Arlington County R15-30T Townhouse Dwelling District Off-Street Parking Standards
In the Arlington County R15-30T Townhouse Dwelling district, semidetached dwellings are required to provide two off-street parking spaces per unit. Townhouse developments within this Arlington County district must provide two spaces per dwelling unit plus one additional visitor space for every five units. Commercial and retail uses, where permitted or authorized via use permit, follow general county-wide ratios such as one space per 250 square feet for ground-floor establishments.
Residential Parking Ratios
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance establishes specific parking minimums for the R15-30T district based on the type of residential structure and its proximity to specific street configurations. For semidetached dwellings, the district regulations mandate a minimum of two spaces per unit [Section 5.8.5.A.1]. Other residential uses follow the calculations set forth in the general parking schedule [Section 5.8.5.A.2].
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Semidetached Dwellings | 2 spaces per unit | Must be constructed and maintained per county standards [Section 5.8.5.A.1]. |
| Townhouses & Stacked Units | 2 spaces per unit + 1/5 space per unit for visitors | Visitor spaces must be in clearly marked common areas [Section 14.3.7]. |
| One-Family Detached | 1 space per unit | Requirement increases to 2 spaces per unit if fronting a cul-de-sac [Section 14.3.7]. |
| Two-Family Dwellings | 2 spaces per unit | Standard requirement for R-5 related districts [Section 5.7.5.A]. |
| Recovery Residences | 1 space per unit | Specifically for residences with 8 or fewer residents [Section 14.3.7]. |
Commercial and Retail Parking Ratios
While the R15-30T district is primarily residential, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance provides parking standards for commercial, service, or community-based projects that may be authorized within the district. These requirements are typically calculated based on gross floor area (GFA) or capacity [Section 14.3.7].
| Commercial/Service Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Retail & Service Commercial | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of GFA (first floor); 1 per 300 sq. ft. (other floors) |
| General Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of GFA (first floor); 1 per 300 sq. ft. (floors 2-5) |
| Medical or Dental Offices | 1 per 150 sq. ft. (first 5,000 sq. ft.); 1 per 200 sq. ft. (next 10,000 sq. ft.) |
| Restaurants | 1 space per every 6 seats |
| Membership Clubs/Lodges | 1 space per every 3 seats or accommodations |
| Libraries/Museums | 1 space per every 500 sq. ft. of GFA |
Site Development and Design Standards
Arlington County enforces strict design and placement regulations for off-street parking in the R15-30T district to maintain neighborhood character and safety.
Parking Placement and Setbacks
In the R15-30T district, no parking or required curb/wall may encroach upon the exterior 10 feet of a setback area. This area must be landscaped and properly maintained at all times [Section 14.3.3.E]. For one-family and two-family dwellings, parking spaces may encroach on the exterior 10 feet of a setback if they are located on a driveway with an existing or approved curb cut, provided the vehicles do not overhang into the public right-of-way [Section 14.3.3.I.1].
Visitor Parking Management
For townhouse projects in Arlington County, visitor parking must be provided in common areas. However, these visitor spaces may be included within the primary "two spaces per unit" requirement if at least 50 percent of the total required spaces for the development are located in a common area available to both residents and visitors [Section 14.3.7].
Tandem and Compact Parking
- Tandem Parking: Arlington County permits tandem parking spaces for one- or two-family dwellings and townhouses, provided they meet standard full-size automobile dimensions [Section 14.3.3.I.2].
- Compact Spaces: In parking areas containing more than 100 spaces, up to 15 percent of the required spaces may be designated for compact cars. These must be clearly marked "compact cars only" [Section 14.3.3.F].
Screening and Landscaping
Parking areas in the R15-30T district must be screened if they are closer than 50 feet to a side or rear lot line of an R or RA district. This screening must consist of a five-foot wide landscaped strip and a wall or fence at least six feet high (reduced to four feet if located within a required setback) [Section 14.3.4.A.1].
Sections Cited
- §5.7.5. Residential (R) Districts; R-5, Site development standards
- §5.8.4. Residential (R) Districts; R15-30T, District use standards
- §5.8.5. Residential (R) Districts; R15-30T, Site development standards
- §12.9.2. Accessory Use Standards; Accessory dwellings
- §12.9.15. Accessory Use Standards; Outdoor cafés
- §14.3.3. Parking and Loading; General requirements
- §14.3.4. Parking and Loading; Required improvements
- §14.3.7. Parking and Loading; Required parking and standing space