CG: General Commercial Zoning District Overview for Charlotte, NC
The CG: General Commercial Zoning District in the City of Charlotte is an employment-focused zone designed for high-traffic areas like arterial streets and major intersections. Development within the CG: General Commercial Zoning District requires a minimum 5% on-site open space allocation and is governed by Tier 2 parking standards, which include both minimum and maximum parking limits [Sections 6.4, 19.2]. The district allows a wide range of commercial uses by-right while setting a base building height limit of 50 feet, which may be increased to 65 feet through the City of Charlotte’s voluntary development bonus system [Section 6.3].
Purpose and General Character
The City of Charlotte intends the CG: General Commercial Zoning District to accommodate areas of general commercial development organized along arterial streets or located at key intersections. While the standards for the CG: General Commercial Zoning District acknowledge an inherent auto-orientation due to their location, they are designed to encourage the improvement of the pedestrian environment and accommodate alternative modal choices [Section 6.1].
The character of the CG: General Commercial Zoning District is defined by its role as a high-intensity employment and service hub. It provides for a mix of large-scale retail, office, and service-oriented uses that serve both local neighborhoods and the broader Charlotte region.
Permitted Land Uses
Land uses in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District are categorized as permitted by-right (X), allowed with prescribed conditions (PC), or requiring conditional zoning (C).
Residential Uses
Residential development is generally limited in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District. Single-family, duplex, and quadraplex dwellings are permitted only on individual parcels that existed legally prior to June 1, 2023 [Sections 15.4.EE, 15.4.HH, 15.4.GG].
- Permitted with Conditions (PC): Multi-family attached units, Multi-family stacked units, Multi-dwelling developments, and Continuum Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).
- Prohibited: Dormitories and Manufactured Home Parks.
Commercial and Industrial Uses
The CG: General Commercial Zoning District supports a vast array of business activities [Section 15.2]:
- Permitted By-Right (X): Art galleries, arts or fitness studios, commercial fitness centers, financial institutions, hotels/motels, industrial design, offices, and retail goods establishments.
- Permitted with Conditions (PC): Animal care facilities, car washes, drive-through establishments, medical/dental offices, and restaurants/bars.
- Vehicle Services: Vehicle fueling facilities and enclosed vehicle dealerships are permitted with conditions, while outdoor vehicle dealerships established after June 1, 2023, are limited to less than two acres in lot area [Section 15.4.EEEE].
Dimensional and Design Standards
The City of Charlotte enforces specific dimensional requirements to ensure buildings in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District maintain compatibility with the surrounding urban context.
Lot and Siting Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width | 50 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 10 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 20 feet |
| Max Building Height (Base) | 50 feet |
| Max Building Height (with Bonus) | 65 feet |
Frontage Setbacks and Build-To Zones
Buildings in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District must adhere to setbacks based on the type of street frontage they abut [Table 6-2].
| Frontage Type | Setback Line (from future back of curb) | Build-To Zone (BTZ) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | 24 feet | 0 to 20 feet |
| 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 36 feet | N/A |
| 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 40 feet | N/A |
| 2-3 Lane Avenue | 36 feet | N/A |
| Transit Station, Public Path, or Park | 20 feet | N/A |
| Secondary Frontage | 36 feet | N/A |
Building Articulation and Transparency
To foster an engaging streetscape, the City of Charlotte requires specific design elements for nonresidential and mixed-use buildings in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District [Table 6-4, Table 6-5]:
- Maximum Building Length: 500 feet.
- Maximum Blank Wall Area: 20 feet (ground floor and upper floors).
- Minimum Ground Floor Height: 16 feet for Main Street frontages.
- Ground Floor Transparency: 60% for Main Street frontages; 30% to 40% for other frontages.
- Upper Floor Transparency: 15% minimum per story.
Open Space Requirements
New construction of a principal building 1,000 square feet or greater in the CG: General Commercial Zoning District must provide on-site open space [Section 6.4].
- Quantity: Development must provide a minimum of 5% on-site open space.
- Public Access: For commercial developments, a minimum of 50% of the required on-site open space must be public open space.
- Design: Open space must meet the requirements of Section 16.5, including minimum dimensions (typically 10 feet) and surfacing requirements (grass, shrubs, or hardscape) [Table 16-2].
Off-Street Parking
The CG: General Commercial Zoning District follows the Tier 2 vehicle parking requirements. This means the City of Charlotte mandates both a minimum number of required spaces and a maximum cap to prevent over-parking [Section 19.2].
- Minimum Flexibilities: Developers may count existing on-street parking abutting the property toward the minimum requirement [Section 19.2.D].
- Exemptions: Accessible parking spaces and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are not included in the calculation of parking maximums [Section 19.2.F].
Sections Cited
- Article 6. Commercial Zoning Districts (Sections 6.1, 6.3, 6.4)
- Article 15. Use Regulations (Sections 15.2, 15.4)
- Article 16. General Development Regulations (Sections 16.3, 16.5)
- Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking (Section 19.2)