Off-Street Parking Standards for the I-1: Industrial-1 District in Raleigh, North Carolina
In the City of Raleigh, the I-1: Industrial-1 district is classified as a legacy zoning district where new development and changes of use must comply with the off-street parking standards established in the Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). While many primary industrial uses have no maximum vehicle parking limits, residential and commercial uses allowed within the City of Raleigh are restricted by specific maximum ratios, such as 1 space per 100 square feet for restaurants and 1 space per 200 square feet for general office and retail Sales [Section 1.3.4, Section 7.1.2.C].
General Applicability for Legacy Districts
The I-1: Industrial-1 district is a "Legacy District" that exists in the Part 10 Zoning Code and is slated for eventual replacement by a modern UDO district [Section 1.3.4]. According to the City of Raleigh Rules of Interpretation, the UDO's parking regulations are controlling for these districts, and all parking calculations must be performed in accordance with current UDO standards [Section 1.2.3].
No building or land in the City of Raleigh may be occupied or used until the required vehicle and bicycle parking has been provided [Section 7.1.1.A]. If a project involves an addition that increases the gross floor area by more than 25% cumulatively, both the existing use and the new area must conform to UDO parking requirements [Section 7.1.1.C].
Vehicle Parking Requirements
Parking requirements in the City of Raleigh are generally expressed as maximums rather than minimums to manage the intensity of development and environmental impact. For the I-1: Industrial-1 district, the following ratios apply to residential and commercial uses:
Residential Use Ratios
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Single-unit living | No maximum |
| Two-unit living | 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 Use Ratios
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Office (General) | 1 space per 200 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 |
| Medical (General) | No maximum |
| Day Care (General) | No maximum |
| Indoor Recreation | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Raleigh requires both short-term and long-term bicycle parking for residential and commercial developments to encourage multi-modal transportation.
| Use Category | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit living | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms |
| Office (General) | 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) |
[Section 7.1.2.C]
Design and Surface Standards
All off-street parking and driveway areas in the City of Raleigh must meet specific durability and design standards:
- Surface Materials: Parking areas must be constructed of permanent non-erodible materials, which can include asphalt, poured concrete, masonry or concrete pavers, porous/semi-porous monolithic materials, or a minimum depth of 4 inches of crushed stone/run [Section 7.1.9].
- Edging: If crushed stone or "crush and run" is used, the borders must be delineated with anchored man-made or natural landscape edging to contain the material [Section 7.1.9].
- Access: Parking must be arranged so that no vehicle is forced to back out onto a public street to gain access from one parking aisle to another [Section 7.1.6.A].
- Loading: If a loading area is required, it must be located to the side or rear of the building and must be screened from view [Section 7.1.8.B].
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 7.1.6. Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Section 7.1.8. Vehicle Loading Areas
- Section 7.1.9. Parking Surface Standards