policy
Raleigh Mayor Signs Updated Zoning Ordinance on Multi-Family Housing Permits
The ordinance changes permit processes for apartment buildings in designated Raleigh corridors, which city documents project will add housing units near existing bus lines used by 45,000 daily riders.
How we reported this
The Raleigh mayor signed an updated zoning ordinance on July 7 that alters the approval process for multi-family housing projects along three main corridors in the city. The change applies to areas near Wake County transit routes and removes certain minimum lot size requirements for buildings with more than four units.
City planning staff prepared the ordinance after reviewing the 2025 comprehensive plan update, which identified a shortfall of 8,200 housing units compared with job growth projections through 2030. The document notes that current rules have limited new construction in neighborhoods served by the GoRaleigh bus network.
Changes to Permit Reviews
Under the new rules, projects that meet density targets can proceed with administrative review rather than full council hearings in most cases. Local advocates note this shortens the timeline from application to groundbreaking by an estimated four months based on prior case data from the planning department.
Residents living near the affected corridors, such as those along Capital Boulevard and South Saunders Street, may see construction activity increase as developers submit applications. The ordinance requires projects to include ground-floor commercial space in some zones, which could add nearby retail options for households without cars.
Budget and Timeline Details
The city's 2026 capital improvement plan allocates $2.1 million for staff positions to handle the expected rise in permit reviews. City records show 312 multi-family applications were filed in 2025, and officials project the new process will accommodate up to 150 additional filings annually without added delays.
Implementation begins August 1, with the planning department scheduled to release updated application forms and hold two public information sessions at the Raleigh Convention Center later that month. Property owners outside the designated corridors will continue under existing rules.