Off-Street Parking Requirements for the S-D: Special Development District
In the Arlington County S-D: Special Development District, off-street parking must be provided for all land uses according to the general requirements and specific ratios set forth in Article 14. For residential projects, one-family dwellings typically require one to two spaces depending on street configuration, while institutional or commercial-adjacent projects like hospitals and nursing homes follow specific ratios based on bed counts and staffing levels. All S-D district parking requirements are subject to modification by the County Board through the special exception site plan approval process [§4.3.5.A].
General Parking Regulations in the S-D District
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance classifies the S-D: Special Development District as a Public (P) district [§1.7.1]. Consequently, site development standards for parking in this district are governed by §14.3, unless a specific site plan approved by the County Board dictates otherwise [§4.3.5.A]. For projects involving hospitals or hospital-related medical facilities in the S-D: Special Development District, the County Board encourages the placement of parking underground where feasible [§4.3.3.D.1(c)].
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential uses allowed in the S-D: Special Development District, such as one-family dwellings and independent living facilities, must adhere to the following minimum off-street parking standards:
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| One-family Dwelling (Standard) | 1 space per dwelling unit | Must be constructed/maintained per §14.3.3 [§14.3.7.A]. |
| One-family Dwelling (Fronting on cul-de-sac) | 2 spaces per dwelling unit | Improved per §14.3.4.A and maintained per §14.3.3 [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Independent Living Facilities | 0.5 spaces per bedroom | Governed by the standards in §14.3.7.A. |
| Group Homes | As determined by the County Board | Requirements often established via use permit or site plan [§4.1.2]. |
Commercial and Institutional Parking Requirements
While the S-D: Special Development District primarily focuses on public and institutional development, it permits specific commercial-adjacent uses such as private medical offices (when subordinate to a hospital) and larger health care facilities [§4.3.3.D.1(f)]. These uses in Arlington County are subject to the following ratios:
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Staff/Other Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | 1 space per 4 beds | Plus 1 space for each 2 non-doctor employees and 1 space for each doctor [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Nursing Homes | 0.5 spaces per bed | Governed by the standards in §14.3.7.A. |
| Medical or Dental Offices | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. | Ratio applies to the first 5,000 sq. ft.; ratios decrease for larger floor areas [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Other Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. | Applies to the first floor; additional requirements apply for basements and upper floors [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Retail (Standard) | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. | Applies to the first floor; 1 space per 300 sq. ft. for floor area elsewhere in the building [§14.3.7.A]. |
Technical Parking Standards
In addition to the ratios above, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance imposes specific technical standards for the design and placement of parking within the S-D: Special Development District:
- Compact Car Spaces: In parking areas for office uses containing more than 100 spaces, up to 15 percent of the required spaces may be designated as "compact cars only" [§14.3.3.F].
- Dimensions: Standard full-size parallel parking spaces must be at least 22 feet long and 8 feet wide, while perpendicular spaces (90 degrees) must be 18 feet deep and 8.5 feet wide [§14.3.3.C.1].
- Setbacks: No parking or required walls/curbs shall encroach on the exterior 10 feet of a setback area in Public districts. This area must be landscaped and maintained [§14.3.3.E].
- Access: Direct ingress or egress to off-street parking spaces from street rights-of-way is generally prohibited for most residential uses, except for one-family dwellings [§14.3.3.H.1].
Sections Cited
- §1.7.1 General districts
- §4.1.2 Public (P) districts principal use table
- §4.3 S-D, Special Development District
- §4.3.3 Special exception
- §4.3.5 Site development standards
- §14.3 Parking and Loading
- §14.3.3 General requirements
- §14.3.7 Required parking and standing space