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Raleigh, NC · zoning record

R-4 zoning in Raleigh.

The dimensional standards that govern what you can build in the R-4 district, straight from Raleigh's ordinance, with every figure quoting its source. Check a specific address to see how these rules apply to a real lot.

Free · Every figure cited · Read from the current code (2026-10-02)

R-4 dimensional standards.

These are the letter-of-the-law limits for the base R-4 district. Overlays (historic, neighborhood plan, and similar) can tighten them; a specific address check resolves the overlays that actually apply.

Minimum lot size

10,000 sf

Smallest conforming lot. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“A1 | Area (min) | 40,000 sf | 20,000 sf | 10,000 sf | 6,000 sf | 4,000 sf”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A1 Area (min) › R-4 column; Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)7,500 sf
    “A1 | Area (min) | 30,000 sf | 15,000 sf | 7,500 sf | 5,000 sf | 4,000 sf”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A1 Area (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)6,000 sf
    “A1 | Area (min) | 20,000 sf | 10,000 sf | 6,000 sf | 4,000 sf | 3,000 sf”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A1 Area (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Minimum lot width

65 ft

Narrowest conforming lot. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“A2 | Lot Width (min) | 100' | 80' | 65' | 50' | 45'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A2 Lot Width (min) › R-4 column; Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)65 ft
    “A2 | Lot width (min) | 100' | 80' | 65' | 50' | 45'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A2 Lot width (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)50 ft
    “A2 | Lot width (min) | 80' | 65' | 50' | 45' | 30'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A2 Lot width (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Minimum lot depth

100 ft

Shallowest conforming lot. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“A3 | Depth (min) | 100' | 100' | 100' | 80' | 60'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A3 Depth (min) › R-4 column; Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)100 ft
    “A2 | Depth (min) | 100' | 100' | 100' | 80' | 60'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A2 Depth (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)80 ft
    “A3 | Depth (min) | 100' | 100' | 80' | 60' | 60'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › A. Lot Dimensions › A3 Depth (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Front setback

20 ft

Required space from the front line. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“B1 | From primary street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B1 From primary street (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ); Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)10 ft
    “B1 | From primary street (min) | 20’ | 20' | 10' | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B1 From primary street (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ) · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)10 ft
    “B1 | From primary street (min) | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B1 From primary street (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Interior side setback

10 ft

Required space from a side line. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“B3 | From side lot line (min) | 10' | 10' | 10' | 5' | 5'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B3 From side lot line (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ); Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)10 ft
    “B3 | From side lot line (min) | 10’ | 10' | 10' | 5' | 5'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B3 From side lot line (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ) · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)5 ft
    “B3 | From side lot line (min) | 10' | 10' | 5' | 5' | 5'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B3 From side lot line (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Street-side setback

20 ft

Required space from a side street on a corner lot. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“B2 | From side street (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B2 From side street (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ); Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)10 ft
    “B2 | From side street (min) | 20’ | 20’ | 10’ | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B2 From side street (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ) · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)10 ft
    “B2 | From side street (min) | 20' | 20' | 10' | 10' | 10'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B2 From side street (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Rear setback

30 ft

Required space from the rear line. This is the rule for a conventional subdivision; the code sets other values below.

“B4 | From rear lot line (min) | 30' | 30' | 30' | 20' | 20'”Sec. 2.2.1. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B4 From rear lot line (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ); Conventional Development Option (Art. 2.2); compact and conservation subdivisions allow smaller lots (Art. 2.3, 2.4) · Raleigh code · read 2026-10-02
Other values, by development option · 2
  • Compact Development Option (Art. 2.3)20 ft
    “B4 | From rear lot line (min) | 20’ | 20’ | 20’ | 20' | 20'”Sec. 2.3.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B4 From rear lot line (min) › R-4 column; Residential infill rules may apply (see Sec. 2.2.7. ) · Raleigh code
  • Conservation Development Option (Art. 2.4)20 ft
    “B4 | From rear lot line (min) | 20' | 20' | 20' | 20' | 15'”Sec. 2.4.2. Detached House › B. Principal Building Setbacks › B4 From rear lot line (min) › R-4 column · Raleigh code

Permitted uses in R-4

  • single-familyby-right
  • two-familyby-right
  • multi-familyby-right

Sources

Every figure above is quoted verbatim from the current ordinance. We never substitute a typical-for-zone default: a field absent from the record shows nothing, not a guess.

Informational only — not a permit, appraisal, or professional engineering opinion. Verify with your local planning department before acting on it. See Terms and data sources.

Other Raleigh districts on record.

R-1R-2R-6R-10

Check a real Raleigh lot against R-4.

See how these standards resolve on a specific parcel, with the overlays that actually apply, in about 20 seconds.

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