Neighborhood Center Zoning District (NC) Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the City of Charlotte
The NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District in the City of Charlotte is designed to provide a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use environment that offers daily shopping and services within walking distance of residential areas. Development in the City of Charlotte's NC District supports both vertical and horizontal mixed-use forms, with building heights generally capped at 65 feet unless a development bonus is utilized [Section 10.1, Table 10-2]. Key restrictions include the prohibition of drive-through establishments and most heavy commercial or industrial activities [Table 15-1].
Permitted and Conditional Uses in the NC District
The City of Charlotte utilizes a Global Use Matrix to define permissions. In the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District, uses are classified as Permitted by-right (X), Permitted with Prescribed Conditions (PC), or requiring Conditional Zoning (C).
Residential Uses
The NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District allows for a variety of high-density and transitional residential types.
| Use Type | Permission |
|---|---|
| Continuum Care Retirement Community (CCRC) | X |
| Dormitory | X |
| Dwelling – Duplex | PC |
| Dwelling – Live Work | X |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Attached Unit | PC |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Stacked Unit | X |
| Dwelling – Quadraplex | PC |
| Dwelling – Triplex | PC |
| Group Home | PC |
| Multi-Dwelling Development | PC |
| Residential Care Facility | X |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | PC |
Commercial and Office Uses
Uses in this category are intended to serve the local community while maintaining a walkable urban fabric within the City of Charlotte.
| Use Type | Permission |
|---|---|
| Art Gallery | X |
| Arts or Fitness Studio | X |
| Broadcasting Facility – No Antennae | X |
| Commercial Fitness Center | X |
| Commercial Kitchen | PC |
| Financial Institution | X |
| Hotel/Motel | X |
| Industrial Design | X |
| Medical/Dental Office | X |
| Micro-Production of Alcohol | PC |
| Nightclub | PC |
| Office | X |
| Outdoor Market | X |
| Personal Service Establishment | X |
| Reception Facility | PC |
| Research and Development (R&D) | X |
| Restaurant/Bar | PC |
| Retail Goods Establishment | X |
| Retail Goods: Showroom | X |
| Specialty Food Service | X |
Institutional and Public Service Uses
The City of Charlotte provides for various civic and community-oriented functions within the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District.
| Use Type | Permission |
|---|---|
| Adult Care Center | PC |
| Childcare Center (All sizes) | PC |
| Community Center | X |
| Cultural Facility | X |
| Educational Facility (Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, University, Vocational) | X |
| Government Office/Facility | X |
| Place of Worship | X |
| Public Safety Facility | X |
| Public Transit Facility | X |
| Addiction Treatment Facility, Residential | X |
| Children’s Home | X |
| Domestic Violence Shelter | X |
| Food Pantry | X |
| Social Service Facility | X |
Industrial, Infrastructure, and Open Space Uses
While primarily a commercial and residential district, select minor industrial and open space uses are permitted.
| Use Type | Permission |
|---|---|
| Movie Studio | C/PC |
| Beneficial Fill Site | PC |
| Utility (Transmission & Distribution) | PC |
| Wireless Telecommunications | PC |
| Cemetery | PC |
| Community Garden | PC |
| Conservation Area | PC |
| Farm (Standard and Bona Fide) | PC / X |
| Public Park | PC |
Prohibited Uses in the NC District
In the City of Charlotte, any use not explicitly marked as X, PC, or C in the Use Matrix for the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District is prohibited [Section 15.1.C.3]. Notable prohibited uses include:
- Commercial: Adult Electronic Gaming Establishments, Adult Uses, Amusement Facilities (Outdoor), Auction Sales, Bed and Breakfasts, Broadcasting Facilities (With Antennae), Car Washes, Contractor Offices with Outdoor Storage, Convention Centers, and Drive-Through Establishments [Table 15-1].
- Vehicular: Vehicle Auction Facilities, Vehicle Dealerships (Enclosed or Outdoor), Vehicle Fueling Facilities, and Vehicle Rental (Enclosed or Outdoor) [Table 15-1].
- Industrial: Agriculture – Industrial Processes, Airports, Airstrips, Crematoriums, General or Light Industrial, Landfills (Sanitary or LCID), and Outdoor Storage Yards [Table 15-1].
- Transportation: Principal use Parking Lots or Parking Structures and Truck Stops [Table 15-1].
Development Standards for the NC District
The City of Charlotte imposes specific siting and height requirements to ensure the NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District remains compatible with surrounding residential neighborhoods.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width (Nonresidential/Mixed-Use) | 80 feet [Table 5-1] |
| Frontage Setback Line (from future back of curb) | 20 feet (standard); 24 feet (Main Street); 36 feet (Linear Park) [Table 10-1] |
| Minimum BTZ Build-To Percentage | 80% [Table 10-1] |
| Minimum Side Setback | 0 feet (not abutting N1); 10 feet (abutting N1) [Table 10-1] |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 0 feet (not abutting N1); 20 feet (abutting N1) [Table 10-1] |
| Minimum Building Height | 16 feet [Table 10-2] |
| Maximum Building Height | 65 feet [Table 10-2] |
| Maximum Building Height with Bonus | 80 feet [Table 10-2] |
Sections Cited
- Article 10. Neighborhood Center Zoning District: NC
- Section 10.1 Purpose
- Section 10.2 Uses
- Table 10-1 Neighborhood Center Zoning District Siting Standards
- Table 10-2 Neighborhood Center Zoning District Building Height Standards
- Article 15. Use Regulations
- Section 15.1 General Use Regulations
- Section 15.2 Global Use Matrix
- Table 15-1 Use Matrix (Centers Zoning Districts)
- Table 5-1 Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts Lot Standards (referenced for NC minimum lot width logic)