Off-Street Parking Standards for the UC: Uptown Core Zoning District

In the City of Charlotte's UC: Uptown Core Zoning District, developments follow Tier 3 parking standards, which generally eliminate minimum parking requirements to promote a dense, walkable urban environment. Residential projects are typically restricted to a maximum of two spaces per dwelling unit, while commercial and nonresidential uses are generally capped at a maximum of one space per 250 square feet of gross floor area. Specific minimum requirements in the UC: Uptown Core Zoning District only trigger when a project is located within 400 feet of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type.

Vehicle Parking Tier System

The City of Charlotte organizes parking requirements into a three-tier system based on the intended intensity of the area. The UC: Uptown Core Zoning District is classified as a Tier 3 district [Table 19-1]. In Tier 3, most uses have no minimum parking requirement, focusing instead on maximum limits to manage the amount of on-site parking and encourage transit use [Section 19.2.A].

Residential Parking Requirements

In the UC: Uptown Core Zoning District, residential parking is primarily regulated by maximum allowances. However, a minimum requirement is applied if the residential component is within a 400-foot walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Table 19-1].

Use Category	Minimum Requirement (Only if within 400' of Neighborhood 1)	Maximum Allowance (Applies to all UC projects)
Standard Residential Use	None	2 per dwelling unit
Dormitory	None	1 per dorm room
Multi-Family Attached	1 per dwelling unit; 0.25 per unit for senior living	1 per bedroom or studio unit
Multi-Family Stacked	1 per dwelling unit; 0.25 per unit for senior living	1 per bedroom or studio unit
Live/Work Dwelling	None	2 per dwelling unit + 1 per 250sf of commercial space
Group Home	None	6 spaces

Commercial and Nonresidential Parking Requirements

Nonresidential projects within the City of Charlotte's UC: Uptown Core Zoning District are subject to strict maximums. Unless otherwise specified, the default maximum for commercial uses is one space per 250 square feet of gross floor area (GFA) [Table 19-1].

Use Category	Minimum Requirement	Maximum Allowance
General Commercial Use	None	1 per 250sf GFA
Financial Institution	None	1 per 250sf GFA
Medical/Dental Office	None	1 per 250sf GFA
Restaurant / Bar	None	1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating area
Retail Goods Establishment	None	1 per 250sf GFA
Hotel / Motel	None	1.5 per guest room
Industrial Use (General)	None	1 per 500sf GFA (up to 40ksf)

Flexibility and Exemptions in the UC District

The UC: Uptown Core Zoning District offers several flexibilities for developers regarding off-street parking:

Public Parking Reduction: Development sites in the City of Charlotte located within 1,000 feet of a public parking facility may receive a 20% reduction in their minimum parking requirement, if applicable [Section 19.2.D].
Spaces Exempt from Maximums: In the UC: Uptown Core Zoning District, certain spaces do not count toward the parking maximum. These include required accessible parking spaces, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations (EVSE-installed), and specific pick-up/drop-off spaces for ride-hailing or delivery services [Section 19.2.F].
Permissions to Exceed Maximums: A parking maximum in the City of Charlotte may be exceeded by up to 25% if the additional spaces are provided for public use 24 hours a day, or as shared spaces during specific business or evening hours [Section 19.2.G].

Bicycle Parking Requirements

The UC: Uptown Core Zoning District requires both short-term and long-term bicycle parking to support multimodal transportation. Short-term spaces are intended for visitors, while long-term spaces must be covered and provide protection from the elements [Section 19.9].

Use Category	Required Total Bicycle Spaces	Required % Long-Term Spaces
Multi-Family (Stacked/Attached)	1 per 5 dwelling units	80%
General Commercial	1 per 1,500sf GFA	25%
Office	1 per 1,500sf GFA	25%
Retail Goods	1 per 3,000sf GFA	25%

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