Authorized and Prohibited Uses in the Charlotte CAC-1 Community Activity Center District
The CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District in Charlotte is designed to facilitate the transition of auto-centric areas into walkable, mixed-use environments with moderate-intensity retail, office, and residential development. Within the City of Charlotte, the CAC-1 District allows a wide range of uses by-right or with prescribed conditions, while strictly prohibiting heavy industrial, high-intensity agricultural, and specialized automotive activities. Development in this district typically follows Tier 2 parking standards and permits building heights up to 80 feet, which may be increased to 120 feet through development bonuses [Section 11.1, Table 11-2, Table 19-1].
Purpose of the CAC-1 District
The CAC-1: Community Activity Center 1 Zoning District is intended to accommodate areas in Charlotte that are moving away from traditional automobile-oriented layouts toward well-connected centers. The district supports a mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment, and office uses alongside residential components. Standards for the CAC-1 District are crafted to provide flexibility in site design while ensuring the infrastructure supports multiple modes of transportation, including walking and cycling [Section 11.1.A].
Allowed Residential Uses
The CAC-1 District allows for a variety of housing types to encourage density and activity within center locations.
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Continuum Care Retirement Community (CCRC) | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Dormitory | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Dwelling – Duplex | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Dwelling – Live Work | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Attached Unit | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Stacked Unit | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Dwelling – Quadraplex | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Dwelling – Triplex | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Group Home | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Multi-Dwelling Development | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Residential Care Facility | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
[Table 15-1]
Allowed Commercial and Office Uses
Commercial uses in the Charlotte CAC-1 District are broad, focusing on services that support both the immediate neighborhood and the larger regional market.
| Use Type | Permission Level |
|---|---|
| Amusement Facility – Indoor | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Animal Care Facility | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Art Gallery | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Arts or Fitness Studio | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Broadcasting Facility – No Antennae | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Commercial Kitchen | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Convention Center | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Financial Institution | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Hotel/Motel | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Industrial Design | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Lodge/Meeting Hall | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Medical/Dental Office | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Office | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Outdoor Market | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Personal Service Establishment | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Reception Facility | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Research and Development (R&D) | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Restaurant/Bar | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Retail Goods Establishment | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Retail Goods: Showroom | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Self-Storage Facility: Climate-Controlled | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Specialty Food Service | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Vehicle Fueling Facility | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Vehicle Rental: Enclosed | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Vehicle Rental: Outdoor | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Vehicle Repair Facility: Minor | Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
[Table 15-1]
Allowed Institutional, Public, and Other Uses
Charlotte’s CAC-1 District accommodates essential civic and public health infrastructure to ensure a complete community environment.
Institutional and Governmental
- Permitted By-Right (X): Community Center, Cultural Facility, Educational Facility (Pre-School, Primary/Secondary, University/College, and Vocational), Government Office/Facility, Place of Worship, Public Safety Facility.
- Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Adult Care Center, Childcare Center (Standard and Large).
Public Health and Social Services
- Permitted By-Right (X): Addiction Treatment Facility (Residential), Children’s Home, Domestic Violence Shelter, Food Pantry, Healthcare Institution, Social Service Facility.
- Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Alternative Correction Facility, Drug Treatment Clinic, Halfway House, Homeless Shelter.
Transportation and Infrastructure
- Permitted By-Right (X): Parking Lot (Principal Use), Parking Structure (Principal Use), Passenger Terminal, Public Transit Facility.
- Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Utility (Transmission & Distribution), Wireless Telecommunications.
Recreation and Agriculture
- Permitted By-Right (X): Farm (Bona Fide).
- Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC): Cemetery, Community Garden, Conservation Area, Farm (Standard), Private Outdoor Recreation Facilities, Private Recreation Club, Public Park.
[Table 15-1]
Allowed Temporary and Accessory Uses
Standard temporary and accessory activities are permitted in the CAC-1 District to allow for business operations and residential flexibility.
- Temporary Uses (All PC): Mobile Food/Retail Vendors, Outdoor Produce/Seasonal Sales, Real Estate Project Sales Office, Temporary Contractor’s Office/Yard, Temporary Outdoor Entertainment/Sales, and Temporary Outdoor Storage Containers.
- Accessory Uses: Accessory Drive-Through (PC), Accessory Shelter (PC), Childcare Center Accessory to Employment (X), Accessory Dwelling Unit (PC), Home Occupation (PC), Outdoor Entertainment (PC), Outdoor Sales and Display (PC), and Outdoor Seating/Activity Area (PC).
[Table 15-1]
Prohibited Uses in the CAC-1 District
Any use not explicitly listed as permitted in the Global Use Matrix is prohibited in the City of Charlotte. Specific notable prohibited uses for the CAC-1 District include:
- Residential: Manufactured Homes and Manufactured Home Parks.
- Commercial: Adult Use, Adult Electronic Gaming Establishments, Outdoor Amusement Facilities, Animal Shelters, Auction Sales, Nightclubs, and Raceway/Dragstrips.
- Industrial: All heavy industrial uses, including Agriculture - Industrial Processes, Crematoriums, Light Assembly, Outdoor Storage Yards, Quarries, Rail Freight Terminals/Yards, Salvage and/or Junk Yards, Solar Farms, Truck Terminals, Waste Management Facilities, and Wind Farms.
- Transportation/Auto: Truck Stops, Vehicle Operations Facilities, and Major Vehicle Repair Facilities.
- Recreation/Other: Boarding Stables, Campgrounds, Driving Ranges, Golf Courses, Marinas, and Shooting Ranges.
[Table 15-1]
Summary of Development Standards
The following table summarizes the primary technical siting and height requirements for the Charlotte CAC-1 District.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Building Height | 24 feet |
| Maximum Building Height | 80 feet |
| Maximum Height with Bonus | 120 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 0 feet (when not abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type) |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 0 feet (when not abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type) |
| Min. BTZ Build-To % | 80% (Main Street); 60% (Other frontages) |
| Vehicle Parking Tier | Tier 2 (Requires both minimums and maximums) |
[Table 11-1, Table 11-2, Table 19-1]
Sections Cited
- Article 11. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts: CAC-1, CAC-2
- Section 11.1. Purpose
- Section 11.2. Uses
- Article 15. Use Regulations
- Section 15.2. Global Use Matrix
- Table 15-1. Use Matrix
- Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking
- Table 19-1. Vehicle Parking Requirements