Arlington County Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-1-O District
In the C-1-O: Limited Commercial-Professional Office Building District of Arlington County, commercial office developments are required to provide off-street parking at ratios ranging from one space per 250 to 400 square feet of floor area, depending on the story of the building. Residential projects within the C-1-O district, which are limited primarily to one-family detached dwellings, must provide one off-street space per unit, increasing to two spaces if the property fronts a cul-de-sac. Additionally, Arlington County prohibits any parking or required curbing from encroaching upon the exterior 10 feet of a required setback area within this specific district.
Commercial Parking Requirements
Project applications in the C-1-O: Limited Commercial-Professional Office Building District must adhere to specific ratios based on the type of commercial activity and the vertical location of the floor area within the structure [Section 7.9.6.B].
Medical and dental offices in Arlington County are subject to a graduated intensity scale, requiring more frequent parking for the initial square footage to accommodate higher patient turnover [Section 14.3.7.A].
Commercial and Office Parking Ratios
| Use Type | Floor Level or Size Threshold | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| General Office / Professional | First Floor | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of floor area |
| General Office / Professional | 2nd through 5th Floors (and Basements) | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of floor area |
| General Office / Professional | Above the 5th Floor | 1 space per 400 sq. ft. of floor area |
| Medical or Dental Office | First 5,000 sq. ft. in each building | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. |
| Medical or Dental Office | Next 10,000 sq. ft. (5,001–15,000) | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. |
| Medical or Dental Office | Area in excess of 15,000 sq. ft. | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. |
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential uses allowed by-right in the C-1-O: Limited Commercial-Professional Office Building District include one-family detached dwellings [Section 7.1.2]. Parking requirements for these dwellings are determined by the street configuration of the lot.
Residential Parking Ratios
| Use Type | Street Configuration | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached | Not fronting on a cul-de-sac | 1 space per dwelling unit |
| One-family detached | Fronting on a cul-de-sac | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Location and Design Standards
Arlington County mandates specific placement and surfacing standards for all off-street parking within the C-1-O district to maintain the professional and residential character of the neighborhood.
Setback and Encroachment Restrictions
- Setback Area Protection: Within the C-1-O district, no parking space, required curb, or wall is permitted to encroach upon the exterior 10 feet of a setback area. This area must be landscaped and maintained by the property owner at all times [Section 14.3.3.E].
- One-Family Setback Exception: For one-family dwellings, parking spaces may encroach on the exterior 10 feet of a setback area provided they are located on a driveway with an existing or approved curb cut. These vehicles must not overhang into public rights-of-way [Section 14.3.3.I.1].
- Maneuvering: Direct ingress or egress to off-street parking spaces from street rights-of-way is prohibited, except for one-family dwellings. All other uses must provide on-site maneuvering space so that vehicles do not back into the street [Section 14.3.3.H.1].
Improvement Standards
All parking areas in the C-1-O district must be surfaced with a durable, dust-free, and hard material, such as Portland cement concrete or bituminous hot mix. Paving must be maintained in a safe and convenient condition [Section 14.3.4.A]. If a project includes a parking lot with 20 or more spaces, a formal landscaping plan must be approved by the Zoning Administrator [Section 14.2.4.B].
Sections Cited
- Section 7.1.2 (Commercial/Mixed Use Districts Principal Use Table)
- Section 7.9.6.B (C-1-O District Site Development Standards)
- Section 14.2.4.B (Parking Area Landscaping)
- Section 14.3.3.E (Parking in Setbacks)
- Section 14.3.3.H.1 (Access to Parking Spaces)
- Section 14.3.3.I.1 (Location of Parking Spaces)
- Section 14.3.4.A (Required Paving Improvements)
- Section 14.3.7.A (Required Parking and Standing Space Table)