City of Charlotte RAC District Setback Requirements
In the City of Charlotte, the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District establishes front setbacks that vary from 5 feet to 36 feet based on the specific type of street or public space frontage. Side and rear setbacks for the RAC District are generally 0 feet, though these distances increase to 10 feet for side setbacks and 20 feet for rear setbacks when the development site abuts a Neighborhood 1 Place Type.
RAC Frontage Setback Requirements
The City of Charlotte measures frontage setbacks from the future back of curb for most street types. For non-street frontages, such as transit stations or public parks, the setback is measured from the property line or right-of-way line [Section 12.3.A.3].
| Frontage Type | RAC District Minimum Setback (Feet) |
|---|---|
| Uptown Signature | 24 |
| Main Street | 24 |
| Linear Park | 36 |
| 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 20 |
| 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 24 |
| 2-3 Lane Avenue | 20 |
| Transit Station, Off-Street Public Path, Public Park | 5 |
| Uptown Primary | 20 |
| Other - Primary | 20 |
| Uptown Secondary | 16 |
| Secondary | 16 |
| Parkway (Measured from Right-of-Way) | 20 |
| Limited Access (Measured from Right-of-Way) | 10 |
[Source: Table 12-1]
RAC Side and Rear Setback Requirements
Side and rear setbacks in the City of Charlotte RAC District are primarily intended to provide a transition when higher-intensity developments are located adjacent to lower-intensity residential areas.
| Setback Type | Condition | RAC District Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Side Setback | Not abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type | 0 feet |
| Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type | 10 feet | |
| Rear Setback | Not abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type | 0 feet |
| Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type | 20 feet |
[Source: Table 12-1]
Measurement and Configuration Standards
The City of Charlotte Unified Development Ordinance provides several specific rules for applying these setbacks within the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District:
- Measurement Point: For local and collector streets, setbacks are measured from the existing back of curb. If no curb exists, the City of Charlotte utilizes the curb location for the "Residential Wide Cross Section" in the Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) as the measurement point [Table 12-1, Footnote 1].
- Building Entry Placement: No building entry may be located closer than six feet to an existing or proposed off-street public path or shared-use path [Table 12-1, Footnote 2].
- Utility Easement Conflicts: When a required build-to zone or setback conflicts with a City of Charlotte water easement or other utility easement, the build-to line must be established at the edge of the easement or the edge of the overhead utility clearance requirement closest to the build-to zone [Table 12-1, Footnote 4].
- Physical Features: A build-to zone is not required along frontages that abut a man-made or natural physical feature at least 35 feet in width, such as a railroad line, gas pipeline, or SWIM buffer [Table 12-1, Footnote 4].
Sections Cited
- Article 12, Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts: RAC, UE, UC
- Section 12.3, Dimensional and Design Standards
- Table 12-1, Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards