Setback Standards for the R-2: Residential-2 District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, the R-2: Residential-2 district generally requires a minimum primary and side street setback of 20 feet and a side lot line setback of 10 feet. While the standard rear lot line setback is 30 feet under the conventional development option, this requirement is reduced to 20 feet when using the Compact or Conservation development options for specific building types [Sec. 2.2.1, Sec. 2.3.2, Sec. 2.4.2].
Conventional Development Option Setbacks
The conventional development option in the City of Raleigh R-2 district provides a pattern of residential development with substantial yards. In this district, single-unit living is permitted in detached houses or tiny houses, and two-unit living is permitted in attached houses or tiny houses [Sec. 2.1.1.C].
Principal Building Setbacks (Conventional)
| Requirement | Detached House | Attached House | Townhouse (max 2 units) | Civic Building | Open Lot | Tiny House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Primary Street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' |
| From Side Street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' |
| From Side Lot Line (min) | 10' | 10' | 10' (site boundary) | 10' | 10' | 10' |
| From Rear Lot Line (min) | 30' | 30' | 30' (site boundary) | 30' | 30' | 30' |
| From Alley (min) | N/A | N/A | 4' or 20' min | N/A | N/A | 4' or 20' min |
[Sec. 2.2.1, Sec. 2.2.2, Sec. 2.2.3, Sec. 2.2.5, Sec. 2.2.6, Sec. 2.2.8]
Compact and Conservation Development Options
The City of Raleigh allows for alternative development patterns that trade smaller lot sizes for increased common open space. In the R-2 district, these options often result in modified rear setback requirements for the principal structure.
Principal Building Setbacks (Compact & Conservation)
| Requirement | Compact: Detached/Attached | Conservation: Detached/Attached | Conservation: Townhouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Primary Street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' |
| From Side Street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' |
| From Side Lot Line (min) | 10' | 10' | 10' (site boundary) |
| From Rear Lot Line (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' (site boundary) |
[Sec. 2.3.2, Sec. 2.3.3, Sec. 2.4.2, Sec. 2.4.3, Sec. 2.4.4]
Cottage Court Housing Pattern Setbacks
The City of Raleigh R-2 district also allows for the Cottage Court housing pattern, which consists of small detached, attached, or tiny houses sharing a common courtyard [Sec. 2.6.1.A].
| Setback Type | Site Requirement (Outer Boundary) | Individual Lot Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| From Primary Street (min) | 20' | N/A |
| From Side Street (min) | 15' | N/A |
| From Side Site Line (min) | 10' | 3' (internal lot line) |
| From Rear Site Line (min) | 20' | 3' (internal lot line) |
| From Alley (min) | 5' | N/A |
[Sec. 2.6.1.F]
General Rules and Encroachments
The City of Raleigh UDO allows certain building features to encroach into the required setbacks for the R-2 district.
- Building Features: Porches, decks, patios, and stoops greater than one foot in height may extend up to 12 feet into a required side or rear setback, provided they remain at least 3 feet from the property line. They may also extend 9 feet into a primary or side street setback if they remain 3 feet from the street property line [Sec. 1.5.4.D.1].
- Minor Structures: Standalone structures 4 feet in height or less may be located a minimum of 3 feet from any property line [Sec. 1.5.4.D.3].
- Cul-de-Sac Lots: Any lot abutting a cul-de-sac in an R-2 district that does not meet the minimum width at the front property line must have a minimum street frontage of 20 feet. The minimum lot depth (70 feet for R-2) is measured starting from the point where the lot width meets the district minimum [Sec. 1.5.2.E].
Sections Cited
- Article 1.5. Measurement, Exceptions & General Rules of Applicability
- Sec. 1.5.2. Lot
- Sec. 1.5.4. Building Setbacks
- Article 2.1. General Provisions
- Sec. 2.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Article 2.2. Conventional Development Option
- Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House
- Sec. 2.2.2. Attached House
- Sec. 2.2.3. Townhouse
- Sec. 2.2.5. Civic Building
- Sec. 2.2.6. Open Lot
- Sec. 2.2.8. Tiny Houses
- Article 2.3. Compact Development
- Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House
- Sec. 2.3.3. Attached House
- Article 2.4. Conservation Development Option
- Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House
- Sec. 2.4.3. Attached House
- Sec. 2.4.4. Townhouse
- Article 2.6. Additional Housing Patterns
- Sec. 2.6.1. Cottage Court