Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-O Mixed Use District in Arlington County

In the C-O Mixed Use District of Arlington County, multiple-family residential projects typically require one off-street parking space per dwelling unit, while office and commercial uses require one space per 530 square feet of gross floor area. Arlington County mandates that all required parking for this district must be located below grade or within the structure housing the use, unless an alternative is approved through a specific site plan.

Specific Parking Ratios for the C-O Mixed Use District

Arlington County establishes specific parking ratios for the C-O Mixed Use District, particularly for projects moving through the site plan approval process. These requirements ensure that high-density developments near transit corridors provide adequate but balanced parking facilities.

Use Type	Minimum Parking Requirement
Multiple-family Dwelling	1.0 off-street space per dwelling unit
Office, Retail, and Service Commercial	1.0 off-street space per 530 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Hotel	0.7 off-street spaces per guest room and dwelling unit

These ratios represent the standards that the County Board may approve during the site plan process for projects within the C-O Mixed Use District [§7.13.5.A.1].

Parking Design and Location Requirements

Arlington County maintains strict standards for the physical placement and composition of parking within the C-O Mixed Use District to preserve the urban character and pedestrian environment of the area.

Vertical and Structural Placement

Arlington County requires that all off-street parking in the C-O Mixed Use District be located either below the finished grade of the site or entirely within the building structure that houses the primary use [§7.13.5.A.2]. Any deviations from this requirement must be specifically requested and allowed in an approved site plan by the Arlington County Board.

Compact and Full-Size Spaces

For large-scale projects in the C-O Mixed Use District, Arlington County allows for the inclusion of compact car spaces to maximize efficiency.

General Allowance: Any parking area may include up to 15 percent of the total parking spaces as compact car spaces.
Office Use Allowance: In parking areas dedicated to office uses that contain more than 100 total spaces, up to 15 percent of the spaces may be designated and visibly marked for "compact cars only" [§14.3.3.F].

Metro Station Area Exemptions and Reductions

Because the C-O Mixed Use District is specifically designed for use in the vicinity of Metrorail stations, Arlington County provides exemptions to encourage pedestrian-related commercial activity.

Retail and Service Exemptions

For projects where the major portion of the use is located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance, Arlington County does not require parking for the first 5,000 square feet of floor area for retail and service-commercial uses [§14.3.6.A.2]. This exemption excludes certain intensive uses such as medical offices, hospitals, and vehicle service establishments.

Transit Proximity Reductions

Arlington County may reduce the parking requirement for office and commercial uses in the C-O Mixed Use District by up to 10 percent if the project provides a direct, sheltered connection to a Metro Transit Station that is no more than 500 feet in length [§14.3.7.C].

Technical Dimensional Standards

All parking spaces provided within the C-O Mixed Use District must meet the following minimum dimensions established by Arlington County for safety and maneuverability.

Space Type	Stall Width	Stall Depth (90°)	Two-way Aisle Width
Full Size Automobile	8.5 feet	18.0 feet	23.0 feet
Compact Car	8.0 feet	15.0 feet	21.0 feet

In all cases, the parking and maneuvering space must permit the parking and removal of a vehicle without the necessity of moving any other vehicle [§14.3.3.C and §14.3.3.D].

Sections Cited

§7.13.5 Site development standards (C-O District)
§14.3.3 General requirements (Parking and Loading)
§14.3.6 Parking in Metro station areas
§14.3.7 Required parking and standing space