Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the UC Uptown Core Zoning District

The UC Uptown Core Zoning District in the City of Charlotte is intended to support the municipality's most intense mixed-use development, fostering a vibrant, 24-hour urban environment focused on high-density residential and commercial integration. Within the City of Charlotte, this district permits a wide array of high-intensity uses by-right, while low-intensity residential forms and heavy industrial operations are strictly prohibited to maintain the core's urban fabric.

Residential Uses in the UC District

The UC Uptown Core Zoning District prioritizes high-density living. Most residential uses are allowed, though smaller-scale dwellings are subject to prescribed conditions to ensure they meet the urban design goals of the City of Charlotte.

Permitted Residential Uses

Permitted By-Right (X): Continuum Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Dormitory, Dwelling – Live/Work, Dwelling – Multi-Family Stacked, and Residential Care Facility [Table 15-1].
Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): These uses must comply with specific standards in Article 15: Dwelling – Duplex, Dwelling – Multi-Family Attached, Dwelling – Quadraplex, Dwelling – Triplex, Group Home, Multi-Dwelling Development, and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) [Table 15-1].

Commercial and Employment Uses in the UC District

The City of Charlotte authorizes an extensive list of commercial activities within the UC Uptown Core Zoning District to ensure a robust mix of employment and services.

Permitted Commercial Uses

Permitted By-Right (X): Art Gallery, Arts or Fitness Studio, Broadcasting Facility (No Antennae), Convention Center, Financial Institution, Hotel/Motel, Industrial Design, Lodge/Meeting Hall, Medical/Dental Office, Office, Outdoor Market, Personal Service Establishment, Research and Development (R&D), Retail Goods Establishment, Retail Goods Showroom, Specialty Food Service, Telecommunications and Data Storage Facility, Vehicle Dealership (Enclosed), and Vehicle Rental (Enclosed) [Table 15-1].
Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Amusement Facility (Indoor), Animal Care Facility, Animal Shelter, Broadcasting Facility (With Antennae), Live Performance Venue (Indoor), Micro-Production of Alcohol, Nightclub, Reception Facility, Research and Development (R&D) with Light Industrial, Restaurant/Bar, and Self-Storage Facility (Climate-Controlled) [Table 15-1].

Institutional, Public, and Industrial Uses

The UC Uptown Core Zoning District includes essential public infrastructure and select low-impact industrial processes.

Permitted Institutional and Infrastructure Uses

Permitted By-Right (X): Community Center, Cultural Facility, Educational Facilities (Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, University, and Vocational), Government Office/Facility, Place of Worship, Public Safety Facility, Parking Lot (Principal Use), Parking Structure (Principal Use), Passenger Terminal, and Public Transit Facility [Table 15-1].
Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Public Works Facility, Addiction Treatment Facility (Residential), Alternative Correction Facility, Children’s Home, Domestic Violence Shelter, Drug Treatment Clinic, Food Pantry, Healthcare Institution, Homeless Shelter, Social Service Facility, Beneficial Fill Site, Industrial (Craft), Light Assembly, Cemetery, Community Garden, Conservation Area, Utility (Transmission & Distribution), and Wireless Telecommunications [Table 15-1].

Uses Requiring Conditional Zoning

Conditional (C or C/PC): Stadiums and Movie Studios are not permitted by-right and require a specific conditional zoning process in the City of Charlotte [Table 15-1].

Prohibited Uses in the UC District

Under the City of Charlotte UDO, a shaded blank cell in the use matrix indicates the use is not allowed [Section 15.2.B.5]. The following uses are strictly prohibited within the UC Uptown Core Zoning District:

Residential: Dwelling – Manufactured Home, Manufactured Home Park [Table 15-1].
Commercial: Adult Electronic Gaming Establishment, Adult Use, Amusement Facility (Outdoor), Auction Sales, Bed and Breakfast, Car Wash, Commercial Kitchen, Contractor Office with Outdoor Storage, Greenhouse/Nursery (Retail or Wholesale), Heavy Rental and Service Establishment, and Heavy Retail Establishment [Table 15-1].
Industrial/Heavy: Agriculture – Industrial Processes, Airport, Airstrip, Crematorium, Industrial (General), Landfill (LCID), Outdoor Storage Yard, Quarry, Rail Freight Terminal, Rail Yard, Recycling Collection Center, Salvage and/or Junk Yard, Solar Farm, Truck Terminal, Waste Management Facility, and Wind Farm [Table 15-1].
Other: Boarding Stables, Campground, and traditional Farms [Table 15-1].

Vehicle Parking Standards for UC District

The UC Uptown Core Zoning District utilizes the Tier 3 parking system, which minimizes required parking to promote a transit-supportive and walkable environment.

Standard Element	UC District Requirement (Tier 3)
Minimum Parking	None (Exceptions apply within 400’ of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type)
Maximum Parking	Applies to both surface parking lots and parking structures
Parking Flexibility	Subject to Parking Demand Management Assessment for reductions

[Section 19.2, Table 19-1]

Sections Cited

Article 12.1.C (Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts - UC Uptown Core Purpose)
Article 15.1 (General Use Regulations)
Article 15.2 (Global Use Matrix)
Table 15-1 (Use Matrix)
Article 19.2 (Vehicle Parking Space Requirements)
Table 19-1 (Vehicle Parking Requirements)