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NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District Setback Standards in Charlotte

Jurisdiction: CharlotteCode Version: June 01, 2023 (Amended March 23, 2026)

In the City of Charlotte NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District, frontage setbacks are determined by the specific classification of the adjacent street or public space, ranging from 5 feet for transit stations to 36 feet for linear parks. Side and rear setbacks for the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District are set at 0 feet in most cases, but increase to 10 feet for side setbacks and 20 feet for rear setbacks when the property abuts a Neighborhood 1 Place Type. These standards are designed to support a pedestrian-friendly environment while providing appropriate transitions to nearby residential areas [Section 10.1].

Frontage Setback Requirements

The City of Charlotte measures frontage setbacks for the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District from the future back of curb, except for specific classifications like Parkways or Limited Access roads where they are measured from the right-of-way (ROW).

Frontage Type NC Neighborhood Center Setback (Feet)
Linear Park 36
6 or More Lane Avenue/Boulevard 24
Main Street 24
Uptown Signature 24
2-3 Lane Avenue 20
4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard 20
Other - Primary 20
Parkway (Measured from ROW) 20
Uptown Primary 20
Secondary 16
Uptown Secondary 16
Limited Access (Measured from ROW) 10
Transit Station, Off-Street Public Path, Public Park 5

[Table 10-1]

Side and Rear Setback Requirements

Setbacks for the side and rear of properties in the City of Charlotte NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District are heavily dependent on the adjacent land use, specifically whether the property shares a boundary with a Neighborhood 1 Place Type.

Setback Type Condition Minimum Setback (Feet)
Minimum Side Setback Not Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type 0
Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type 10
Minimum Rear Setback Not Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type 0
Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type 20

[Table 10-1]

General Siting and Measurement Standards

The City of Charlotte applies several additional rules to the placement of buildings within the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District:

  • Measurement from Curb: On local and collector streets, setbacks are measured from the existing back of curb. If no curb exists, the City of Charlotte uses the curb location for the Residential Wide Cross Section in the Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) [Table 10-1, Note 1].
  • Transit and Park Frontages: For transit stations, off-street public paths, and public park frontages, measurements are taken from the property line or right-of-way line. If an easement is in place, the measurement is taken from that easement [Table 10-1, Note 3].
  • Building Entry Placement: No building entry in the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District may be located closer than six feet to an existing or proposed off-street public path or shared-use path [Table 10-1, Note 2].
  • Utility Conflicts: If a City of Charlotte Water easement or other utility clearance requirement conflicts with the build-to zone, a build-to line is established at the edge of the easement or utility clearance [Table 10-1, Note 4].
  • Multiple Frontages: If a lot has more than two frontages requiring a build-to zone, the build-to zone is increased by 100% for those frontages beyond the first two, prioritizing frontages lower in the established hierarchy [Table 10-1, Note 5].

Sections Cited

  • Section 10.1, Purpose
  • Section 10.3, Dimensional and Design Standards
  • Table 10-1, Neighborhood Center Zoning District Siting Standards

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