Off-Street Parking Requirements for the CAC-1 Community Activity Center District
In the City of Charlotte, the CAC-1 Community Activity Center Zoning District operates under a Tier 2 parking system, which mandates both minimum and maximum parking ratios for most land uses. General residential projects in the CAC-1 District typically require one space per dwelling unit as a minimum and two spaces as a maximum, while commercial projects generally require a minimum of one space per 1,000 square feet and a maximum of one space per 250 square feet. This tiered approach is designed to balance the needs of automobile access with the City of Charlotte’s goals for improved pedestrian environments and multi-modal transit.
Vehicle Parking Space Ratios
The City of Charlotte classifies the CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District as a Tier 2 parking environment. This designation means that developers must provide a minimum number of off-street spaces while adhering to a strict maximum to prevent excessive surface parking [Section 19.2.A].
The following table outlines specific vehicle parking requirements for common residential and commercial uses within the City of Charlotte's CAC-1 District:
| Use Category | Tier 2 Minimum Requirement | Tier 2 Maximum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses (General) | 1 per dwelling unit | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Dormitory | 1 per 4 dorm rooms | 1 per dorm room |
| Dwelling – Duplex | 1 per dwelling unit | 2 unenclosed per unit (No limit on garage/enclosed) |
| Dwelling – Live/Work | 1 per unit + 1/1,000sf GFA | 2 per unit + 1/250sf GFA |
| Multi-Family Attached | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Multi-Family Stacked | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | 0.2 per rooming unit | 1 per rooming unit |
| Commercial Uses (General) | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Amusement Facility (Indoor) | 1/1,000sf GFA + 50% outdoor area | 1/250sf GFA + 50% outdoor area |
| Hotel/Motel | 0.5 per guest room | 1.5 per guest room |
| Medical/Dental Office | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1/1,000sf GFA + 50% outdoor area | 1/250sf GFA + 50% outdoor area |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Vehicle Fueling Facility | 1 per service island + 1/1,000sf retail | 1/250sf GFA of retail |
Note: GFA refers to Gross Floor Area. For senior living components, the minimum requirement is reduced to 0.25 spaces per dwelling unit [Table 19-1].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
To support non-motorized transportation, the City of Charlotte requires both short-term and long-term bicycle parking for most developments in the CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District. Long-term spaces must be fully covered and offer protection from the elements, while short-term spaces must be located within 120 feet of a primary entrance [Section 19.9].
| Use Category | Required Bicycle Spaces | Required % Long-Term Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Family Attached/Stacked | 1 per 5 dwelling units | 80% |
| General Commercial Uses | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Medical/Dental Office | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Office | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
Note: A minimum of two short-term bicycle spaces is required for any use where bicycle parking is mandated, capped at a maximum of 30 short-term spaces per use [Section 19.4.C].
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure
For certain residential and commercial projects in the CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District, the City of Charlotte requires the installation of EV-Capable and EVSE-Installed (EV-Ready) charging stations. These requirements apply to multi-family stacked dwellings, the residential components of mixed-use developments, and hotels [Section 19.3.A].
| Total Provided Off-Street Spaces | EV-Capable Spaces | EVSE-Installed Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| 0-9 spaces | None | None |
| 10-25 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | None |
| 26-50 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | 1 space |
| More than 50 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | 2% of spaces (rounded up) |
Note: EVSE-Installed stations count as two spaces toward meeting a project's parking minimum [Section 19.3.E].
Parking Flexibilities and Reductions
The City of Charlotte provides several options for developers in the CAC-1: Community Activity Center Zoning District to reduce the total number of required on-site vehicle spaces:
- On-Street Parking: Existing or new marked on-street parking spaces abutting the property may be counted toward the minimum requirement if they are accessible to the public 24 hours a day [Section 19.2.D.1].
- Public Parking Reduction: If a development site is located within 1,000 feet walking distance of a public parking facility, the minimum parking requirement may be reduced by 20% [Section 19.2.D.2].
- Tree Preservation: The Zoning Administrator may authorize a reduction of up to 25% of the minimum required spaces if necessary to preserve significant trees on-site or in the public right-of-way [Section 19.2.D.3].
- Exempt Spaces: Accessible parking spaces and EVSE-installed charging stations are not included when calculating if a project has reached its permitted parking maximum [Section 19.2.F].
Sections Cited
- Section 11.1: Purpose
- Section 19.2: Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Section 19.3: Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Section 19.4: Required Bicycle Parking
- Section 19.9: Design of Bicycle Parking
- Table 19-1: Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Table 19-2: Required EV Charging Stations
- Table 19-3: Bicycle Parking Requirements