Setback Requirements for the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, setbacks for the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district are dictated by the specific building type being constructed and any applicable "Frontage" designation. Base primary street setbacks in the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district range from 5 to 10 feet, while rear setbacks range from 6 to 20 feet, though these are frequently superseded by frontage-specific "build-to" ranges [Section 3.1.2].
Base Dimensional Standards for NX-
The City of Raleigh establishes base setbacks for the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district according to the building type. These standards apply unless a specific Frontage designation (such as -SH Shopfront or -UL Urban Limited) provides a more restrictive requirement [Section 3.2.1].
| Building Type | Primary Street Setback (Min) | Side Street Setback (Min) | Side Setback (Min) | Rear Setback (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 20' |
| Attached House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 20' |
| Townhouse | 10' | 10' | 10' (site boundary) | 20' (site boundary) |
| 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' |
| Civic Building | 10' | 10' | 0' or 6' | 0' or 6' |
| Tiny House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 10' |
| Open Lot | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' |
Frontage Setback Modifications
In the City of Raleigh, the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district is often combined with a Frontage designation. Frontages place different requirements on the property than the base dimensional standards. Where a conflict exists between the base setbacks and the frontage requirements, the frontage requirements control [Section 3.4.1].
Frontage requirements typically use a "Build-To" range rather than a simple minimum setback. This range defines the area where a certain percentage of the building facade must be located [Section 1.5.6].
| Frontage Type | Primary Street Build-To / Setback | Side Street Build-To / Setback |
|---|---|---|
| Parkway (-PK) | 50' Min Setback | N/A |
| Green (-GR) | 20' Min / 50' Max | 20' Min / 50' Max |
| Urban Limited (-UL) | 0' Min / 20' Max | 0' Min / 20' Max |
| Urban General (-UG) | 0' Min / 20' Max | 0' Min / 20' Max |
| Shopfront (-SH) | 0' Min / 15' Max | 0' Min / 15' Max |
| Green Plus (-GP) | 30' Min / 50' Max | 20' Min / 50' Max |
Additional Site-Specific Setback Rules
Parking Setbacks
In the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district, on-site surface and structured parking must be located behind the parking setback line. For most urban frontages in the City of Raleigh, the parking setback is 30 feet from the primary street [Section 7.1.3].
Neighborhood Transitions
If a site in the NX-: Neighborhood Mixed Use district immediately abuts a Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-4, R-6, or R-10), additional transition setbacks apply. These include "Zone A," which is a protective yard of varying width where no buildings or structures are allowed, and "Zone B," which restricts the first 50 feet of the site to low-intensity uses [Section 3.5.1, Section 3.5.2].
Alley Access
When a lot in the City of Raleigh has a rear alley, the minimum building setback from the alley is typically 4 feet or 20 feet if used for garage access, depending on the specific building type and frontage [Section 3.2.1].
Sections Cited
- Article 3.1. General Provisions
- Article 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards
- Article 3.4. Frontage Requirements
- Article 3.5. Neighborhood Transitions
- Sec. 1.5.6. Build-to
- Sec. 3.1.2. District Components
- Sec. 3.2.1. through Sec. 3.2.9. (Base Dimensional Standards by Building Type)
- Sec. 3.4.3. through Sec. 3.4.10. (Frontage Requirements)
- Sec. 7.1.3. Specialized Vehicle Parking Requirements