Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R-O: Residential Office District in Bentonville

In the City of Bentonville’s R-O: Residential Office District, residential developments generally require two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, while professional and medical offices require one space per 300 square feet of net floor area. A critical site design requirement in the R-O: Residential Office District is the 50-foot front setback required if parking is located in front of the building, compared to only 20 feet if no parking is placed in the front [Sec 401.07(c)(1)].

Required Parking Ratios

The City of Bentonville specifies different parking demand ratios based on the specific use of the property within the R-O: Residential Office District. For large-scale office or retail projects, the municipality allows a sliding scale reduction for the portion of the building exceeding 10,000 square feet [Sec 501.06(f)].

Residential and Office Ratios

Land Use Type	Minimum Parking Ratio
Single-Family Dwelling	2 spaces per dwelling unit
Two-Family Dwelling / Duplex	2 spaces per dwelling unit
Business/Professional Office	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area
Medical Clinic	1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor space
Bed and Breakfast	1 space per rental unit plus 1 space for the owner

Commercial and Service Ratios

While the R-O: Residential Office District is primarily focused on residential and office uses, some commercial activities may be permitted. The following ratios apply to those uses:

Land Use Type	Minimum Parking Ratio
General Business and Retail Sales	1 space per 250 sq. ft. of net floor area
Restaurants	1 space per 4 occupants (max capacity) plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Personal Service (Barber/Beauty)	1 space per employee plus 1 space per station

Reductions for Large Facilities

For structures in the R-O: Residential Office District exceeding 10,000 square feet, the City of Bentonville applies a percentage-based reduction to the parking requirement for the area beyond the initial 10,000 square feet [Sec 501.06(f)]:

10,001—20,000 sq. ft.: 95% of standard requirement.
20,001—30,000 sq. ft.: 90% of standard requirement.
30,001—40,000 sq. ft.: 85% of standard requirement.
Over 40,000 sq. ft.: 80% of standard requirement.

Parking Design and Location Standards

Off-street parking in the R-O: Residential Office District must adhere to specific dimensions and placement rules to ensure safety and compatibility with the residential character of the area.

Dimensions and Maneuvering

Standard 90-degree parking spaces in the City of Bentonville must be at least 9 feet wide by 19 feet deep [Sec 501.02(a)]. Single-family and duplex structures are exempt from these specific dimension requirements [Sec 501.02(d)].

Placement and Distance

Proximity: All off-street parking must be located within 200 feet of the structure it is intended to serve [Sec 501.03(a)].
Access Drives: Access drives leading to parking areas must be at least 10 feet wide for dwellings and at least 15 feet wide for all other cases [Sec 501.02(b)].
Surfacing: All parking areas must be paved with a sealed surface pavement unless the City Engineer approves a low-impact development alternative [Sec 501.07].

Impact on Building Setbacks

The location of parking significantly affects the allowable building footprint in the R-O: Residential Office District. If a developer chooses to place parking in the front yard, the building must be set back significantly further from the property line [Sec 401.07(c)(1)].

Setback Type	Standard (No Front Parking)	With Parking in Front
Front Setback	20 feet	50 feet
Side Setback (Interior)	7 feet (Res) / 10 feet (Office)	10 feet
Side Setback (Exterior)	20 feet	20 feet (50' for front parking)
Rear Setback	25 feet	25 feet

Sections Cited

Sec 401.07 Residential (R) Districts Regulations
Sec 501.02 Parking Dimensions
Sec 501.03 Location Of Off-Street Parking
Sec 501.06 Number Of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
Sec 501.07 Surfacing Of Parking Lots