Off-Street Vehicle and Bicycle Parking in Charlotte’s TOD-CC District
In the City of Charlotte, the TOD-CC: Transit Community Center Zoning District follows a Tier 3 parking standard, which emphasizes maximum parking limits to encourage transit use and typically eliminates minimum parking requirements. Most projects in the TOD-CC district have no minimum off-street parking requirement unless the site is located within 400 feet of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type, and all development must adhere to strict maximums, such as two spaces per dwelling unit for general residential and one space per 250 square feet of gross floor area for general commercial uses.
Vehicle Parking Tier System
The City of Charlotte utilizes a three-tier system to manage vehicle parking. The TOD-CC: Transit Community Center Zoning District is classified under Tier 3. This tier is designed for the most transit-intensive areas where the highest density and most urban forms of streetscape are envisioned [Article 13.1.D].
Under Tier 3, the following rules apply:
- Minimum Requirements: Most uses have no minimum parking requirement. A minimum requirement is only triggered for specific uses if the development is within a 400-foot walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Section 19.2.A.1.c].
- Maximum Requirements: All uses are subject to a maximum number of allowed off-street parking spaces to prevent over-parking in transit-oriented areas [Section 19.2.A.1.c].
- Reductions: Any remaining minimum requirements in Tier 3 may be further reduced or eliminated through an approved Parking Demand Management Assessment [Section 19.2.A.1.c.i].
Residential Parking Requirements
In the TOD-CC: Transit Community Center Zoning District, residential parking is heavily regulated by units and bedroom counts. For dwellings such as single-family, duplex, and triplexes, the City of Charlotte does not limit enclosed garage parking but strictly caps unenclosed spaces [Table 19-1].
Table 1: TOD-CC Residential Vehicle Parking Standards
| Use Type | Minimum Parking (If within 400’ of N1) | Maximum Parking Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Use (General) | None | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Stacked | 1 per dwelling unit (0.25 for senior) | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Multi-Family Attached (Not on sublots) | 1 per dwelling unit (0.25 for senior) | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Multi-Family Attached (On sublots) | None | No limit on enclosed; 2 unenclosed per unit |
| Single-Family / Duplex / Triplex | None | No limit on enclosed; 2 unenclosed per unit |
| Dormitory | None | 1 per dorm room |
| Group Home | None | 6 spaces |
Commercial Parking Requirements
Commercial projects in the TOD-CC district generally have no minimum parking requirement, even when near residential areas, with the notable exception of high-intensity uses like nightclubs and restaurants [Table 19-1].
Table 2: TOD-CC Commercial Vehicle Parking Standards
| Use Type | Minimum Parking (If within 400’ of N1) | Maximum Parking Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Use (General) | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Office | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Retail Goods Establishment | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 500sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating | 1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating |
| Nightclub | 1 per 500sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating | 1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating |
| Hotel / Motel | None | 1.5 per guest room |
| Drive-Through Establishment | None | 2 spaces |
| Financial Institution | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Charlotte requires both short-term and long-term bicycle parking for most projects in the TOD-CC: Transit Community Center Zoning District. Long-term spaces must be fully covered and offer protection from the elements, often located internally or in garage structures [Section 19.9.C].
Table 3: TOD-CC Bicycle Parking Standards
| Use Category | Required Total Bicycle Spaces | Required % of Long-Term Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Family (Stacked/Attached) | 1 per 5 dwelling units | 80% |
| Residential Care Facility | 1 per 8 rooms | 25% |
| Commercial Use (General) | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Office | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Retail Goods Establishment | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 1,500sf GFA | 25% |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure
For multi-family stacked dwellings and the residential components of mixed-use developments in the TOD-CC district, the City of Charlotte requires the installation of EV-Capable and EVSE-Installed charging stations based on the total number of spaces provided [Section 19.3.A]. If 26-50 spaces are provided, 20% must be EV-Capable and at least 1 space must be EVSE-Installed [Table 19-2].
Sections Cited
- Article 13.1: Purpose and Applicability (Transit Oriented Development Districts)
- Article 19.1: Purpose (Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking)
- Article 19.2: Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Article 19.3: Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Article 19.4: Required Bicycle Parking
- Article 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