Off-Street Parking Standards for the R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial District
In the Arlington County R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial district, residential developments generally require 1.125 spaces for the first 200 units and one space per unit thereafter, while office and commercial uses approved via site plan must provide one space per 580 square feet. Significant reductions are available for projects within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station, including the total exemption of the first 5,000 square feet of retail space and the first 200 seats of a restaurant. All parking must be provided on-site unless the Zoning Administrator or County Board approves a specific off-site parking arrangement within a 1/4-mile radius [Section 14.3.3.B].
Residential Parking Requirements in the R-C District
Residential projects within the R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial district of Arlington County are subject to specific ratios based on the type of dwelling and the scale of the building. For multi-family buildings, the requirement is tiered to provide a higher ratio for the initial 200 units.
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| One-family detached (Not on cul-de-sac) | 1 space per dwelling unit [Section 14.3.7.A] |
| One-family detached (On cul-de-sac) | 2 spaces per dwelling unit [Section 14.3.7.A] |
| Multiple-family dwellings (First 200 units) | 1.125 (1 & 1/8) spaces per unit [Section 14.3.7.A] |
| Multiple-family dwellings (Units over 200) | 1.0 space per unit [Section 14.3.7.A] |
Commercial and Office Parking Requirements in the R-C District
Arlington County mandates that commercial uses in the R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial district provide adequate space for patrons and employees. While general ratios exist for standard developments, site plan-approved projects in this district have a specific commercial ratio intended to support transit-oriented density.
| Use Type | Standard Requirement | R-C Site Plan Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Office Buildings | 1 per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 per 300 sq. ft. (floors 2-5); 1 per 400 sq. ft. (above 5th) | 1 space per 580 sq. ft. [Section 7.3.4.E] |
| General Retail/Service | 1 per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 per 300 sq. ft. (elsewhere) | 1 space per 580 sq. ft. [Section 7.3.4.E] |
| Restaurants | 1 per 6 seats | 1 space per 580 sq. ft. [Section 7.3.4.E] |
Metro Station Area Exemptions
Because the R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial district is specifically designed for Metro station areas, Arlington County provides significant parking relief for properties where the major portion of the use is located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance [Section 14.3.6.A].
- Retail and Service Commercial: No parking is required for the first 5,000 square feet of gross floor area per main building. However, this exemption does not apply to certain uses such as medical offices, clinics, or vehicle service establishments [Section 14.3.6.A.2].
- Restaurants (Daytime): No floor area restriction or parking is required for restaurants operating only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. [Section 14.3.6.A.1].
- Restaurants (Evening): For restaurants operating between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., no parking is required for the first 200 seats. Parking must be provided only for the number of seats exceeding 200 [Section 14.3.6.A.1].
- Grocery Stores: No parking is required for the first 15,000 square feet of a grocery store, provided it is not the principal use on the site [Section 14.3.6.A.3].
General Site Development Standards for Parking
All parking facilities in the Arlington County R-C: Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial district must adhere to the following technical standards:
- Compact Car Spaces: Up to 15 percent of the required parking spaces may be designated for compact cars. These must be grouped together and visibly marked [Section 14.3.3.F].
- Dimensional Requirements: Standard parking stalls must be 8.5 feet wide, with a depth of 18 feet for 90-degree parking. Two-way aisles must be a minimum of 23 feet wide [Section 14.3.3.C].
- Lighting: Parking areas and walkways must be illuminated with an average of at least one footcandle of light at the surface during hours of darkness [Section 14.4.2].
- Landscaping: A minimum of 10 percent of the total site area must be landscaped open space. If surface parking is provided, it must be screened from public rights-of-way by a landscaped strip at least five feet wide [Section 7.3.4.D and Section 14.2.4.E].
Sections Cited
- §7.3. R-C, Multiple-family Dwelling and Commercial District
- §7.3.4. Site plans
- §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. Outdoor Lighting