Off-Street Parking Standards for the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District
In the City of Charlotte's RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District, most developments are subject to Tier 3 parking standards, which generally eliminate minimum off-street parking requirements unless the project is located within 400 feet of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Section 19.2.A.1.c]. Parking in this district is primarily regulated by maximum caps, such as two spaces per dwelling unit for general residential uses and one space per 250 square feet of gross floor area for most commercial uses [Table 19-1]. Additionally, all new projects in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District must incorporate specific ratios for bicycle parking and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure [Section 19.3, 19.4].
Vehicle Parking Tier System
The City of Charlotte utilizes a three-tier system to manage off-street parking. The RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District is assigned to Tier 3 [Table 19-1].
- Minimum Requirements: Under Tier 3, there is no minimum parking requirement for most uses unless the property is within 400 feet walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type.
- Maximum Requirements: Strict maximum limits apply to both surface parking lots and parking structures to support the high-intensity, transit-oriented nature of the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District [Section 19.2.A.1.c].
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential projects within the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District must adhere to the following standards:
| Use | Minimum (Only if within 400' of N1 Place Type) | Maximum (Applies to lots and structures) |
|---|---|---|
| General Residential (unless listed below) | 1 per dwelling unit | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Dormitory | 1 per dorm room | 1 per dorm room |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Attached (Units not on sublots) | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Stacked | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Residential Care Facility | 1 per bed | 1 per bed |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | 0.2 per rooming unit | 1 per rooming unit |
[Table 19-1]
Commercial and Nonresidential Parking Requirements
For commercial projects in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District, the default standards are as follows:
| Use | Minimum (Only if within 400' of N1 Place Type) | Maximum (Applies to lots and structures) |
|---|---|---|
| General Commercial (unless listed below) | 1 per 250sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Hotel/Motel | 1.5 per guest room | 1.5 per guest room |
| Office / Medical Office | 1 per 250sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 250sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 per 250sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Specialty Food Service | 1 per 250sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
[Table 19-1]
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Charlotte requires both short-term and long-term bicycle parking for most new constructions or significant expansions in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District [Section 19.4.A].
| Use | Required Total Bicycle Spaces | Required % Long-Term Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Multi-Family Stacked/Attached) | 1 per 5 dwelling units | 80% |
| Office | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
[Table 19-3]
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Requirements
New residential and commercial projects in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District must provide EV infrastructure based on the total number of parking spaces provided [Section 19.3.A]:
| Total Off-Street Spaces Provided | EV-Capable Spaces | EVSE-Installed (Charging Station) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-9 spaces | None | None |
| 10-25 spaces | 20% of spaces | None |
| 26-50 spaces | 20% of spaces | 1 space |
| More than 50 spaces | 20% of spaces | 2% of spaces |
[Table 19-2]
Specific District Limitations and Flexibilities
- Transit Proximity: Any property within one-half mile walking distance of an existing rapid transit station may use the Tier 3 standards (the default for RAC), even if its base zoning would otherwise require higher minimums, provided it is not in a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Section 19.2.H].
- Public Parking Reduction: A 20% reduction in required minimum parking may be granted if the development is within 1,000 feet of a public parking facility [Section 19.2.D.2].
- Exceeding Maximums: Parking maximums in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District may be exceeded by up to 25% if the additional spaces are dedicated for public use 24/7 or provided as shared spaces during specific business hours [Section 19.2.G].
- Existing Facilities: If an existing parking lot in the RAC: Regional Activity Center Zoning District has 50% or more of its area reconstructed, it must be brought into compliance with current parking maximums [Section 19.2.E].
Sections Cited
- Article 12.1, RAC Regional Activity Center Zoning District
- Article 19.2, Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Table 19-1, Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Article 19.3, Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Table 19-2, Required EV Charging Stations
- Article 19.4, Required Bicycle Parking
- Table 19-3, Bicycle Parking Requirements