TOD-NC Zoning District Off-Street Parking Requirements
In the City of Charlotte, the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District utilizes Tier 3 parking standards, which eliminate minimum off-street vehicle parking requirements for most uses unless the project is located within 400 feet of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type. While minimums are restricted, the City of Charlotte enforces maximum parking caps to support transit-oriented goals, generally limiting commercial developments to one space per 250 square feet and multi-family residential units to one space per bedroom.
Vehicle Parking Ratios
The City of Charlotte classifies the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District under "Tier 3" for vehicle parking requirements. Under this tier, off-street parking minimums are largely removed to encourage a pedestrian-oriented environment, while maximum limits are strictly enforced [Section 19.2.A].
For Tier 3 districts, the minimum parking requirement listed in the table below only applies if the development is within 400 feet walking distance of a Neighborhood 1 Place Type [Table 19-1]. If the property is further than 400 feet from a Neighborhood 1 Place Type, there is no minimum requirement.
TOD-NC Vehicle Parking Ratios Table
| Use Category | Minimum (Only if <400' from N1) | Maximum (Applies to lots and structures) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses | ||
| General Residential (unless listed) | None | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Attached (Units not on sublots) | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Multi-Family Stacked | 1 per dwelling unit | 1 per bedroom/studio unit |
| Dormitory | None | 1 per dorm room |
| Single-Family / Duplex / Triplex / Quadraplex | None | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Live/Work | None | 2 per unit + 1 per 250sf GFA of commercial |
| Commercial Uses | ||
| Commercial Use (unless listed) | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 500sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating | 1 per 250sf GFA + 50% of outdoor seating |
| Retail Goods Establishment | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Office | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
| Hotel / Motel | None | 1.5 per guest room |
| Medical / Dental Office | None | 1 per 250sf GFA |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Requirements
The City of Charlotte requires the installation of EV charging infrastructure for multi-family stacked dwellings, the residential components of mixed-use developments, and hotels within the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District [Section 19.3.A].
Required EV Infrastructure Table
| Total Off-Street Parking Provided | EV-Capable Spaces (Minimum) | EVSE-Installed Spaces (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-9 spaces | None | None |
| 10-25 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | None |
| 26-50 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | 1 space |
| More than 50 spaces | 20% of spaces (rounded up) | 2% of spaces (rounded up) |
Note: EVSE-Installed stations count as two spaces toward a parking minimum if one is required [Section 19.3.E].
Bicycle Parking Standards
Bicycle parking is required for new construction and substantial expansions in the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District. Requirements are divided into "short-term" (for visitors) and "long-term" (secure, weather-protected storage for residents/employees) [Section 19.4].
TOD-NC Bicycle Parking Ratios Table
| Use | Required Total Bicycle Spaces | Required % Long-Term Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Family Attached / Stacked | 1 per 5 dwelling units | 80% |
| General Commercial | 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% |
Parking Flexibilities and Exemptions
The City of Charlotte provides several methods to modify or exempt specific spaces from the parking counts in the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District:
- On-Street Parking: Existing or new on-street parking spaces abutting the property may be counted toward the required minimum off-street parking [Section 19.2.D.1].
- Public Parking Reduction: A 20% reduction in the minimum parking requirement may be granted if the site is within 1,000 feet of a public parking facility [Section 19.2.D.2].
- Exempt Spaces: Accessible parking spaces, EVSE-Installed charging stations, and designated ride-hailing or delivery pick-up/drop-off spaces are not included in the calculation of parking maximums [Section 19.3.D, Section 19.2.F].
- Existing Facility Maximums: In the TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District, if 50% or more of an existing parking lot is reconstructed, the lot must be brought into compliance with current parking maximums [Section 19.2.E].
Sections Cited
- Article 13. Transit Oriented Development Zoning Districts
- Section 13.1, Purpose and Applicability
- Article 19. Off-Street Vehicle & Bicycle Parking
- Section 19.2, Vehicle Parking Space Requirements
- Section 19.3, Required Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Section 19.4, Required Bicycle Parking
- Table 19-1: Vehicle Parking Requirements
- Table 19-2: Required EV Charging Stations
- Table 19-3: Bicycle Parking Requirements