Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) Off-Street Parking Standards for the City of Raleigh
Residential and commercial projects in the City of Raleigh's Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district are primarily regulated by maximum vehicle parking limits and minimum bicycle parking requirements. In the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district, most commercial uses are capped at one vehicle space per 200 square feet of gross floor area, while multi-unit residential projects are capped at 1.5 to 5 spaces per unit depending on the bedroom count. Furthermore, the application of specific urban frontages in the City of Raleigh often prohibits the placement of any on-site parking between a building and the street [Sec. 3.4.7, Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Vehicle Parking Ratios by Use Category
The City of Raleigh Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district utilizes maximum parking ratios for most uses to encourage transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly development. While single-unit and townhouse developments do not have a maximum limit, multi-unit and commercial uses are strictly capped [Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Residential Parking Requirements
| Use Type | Vehicle Parking (Maximum Allowed) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Boardinghouse | 2 spaces per bedroom |
Commercial and Public Use Parking Requirements
| Use Type | Vehicle Parking (Maximum Allowed) |
|---|---|
| Office (except Call Center) | 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* |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Shopping Center | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Medical / Dental Office | No maximum |
| Indoor Recreation | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Civic Uses | No maximum |
*Note: For retail sales, an additional 1.5 spaces are allowed for every 600 square feet of outdoor display area [Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Raleigh requires Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) developments to provide both short-term (visitor) and long-term (secured) bicycle parking based on the intensity of the project [Sec. 7.1.2.C].
| Use Category | Short-Term (Min.) | Long-Term (Min.) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit (10+ units) | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms |
| Office | 1 per 10,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 per 5,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Retail Sales | 1 per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 per 50,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 per 25,000 SF (min. 4) |
Parking Location and Frontage Restrictions
In the City of Raleigh Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district, the placement of parking is heavily influenced by the "Frontage" type applied to the property on the Official Zoning Map [Sec. 3.4.1].
- Urban Frontages (-UL, -UG, -SH, -GR, -GP): On-site parking or vehicular surface areas are strictly prohibited between the building and the street. Parking must be located to the side or rear of the principal structure [Sec. 3.4.7, Sec. 3.4.8, Sec. 3.4.9].
- Parking Limited Frontage (-PL): This frontage specifically allows for a maximum of two bays of on-site parking with a single drive aisle between the building and the street right-of-way [Sec. 3.4.5].
- Parkway Frontage (-PK): Parking must be setback at least 50 feet from the primary street [Sec. 3.4.3].
- Detached Frontage (-DE): No on-site parking is permitted between the building and the street, except for driveways serving single-unit or two-unit dwellings [Sec. 3.4.4].
Technical Layout and Design Standards
The City of Raleigh mandates specific setbacks and landscaping for any vehicular surface area within the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district to mitigate the visual impact of parking lots [Sec. 7.1.7].
Parking Setbacks in NX-
| Building Type | Primary Street | Side Street | Side (Interior) | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached / Attached House | 10' | 10' | 5' | 5' |
| Apartment / General / Mixed Use | 10' | 10' | 0' | 0' |
| Tiny House | 10' | 10' | 3' | 10' |
Layout and Landscaping Requirements
- Maneuvering: All on-site parking must be arranged so that no vehicle is forced to back onto a public street (excluding alleys) to exit [Sec. 7.1.6.A].
- Perimeter Screening: Surface parking areas of any size in the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district must be screened along the street edge by a Type C3 street protective yard [Sec. 7.1.7.B.4].
- Interior Islands: A landscaped interior island of at least 300 square feet must be provided for every 10 parking spaces [Sec. 7.1.7.D].
- Tree Coverage: At least one shade tree must be provided for every 2,000 square feet of parking area. If the site is in an Urban Frontage, this requirement is reduced to one tree per 4,000 square feet [Sec. 7.1.7.F].
Use-Specific Parking Regulations
Certain commercial activities in the City of Raleigh Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district have unique parking constraints:
- Vehicle Repair (Minor): A maximum of two service bay doors, no more than 24 feet in width each, are permitted on up to two sides of the building [Sec. 6.5.6.C.2.e].
- Vehicle Fuel Sales: If the site is within 200 feet of a Residential District, the total number of vehicles capable of being simultaneously serviced (fueling positions) cannot exceed eight [Sec. 6.4.11.D.3].
- Vehicle Sales/Rental: In the Neighborhood Mixed Use (NX-) district, all sales and leasing activities must be conducted within a fully-enclosed building; outdoor display or storage of vehicles is prohibited [Sec. 6.4.13.B.3].
Sections Cited
- Article 3.1. General Provisions
- Article 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards
- Article 3.4. Frontage Requirements
- Sec. 6.4.11. Retail Sales
- Sec. 6.4.13. Vehicle Sales/Rental
- Sec. 6.5.6. Vehicle Service
- Article 7.1. Parking
- Sec. 7.1.2. Required Parking
- Sec. 7.1.6. Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Sec. 7.1.7. Vehicle Parking Lot Landscaping