Text Changes

Process Description:
As new land uses, development trends, environmental concerns, etc. may evolve with time, it is occasionally necessary to amend the City Code. Chapter 10 of the Raleigh City Code governs planning and development within the Raleigh City limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (may extend up to three miles outside of the City limits).  Text amendments to the Raleigh City Code are either brought forward by city staff, prepared by staff at the request of the City Council, or proposed by private citizens at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting.  Proposed text changes to the City Code are evaluated based on their benefit to all the citizens of Raleigh rather than to a single property owner or to only a few owners. Although text changes may be requested for any part of the City Code Chapters 1-10, a public hearing at a joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission is required for any amendment to City Code Chapter 10 Planning and Development brought forward by City staff or by citizens.

After a text change is proposed, the City Council must first authorize a public hearing.  Following City Council authorization:

• The proposal will be considered at a joint City Council/Planning Commission public hearing. These joint meetings are scheduled to occur six (6) times per year
• Following the public hearing, the text change proposal is referred to the Planning Commission for their review and recommendation.  The Planning Commission has appointed a special committee, the Text Change Committee, to review proposed changes to the City’s development regulations.  The Planning Commission has 105 days to report their recommendation back to the City Council. The Text Change Committee meets at 9:00 am on the third Tuesday of the month  
• The City Council is the approving authority for text changes.  By simple majority, the City Council may approve, approve as revised, or deny the text change proposal.  However, if the vote in support of the motion fails to achieve a three-quarters (3/4) majority, a second vote is required at the next City Council meeting.   Another simple majority on the second vote will make the action final

See the City of Raleigh Development Services Glossary for any unfamiliar terms.

Are there any prerequisites to this process?
The City Council  is required to authorize a public hearing on any text change amendment proposal. See above process description for more details.

How do I start the process?

• Contact the Department of City Planning staff at 919-516-2636 for a pre-application meeting to discuss the proposal
• Complete the following two (2) forms to initiate a text change amendment proposal:

1. Request and Petition of Citizens (.doc) & (.pdf)
2. Text Change Amendment Petition (.doc) & (.pdf)

Note:   Both of these forms must be submitted to the City Clerk's office a minimum of one (1) week prior to the date of the City Council meeting.  The City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month. In order to be placed on the agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting, petitions are required to be submitted by 12:00 noon on the preceding Tuesday.

What do I need to submit to the City?

What additional documents may be needed?
Include a copy of the City Code section proposed to be amended.  This copy may be photocopied from the City Code or printed from the Web.

Where can I find detailed information regarding submittals?

• City Clerk’s Office: 919-996-3040
• City of Raleigh Department of City Planning: 919-516-2626
• Active text change petitions

Where do I submit my petition?
Office:               City of Raleigh
Department:    City Clerk
Location:          Room 207
Division:           Administration
Address:          222 West Hargett Street Raleigh, NC  27602
Phone #:          919-996-3040
Hours:              8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

What are the keys to success?
Contact Department of City Planning staff at 919-516-2636 to schedule a Pre-application meeting.

What fees are involved and when do I pay them? 

• See Fee Schedule for the current fees associated with Text Changes
• This fee will only be required, if the City Council approves authorization of the public hearing
• Payment types accepted are cash, MasterCard, Visa or check made payable to: City of Raleigh
• If required, the fee is delivered to the Department of City Planning located at One Exchange Plaza Suite 304, Raleigh NC (see above bullet)

How long will this process take?

• The City Council will generally decide in one or two meetings to move forward on the request and authorize a public hearing
• There is a period of 2-6 weeks between the time City Council authorizes the public hearing and the date of the public hearing
• Following the public hearing, final City Council action will be taken in approximately two (2) months
• If approved, the text change amendment will become effective in five (5) days from the approval date

 Guide Home Page

For More Information Contact:
Greg Hallam
Senior Planner
Planning Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 304
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-516-2636

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