OG: Office General Zoning District Setback Standards for the City of Charlotte
In the City of Charlotte, the OG: Office General Zoning District requires front setbacks that vary by frontage type, ranging from 16 feet to 40 feet when measured from the future back of curb. The City of Charlotte mandates a minimum side setback of 10 feet and a minimum rear setback of 20 feet for all developments within this district [Table 7-2]. Under specific conditions where no parking or maneuvering is placed between the building and the street, the OG: Office General Zoning District allows for significant reductions in frontage setbacks [Table 7-2, Note 6].
Frontage Setback Requirements
The City of Charlotte utilizes a frontage-based system to determine the required front setbacks for the OG: Office General Zoning District. Most setbacks are measured from the "future back of curb" as defined by the Charlotte Streets Map, while specific roads like Parkways and Limited Access roads are measured from the right-of-way (ROW) [Table 7-2].
Standard Frontage Setbacks
The following table outlines the standard minimum setbacks required for the OG: Office General Zoning District based on the classification of the abutting street or space:
| Frontage Type | Minimum Setback (Measured from Future Back of Curb) |
|---|---|
| Uptown Signature | 24 feet |
| Main Street | 24 feet |
| Linear Park | 36 feet |
| 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 36 feet |
| 6 or More Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 40 feet |
| 2-3 Lane Avenue | 36 feet |
| Transit Station, Off-Street Public Path, Public Park | 20 feet |
| Uptown Primary | 20 feet |
| Other - Primary | 36 feet |
| Uptown Secondary | 16 feet |
| Secondary | 36 feet |
| Parkway | 20 feet (Measured from ROW) |
| Limited Access | 20 feet (Measured from ROW) |
[Table 7-2]
Conditional Setback Reductions
In the City of Charlotte OG: Office General Zoning District, if a developer chooses not to locate any parking or vehicle maneuvering areas between the principal building and the street frontage, the frontage setback line may be reduced. In these instances, the OG: Office General Zoning District follows the setback standards of the CAC-1: Community Activity Center 1 Zoning District [Table 7-2, Note 6].
The reduced setbacks for the OG: Office General Zoning District are as follows:
| Frontage Type | Reduced Minimum Setback (Match CAC-1 Standards) |
|---|---|
| 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 20 feet |
| 6 or More Lane Avenue/Boulevard | 24 feet |
| 2-3 Lane Avenue | 20 feet |
| Transit Station, Off-Street Public Path, Public Park | 5 feet |
| Other - Primary | 20 feet |
| Secondary | 16 feet |
| Limited Access | 10 feet (Measured from ROW) |
[Table 11-1, Table 7-2]
Side and Rear Setback Requirements
The OG: Office General Zoning District maintains consistent side and rear setback requirements regardless of the surrounding Place Type or the presence of abutting residential districts [Table 7-2].
| Setback Type | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Side Setback | 10 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 20 feet |
[Table 7-2]
Build-To Zone (BTZ) Standards
A Build-To Zone (BTZ) is the area on a lot, measured parallel from the required frontage setback line, where a certain percentage of the building facade must be located [Section 2.3]. For the OG: Office General Zoning District in the City of Charlotte, the Build-To Zone requirements only apply to properties with a Main Street frontage.
- Main Street BTZ: 0 feet to 20 feet from the frontage setback line.
- Minimum BTZ Percentage: 80% of the building facade must be located within the BTZ.
[Table 7-2]
Important Measurement and Siting Rules
- Measurement Point: Frontage setbacks are generally measured from the future back of curb. If no curb exists, the measurement is taken from the curb location of the Office/Commercial Narrow Local Street Cross Section in the Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) [Table 7-2, Note 1].
- Encroachments: No building or structure may be located within any required setback unless specifically allowed by the City of Charlotte Unified Development Ordinance [Section 16.1.F].
- Accessory Structures: In the OG: Office General Zoning District, accessory structures must be located at least three feet from a lot line when placed in an established side or rear setback. If the accessory structure is 24 feet or taller, it must meet the side setback of the district (10 feet) and be at least 15 feet from the rear lot line [Section 17.1.E.2.a].
Sections Cited
- Article 2, Section 2.3 (General Definitions)
- Article 7, Section 7.1 (Purpose)
- Article 7, Section 7.3 (Dimensional and Design Standards)
- Article 7, Table 7-2 (Campus Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards)
- Article 11, Table 11-1 (Community Activity Center Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards)
- Article 16, Section 16.1 (Lot Development Restrictions)
- Article 17, Section 17.1 (General Standards for Accessory Structures)