City of Raleigh BUS: Business District Off-Street Parking Requirements
The BUS: Business district is classified as a legacy district within the City of Raleigh, North Carolina. Under the City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), off-street parking for this district is governed by use category, with the municipality establishing maximum limits for vehicle parking and minimum requirements for bicycle parking. Large-scale residential and commercial developments that exceed the UDO's maximum vehicle limits are required to implement specific mitigation measures [Section 7.1.4].
Classification of the BUS District
The BUS: Business district is a legacy district that exists in the Part 10 Zoning Code. According to the City of Raleigh UDO, no new legacy districts may be added to the Official Zoning Map, and existing boundaries cannot be modified. These districts will eventually be replaced by modern UDO zoning designations [Section 1.3.4].
For the purposes of parking, the City of Raleigh UDO height, setback, and parking regulations are controlling over any legacy or conditional district ordinance when the UDO standards are more stringent. All approval processes for projects in the BUS: Business district must follow the regulations set forth in the UDO [Section 1.2.3].
Vehicle Parking Maximum Ratios
The City of Raleigh Municipality regulates off-street vehicle parking by establishing a maximum number of allowed spaces based on the specific use of the property. For many residential uses, no maximum limit is established, while commercial uses are subject to specific square footage-based caps.
Residential Vehicle Parking Maximums
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Single-unit living | No maximum |
| Two-unit living | No maximum |
| Multi-unit living: Townhouse | No maximum |
| Multi-unit living: 0 - 1 bedroom | 1.5 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: 2 bedrooms | 2.25 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: 3 bedrooms | 3 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: 4 bedrooms | 4 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: 5+ bedrooms | 5 spaces per unit |
Commercial Vehicle Parking Maximums
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Office (except Call Centers) | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Call Center | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area + 1.5 spaces per 600 SF of outdoor display area |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Medical or Dental Office | No maximum |
| Shopping Center | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Bicycle Parking Minimum Ratios
The City of Raleigh requires all residential and commercial projects to provide minimum levels of short-term and long-term bicycle parking. Short-term parking is intended for visitors and must be within 100 feet of a building entrance, while long-term parking is intended for residents or employees and must be covered and weather-resistant [Section 7.1.6].
| Use Category | Short-Term Bicycle (Minimum) | Long-Term Bicycle (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit living | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms (for 10+ bedrooms) |
| Office | 1 space per 10,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 space per 5,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1 space per 50,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 space per 25,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Shopping Center | 1 space per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Parking Mitigation and Design Standards
Residential and commercial projects in the BUS: Business district must adhere to specific performance and design standards.
Vehicle Parking Mitigation
If a project includes more than 16 residential units or more than 10,000 square feet of nonresidential floor area and the owner wishes to provide more than the maximum allowed vehicle spaces, they must choose one of the following mitigation options:
- Provide all parking spaces within a parking structure and provide 50% more electric vehicle (EV) ready or capable spaces than otherwise required.
- Provide all vehicle spaces no closer to the primary street than the front facade of the principal building, provide interior landscaped islands at an average width of 20 feet, and meet enhanced stormwater retention standards for the additional parking area [Section 7.1.4].
Surface Standards
All off-street parking and driveway areas in the City of Raleigh must be constructed of permanent non-erodible materials. Permitted surfaces include:
- Porous or semi-porous monolithic or paver materials;
- Masonry or concrete pavers;
- Poured concrete or asphalt;
- Crushed stone or "crush and run" (minimum depth of 4 inches) if delineated with anchored edging materials [Section 7.1.9].
Landscaping
Any on-site surface parking area with more than 10 spaces must meet City of Raleigh UDO landscaping requirements. This includes the installation of at least one shade tree for every 2,000 square feet of parking area and the inclusion of landscaped interior islands for every 10 parking spaces [Section 7.1.7].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Section 7.1.1. Applicability
- Section 7.1.2. Required Parking
- Section 7.1.4. Vehicle Parking Mitigation
- Section 7.1.6. Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Section 7.1.7. Vehicle Parking Lot Landscaping
- Section 7.1.9. Parking Surface Standards