Off-Street Parking Standards for the RA14-26 Multiple-family Dwelling District
In the Arlington County RA14-26: Multiple-family Dwelling District, multiple-family residential projects require 1.125 parking spaces for each of the first 200 units and one space for every unit thereafter. Commercial developments within the RA14-26 district, such as retail and medical offices, are governed by square-footage-based ratios that range from one space per 150 to 300 square feet, with notable exemptions available for properties located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance. All parking facilities in Arlington County must meet specific dimensional standards, including a minimum vertical clearance of seven feet and varying stall depths based on the angle of parking.
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential projects in the RA14-26: Multiple-family Dwelling District must provide off-street parking based on the specific type of dwelling unit. For the primary multiple-family use, Arlington County calculates the requirement using a tiered approach. If a development in the RA14-26 district includes one-family dwellings, the requirement changes based on whether the lot fronts a cul-de-sac.
| Use Type | Minimum Parking Requirement | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-family Dwellings | 1.125 spaces for each of the first 200 units; 1 space for each unit thereafter | Must be constructed and maintained per Arlington County general standards. |
| Townhouses | 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit | 1/5 (0.2) additional visitor spaces required per unit, located in marked common areas. |
| One-family Dwellings | 1.0 space per unit (Standard); 2.0 spaces per unit (Cul-de-sac) | Standards vary for accessory dwellings; see Arlington County specific use standards. |
| Group Homes | No minimum specified in general table | Up to 75% of units may have individual kitchens if central facilities are provided. |
[§12.3.6, §14.3.7]
Commercial and Office Parking Requirements
While the RA14-26: Multiple-family Dwelling District is primarily residential, allowed commercial or institutional uses must provide parking for patrons and employees. In Arlington County, these ratios are generally calculated based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the building and the specific floor level on which the use is located.
| Commercial/Office Use Type | Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Retail and Service Commercial | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 space per 300 sq. ft. (all other floors) |
| General Office Buildings | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. (1st floor); 1 space per 300 sq. ft. (Basement and floors 2-5); 1 space per 400 sq. ft. (Above 5th floor) |
| Medical or Dental Offices | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. (First 5,000 sq. ft.); 1 space per 200 sq. ft. (Next 10,000 sq. ft.); 1 space per 250 sq. ft. (Area above 15,000 sq. ft.) |
| Restaurants | 1 space per every 6 seats |
[§14.3.7]
Reductions and Modifications for Metro Station Areas
Arlington County provides specific parking relief for properties in the RA14-26: Multiple-family Dwelling District that are located near high-frequency transit.
- 1,000-Foot Metrorail Exemption: No parking is required for retail and service-commercial uses (for the first 5,000 square feet of GFA) or for grocery stores (for the first 15,000 square feet of GFA) if the major portion of the use is located within 1,000 feet of a Metrorail station entrance [§14.3.6.A].
- Restaurant Exemptions: In Metro station areas, restaurants operating only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. have no floor area parking restrictions. Those operating in the evening with fewer than 200 seats are also exempt from standard seat-based parking requirements [§14.3.6.A.1].
- Transit Connection Reduction: The Arlington County Board may reduce the parking requirement for office and commercial uses by 10 percent if a direct, sheltered connection (not exceeding 500 feet in length) is provided to a Metro Transit Station [§14.3.7.C].
Dimensional and Design Standards
All parking areas in the RA14-26: Multiple-family Dwelling District must adhere to the standard dimensions required by Arlington County. All required parking spaces must have a minimum vertical clearance of at least seven feet.
| Parking Angle (Degrees) | Stall Width (Full Size) | Depth (Perpendicular to Aisle) | One-Way Aisle Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 Degrees | 8.5 feet | 17.5 feet | 12.0 feet |
| 60 Degrees | 8.5 feet | 19.5 feet | 16.0 feet |
| 90 Degrees | 8.5 feet | 18.0 feet | 23.0 feet |
| Parallel | 22.0 feet | 8.0 feet | 12.0 feet |
Compact car spaces may account for up to 15 percent of the total spaces in parking areas for office uses containing more than 100 spaces. These spaces must be grouped together and visibly marked for "compact cars only" [§14.3.3.F].
[§14.3.3]
Sections Cited
- §6.2. RA14-26, Multiple-family Dwelling District
- §12.3. Residential Use Standards
- §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