Charlotte OG District Off-Street Parking Standards
In the City of Charlotte OG: Office General Zoning District, off-street parking is regulated under a Tier 1 system, which establishes minimum parking ratios based on land use but does not impose any maximum parking limits. Residential projects within the OG: Office General Zoning District generally require between 1 and 2 spaces per dwelling unit, while most commercial developments must provide one space per 750 square feet of gross floor area. Calculations for the OG: Office General Zoning District allow for specific flexibilities, including counting abutting on-street parking and reductions for proximity to public parking facilities.
Vehicle Parking Tier System
The City of Charlotte organizes parking requirements into a three-tier system. The OG: Office General Zoning District is categorized under Tier 1 [Table 19-1].
- Minimum Requirements: Developments in the OG: Office General Zoning District must meet the minimum number of off-street parking spaces specified for the use.
- Maximum Requirements: The OG: Office General Zoning District does not have a parking maximum [Section 19.2.A.1.a].
Residential Parking Requirements
For residential components of a project in the OG: Office General Zoning District, the following minimum parking ratios apply:
| Residential Use Type | Tier 1 Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Dwelling | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Duplex Dwelling | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Triplex or Quadraplex Dwelling | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Attached (on sublots) | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Attached (not on sublots) | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit; 0.25 spaces for senior living |
| Multi-Family Stacked | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit; 0.25 spaces for senior living |
| Multi-Dwelling Development | Based on specific dwelling types in the development |
| Dormitory | 1 space per 2 dorm rooms |
| Group Home | 1 space per 2 residents |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | 0.2 spaces per rooming unit |
[Table 19-1]
Commercial Parking Requirements
Commercial projects in the City of Charlotte OG: Office General Zoning District must adhere to the following minimum parking ratios:
| Commercial Use Type | Tier 1 Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Commercial Use (unless listed below) | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Office Use | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Medical/Dental Office | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1 space per 750sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating area* |
| Financial Institution | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Hotel/Motel | 1 space per guest room |
| Arts or Fitness Studio | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space + 0.5 spaces per room |
| Daycare Center (Adult or Child) | 1 space per 750sf GFA |
| Vehicle Fueling Facility | 1 space per service island + 1 space per 500sf of retail |
*Note: If a Restaurant/Bar is within 400 feet of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type, the outdoor seating area calculation is modified [Table 19-1].
Calculation Rules and Flexibilities
When determining the total number of spaces for a project in the OG: Office General Zoning District, the City of Charlotte applies several specific rules:
- Principal and Accessory Uses: Parking is calculated by the principal use. If one or more accessory uses support a principal use on the same lot, the accessory use requirements are additive to the total [Section 19.2.B].
- On-Street Parking: Existing or new on-street parking spaces abutting the property in the OG: Office General Zoning District may be counted toward the required minimums [Section 19.2.D.1].
- Public Parking Reduction: A 20% reduction in the minimum parking requirement may be granted if the development site is located within 1,000 feet walking distance of a public parking facility [Section 19.2.D.2].
- Tree and Structure Preservation: If the minimum parking cannot be achieved without demolishing an existing structure or damaging a "Significant Tree," the Zoning Administrator may authorize a reduction of up to 25% of the required spaces [Section 19.2.D.3].
Electric Vehicle and Bicycle Requirements
The City of Charlotte mandates modern infrastructure for all parking facilities in the OG: Office General Zoning District.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
EV charging stations are required for multi-family stacked dwellings, the residential component of mixed-use developments, and parking structures as a principal use. The number of "EV-Capable" and "EVSE-Installed" spaces scales with the total number of parking spaces provided [Section 19.3.A].
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle parking is required for new construction or significant expansions in the OG: Office General Zoning District. For most commercial uses (including offices and retail), the requirement is one bicycle space per 1,500 square feet of gross floor area, with a requirement that 25% of those spaces be "Long-Term" (covered/secured) [Table 19-3].
Sections Cited
- Section 7.1.D, OG General Office Zoning District
- Section 19.2.A, Vehicle Parking Space Tier System
- Section 19.2.B, Calculation of Vehicle Parking Spaces
- Section 19.2.D, Minimum Off-Street Parking Space Flexibilities
- Section 19.3.A, Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Table 19-1, Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Table 19-3, Bicycle Parking Requirements