Off-Street Parking Standards for the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh, the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district is classified as a legacy zoning category where off-street parking requirements are governed by specific land uses rather than the district designation itself. The Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) mandates maximum vehicle parking limits and minimum bicycle parking requirements for all residential and commercial projects within this jurisdiction [Section 1.3.4, Section 7.1.1].
Use-Based Parking Regulations
For any development project located within the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district, the City of Raleigh requires parking to be calculated based on the specific type of use proposed for the site. If a project in the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district combines multiple uses, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for each individual use [Section 7.1.2.A].
Vehicle Parking Maximums
The City of Raleigh establishes maximum limits for off-street vehicle parking to manage urban density. In the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district, projects may not exceed the following ratios for common residential and commercial uses:
| Use Category | Specific Use Type | Vehicle Parking (Maximum Limit) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Single-unit or Two-unit living | No maximum |
| Residential | Multi-unit: 0 - 1 bedroom | 1.5 spaces per unit |
| Residential | Multi-unit: 2 bedrooms | 2.25 spaces per unit |
| Residential | Multi-unit: 3 bedrooms | 3 spaces per unit |
| Residential | Multi-unit: 4 bedrooms | 4 spaces per unit |
| Residential | Multi-unit: 5+ bedrooms | 5 spaces per unit |
| Commercial | Office (General) | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Commercial | Medical or Dental Office | No maximum |
| Commercial | Day Care (Center or Home) | No maximum |
| Commercial | Retail Sales | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area* |
| Commercial | Restaurant / Bar | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
*Plus 1.5 spaces for every 600 square feet of outdoor display area [Section 7.1.2.C].
Bicycle Parking Minimums
The City of Raleigh requires minimum bicycle parking facilities for all new construction and major additions in the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district to promote alternative transportation [Section 7.1.1.C]:
| Use Category | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit Living | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms |
| General Office | 1 space per 10,000 SF | 1 space per 5,000 SF |
| Medical Office | 1 space per 10,000 SF | 1 space per 10,000 SF |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 5,000 SF | None required |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 space per 50,000 SF | 1 space per 25,000 SF |
Technical Requirements and Layout
All off-street parking areas in the City of Raleigh must adhere to strict design and surfacing standards to ensure safety and environmental compliance.
- Surfacing: All parking and driveway areas in the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district must be constructed of permanent, non-erodible materials such as asphalt, poured concrete, masonry/concrete pavers, or a minimum of 4 inches of crushed stone [Section 7.1.9].
- Layout and Maneuvering: Parking areas must be arranged so that no vehicle is forced to back onto a public street to maneuver between parking aisles [Section 7.1.6.A].
- Tandem Parking: For residential projects in the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district, tandem parking (one vehicle behind another) is permitted if the spaces have a combined minimum dimension of 8.5 feet by 36 feet and are assigned to the same dwelling unit [Section 7.1.5.D].
- Mixed-Use Sites: If a project in the O&I-2: Office and Institution-2 district contains multiple uses and one or more of those uses has no stated maximum, the "Shopping Center" category (1 space per 200 SF) serves as the maximum for those uses [Section 7.1.2.A].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.3.4 Legacy Districts
- Section 7.1.1 Applicability (Parking)
- Section 7.1.2 Required Parking
- Section 7.1.5 Additional Vehicle Parking Provisions
- Section 7.1.6 Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
- Section 7.1.9 Parking Surface Standards