Text Change Process

City Council may amend the City Code of Ordinances, or laws of the city, to address new development trends or to correct issues with the existing language in the code. These amendments are generally called text changes.

The public, city staff, and members of City Council can request changes in the City Code of Ordinances.

Text changes within the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) are reviewed by the Planning Commission and subsequently reviewed by the City Council for a final decision. There are two types of text changes:

Text Change (TC) – Changes to the City Code of Ordinances. Requests for TC’s may be made by the City Council, the city staff or members of the public.
Text Change to Zoning Conditions (TCZ) – Changes to current zoning conditions associated with a conditional use district without changing the zoning map. Requests for TCZ’s can only be made by the owner of the property that is the subject of the TCZ. A request for a TCZ shall follow the procedures for conditional use rezoning applications under Sec. 10.2.4. More information on this process can be found on the Rezoning webpage.

Below you will find information about the process for initiating a text change (TC).

Prerequisites

Schedule a Pre-Application Conference by filling out the Pre-Application Conference form and email the form to Justin Rametta.

Approvals or Permits Issued

City Council approval, approval as revised, or denied.

Key Steps in the Process

Schedule a Pre-Application Conference by filling out the Pre-Application Conference form and email the form to the appropriate staff member listed on the form.
A citizen completes and submits a Text Change Application via the Permit and Development Portal and pays the associated fee.
Staff reviews the proposal and provides a report to the City Council within 90 days of receipt of a completed application.
If authorized by Council, staff provides a report and recommendation to the Planning Commission.
The Text Change Committee of the Planning Commission reviews the proposed change, conducts a public hearing, and makes a recommendation. The Planning Commission has 60 days to report its recommendation back to the City Council.
The City Council receives the recommendation of the Planning Commission and conducts a public hearing.
The Council shall approve, approve as revised, deny or send the TC back to the PC, staff, or a Council committee for additional consideration. If a vote in support of the motion fails to achieve a three-fourths majority, a second vote is required at the next City Council meeting. A simple majority on the second vote makes the action final.
If approved, the text change amendment typically becomes effective five days after the approval.

Submittal Requirements

Required for Submittal
Pre-Application Conference form completed by staff. Text Change Application Supplement Per UDO Section 5.4.3.D.7., a request to change the regulations of an existing Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) shall require mailed notice to all property owners and tenants within the original neighborhood study area prior to the City Council public hearing. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the city with stamped (first class) and labeled envelopes. The envelopes should be self-sealing (peel and stick) and labeled with the following return address: Department of Planning and Development, City of Raleigh, P.O. Box 590, Raleigh, NC 27602-0590.

Required for Submittal

Pre-Application Conference form completed by staff.
Text Change Application Supplement
Per UDO Section 5.4.3.D.7., a request to change the regulations of an existing Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) shall require mailed notice to all property owners and tenants within the original neighborhood study area prior to the City Council public hearing. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the city with stamped (first class) and labeled envelopes. The envelopes should be self-sealing (peel and stick) and labeled with the following return address: Department of Planning and Development, City of Raleigh, P.O. Box 590, Raleigh, NC 27602-0590.

Expected Processing Time

Processing time varies based on the complexity of the text change. Simple requests can be processed in 2-3 months, while more complex requests can take longer.

Fees

A filing fee is required.
See Development Fee Schedule for specific fees.
The Planning and Development Customer Service Center process payments.
Payment types include cash, MasterCard, Visa, or check made payable to the City of Raleigh.

Next Steps

View the list of Adopted Text Changes that City Council has taken action on.

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