Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R-10: Residential-10 District
In the City of Raleigh's R-10: Residential-10 district, off-street vehicle parking for single-unit, two-unit, and townhouse developments has no established maximum limit, while multi-unit apartment buildings are capped at a range of 1.5 to 5 spaces per unit based on the number of bedrooms. All off-street parking must comply with specific setbacks, such as a 20-foot minimum from primary streets for townhouses, and for most residential types, the combined parking and driveway area cannot occupy more than 40% of the front yard area.
Vehicle Parking Ratios
In the R-10: Residential-10 district, the City of Raleigh mandates parking based on the specific use of the property. While residential uses often have no maximum for lower-density types, higher-density residential and accessory commercial uses are subject to specific caps [Section 7.1.2.C].
Residential Parking Ratios
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Single-unit living | No maximum |
| Two-unit living | No maximum |
| Multi-unit living: Townhouse | No maximum |
| Multi-unit living: Apartment (0 - 1 bedroom) | 1.5 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: Apartment (2 bedrooms) | 2.25 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: Apartment (3 bedrooms) | 3 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: Apartment (4 bedrooms) | 4 spaces per unit |
| Multi-unit living: Apartment (5+ bedrooms) | 5 spaces per unit |
Commercial and Institutional Parking Ratios (Limited Uses)
Commercial uses in the R-10: Residential-10 district are primarily allowed as "Residential Accessory Services" (such as small eating establishments or barber shops) or specific public/institutional uses [Section 6.8.2.I].
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Day care center | No maximum |
| Eating establishment (Accessory Service) | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Personal service (Accessory Service) | 1 space per 250 SF of gross floor area |
| School, public or private (K-12) | No maximum |
Parking Setbacks and Location
All on-site surface and structured parking in the City of Raleigh must be located behind the established parking setback lines. These setbacks vary depending on the building type and the orientation of the lot [Section 1.5.5.A].
R-10 Standard Parking Setbacks
| Building Type | From Primary Street (Min) | From Side Street (Min) | From Side Lot Line (Min) | From Rear Lot Line (Min) | From Alley (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townhouse | 20' | 10' | 0' | 3' | 4' |
| Apartment | 10' | 10' | 0' | 3' | 4' |
| Civic Building | 10' | 10' | 10' | 10' | 5' |
For detached, tiny, or attached houses in the R-10: Residential-10 district used for residential purposes, the combined parking and driveway area must not constitute more than 40% of the area between the front building facade and the front property line [Section 1.5.5.D.1].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Raleigh requires off-street bicycle parking for multi-unit residential and commercial projects to encourage alternative transportation. R-10: Residential-10 projects involving single-unit or two-unit living do not require bicycle parking [Section 7.1.2.C].
| Use Category | Short-Term Bicycle (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle (Min) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit living (Apartments) | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
| Eating establishment | 1 space per 50,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 space per 25,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Personal service | 1 space per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
| School (K-12) | 1 space per classroom | 3 spaces per classroom |
*Long-term bicycle parking for multi-unit living is only required for developments with 10 or more bedrooms.
Design and Surface Standards
All off-street parking and driveway areas in the R-10: Residential-10 district must meet the following City of Raleigh technical standards:
- Surfacing: Parking areas must be constructed of permanent non-erodible material, which may include poured concrete, asphalt, masonry/concrete pavers, or porous monolithic materials. Crushed stone or "crush and run" is permitted if it has a minimum depth of 4 inches and is delineated with anchored landscape edging [Section 7.1.9].
- Access: Parking must be arranged so that no vehicle is forced to back onto a public street (excluding alleys) to gain access from one parking aisle to another [Section 7.1.6.A].
- Landscaping: Surface parking areas with more than 10 spaces must include at least one shade tree. For apartments and larger projects, a landscaped interior island must be provided for every 10 parking spaces [Section 7.1.7.D].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.5.5. Parking Setbacks
- Section 2.2.3. Townhouse (Conventional Development Option)
- Section 2.2.4. Apartment (Conventional Development Option)
- Section 6.8.2.I. Residential Accessory Service
- Section 7.1.2.C. Parking Requirements by Use
- Section 7.1.6. Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Section 7.1.7. Vehicle Parking Lot Landscaping
- Section 7.1.9. Parking Surface Standards