Off-Street Parking Standards for Fayetteville’s RMF-40 District
In the City of Fayetteville, the RMF-40: Residential Multi-family — Forty (40) Units Per Acre district requires a minimum of one off-street parking space per bedroom for multi-family developments, with a matching maximum limit of one space per bedroom. For non-residential (commercial) projects within the RMF-40 district, there is no minimum number of parking spaces required, though developers must provide an analysis ensuring the proposed parking will not negatively impact neighbors or traffic. All parking facilities must be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, or semi-permeable soil pavers and are generally required to be located to the side or rear of the principal structure [Section 172.02, 172.05, and 161.17].
Required Parking Ratios for RMF-40
The number of off-street parking spaces required in the RMF-40: Residential Multi-family district depends on whether the project is residential or non-residential.
Residential Parking Ratios
For residential uses in the RMF-40 district, the City of Fayetteville mandates the following minimum and maximum ratios:
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required | Maximum Parking Spaces Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family | 2 per dwelling unit | None |
| Duplex, triplex, or quadplex | 2 per dwelling unit | 4 per dwelling unit |
| Townhouse | 2 per dwelling unit or 1 per bedroom (whichever is greater) | 1 per bedroom |
| Multi-family | 1 per bedroom | 1 per bedroom |
[Section 172.05, Table 3]
Non-Residential (Commercial) Parking Ratios
For non-residential uses allowed within the RMF-40 district (such as those under Use Units 12b, 13, 15, or 25), the City of Fayetteville does not set a minimum number of required spaces [Section 172.05(A)]. However, the maximum number of spaces is limited by specific ratios defined in the code's broader parking table, and applicants must submit a parking analysis to the Fayetteville Planning Division to prove the proposed parking is sufficient to avoid traffic congestion or adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood [Section 172.05(A)].
Parking Design and Construction Standards
All parking lots in the RMF-40 district must adhere to strict construction and layout requirements to ensure safety and aesthetic compatibility with the Fayetteville community.
Surfacing and Maneuvering
Parking lots in the RMF-40 district must be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, or semi-permeable soil pavers [Section 172.02(B)]. They must be designed so that all vehicles can enter and exit the lot in a forward motion; backing a vehicle from a parking lot into a public street is prohibited [Section 172.04(A)].
Urban Form and Location
Because RMF-40 is a high-density district intended to protect existing multi-family development and encourage desirable new growth, the City of Fayetteville emphasizes traditional urban form.
- Frontage: Projects must meet a minimum buildable street frontage of 50% of the lot width [Section 161.17(H)].
- Placement: The code's intent for urban form is that parking spaces and drive aisles be located to the side or rear of buildings rather than in the front yard [Section 172.04(C)(4)].
Compact and Shared Parking
- Compact Spaces: For non-residential uses in the RMF-40 district, up to 35% of the total provided spaces may be designated as compact spaces. For residential uses, the limit is 20% [Section 172.04(D)].
- Shared Parking: The Fayetteville Zoning and Development Administrator may approve shared parking arrangements if it can be demonstrated that peak parking demands occur at different times (e.g., a church sharing with a weekday business) [Section 172.05(D)].
Parking Reductions and Variances
The City of Fayetteville provides several mechanisms to reduce the amount of required off-street parking in the RMF-40 district to encourage density and sustainable transit.
Administrative Reductions
Residential projects in the RMF-40 district may qualify for parking reductions based on the size of the development:
- 1–50 bedrooms: Up to 35% reduction in total required spaces.
- 51–100 bedrooms: Up to 20% reduction.
- 101–250 bedrooms: Up to 15% reduction.
- 251+ bedrooms: Up to 10% reduction.
To qualify, developers must provide relevant data showing that the reduction will not cause a dangerous traffic condition or negatively impact the availability of on-street parking for neighbors [Section 172.05(B)(1)].
Proximity to Transit and Alternative Modes
The Fayetteville Planning Commission may grant further variances for parking based on a project's proximity to transit stops, the provision of secured bicycle storage, or other alternative transportation options [Section 172.05(B)(2)].
Accessibility Requirements
Fayetteville requires that a portion of all off-street parking be reserved and marked for persons with disabilities. The minimum number of accessible spaces is determined by the total size of the parking lot:
| Total Parking Spaces in Lot | Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
| 1–25 | 1 |
| 26–50 | 2 |
| 51–75 | 3 |
| 76–100 | 4 |
| 101–150 | 5 |
| 151–200 | 6 |
| 201–300 | 7 |
[Section 172.03(E)]
Sections Cited
- Section 161.17 - District RMF-40, Residential Multi-family — Forty (40) Units Per Acre
- Section 172.02 - Parking Lot Construction Standards
- Section 172.03 - Accessibility
- Section 172.04 - Parking Lot Design Standards
- Section 172.05 - Standards For The Number Of Spaces By Use