Off-Street Parking Standards for the O&I-1 Legacy District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, the O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district is classified as a legacy district that is subject to the general off-street parking regulations of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These regulations prioritize maximum vehicle parking limits and minimum bicycle parking requirements based on the specific use of the property, such as multi-unit living or commercial offices [Sec. 1.2.3, Sec. 1.3.4, Sec. 7.1.2.C].
The O&I-1 District as a Legacy Designation
The O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district is part of the legacy zoning code of the City of Raleigh. According to the City of Raleigh UDO, legacy districts exist within the previous zoning code and are scheduled for eventual replacement. No new boundaries may be added to this district, and no existing boundaries may be modified [Sec. 1.3.4].
For the purposes of development within an O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district, the City of Raleigh UDO stipulates that the general UDO parking regulations are controlling. This means that calculations for required parking must follow the standard UDO tables rather than any historical standards that may have existed in the previous code [Sec. 1.2.3.B].
General Parking Requirements and Calculations
No building or land in the City of Raleigh may be occupied or used until both vehicle and bicycle parking have been provided according to UDO standards [Sec. 7.1.1.A.1]. When a property in the O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district contains multiple uses, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for each individual use [Sec. 7.1.2.A.2].
In all calculations, if the resulting number of spaces is a fraction, the City of Raleigh requires rounding to the nearest whole number. Fractions of one-half (0.5) or greater are counted as an additional full space [Sec. 7.1.2.A.3].
Off-Street Parking Ratios for the O&I-1 District
The following table outlines the specific vehicle parking maximums and bicycle parking minimums for common residential and commercial uses permitted within the City of Raleigh that may apply to projects in the O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district:
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses | |||
| Single-unit living | No maximum | None | None |
| Two-unit living | No maximum | None | None |
| Multi-unit (0-1 bedroom) | 1.5 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit (2 bedrooms) | 2.25 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit (3 bedrooms) | 3 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit (4+ bedrooms) | 4-5 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 per 7 bedrooms* |
| Commercial Uses | |||
| Office | 1 per 200 SF of GFA | 1 per 10,000 SF GFA (min. 4) | 1 per 5,000 SF GFA (min. 4) |
| Retail Sales | 1 per 200 SF of GFA** | 1 per 5,000 SF GFA (min. 4) | None |
| Eating Establishment | 1 per 100 SF of GFA | 1 per 50,000 SF GFA (min. 4) | 1 per 25,000 SF GFA (min. 4) |
| Personal Service | 1 per 250 SF of GFA | 1 per 5,000 SF GFA (min. 4) | None |
*Long-term bicycle parking for multi-unit living is only required for developments with 10 or more bedrooms. **Retail sales vehicle maximums also include 1.5 spaces for every 600 square feet of outdoor display area. [Sec. 7.1.2.C]
Parking Location and Surface Standards
All off-street parking areas within the O&I-1: Office and Institution-1 district must be arranged so that no vehicle is forced to back onto a public street (excluding alleys) to exit a parking aisle [Sec. 7.1.6.A].
Surface Materials
The City of Raleigh requires that all off-street parking and driveway areas be constructed using permanent, non-erodible surface treatments. Acceptable materials include:
- Poured concrete or asphalt;
- Masonry or concrete pavers;
- Porous or semi-porous monolithic or paver materials;
- Crushed stone or "crush and run" (minimum 4-inch depth), provided it is delineated with anchored landscape edging to contain the material [Sec. 7.1.9].
These surfacing regulations do not apply to off-street parking or driveways serving single-unit or two-unit living that are located outside of the front yard [Sec. 7.1.9.A.3].
Layout and Design
Standard vehicle parking spaces and drive aisles must meet the dimensional requirements established by the City of Raleigh. In the case of structured parking facilities, up to 30% of the total provided spaces may be designed as "compact spaces," provided they are at least 7.5 feet wide and 15 feet long and are clearly labeled for compact car use only [Sec. 7.1.6.B].
Sections Cited
- Sec. 1.2.3. Rules of Interpretation
- Sec. 1.3.4. Legacy Districts
- Sec. 7.1.1. Applicability (Parking)
- Sec. 7.1.2. Required Parking
- Sec. 7.1.6. Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Sec. 7.1.9. Parking Surface Standards