Drive-Through Business Regulations in Fayetteville
In the City of Fayetteville, drive-through businesses—including restaurants, banks, and pharmacies—are categorized under Use Unit 18 and are primarily permitted by right in eight commercial and industrial zoning districts, such as Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) and Urban Thoroughfare (UT). These facilities are subject to specific stacking requirements, such as a minimum of four spaces for fast-food windows, and in urban districts, drive-thru lanes are strictly prohibited from being located between the building and the street [Section 172.04, Section 172.05]. Additionally, while usually permitted by right, Use Unit 18 is restricted to a conditional use within the College Avenue Overlay District [Section 166.26].
Permitted Zoning Districts
The Fayetteville Unified Development Code (UDC) permits "Use Unit 18: Gasoline service stations and drive-in/drive-through restaurants" in the following districts:
- C-1, Neighborhood Commercial: Permitted by right [Section 161.21].
- CS, Community Services: Permitted by right [Section 161.22].
- C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial: Permitted by right [Section 161.23].
- C-3, Central Commercial: Permitted by right [Section 161.25].
- UT, Urban Thoroughfare: Permitted by right [Section 161.24].
- UC, Urban Corridor: Permitted by right [Section 161.36].
- I-1, Heavy Commercial and Light Industrial: Permitted by right [Section 161.30].
- I-2, General Industrial: Permitted by right [Section 161.31].
Overlay District Exceptions
In the College Avenue Overlay District, any Use Unit 18 business that would otherwise be a permitted use in the underlying zoning district is instead classified as a conditional use, requiring additional approval [Section 166.26].
Site Design and Stacking Standards
The City of Fayetteville requires drive-through businesses to provide adequate off-street stacking to prevent traffic congestion on public streets. Stacking is measured from the drive-up window or service point.
Stacking Space Requirements
| Type of Facility | Minimum Stacking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, Fast Food | 4 spaces per drive-thru window |
| Vehicular Washes | 2 spaces per car wash bay |
| Pharmacies and Financial Institutions | 4 spaces for the first window; 3 spaces for each additional lane/ATM |
| Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services | 2 spaces per drive-thru window |
[Section 172.04]
Driveway Throat Lengths
The "throat length" of the driveway (the distance from the street to the start of the on-site circulation) must be sufficient to prevent vehicles from backing into the public right-of-way.
| Development Type | Generally Adequate Throat Length |
|---|---|
| Shopping Centers (Signalized, >200,000 sq. ft. GLA) | 200 feet |
| Smaller Developments (Signalized, <200,000 sq. ft. GLA) | 75—95 feet |
| Unsignalized Driveways | 40—60 feet |
[Section 172.04, Table 2]
Urban Form and Placement Restrictions
Fayetteville emphasizes traditional town forms in several districts. For any drive-through business located in an urban zoning district (those utilizing a "build-to zone"), the following placement rules apply:
- Rear or Side Placement: Drive-thru lanes, drive aisles, and parking must be located to the side or rear of the principal building [Section 172.04].
- Front Yard Prohibition: Drive-thru lanes are explicitly prohibited in the front yard area between the building and the Master Street Plan right-of-way [Section 172.04].
- Build-to Zone Flexibility: While auto-oriented developments should attempt to meet the minimum buildable street frontage of their district, the City of Fayetteville does not strictly require them to meet the percentage if they locate the principal façade within the build-to zone and use supplemental elements [Section 166.24].
Sections Cited
- 151.01 - Definitions
- 161.21 - District C-1, Neighborhood Commercial
- 161.22 - Community Services
- 161.23 - District C-2, Thoroughfare Commercial
- 161.24 - Urban Thoroughfare
- 161.25 - District C-3, Central Commercial
- 161.30 - District I-1, Heavy Commercial And Light Industrial
- 161.31 - District I-2, General Industrial
- 161.36 - Urban Corridor
- 162.01 - Establishment/Listing
- 166.24 - Nonresidential Design Standards
- 166.26 - College Avenue Overlay District
- 172.04 - Parking Lot Design Standards
- 172.05 - Standards For The Number Of Spaces By Use