Off-Street Parking Standards for the RC: Research Campus Zoning District
In the City of Charlotte’s RC: Research Campus Zoning District, off-street parking is regulated under a "Tier 2" system, which establishes both mandatory minimum and maximum parking ratios for all projects. Residential developments typically require a minimum of one space per dwelling unit, while most nonresidential uses must provide a minimum of one space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and may not exceed a maximum of one space per 250 square feet. Additionally, all parking facilities within the RC: Research Campus Zoning District must incorporate specific allocations for bicycle parking and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations [Section 19.2.A, Table 19-1].
Vehicle Parking Requirements
The City of Charlotte classifies the RC: Research Campus Zoning District as a Tier 2 parking environment. Unlike Tier 1 districts, which have no maximum limits, Tier 2 districts strictly cap the total amount of parking to prevent excessive land coverage [Section 19.2.A].
Residential Parking Ratios
The following ratios apply to residential components within the RC: Research Campus Zoning District:
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Requirement | Maximum Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Residential Use (unless listed below) | 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 spaces) |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Attached | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom or studio |
| Dwelling – Multi-Family Stacked | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom or studio |
| Group Home | 1 per 4 residents | 6 spaces total |
| Residential Care Facility | 1 per 2 beds (0.5/bed) | 1.5 per bed |
| Single Room Occupancy (SRO) | 0.2 per rooming unit | 1 per rooming unit |
[Table 19-1]
Nonresidential and Commercial Parking Ratios
Nonresidential projects in the RC: Research Campus Zoning District must adhere to the following standards:
| Nonresidential Use Type | Minimum Requirement | Maximum Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| General Commercial Use (unless listed below) | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Medical or Dental Office | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Office | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 1,000sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area | 1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area |
| Hotel / Motel | 0.5 per guest room | 1.5 per guest room |
| Industrial, Craft | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Research and Development (R&D) | 1 per 1,000sf GFA | 1 per 250sf GFA |
[Table 19-1]
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure
The City of Charlotte requires the installation of EV infrastructure for multi-family stacked dwellings, hotels, and parking structures in the RC: Research Campus Zoning District. The requirement is scaled based on the total number of spaces provided [Section 19.3].
| Total Off-Street Spaces Provided | EV-Capable Spaces | EVSE-Installed Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| 0-9 spaces | None | None |
| 10-25 spaces | 20% (rounded up) | None |
| 26-50 spaces | 20% (rounded up) | 1 space |
| More than 50 spaces | 20% (rounded up) | 2% (rounded up) |
[Table 19-2]
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The RC: Research Campus Zoning District mandates both short-term and long-term bicycle parking. Long-term spaces must be fully covered and offer protection from the elements [Section 19.9.C].
| Use Type | Total Required Bicycle Spaces | Required % Long-Term |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (Multi-Family) | 1 per 5 dwelling units | 80% |
| Office / R&D | 1 per 3,000sf GFA | 25% |
| Commercial / Retail | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Institutional / Governmental | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
[Table 19-3]
Site Design and Configuration
In the RC: Research Campus Zoning District, surface parking lots are subject to strict location and landscaping standards to maintain the campus aesthetic:
- Frontage Setbacks: Surface parking is generally prohibited in the established setback along a primary frontage. For Tier 2 districts like RC, surface parking must be located a minimum of 25 feet behind the setback line on primary frontages [Section 19.6, Table 19-4].
- Internal Planting: Because the RC: Research Campus Zoning District is categorized as a Tier 1 Place Type for landscaping purposes, any surface parking lot exceeding 10,000 square feet must provide a planting area equal to at least 10% of the total built-upon area [Section 20.17.D.1.a].
- Tree Spacing: Every internal surface parking space in the City of Charlotte must be located no more than 40 feet from a tree trunk [Section 20.17.D.1.b].
- Parking Structures: Facades of parking structures in the RC: Research Campus Zoning District must include vertical and horizontal architectural treatments that resemble the main buildings in the development [Section 19.7.B].
Parking Flexibilities and Reductions
The City of Charlotte provides several options to reduce the required minimum parking:
- On-Street Credit: Existing or new on-street parking spaces abutting the property may be counted toward the minimum requirement [Section 19.2.D.1].
- Public Parking Reduction: A 20% reduction in required minimum spaces may be granted if the development is located within 1,000 feet of a public parking facility [Section 19.2.D.2].
- Tree Preservation: The Zoning Administrator may authorize up to a 25% reduction in required spaces if the full requirement would necessitate the removal of "significant trees" [Section 19.2.D.3].
Sections Cited
- Article 7. Campus Zoning Districts
- Section 7.1.E RC Research Campus Zoning District
- Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking
- Section 19.2 Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Section 19.3 Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Section 19.4 Required Bicycle Parking
- Section 19.6 Design of Surface Parking and Parking Lots
- Section 19.7 Design of Parking Structures
- Section 19.9 Design of Bicycle Parking
- Section 20.17 Tree Planting Requirements