Off-Street Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Requirements for the CAC-2: Community Activity Center District

In the City of Charlotte, the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District is classified under the Tier 3 vehicle parking system, which prioritizes a walkable, transit-supportive urban form by removing minimum parking requirements for most uses. Minimum off-street parking is only required in the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District when a project is located within a 400-foot walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type. To prevent excessive auto-dependency, the City of Charlotte imposes maximum parking limits on all residential and commercial developments within this district [Section 19.2.A].

Vehicle Parking Standard Tiers

The City of Charlotte utilizes a three-tier system for off-street parking. As a Tier 3 district, the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District typically has no minimum parking requirement unless specific proximity to a Neighborhood 1 Place Type is met. Maximum parking limits in this district apply to both surface parking lots and parking structures [Section 19.2.A.1].

Residential Parking Requirements

For residential projects in the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District, the following ratios apply. Where a minimum is listed, it only applies if the development is within a 400-foot walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Table 19-1].

Residential Use Type	Minimum Parking (Only if <400’ from N1)	Maximum Parking Allowed
Residential Use (unless listed below)	None	2 spaces per dwelling unit
Single-Family, Duplex, Triplex, Quadraplex	None	2 unenclosed spaces per unit (No limit on enclosed/garage)
Multi-Family Attached (Units not on sublots)	1 per unit (0.25 for senior living)	1 space per bedroom/studio unit
Multi-Family Stacked	1 per unit (0.25 for senior living)	1 space per bedroom/studio unit
Dormitory	1 per 4 dorm rooms	1 space per dorm room
Live/Work	None	2 per unit + 1 per 250sf of commercial GFA
Group Home	None	6 spaces
Single Room Occupancy (SRO)	None	1 space per rooming unit
Residential Care Facility	None	1 space per bed

Commercial Parking Requirements

Commercial projects in the City of Charlotte's CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District are generally subject only to maximum parking limits. Minimum requirements are rare even when near Neighborhood 1 Place Types, with the exception of high-traffic uses like restaurants [Table 19-1].

Commercial Use Type	Minimum Parking (Only if <400’ from N1)	Maximum Parking Allowed
Commercial Use (unless listed below)	None	1 space per 250sf GFA
Restaurant / Bar	1 per 500sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area	1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area
Live Performance Venue (Indoor)	1 per 500sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area	1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor area
Hotel / Motel	None	1.5 spaces per guest room
Medical / Dental Office	None	1 space per 250sf GFA
Retail Goods Establishment	None	1 space per 250sf GFA
Financial Institution	None	1 space per 250sf GFA
Drive-Through Establishment	None	2 spaces
Childcare Center (All types)	None	1 space per 300sf GFA
Personal Service Establishment	None	1 space per 250sf GFA

Flexible Parking Standards and Credits

The City of Charlotte provides several methods to reduce or exceed these standard requirements in the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District.

On-Street Credit: Existing or new on-street parking spaces abutting the property may be counted toward any required minimum off-street parking [Section 19.2.D.1].
Public Parking Reduction: If a development in the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District is within 1,000 feet of a public parking facility, the minimum required parking may be reduced by 20% [Section 19.2.D.2].
Exceeding Maximums: A developer may exceed the maximum parking limit by up to 25% if a portion of the spaces are dedicated for public use 24/7 or provided as shared spaces during specific business hours [Section 19.2.G].
Exempt Spaces: Dedicated ADA accessible spaces, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and specific pick-up/drop-off spaces (like ride-hailing or safe exchange zones) do not count toward the calculated parking maximums [Section 19.2.F].

Bicycle Parking Requirements

All new construction and significant expansions in the CAC-2: Community Activity Center Zoning District must provide bicycle parking. A minimum of two short-term spaces is required for any use where bicycle parking is mandated [Section 19.4.C].

Use Category	Required Bicycle Spaces	Long-Term Space Requirement
Multi-Family Residential	1 per 5 dwelling units	80% of total spaces
General Commercial	1 per 1,500sf GFA	25% of total spaces
Restaurant / Bar	1 per 500sf GFA	25% of total spaces
Office	1 per 250sf GFA	80% of total spaces

Long-term bicycle spaces must be fully covered and offer protection from the elements, whereas short-term spaces must be located within 120 feet of the primary entrance [Section 19.9].

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