Raleigh, NC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

The UDO sorts every construction project into one of three site plan tiers, and Sec. D' as a Tier One improvement, the same tier that covers additions under 4,000 square feet or 10% of a building's existing footprint. Tier One review is deliberately lighter than Tiers Two and Three: the ordinance states the Public Notice procedure in Sec. 1 does not apply, and approval cannot be conditioned on public improvements, tree conservation, amenity area, open space, drainage, utility dedication, neighborhood transitions or 40% forestation unless the Table of Applicable Standards in Sec.

4 specifically says so. That table still applies setback, height, parking-setback, lighting and driveway standards to the site (footnote 'a', not applicable to existing improvements already on site; footnote 'd', applicable only if you're demolishing and rebuilding the whole structure). Because a deck, patio, terrace or stoop is an attached building feature, it also gets specific setback relief under Sec. D: those over 1 foot in height may extend up to 12 feet into a required side or rear setback (staying at least 3 feet off the property line) and up to 9 feet into a street setback, while ones 1 foot or less in height can sit right at the side or rear line and just 3 feet off a street line.

Any project that also adds impervious surface, a common outcome for a poured patio, must still be checked against the district's impervious limit even though it clears the deck-specific setback allowance. Homeowners submit the Tier One application to Raleigh Development Services before starting construction; skipping it does not exempt the project from the underlying building permit process.