Off-Street Parking Requirements for the GC: General Commercial District in Arlington, Texas
In the City of Arlington’s GC: General Commercial district, multi-family residential developments are required to provide one parking space per dwelling unit plus additional spaces for visitors and staff, with at least 80 percent of total spaces provided as covered parking. Commercial projects within the GC: General Commercial district follow specific ratios based on use, such as 10 spaces per 1,000 square feet for restaurants and 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet for general offices. All parking facilities in this district must generally be situated to the side or rear of the principal buildings to minimize their visual impact from public rights-of-way [Section 5.4.9].
Residential Parking Requirements in the GC District
Residential uses allowed in the GC: General Commercial district, such as multi-family dwellings or residential units within mixed-use buildings, are subject to the standards for residential development in non-residential zones. These regulations are designed to ensure compatibility and provide adequate amenities for residents in commercial corridors of the City of Arlington.
Required Ratios for Residential Uses
According to the City of Arlington's parking schedule, the following ratios apply to residential projects within the GC: General Commercial district:
| Residential Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Multi-family or Mixed-Use (Primary) | 1 parking space per dwelling unit |
| Multi-family or Mixed-Use (Accessory) | 5 spaces for Office Staff + 1 space per 10,000 sq. ft. of gross residential floor area (Visitor Parking) |
| Live/Work Dwelling | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit (work area is calculated separately as retail or office) |
Special Standards for Multi-Family in the GC District
Multi-family projects in the GC: General Commercial district must adhere to several specific configuration and design standards to protect the residential environment [Section 5.12.4]:
- Covered Parking: At least 80 percent of the required parking spaces must be provided in a covered format.
- Garages: At least 50 percent of the total required parking spaces must be located within an enclosed garage.
- Location: No parking is permitted between a building and the street right-of-way.
- Shared Parking: Parking spaces required for residential purposes may not be used for shared parking calculations with non-residential uses.
Commercial and Service Parking Requirements in the GC District
The GC: General Commercial district accommodates a broad range of businesses. Parking requirements for these uses are typically calculated based on the Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the facility [Section 5.4.3].
Common Commercial Parking Ratios
The following table outlines the specific off-street parking requirements for common commercial uses in the GC: General Commercial district:
| Use Category / Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Retail Store | 3 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Office (Business or Professional) | 2.5 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Medical or Dental Office/Clinic | 4 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Restaurant (Standard) | 10 per 1,000 sf GFA (includes outside dining/drinking areas) |
| Restaurant (Drive-Through) | 10 per 1,000 sf GFA plus required stacking spaces |
| Bank or Financial Institution | 2.5 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Hotel (All types) | 1 per guest room/unit (up to 100 units); 0.75 per unit (over 100 units) |
| Bar | 14 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Auto Service Center | 2 per 1,000 sf GFA |
| Car Wash | 2 spaces plus required stacking spaces |
Industrial and Wholesale Storage (Schedule B)
For specific industrial or storage-intensive uses that may be permitted in the GC: General Commercial district, the City of Arlington applies "Schedule B," which uses a sliding scale based on the size of the floor area [Section 5.4.3]:
| Use or Activity (Schedule B) | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Indoor storage/warehousing (1-3,000 sf) | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Indoor storage/warehousing (3,001-5,000 sf) | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Indoor storage/warehousing (5,001-10,000 sf) | 1.25 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Indoor storage/warehousing (10,001+ sf) | 0.8 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Outdoor sales/display/storage (≤ 3,000 sf) | 1.25 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Outdoor sales/display/storage (> 3,000 sf) | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Design and Layout Standards for the GC District
To ensure that the appearance of commercial developments does not adversely affect the character of the City of Arlington, all parking facilities in the GC: General Commercial district must meet the following layout requirements [Section 5.4.9]:
- Building Orientation: Developments must situate buildings at the street frontage. Parking should be located to the side or rear of buildings to avoid views of large paved areas from public rights-of-way.
- Sub-Area Division: Large surface parking areas must be divided into smaller sub-areas, each accommodating no more than 250 vehicles.
- Landscape Separation: Each parking sub-area must be separated by a minimum 15-foot-wide landscaped feature that includes pedestrian walkways and shade elements such as trees or arbors.
- Materials: All permanent parking areas and loading berths must have an all-weather surface (asphalt or concrete) and be connected to a street or alley by an all-weather surfaced driveway.
- Lighting: Any parking lot lighting fixture located within 100 feet of a property used or zoned for residential purposes must not exceed 20 feet in height.
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.6 General Commercial | GC
- Section 3.1.5 Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 3.2.1 Residential Uses
- Section 5.4.3 Off-Street Parking Standards
- Section 5.4.9 Parking Facility Location and Design
- Section 5.12.4 Site Design and Building Organization (Multi-family in Non-Residential)