Off-Street Parking Standards for the RMF-22 District in Arlington
In the City of Arlington, the Residential Multi-Family 22 (RMF-22) district requires off-street vehicle parking based on the specific type of dwelling and the number of bedrooms per unit, ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 spaces. For multi-family projects, the City of Arlington mandates that at least 50% of the required parking be covered and at least 20% be provided within enclosed garages. Furthermore, all surface parking in the RMF-22 district must be located to the side or rear of the buildings and is prohibited between the building and the street right-of-way.
Residential Parking Ratios
The City of Arlington establishes specific parking requirements for residential uses within the RMF-22 district based on the use type and unit configuration. For multi-family units, the ratio is strictly tied to the number of bedrooms [Section 5.4.3.A].
Multi-Family and Household Living Ratios
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Multi-Family: Studio | 1 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family: 1 Bedroom | 1.5 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family: 2 Bedroom | 2.0 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family: 3 Bedroom | 2.5 per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family: 4+ Bedrooms | 2.5 + 0.5 for each additional bedroom |
| Dwelling, Live/Work | 1.5 per unit (Work area calculated by specific commercial use) |
| Dwelling, Duplex | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Dwelling, Townhouse | 2 per dwelling unit |
| Garage Apartment | 1 per dwelling unit |
Group Living Ratios
For group residential uses permitted in the City of Arlington RMF-22 district, the following ratios apply [Section 5.4.3.A]:
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Assisted Living (≤6 residents) | 2.0 per dwelling unit (max 1 per bedroom) |
| Assisted Living (≥7 residents) | 1.0 per dwelling unit |
| Independent Senior Living | 1.3 per dwelling unit |
| Nursing Home | 1.0 per 4 beds |
| Lodging House / Private Dorm | 1 per bed |
Commercial and Public Use Parking Ratios
While the RMF-22 district is primarily residential, the City of Arlington allows select public, institutional, and limited commercial uses. These projects must provide parking according to the following standards [Section 5.4.3.A]:
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Art Gallery or Museum | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Day Care Center | 2.5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Religious Assembly | 1 space per 4 seats |
| Public or Private School | Elementary/Middle: 2 per classroom; High School: 6 per classroom + 1 per 300 sq. ft. office |
| Community Garden | 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of lot area |
Design and Location Requirements
The City of Arlington imposes strict design and placement standards for parking facilities in the RMF-22 district to ensure they do not dominate the streetscape [Section 5.5.4.E].
- Covered Parking Mandate: At least 50% of the required parking spaces for a multi-family project must be provided in a parking structure, enclosed garage, or carport [Section 5.5.4.E.a].
- Enclosed Garage Requirement: At least 20% of the total required parking spaces must be located within an enclosed garage [Section 5.5.4.E.a].
- Prohibited Placement: Parking areas or surface parking lots are prohibited between any building and the adjacent street. An exception is made only for parking specifically designated for the leasing office [Section 5.5.4.E.b].
- Frontage Limitations: Surface parking areas and freestanding parking structures (such as carports or detached garages) may not occupy more than 25% of each perimeter public street frontage [Section 5.5.4.E.d].
- Orientation: Garage entries and carports must be internalized within building groupings or oriented away from street frontages [Section 5.5.4.E.c].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
Multi-family and mixed-use residential developments in the City of Arlington RMF-22 district must provide bicycle parking to support alternative transportation [Section 5.4.11.B].
- Standard Ratio: Projects must provide bicycle parking spaces equal to 10% of the total number of residential units.
- E-Bike Infrastructure: 10% of the required bicycle parking must include e-bike chargers.
- Security: Bicycle racks must be located in a covered and secured area for multi-family and mixed-use developments [Section 5.4.11.C].
General Calculation Rules
The City of Arlington applies the following rules when computing required parking for any RMF-22 project:
- Fractions: When the calculation results in a fractional number, any fraction exceeding 0.5 must be rounded up to the next higher whole number [Section 5.4.4.A].
- Multiple Uses: For lots containing more than one use, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for all individual uses [Section 5.4.4.B].
- Area Measurement: Square footage-based requirements are computed using the Gross Floor Area (GFA). For multi-family projects, GFA is calculated exclusive of breezeways, garages, porches, carports, and balconies [Section 4.1.3.A and Section 5.4.4.C].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.2.8 Residential Multi-Family-22 | RMF-22
- Section 4.1.3 Gross Living Area
- 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 5.5.4 Standards for Multi-Family Residential Dwellings