Off-Street Parking Standards for the R-10 One-family Dwelling District
In the R-10 One-family Dwelling district of Arlington County, residential parking requirements range from one space per unit for standard detached homes to two spaces for those located on cul-de-sacs. Non-residential and institutional projects allowed in the district, such as schools or religious institutions, utilize specific ratios based on student capacity or sanctuary seating, while specialized uses like bed and breakfasts require one space per guest room in addition to the primary residential requirement.
Residential Parking Ratios in R-10
The R-10 One-family Dwelling district primary use is the one-family detached dwelling. Parking requirements for these structures in Arlington County are determined by the type of street frontage and the presence of accessory dwelling units.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| One-family detached (not on cul-de-sac) | 1 per dwelling unit | Must be constructed and maintained in accordance with §14.3.3. |
| One-family detached (fronting on cul-de-sac) | 2 per dwelling unit | Must be improved in accordance with §14.3.4.A. |
| Unified Residential Development | 2.5 per dwelling unit | At least one space must be off-street [§10.1.4.D]. |
| Accessory Dwellings | Varies by existing parking | If 0 spaces exist, 1 must be created (unless block is <65% parked); if 1-2 exist, all must be maintained; if >2 exist, at least 2 must be maintained [§14.3.7.A]. |
Commercial and Institutional Parking Ratios
While the R-10 district is primarily residential, certain civic, institutional, and limited commercial uses are permitted by-right or via use permit. Arlington County mandates the following specific ratios for these projects when located within the R-10 district.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bed and Breakfasts | 1 per guest room, plus spaces required for the principal residence [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Religious Institutions | 1 per each 5 sanctuary seats [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Schools (Elementary and Middle) | 1 per each 7.5 students of design capacity (staff) plus 1 space per 40 students (visitors) [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries | 1 per each 500 sq. ft. of floor area [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Hospitals | 1 per 4 beds, plus 1 per 2 employees (non-staff doctors), plus 1 per assigned doctor [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Medical or Dental Offices | 1 per 150 sq. ft. (first 5,000); 1 per 200 sq. ft. (next 10,000); 1 per 250 sq. ft. (excess of 15,000) [§14.3.7.A]. |
| Community Centers / Non-profit Clubs | 1 per each 3 seats or other accommodations [§14.3.7.A]. |
Placement and Design Standards in R-10
Arlington County regulates where parking may be physically located on an R-10 district lot to preserve the residential character of the neighborhood.
Setback Encroachments
For one-family dwellings in the R-10 district, parking spaces are permitted to encroach into the exterior 10 feet of a setback area provided they are located on a driveway with an existing or approved curb cut. These spaces must meet minimum dimensions for full-size automobiles and must be designed so that vehicles do not encroach into the public right-of-way [§14.3.3.I.1].
For all other allowed uses in the R-10 district (such as schools or clinics), no parking, required curb, or wall may encroach on the exterior 10 feet of a setback area. This area must be landscaped and properly maintained at all times [§14.3.3.E].
Surfacing and Dimensions
All off-street parking areas in the R-10 One-family Dwelling district must be surfaced with a durable, dust-free, and hard material, such as bituminous hot mix or Portland cement concrete [§14.3.3.I.1]. Tandem parking spaces are permitted for one-family dwellings provided they meet the standard surfacing and dimension requirements [§14.3.3.I.2].
Shared and Off-Site Parking
Arlington County allows religious institutions in the R-10 district to provide required parking in off-site areas accessory to another principal use (that is not open during the institution's hours), provided the off-site area is within 600 feet of the religious institution via the shortest pedestrian route [§14.3.3.B.3].
Sections Cited
- §10.1.4. Unified Residential Developments, Minimum requirements
- §14.3.3. Parking and Loading, General requirements
- §14.3.4. Parking and Loading, Required improvements
- §14.3.7. Parking and Loading, Required parking and standing space