Off-Street Parking Standards for the CPN-FBC District in Arlington County

Under the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, off-street parking requirements for projects utilizing the CPN-FBC (Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Form Based Code) are primarily governed by the regulations set forth in Appendix B (Neighborhoods Form Based Code) [Section 11.2.3]. For projects not developed under the form-based code option, parking standards default to the requirements of the property's underlying zoning district as specified in the general parking and loading regulations of Article 14 [Section 11.2.2.B].

Regulatory Framework for the CPN-FBC District

The CPN-FBC: Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Form Based Code District in Arlington County is an optional zoning tool. It is available to properties originally zoned as R-6, R-5, R2-7, R15-30T, RA14-26, RA8-18, RA7-16, RA6-15, C1, or C-O that are located within the Columbia Pike Neighborhoods Special Revitalization District [Section 11.2.2.A].

Because the CPN-FBC is designed to encourage transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly development, its specific requirements (including parking) are contained within Appendix B of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance rather than the general tables for standard residential or commercial districts [Section 11.2.3].

Baseline Parking Ratios for Underlying Districts

For properties in Arlington County that are eligible for the CPN-FBC but do not opt into the form-based development track, the following off-street parking ratios apply based on the use type:

Use Type	Minimum Parking Requirement	Additional Requirements
Multifamily Dwellings	1 & 1/8 spaces for each of the first 200 units; 1 space for each additional unit.	Must be constructed and maintained in accordance with §14.3.3 [Section 14.3.7].
Retail and Service Commercial	1 space per 250 sq. ft. of gross floor area (GFA) on the first floor.	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of GFA for area located elsewhere in the building [Section 14.3.7].
Neighborhood Commercial Center	1 space per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area.	Supersedes individual retail/commercial ratios if the building meets the definition in §18.2 [Section 14.3.7].
Office Buildings	1 space per 250 sq. ft. of GFA on the first floor.	1 space per 300 sq. ft. (floors 2-5); 1 space per 400 sq. ft. (above floor 5) [Section 14.3.7].

General Parking and Loading Standards

Regardless of the specific ratio, all off-street parking in Arlington County must adhere to the following dimensional and placement standards unless modified by the specific CPN-FBC regulations:

Parking Space Dimensions

The minimum dimensions for standard parking stalls and aisles in Arlington County are determined by the angle of the parking [Section 14.3.3.C]:

Parking Angle (Degrees)	Stall Width (Feet)	Stall Depth (Feet)	One-Way Aisle Width (Feet)	Two-Way Aisle Width (Feet)
90 (Perpendicular)	8.5	18.0	23.0	23.0
60	8.5	19.5	16.0	Not permitted
45	8.5	17.5	12.0	Not permitted
Parallel	22.0	8.0	12.0	23.0

Location and Access

On-Site Requirement: Generally, all required off-street parking must be provided on the same parcel of land as the use it serves [Section 14.3.3.A].
Off-Site Options: In commercial and mixed-use districts, the Zoning Administrator may authorize parking to be located off-site if it is within 1/4 mile of the shortest effective pedestrian route to the entrance of the use [Section 14.3.3.B.1].
Screening: Surface parking areas must be screened from public rights-of-way by a landscaped strip at least five feet wide [Section 14.3.4.D].
Alley Access: If a lot in Arlington County abuts an improved alley, maneuvering for off-street parking should typically occur within that alley rather than the street right-of-way [Section 14.3.3.H].

Sections Cited