Off-Street Parking Requirements for the CM: Limited Industrial District
Off-street parking for residential and commercial projects within the CM: Limited Industrial District of Arlington County must comply with the general standards established in Article 14 of the zoning ordinance. For commercial retail and office uses, the base requirement is typically one space per 250 square feet of floor area on the first floor, while industrial applications such as warehousing require one space per 1,000 square feet or one space per two employees, whichever is greater. Although general household living is restricted, permitted group living or residential components in the CM: Limited Industrial District generally require one off-street space per dwelling unit or 0.5 spaces per bedroom depending on the specific use type.
General Parking Standards for the CM District
In the Arlington County CM: Limited Industrial District, all development must provide off-street standing and parking space as a minimum requirement for patrons, customers, employees, and residents [Section 14.3.1]. The CM: Limited Industrial District specifically requires that 10 percent of the total site area be dedicated to landscaped open space, which includes the landscaping and screening of parking areas [Section 8.2.5.A].
Computation of Required Spaces
Parking requirements in Arlington County are calculated based on the Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the building or the number of occupants, practitioners, or employees. When calculations result in a fractional space, the requirement is rounded up to the next full space [Section 14.3.5.B].
Specific Parking Ratios for the CM District
The following table outlines the off-street parking requirements for residential-category and commercial-category uses permitted or allowed by special exception in the CM: Limited Industrial District.
Commercial and Industrial Use Parking Ratios
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| General Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of GFA (1st floor) | 1 per 300 sq. ft. (basement/2nd-5th floors); 1 per 400 sq. ft. (above 5th floor) |
| Retail & Service Commercial | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of GFA (1st floor) | 1 per 300 sq. ft. (elsewhere in the building) |
| Restaurants | 1 space per each 6 seats | Includes space for patrons in automobiles |
| Warehouse & Freight Movement | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA | OR 1 space per 2 employees (whichever is greater) |
| Manufacturing & Production | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA | OR 1 space per 2 employees (whichever is greater) |
| Vehicle Sales/Rental/Leasing | 1 customer and 1 employee space per 1,200 sq. ft. | Applies regardless of if the area is enclosed |
| Vehicle Service & Body Shops | 3 standing spaces per wash rack/repair bay | Plus 1 space per each employee |
Residential and Group Living Parking Ratios
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Caretaker Residence | 1 space per dwelling unit |
| Group Homes | 0.5 spaces per bedroom |
| Dormitories | 1 per dwelling unit or guest room (unless specified otherwise) |
| Assisted Living Facilities | 0.5 spaces per bedroom |
| Dwellings (Multi-family) | 1 & 1/8 spaces for each of the first 200 units |
[Section 14.3.7]
Design and Dimensional Standards
Arlington County mandates specific dimensions for parking stalls and aisles to ensure safe vehicle access and maneuvering within the CM: Limited Industrial District.
| Parking Angle (Degrees) | Stall Width (Feet) | Depth of Stalls Perpendicular to Aisle (Feet) | One-way Aisle Width (Feet) | Two-way Aisle Width (Feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45° (Full Size) | 8.5 | 17.5 | 12.0 | Not permitted |
| 60° (Full Size) | 8.5 | 19.5 | 16.0 | Not permitted |
| 90° (Full Size) | 8.5 | 18.0 | 23.0 | 23.0 |
| Parallel (Full Size) | 22.0 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 23.0 |
[Section 14.3.3.C.1]
Compact Car Provisions
In the CM: Limited Industrial District, parking areas containing more than 100 spaces may designate up to 15 percent of those spaces for compact cars. These spaces must be clearly marked "for compact cars only" [Section 14.3.3.F].
Development Standards for Parking Areas
Every standing or parking area in the CM: Limited Industrial District must be improved according to the following criteria:
- Paving: Surfaces must be paved with a durable, dust-free, and hard material, such as bituminous hot mix or Portland cement concrete [Section 14.3.4.A].
- Curbs and Delineation: Fixed wheel bumpers or concrete curbs (at least four inches high) must be installed at least four feet within the prescribed limits of the parking area [Section 14.3.4.B].
- Lighting: Exterior lighting must provide a minimum horizontal illumination of one footcandle throughout the parking area, shielded to confine light rays within property lines [Section 14.3.4.A.1(b)(4)].
- Screening: If a parking area in the CM: Limited Industrial District is located closer than 50 feet to a side or rear lot line of a Residential (R) or Residential Apartment (RA) district, a six-foot solid wall or fence is required [Section 14.3.4.A.1(b)(6)].
Sections Cited
- Section 8.1.2: Industrial (M) Districts Principal Use Table
- Section 8.2.5: CM District Site Development Standards
- Section 12.3.2: Caretaker Residence Standards
- Section 14.2: Landscaping
- Section 14.3.1: Parking and Loading Policy
- Section 14.3.3: General Requirements for Parking
- Section 14.3.4: Required Improvements for Parking Areas
- Section 14.3.5: Required Off-Street Parking and Standing Space
- Section 14.3.7: Required Parking and Standing Space (Table)