Duplexes and Townhomes Legalized in Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina is the latest city in the United States to relax zoning restrictions in residential neighborhoods as a component of a housing affordability strategy.

1 minute read

July 8, 2021, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


An image of the Raleigh skyline, with older residential buildings in the foreground and taller commercial buildings in the background.

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

"Duplexes and townhomes will now be legal to build by right throughout most of [Raleigh]," reports Anna Johnson.

The Raleigh City Council voted 6-1 to approve the new rules on Tuesday night earlier this week. The changes will "allow different types of housing in traditionally single-family neighborhoods without a rezoning."

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin, who campaigned on a pro-development housing affordability strategy in 2019, is quoted in an earlier article by Johnson describing the intended goal of the approved rule changes:

“We empathized there would have to be some change to zoning to allow for more housing choice, especially what I call gentle density,” she said. “This is what I call gentle density, and it will allow for more homes to be built in our city. It’s a positive thing.”

Planetizne picked up news of Raleigh's ongoing planning and zoning reform efforts in June, when the topic was parking requirements—after the council voted 6-1 (again) to begin the process of removing parking minimums and changing parking maximums around the city. Planetizen also previewed Raleigh's work toward legalizing missing middle density in January 2020.

Raleigh's zoning and planning reform efforts follow closely on the heals of similar news from Charlotte, in the same state, and Charlottesville, in neighboring Virginia.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in The News & Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today