To understand Raleigh’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and how it has shaped the City of Oaks, we must go back to origins of the capital itself. In 1792, when Raleigh was first chartered, the City Code was created. For over 200 years, the City Code has encompassed all of Raleigh’s municipal laws. After some modernization, these codes were incorporated into Raleigh’s Municode library, where they reside today.
Among the City Code is the zoning code, which the City of Raleigh defines as the “process of partitioning a city, town, or borough into zones reserved for different purposes (such as residence or business) and is intended to promote an orderly pattern of development.” Essentially, zoning aims to ensure that the city’s built environment and land uses are compatible across its many different areas.
