Off-Street Parking Standards for the LO: Limited Office District
In the City of Arlington LO: Limited Office district, multi-family residential developments and mixed-use projects require one parking space per dwelling unit plus specific accessory parking for staff and visitors. Non-residential professional offices within the LO: Limited Office district are required to provide 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, while more intensive uses allowed in the district, such as medical clinics, require 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet [Section 5.4.3]. For multi-family and mixed-use residential projects in the LO: Limited Office district, at least 80 percent of required parking must be covered, and at least 50 percent must be located within an enclosed garage [Section 5.12.4, Section 5.13.5].
Residential and Mixed-Use Parking Ratios
The City of Arlington establishes specific ratios for residential uses located within non-residential districts like the LO: Limited Office district. These requirements are divided between the primary residential units and the necessary accessory parking for the management of the complex [Section 5.4.3].
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Multi-family or Mixed-Use (Primary) | 1 parking space per dwelling unit |
| Multi-family or Mixed-Use (Accessory) | 5 spaces (Office Staff) + 1 space per 10,000 sq. ft. of gross residential floor area (Visitor Parking) |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn | 1 space per guest room (in addition to spaces required for the principal residence) |
Non-Residential and Commercial Parking Ratios
For commercial and professional services permitted in the LO: Limited Office district, the City of Arlington requires parking based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the specific use.
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Office, Business or Professional | 2.5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Medical or Dental Office or Clinic | 4 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Bank or Financial Institution | 2.5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurant | 10 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (includes outside dining/drinking areas) |
| Day Care Center | 2.5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| General Personal Services | 3 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Religious Assembly | 1 space per 4 seats (or based on 25% max capacity of assembly area) |
Specific Design and Location Standards
Projects within the LO: Limited Office district must adhere to specific placement and configuration rules to ensure compatibility with the surrounding City of Arlington neighborhoods.
Parking Location and Screening
- Residential Proximity: No parking is allowed between a multi-family or mixed-use residential building and the street right-of-way in the LO: Limited Office district [Section 5.12.4, Section 5.13.5].
- Enclosed Parking Requirements: For residential components in the LO: Limited Office district, 80% of parking must be covered, and 50% must be in enclosed garages [Section 5.4.9].
- Surface Parking: Surface parking lots containing ten or more spaces must provide both perimeter and interior landscaping [Section 5.2.2].
Calculation Rules
- Gross Floor Area (GFA): All square footage-based standards in the City of Arlington are computed based on the GFA of the use. Structured parking within a building is not included in the GFA for parking calculation purposes [Section 5.4.4].
- Fractions: When the calculation results in a fraction, any fraction exceeding 0.5 is rounded up to the next higher whole number [Section 5.4.4].
- Multiple Uses: If a lot in the LO: Limited Office district contains more than one use, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for all individual uses [Section 5.4.4].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington requires bicycle parking for all multi-family, mixed-use, and non-residential developments in the LO: Limited Office district [Section 5.4.11].
| Project Type | Minimum Bicycle Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Multi-family and Mixed-Use | 1 space for every 5 residential units |
| Non-Residential (Office/Commercial) | 5% of the number of required automobile spaces |
Note: 10% of the required bicycle parking must include e-bike chargers [Section 5.4.11].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.2: Limited Office | LO
- Section 3.1.5: Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 5.2.2: Landscaping Required
- Section 5.4.3: Off-Street Parking Standards
- Section 5.4.4: Computation of Parking and Loading Requirements
- Section 5.4.9: Parking Facility Location and Design
- Section 5.4.11: Bicycle Parking
- Section 5.12.4: Site Design and Building Organization (Multi-family in Non-Residential Districts)
- Section 5.13.5: Site Design and Building Organization (Mixed-Use in Non-Residential Districts)
- Section 12.3.3: Commercial Uses (Definitions)