of the existing or proposed right-of-way, whichever is greater [Sec. 1.5.4.B.1].
Side Setback	Measured perpendicular from the side property line [Sec. 1.5.4.B.2].
Rear Setback	Measured perpendicular from the rear property line or the edge of the right-of-way if an alley exists [Sec. 1.5.4.B.3].

Encroachments into Setbacks

For all districts in the City of Raleigh, including legacy districts like R-30, certain building features are permitted to encroach into required setbacks. These include:

Porches, Decks, and Patios: If greater than 1 foot in height, these may extend 12 feet into a required side or rear setback (provided they remain at least 3 feet from the property line) and 9 feet into a primary or side street setback [Sec. 1.5.4.D.1.a].
Minor Features: Chimneys, flues, and bay windows (less than 10 feet wide) may extend up to 4 feet into a required setback [Sec. 1.5.4.D.1.d, f].
Eaves and Overhangs: Building eaves and roof overhangs may extend up to 5 feet into any required setback [Sec. 1.5.4.D.1.e].

Comparison with UDO Residential Districts

The City of Raleigh has established new dimensional standards for non-legacy Residential Districts. The following table provides the setbacks for the modern equivalent districts for reference:

Standard (Conventional Option)	R-1	R-2	R-4	R-6	R-10
Primary Street Setback (min)	20'	20'	20'	10'	10'
Side Street Setback (min)	20'	20'	20'	10'	10'
Side Setback (min)	10'	10'	10'	5'	5'
Rear Setback (min)	30'	30'	30'	20'	20'

(Note: The R-30 district is not included in this table because its specific UDO-equivalent standards have not yet been assigned in the provided ordinance text.) [Sec. 2.2.1].

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