Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R2-7: Two-Family and Townhouse Dwelling District
In the Arlington County R2-7: Two-Family and Townhouse Dwelling district, residential off-street parking ranges from one space per unit for detached dwellings to two spaces per unit plus a visitor allowance for townhouse projects. Commercial activities in this district are largely restricted to professional or medical offices in existing structures, which require one parking space per 150 square feet for the first 5,000 square feet of area. Parking areas in Arlington County must generally be located outside of the exterior 10 feet of any required setback area, unless specifically situated on a compliant driveway [Section 14.3.3.E].
Residential Parking Ratios in the R2-7 District
The primary residential uses in the R2-7: Two-family Dwelling district include one-family detached dwellings, duplexes, semidetached units, and townhouses. The following table outlines the specific requirements per dwelling type [Section 14.3.7.A]:
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| One-family and two-family dwellings (Not on a cul-de-sac) | 1 per dwelling unit | Must be constructed and maintained per §14.3.3. |
| One-family and two-family dwellings (Fronting on a cul-de-sac) | 2 per dwelling unit | Must be improved per §14.3.4.A. |
| Townhouses and stacked one-family dwellings | 2 per dwelling unit, plus 1/5 additional space per unit for visitors | Visitor spaces must be in a clearly marked common area. |
| Expanded Housing Option (EHO) (Within 3/4 mile of Metrorail) | 0.5 per dwelling unit | Sites on a cul-de-sac must provide 1 space per unit. |
| Expanded Housing Option (EHO) (All other locations) | 1 per dwelling unit | Subject to §10.4.6. |
Commercial and Institutional Parking Ratios
While the R2-7 district is primarily residential, certain commercial and public uses are permitted, typically via use permit or within existing structures. Arlington County requires the following ratios for these specific developments [Section 14.3.7.A]:
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Offices or clinics (Medical or Dental) | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. for the first 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Other Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of floor area on the first floor |
| Religious Institutions | 1 space per 5 sanctuary seats |
| Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. of floor area |
| Schools (High School) | 1 space per 10 students of design capacity |
| Schools (Elementary and Middle) | 1 space per 7.5 students (employee) + 1 per 40 students (visitor) |
Dimensional and Location Standards
All off-street parking in the R2-7: Two-family Dwelling district must adhere to specific technical dimensions to ensure accessibility and safety.
Stall and Aisle Dimensions
Arlington County mandates the following minimum dimensions for parking facilities [Section 14.3.3.C]:
| Parking Angle | Stall Width | Depth (Perpendicular to Aisle) | One-Way Aisle Width | Two-Way Aisle Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 Degrees (Full Size) | 8.5 feet | 18.0 feet | 23.0 feet | 23.0 feet |
| 90 Degrees (Compact) | 8.0 feet | 15.0 feet | 21.0 feet | 21.0 feet |
| Parallel (Full Size) | 22.0 feet | 8.0 feet | 12.0 feet | 23.0 feet |
Placement and Setback Rules
- Setback Encroachment: In the R2-7 district, no parking or required walls/curbs may encroach on the exterior 10 feet of a setback area. However, an exception exists for one-family, two-family, and townhouse dwellings where parking may be located within the exterior 10 feet of a setback if the spaces are on a driveway with an approved curb cut [Section 14.3.3.E, Section 14.3.3.I].
- Maneuvering: Street rights-of-way cannot be used for maneuvering or direct ingress/egress to off-street parking spaces for residential uses in R districts. All maneuvering must occur on the lot or via an improved alley [Section 14.3.3.H].
- Alley Access: If a lot abuts an alley improved to Arlington County standards, the Zoning Administrator may require vehicle access to be provided from that alley rather than the street [Section 10.4.6.B.3].
Special Provisions for R2-7 Townhouses
For townhouse projects in the R2-7: Two-family Dwelling district, the County Board may approve variations in parking requirements through the site plan process to achieve a design appropriate for the site [Section 5.9.4]. Additionally, townhouse projects are prohibited from having grouping of units exceeding 180 feet in length, and no individual townhouse lot shall have direct vehicular access to a primary or secondary arterial street [Section 5.9.4.A.1].
Sections Cited
- Section 5.1.2 (Residential Districts Principal Use Table)
- Section 5.9 (R2-7, Two-Family and Townhouse Dwelling District)
- Section 10.4 (Expanded Housing Option Development)
- Section 10.4.6 (EHO Site Development Standards)
- Section 14.3 (Parking and Loading)
- Section 14.3.3 (General Parking Requirements)
- Section 14.3.4 (Required Parking Improvements)
- Section 14.3.7 (Required Parking and Standing Space Table)