Overlay Districts apply regulations “on top of” base zoning districts that achieve a specific purpose, such as environmental protection or historic preservation. Overlay Districts typically regulate only the development standards that are related to its purpose. In the event of a conflict with a General Use District, the Overlay District standards shall apply. There are 11 total overlay districts:
- Airport Overlay District (-AOD) – UDO Sec. 5.2.1: The -AOD prevents certain kinds of development within RDU airport’s flight patterns.
- Metro-Park Overlay District (-MPOD) – UDO Sec. 5.2.2: The -MPOD applies to development at the edge of Umstead State Park.
- Urban Watershed Protection Overlay District (-UWPOD) – UDO Sec. 5.2.3: The -UWPOD protects the integrity of drinking water in Raleigh and surrounding communities.
- Falls Watershed Protection Overlay District (-FWPOD) – UDO Sec. 5.2.4: The -FWPOD protects the integrity of drinking water in the Falls Lake watershed.
- Swift Creek Watershed Protection Overlay District (-SWPOD) – UDO Sec. 5.2.5: The -SWPOD protects the integrity of drinking water in the Swift Creek watershed.
- Special Highway Overlay Districts (-SHOD-1 and -SHOD-2) – UDO Sec. 5.3.1: -SHOD-1 and -SHOD-2 buffer development along interstates and other highways.
- Historic Overlay Districts (-HOD-G and -HOD-S) – UDO Sec. 5.4.1 and 5.4.2: -HOD-G and -HOD-S are mapped on historic neighborhoods. The creation of an -HOD requires a study by an architectural historian and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office. A property within an -HOD is subject to historic review, which can take the place of other UDO standards.
- Neighborhood Conversation District (-NCOD) – UDO Sec. 5.4.3: The -NCOD preserves certain features of the appearance of older neighborhoods. The creation of an -NCOD requires measurements of existing buildings, such as building height and front yards.
- Transit Overlay District (-TOD) – UDO Sec. 5.5.1: When combined with a base district, the -TOD allows for intense, compact, and walkable mixed-use development in areas within walking distance of transit stations as designated on the Urban Form Map or in an adopted station area plan.
- Special Residential Parking Overlay District (-SRPOD) – UDO Sec. 5.6.1: The -SRPOD restricts parking area, location, and surfacing for detached structures used for single-unit living.