Special Highway Overlay District-3 (SHOD-3) Legacy Regulations

In the City of Raleigh, the Special Highway Overlay District-3 (SHOD-3) is classified as a Legacy District, meaning it is a zoning designation carried over from the prior Part 10 Zoning Code. Under the current Unified Development Ordinance, the City of Raleigh prohibits the creation of any new SHOD-3 districts or the modification of any existing SHOD-3 boundaries [Section 1.3.4].

Legacy District Status and Application

The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance identifies SHOD-3 as a district that will eventually be replaced by modern UDO zoning districts. Because it is a legacy designation, its specific internal development standards—such as precise buffer widths or specific planting schedules—are maintained within the preceding Part 10 Zoning Code rather than being fully detailed in the current technical articles of the UDO [Section 1.3.4].

The following table summarizes the status and applicable general constraints for SHOD-3 in the City of Raleigh:

Regulatory Category	Requirement or Restriction
District Classification	Legacy District [Section 1.3.4]
Establishment Authority	No new SHOD-3 districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map [Section 1.3.4]
Boundary Changes	Boundaries of existing SHOD-3 districts may not be modified [Section 1.3.4]
Zoning Type	May exist as a general use district or as a conditional district [Section 1.3.4]
Signage	Off-premise signs are expressly prohibited [Section 5.3.1.B]
Conflict Resolution	If a SHOD-3 protective yard conflicts with an underlying district, the more stringent (greater width) applies [Section 5.3.1.D.1.a]

General SHOD Standards in the City of Raleigh

While the specific dimensions for SHOD-3 are governed by legacy rules, the City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance provides several general standards that apply to all Special Highway Overlay Districts (SHODs).

Signage Prohibitions

In any area designated as a Special Highway Overlay District, the City of Raleigh prohibits the erection of off-premise signs [Section 5.3.1.B]. Furthermore, any signs used in the district must be maintained or replaced in accordance with the general sign requirements of the UDO to ensure consistency with the city's aesthetic and safety goals [Section 7.3.1].

Protective Yard Requirements

The City of Raleigh mandates that if there is a conflict between the protective yard requirements of a Special Highway Overlay District and the requirements of the underlying zoning district, the protective yard with the greater width shall control the development [Section 5.3.1.D.1.a].

Infrastructure and Utility Placement

For properties within the City of Raleigh that feature tree conservation areas adjacent to a street and are zoned as a SHOD, specific rules apply to utilities:

Utilities serving the development must be located within driveways or other authorized incursions to minimize impact on the tree-protected area [Section 8.7.4.E.3].
If a public or private utility easement must be located adjacent to a Major Access Corridor, the required SHOD protective yard must be provided adjacent to that utility easement [Section 5.3.1.D.1.b].

Sections Cited