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Setback Requirements for the N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District in the City of Charlotte

Jurisdiction: CharlotteCode Version: June 01, 2023 (Amended March 23, 2026)

In the N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District of the City of Charlotte, the minimum side setback is 5 feet, and the minimum rear setback is either 10 feet or 20 feet, depending on whether the property abuts a Neighborhood 1 Place Type. Frontage setbacks are variable and determined by the specific street classification, ranging from a minimum of 5 feet for transit stations and public parks to a maximum of 36 feet for Linear Parks.

Frontage Setback Requirements

The N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District utilizes a system where the front setback is determined by the type of frontage the lot faces. In the City of Charlotte, these distances are generally measured from the future back of curb [Section 5.3, Table 5-2].

N2-C Frontage Setback Standards

Frontage Type Minimum Setback Line (from future back of curb)
Uptown Signature 24 feet
Main Street 24 feet
Linear Park 36 feet
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
Uptown Primary 20 feet
Other - Primary 20 feet
Uptown Secondary 16 feet
Secondary 16 feet
Parkway (Measured from Right-of-Way) 20 feet
Limited Access (Measured from Right-of-Way) 10 feet

Note: On local and collector streets in the N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District, if no curb exists, the measurement is taken from the curb location for the "Residential Wide Cross Section" as defined in the Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual (CLDSM) [Section 5.3, Table 5-2].

Side and Rear Setback Requirements

The N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District maintains a consistent minimum side setback for all developments. The rear setback is more restrictive if the development is located immediately adjacent to a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Section 5.3, Table 5-2].

N2-C Side and Rear Setback Standards

Setback Category Minimum Requirement
Minimum Side Setback 5 feet
Minimum Rear Setback (Not abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type) 10 feet
Minimum Rear Setback (Abutting Neighborhood 1 Place Type) 20 feet

Additional Siting Regulations for N2-C

In the City of Charlotte, the N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District is characterized as an urban environment with smaller setbacks and the mandatory use of build-to zones (BTZ) [Section 5.1].

Build-To Zone (BTZ)

For most frontage types in the N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District, a build-to zone of 0 to 20 feet is established from the frontage setback line. Development within this district must ensure that 80% of the building facade is located within this zone (or 100% for Main Streets) to maintain a consistent urban streetscape [Section 5.3, Table 5-2].

Exceptions and Adjustments

  • Three or More Frontages: If an N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District lot has three or more frontages, the "last frontage" (as determined by the hierarchy of frontage types) may follow alternative standards, such as a reduction in required ground floor transparency to 10% [Section 3.6].
  • Encroachments: Certain architectural features such as accessibility ramps, awnings, and sills are permitted to extend into required setbacks in the City of Charlotte [Section 18.3, Table 18-2].
  • Underground Parking: Underground parking structures in the City of Charlotte are permitted to encroach into setbacks but must remain at least five feet from the right-of-way line [Section 19.8].

Sections Cited

  • Article 5, Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts: N2-A, N2-B, N2-C
  • Section 5.1, Purpose
  • Section 5.3, Dimensional and Design Standards
  • Table 5-2, Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts Building Siting Standards
  • Section 3.6, Alternative Standards for Lots with Three or More Frontages
  • Section 18.3, Architectural Features: Multi-Family Stacked, Mixed-Use, and Nonresidential Development
  • Section 19.8, Design of Underground Parking Structures

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