The OX-: Office Mixed Use Zoning District in Raleigh, North Carolina
The OX- Office Mixed Use district in Raleigh is designed to accommodate a diverse range of office and employment activities alongside residential housing and small-scale retail services. This district establishes a flexible urban environment that limits the size and scale of commercial uses while acting as a vital land use transition between intensive mixed-use areas and established residential neighborhoods [Sec. 3.1.1.C]. Development within the Raleigh OX- district is governed by specific height designations and building type requirements that prioritize a compatible, walkable community form [Sec. 3.1.2].
Purpose and General Character
The primary purpose of the Raleigh OX- district is to provide locations for office-based employment while integrating a variety of housing options. Unlike more intensive commercial districts, the Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance imposes specific use standards on the OX- district to ensure that retail and service-related businesses remain secondary in scale and do not dominate the landscape [Sec. 3.1.1.C].
The general character of the Raleigh OX- district is defined by its role as a transition zone. It is intended to buffer higher-density downtown or commercial areas from lower-density residential neighborhoods. To maintain this character, the City of Raleigh allows a wide variety of building types and permits the application of different frontage standards (such as Parkway, Detached, or Shopfront) to tailor the streetscape to the specific local context [Sec. 3.1.2.B].
Permitted Building Types
The City of Raleigh permits all standard building types within the OX- district, provided they meet the base dimensional and frontage requirements.
| Building Type | Status in OX- District |
|---|---|
| Detached House | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Attached House | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Townhouse | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Apartment | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| General Building | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Mixed Use Building | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Civic Building | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Open Lot | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
| Tiny House | Allowed [Sec. 1.4.2] |
Base Dimensional Standards
The following technical standards apply to the most common building types in the Raleigh OX- district (specifically those in the RX-, OX-, NX-, and CX- categories).
Setbacks and Lot Requirements
| Standard | Apartment / General / Mixed Use | Detached / Attached House |
|---|---|---|
| Lot Area (min) | N/A | 4,000 sf [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
| Lot Width (min) | N/A | 45' [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
| Primary Street Setback (min) | 5' [Sec. 3.2.4, 3.2.5] | 10' [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
| Side Street Setback (min) | 5' [Sec. 3.2.4, 3.2.5] | 10' [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
| Side Setback (min) | 0' or 6' [Sec. 3.2.4, 3.2.5] | 5' [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
| Rear Setback (min) | 0' or 6' [Sec. 3.2.4, 3.2.5] | 20' [Sec. 3.2.1, 3.2.2] |
Height Requirements
The maximum height for any building in a Raleigh OX- district is determined by the numerical suffix attached to the district name on the Official Zoning Map (e.g., OX-3, OX-12, OX-40) [Sec. 3.1.2.A].
| Height Designation | Max Stories | Max Feet |
|---|---|---|
| -3 | 3 stories | 50' [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -4 | 4 stories | 68' [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -5 | 5 stories | 80' [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -7 | 7 stories | N/A [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -12 | 12 stories | N/A [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -20 | 20 stories | N/A [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -30 | 30 stories | N/A [Sec. 3.3.1] |
| -40 | 40 stories | N/A [Sec. 3.3.1] |
Note: Buildings of 13 or more stories must incorporate a stepback of at least 12 feet above the 1st floor (or 25') but below the 13th floor on faces adjoining a public street [Sec. 3.3.3.B].
Permitted Land Uses
The Raleigh OX- district prioritizes employment and residential living, with retail and restaurant uses permitted only as limited secondary functions.
Residential Uses
- Single-unit, Two-unit, and Multi-unit Living: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Cottage Court: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Congregate Care and Rest Homes: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
Commercial and Office Uses
- General Office: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Medical Facilities: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Health Club: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Retail Sales: Limited Use. In the Raleigh OX- district, retail sales cannot exceed 15% of the gross floor area of the entire building or 4,000 square feet, whichever is greater [Sec. 6.4.11.D.2].
- Eating Establishments: Limited Use. Similar to retail, these must be located within or attached to a multi-tenant building and are restricted to 15% of the gross floor area or 4,000 square feet, whichever is greater [Sec. 6.4.10.C.2.b].
Public and Institutional Uses
- Civic Uses: Permitted by right, including libraries and government offices [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Schools (K-12) and Colleges: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
- Parks and Open Space: Permitted [Sec. 6.1.4].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.4.2. Building Types Allowed by District
- Section 3.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 3.1.2. District Components
- Section 3.2.1. Detached House (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.2.2. Attached House (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.2.4. Apartment (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.2.5. General Building (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.3.1. Applicability (Height)
- Section 3.3.3. Building Massing Standards
- Section 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 6.4.10. Restaurant/Bar
- Section 6.4.11. Retail Sales