Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-1 Local Commercial District
In Arlington County's C-1 Local Commercial District, off-street parking is required for all residential and commercial uses, with standard commercial ratios beginning at one space per 250 square feet for ground-floor retail and standard residential ratios starting at 1.125 spaces for the first 200 multi-family units. Projects located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance may qualify for exemptions, such as the exclusion of the first 5,000 square feet of retail floor area from parking calculations. Under the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, the C-1 Local Commercial District also enforces strict placement rules, prohibiting any parking or curbing within the exterior 10 feet of a required setback area.
Standard Parking Ratios for Commercial Uses
In the C-1 Local Commercial District, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance mandates specific parking minimums based on the type of commercial activity and the floor on which it is located. If a project meets the definition of a "Neighborhood Commercial Center" (a building up to 200,000 square feet with multiple tenants and no residential area), a simplified ratio of one space per 600 square feet of gross floor area may supersede individual use ratios [§14.3.7].
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Retail and Service Commercial | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 space per 300 sq. ft. (other floors) |
| Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 space per 300 sq. ft. (2nd–5th floors); 1 space per 400 sq. ft. (above 5th floor) |
| Restaurants | 1 space per 6 seats |
| Bank (Drive-through) | 5 standing spaces per teller or customer window |
| Medical or Dental Offices | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. (first 5,000 sq. ft.); 1 per 200 sq. ft. (next 10,000 sq. ft.); 1 per 250 sq. ft. (above 15,000 sq. ft.) |
| Vehicle Service / Body Shop | 3 standing spaces per wash rack or repair bay, plus 1 space per employee |
| Neighborhood Commercial Center | 1 space per 600 square feet of gross floor area |
Standard Parking Ratios for Residential Uses
While the C-1 Local Commercial District is primarily commercial, the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance allows for specific residential uses, including one-family detached dwellings and units within mixed-use developments.
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| One-Family Detached (Standard) | 1 space per dwelling unit |
| One-Family Detached (on Cul-de-sac) | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family (First 200 Units) | 1.125 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family (Above 200 Units) | 1 space per additional dwelling unit |
Metro Station Area Exemptions
Arlington County provides parking relief for projects in the C-1 Local Commercial District when the major portion of the use is located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance. These exemptions are intended to promote pedestrian-oriented development [§14.3.6.A].
- Retail and Service Commercial: The first 5,000 square feet of floor area per main building is exempt from parking requirements. This exemption does not apply to specific uses such as medical offices, funeral homes, or vehicle sales [§14.3.6.A.2].
- Restaurants (Daytime): Restaurants operating only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. have no floor area or seating parking restrictions [§14.3.6.A.1].
- Restaurants (Evening): For restaurants operating between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., the first 200 seats are exempt from parking requirements. Parking must be provided for all seats exceeding the 200-seat threshold [§14.3.6.A.1].
- Grocery Stores: If the grocery store is not the principal use on the site, the first 15,000 square feet are exempt from parking requirements [§14.3.6.A.3].
Dimensional and Design Standards
Every parking area in the Arlington County C-1 Local Commercial District must adhere to specific technical dimensions to ensure safety and accessibility.
Parking Space Dimensions
The Arlington County Zoning Ordinance defines the minimum dimensions for standard and compact parking stalls [§14.3.3.C].
| Dimension Type | Full Size Automobile (90°) | Compact Car (90°) |
|---|---|---|
| Stall Width | 8.5 feet | 8.0 feet |
| Stall Depth | 18.0 feet | 15.0 feet |
| Two-Way Aisle Width | 23.0 feet | 21.0 feet |
Placement and Landscaping
- Setback Restrictions: In the C-1 Local Commercial District, no parking, curbing, or walls may encroach upon the exterior 10 feet of a required setback area. This 10-foot buffer must be landscaped and maintained at all times [§14.3.3.E].
- Screening: Parking areas must be screened from public rights-of-way by a landscaped strip at least five feet wide. This strip must include deciduous trees spaced every 25 linear feet and at least three evergreen shrubs between each tree [§14.2.4.E].
- Lighting: Parking areas and walkways for commercial or multi-family projects in Arlington County must be illuminated to a minimum of one footcandle during hours of darkness [§14.4.2].
Sections Cited
- §7.7 C-1, Local Commercial District
- §7.7.6 Site development standards
- §10.2 Unified Commercial/Mixed Use Development
- §14.2.4 Parking area landscaping
- §14.3 Parking and Loading
- §14.3.3 General requirements
- §14.3.6 Parking in Metro station areas
- §14.3.7 Required parking and standing space
- §14.4.2 Parking areas and walkways
- §18.2 General Terms Defined