Off-Street Parking Standards for the OP-: Office Park District in Raleigh
In the City of Raleigh's OP-: Office Park district, off-street vehicle parking is primarily regulated through maximum allowance caps rather than minimum requirements for most commercial and office uses. While the OP-: Office Park district is categorized as a "Mixed Use District," it does not currently permit standard residential household living uses, and all parking facilities must adhere to strict landscaping and setback standards, including a minimum 10-foot buffer from primary and side streets [Sec. 3.1.1.B, Sec. 6.1.4, Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Permitted Uses and Residential Restrictions
The OP-: Office Park district is intended by the City of Raleigh to provide land for office and employment activities. According to the Allowed Principal Use Table, the OP-: Office Park district does not permit standard residential uses such as single-unit, two-unit, or multi-unit living [Sec. 3.1.1.B, Sec. 6.1.4]. Consequently, parking requirements for the OP-: Office Park district focus on commercial, office, and institutional uses.
Vehicle Parking Ratios
For most uses in the OP-: Office Park district, the City of Raleigh does not mandate a minimum number of parking spaces. Instead, it establishes maximum limits to prevent over-parking and encourage efficient land use.
| Use Category (Specific Use) | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) |
|---|---|
| Office (Standard) | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Office (Call Center) | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Medical (All types) | No maximum |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 200 SF of gross floor area |
| Personal Service | 1 space per 250 SF of gross floor area |
| Restaurant/Bar | 1 space per 100 SF of gross floor area |
| Day Care Center | No maximum |
| Overnight Lodging (Hotel/Motel) | 1.5 spaces per room or bedroom |
| Civic Uses | No maximum |
[Source: Sec. 7.1.2.C]
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Raleigh requires both short-term (for visitors) and long-term (for employees) bicycle parking for projects within the OP-: Office Park district.
| Use Category | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Min) |
|---|---|---|
| Office | 1 space per 10,000 SF of GFA (min 4) | 1 space per 5,000 SF of GFA (min 4) |
| Medical / Health Club | 1 space per 10,000 SF of GFA (min 4) | 1 space per 5,000 SF of GFA (min 4) |
| Retail Sales / Personal Service | 1 space per 5,000 SF of GFA (min 4) | None required |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 space per 50,000 SF of GFA (min 4) | 1 space per 25,000 SF of GFA (min 4) |
[Source: Sec. 7.1.2.C]
Parking Location and Setbacks
In the OP-: Office Park district, the placement of parking is restricted by "build-to" lines and specific parking setbacks to maintain the character of the streetscape.
| Parking Setback Location | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| From Primary Street | 10 feet |
| From Side Street | 10 feet |
| From Side Lot Line | 0 feet or 3 feet |
| From Rear Lot Line | 0 feet or 3 feet |
| From Alley | 5 feet |
[Source: Sec. 3.2.5, Sec. 3.2.6]
If the property has an Urban Frontage (such as -UG, -UL, or -SH) applied to it, on-site surface and structured parking must be located behind the parking setback line [Sec. 1.5.5.C]. Specifically, if the -PL: Parking Limited frontage is applied in the OP-: Office Park district, a maximum of two bays of on-site parking with a single drive aisle is permitted between the building and the street right-of-way [Sec. 3.4.5].
Parking Lot Landscaping
The City of Raleigh mandates specific landscaping for any surface parking area in the OP-: Office Park district with more than 10 spaces:
- Tree Coverage: At least one shade tree must be planted for every 10 spaces. In areas with an Urban Frontage or Transit Overlay District (-TOD), one tree is required for every 10 spaces up to 40 spaces; thereafter, requirements may adjust [Sec. 7.1.7.B].
- Interior Islands: A landscaped interior island (minimum 8 feet wide and 300 SF) must be provided for every 10 parking spaces [Sec. 7.1.7.D].
- Perimeter Islands: A 5-foot wide landscape perimeter island must be provided along primary internal access drives [Sec. 7.1.7.C].
- Screening: Any parking area must be screened from the street edge by a Type C3 street protective yard [Sec. 7.1.7.B.4].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.5.5. Parking Setbacks
- Section 3.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 3.1.2. District Components
- Section 3.2.5. General Building (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.2.6. Mixed Use Building (Base Dimensional Standards)
- Section 3.4.2. General Requirements (Frontage)
- Section 3.4.5. Parking Limited (-PL)
- Section 6.1.4. Allowed Principal Use Table
- Section 7.1.2. Required Parking
- Section 7.1.7. Vehicle Parking Lot Landscaping