Permitted Zoning Districts for Hotels, Motels, and Lodging in Charlotte
In the City of Charlotte, hotels and motels are permitted by-right in commercial and employment-heavy areas such as the CG General Commercial, CR Regional Commercial, and RC Research Campus Zoning Districts. Smaller-scale lodging options, including bed and breakfasts and rooming houses, are allowed within several Neighborhood 1 and Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts, provided they comply with prescribed conditions such as limited guest rooms and occupancy durations. Specialized lodging like dormitories is primarily restricted to campus environments or higher-intensity mixed-use and transit-oriented districts.
Hotel and Motel Permissions
The City of Charlotte classifies "Hotel/Motel" as a commercial facility providing sleeping accommodations and customary lodging services for a fee [Section 15.3]. The following table outlines where these facilities may be established:
| Zoning District Category | Specific Districts | Permission Level |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | CG, CR | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Campus | OFC, OG, RC | Permitted By-Right (X) |
| Campus | IC-1, IC-2 | Allowed with Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Innovation Mixed-Use | IMU | Allowed with Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Centers | NC, CAC-1, CAC-2, RAC | Allowed with Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Uptown | UC, UE | Allowed with Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
| Transit-Oriented | TOD-UC, TOD-NC, TOD-CC, TOD-TR | Allowed with Prescribed Conditions (PC) |
Hotels or motels located within the IC-1 Institutional Campus or IC-2 Institutional Campus Zoning Districts must be owned and operated by, or have a formal affiliation with, the primary institution of the campus (such as an educational or medical facility) [Section 15.4.WW.1].
Bed and Breakfast and Rooming House Regulations
Smaller lodging facilities are intended to integrate with residential character. These uses are never allowed by-right and must always meet prescribed conditions [Table 15-1].
Bed and Breakfast (B&B)
A "Bed and Breakfast" is a single-family detached dwelling where the property owner provides lodging for a daily fee [Section 15.3].
- Permitted Districts: N1-A, N1-B, N1-C, N1-D, N1-E, N1-F, N2-A, and N2-B [Table 15-1].
- Capacity: Limited to four guest rooms in Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts and eight guest rooms in all other permitted districts [Section 15.4.L].
- Duration: Guests are limited to stays of no more than seven consecutive days [Section 15.4.L].
Rooming House
A "Rooming House" is a single-family detached dwelling where the owner makes rooms available for at least seven consecutive days [Section 15.3].
- Permitted Districts: N1-A, N1-B, N1-C, N1-D, N1-E, N1-F, N2-A, N2-B, IC-1, IC-2, and OFC [Table 15-1].
- Capacity: A maximum of five boarders is permitted per establishment [Section 15.6.M].
Dormitories
Dormitories provide sleeping accommodations for educational or public institutions [Section 15.3].
- Permitted By-Right: RC Research Campus Zoning District.
- Permitted with Conditions: N2-B, N2-C, IC-1, IC-2, IMU, NC, CAC-1, CAC-2, RAC, UC, UE, TOD-UC, TOD-NC, TOD-CC, and TOD-TR [Table 15-1].
- Standards: In the Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts, dormitories must meet the same standards as multi-family dwellings [Section 15.4.BB].
Off-Street Parking Requirements
The City of Charlotte mandates specific parking ratios for lodging based on the "Tier" assigned to the zoning district [Section 19.2].
| Use | Tier 1 (e.g., N1, N2-A, IC-1) | Tier 2 (e.g., N2-B, NC, CG) | Tier 3 (e.g., RAC, UC, TOD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel/Motel | 1 space per guest room | 0.5 spaces per guest room | 1.5 spaces per guest room (MAX) |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space + 0.5 per room | 1 space + 0.5 per room | 1 space + 1 per room |
| Dormitory | 1/2 per dorm room | 1/4 per dorm room | 1 per dorm room (MAX) |
| Rooming House | 1/2 per rooming unit | 1/4 per rooming unit | 1 per rooming unit |
Additionally, hotels are specifically required to provide Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations [Section 19.3.A]. For bicycle infrastructure, hotels/motels must provide one bicycle space per 20 rooms, with 25% of those required to be long-term spaces [Table 19-3].
Sections Cited
- Article 15, Section 15.2: Global Use Matrix
- Article 15, Section 15.3: Use Definitions
- Article 15, Section 15.4: Principal Uses: Prescribed Conditions
- Article 15, Section 15.6: Accessory Uses: Prescribed Conditions
- Article 19, Section 19.2: Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Article 19, Section 19.3: Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Article 19, Section 19.4: Required Bicycle Parking
- Article 19, Table 19-1: Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Article 19, Table 19-3: Bicycle Parking Requirements