Off-Street Parking Standards for the Raleigh CX- Commercial Mixed Use District
In the City of Raleigh’s CX- Commercial Mixed Use district, off-street vehicle parking is primarily regulated through maximum allowable ratios, such as one space per 100 square feet for eating establishments and one space per 200 square feet for office and retail uses. Residential projects in the CX- district must also adhere to specific vehicle maximums for multi-unit developments and provide required short-term and long-term bicycle parking based on unit count and bedroom totals. Furthermore, projects that exceed these vehicle maximums are required to implement specific mitigation measures, such as providing parking within structures or increasing electric vehicle charging capacity [Sec. 7.1.2, Sec. 7.1.4].
Applicability of Parking Standards
The City of Raleigh requires that no building or land in the CX- Commercial Mixed Use district be occupied or used until bicycle and vehicle parking has been provided in accordance with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). These requirements apply to all new construction, as well as additions or changes in use [Sec. 7.1.1.A]. If a building or site in the CX- district is increased in gross floor area by more than 25% cumulatively, both the existing portion and the additional area must be brought into compliance with current bicycle and vehicle parking standards [Sec. 7.1.1.C].
Vehicle and Bicycle Parking Ratios
Parking requirements in the CX- Commercial Mixed Use district vary by the specific use of the property. For commercial uses, the City of Raleigh typically imposes a maximum number of vehicle spaces to prevent over-parking, while residential uses are subject to both vehicle maximums and bicycle minimums.
Residential Parking Requirements in CX-
For residential projects in the City of Raleigh's CX- district, the following standards apply:
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Max) | Short-Term Bicycle (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-unit living | No maximum | None | None |
| Two-unit living | No maximum | None | None |
| Multi-unit: Townhouse | No maximum | None | None |
| Multi-unit: 0-1 bedroom | 1.5 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit: 2 bedrooms | 2.25 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit: 3 bedrooms | 3 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit: 4 bedrooms | 4 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
| Multi-unit: 5+ bedrooms | 5 spaces per unit | 1 space per 20 units (min. 4) | 1 space per 7 bedrooms* |
*Long-term bicycle parking for multi-unit living only applies to developments with 10 or more bedrooms [Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Commercial Parking Requirements in CX-
For commercial projects in the City of Raleigh's CX- district, the following standards apply:
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Max) | Short-Term Bicycle (Min) | Long-Term Bicycle (Min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | 1 space per 200 SF | 1 space per 10,000 SF | 1 space per 5,000 SF |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 200 SF* | 1 space per 5,000 SF | None |
| Eating Establishment | 1 space per 100 SF | 1 space per 50,000 SF | 1 space per 25,000 SF |
| Indoor Recreation | 1 space per 200 SF | 1 space per 5,000 SF | None |
| Day Care | No maximum | None | 1 space per 10,000 SF |
| Medical/Hospital | No maximum | 1 space per 10,000 SF | 1 space per 70,000 SF |
*Retail Sales max vehicle parking includes an additional 1.5 spaces for every 600 square feet of outdoor display area [Sec. 7.1.2.C].
Parking Location and Setbacks
In the CX- Commercial Mixed Use district, all on-site surface and structured parking must be located behind the designated parking setback line. The City of Raleigh determines these setbacks based on the building type utilized for the project [Sec. 1.5.5.C].
| Building Type | Primary Street Setback | Side Street Setback | Side/Rear Lot Line | Alley Setback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached House | 50' | 10' | 5' | 4' or 20' min |
| Attached House | 50' | 10' | 5' | 4' or 20' min |
| Townhouse | 20' | 10' | 0' | 4' |
| Apartment | 10' | 10' | 0' | 4' |
| General Building | 10' | 10' | 0' or 3' | 5' |
| Mixed Use Building | 10' | 10' | 0' or 3' | 5' |
Note: Parking setbacks for apartments and townhouses using an alley may require a 20-foot setback if parking spaces are located between the garage and the alley [Sec. 3.2.3, Sec. 3.2.4].
Vehicle Parking Mitigation
Projects in the City of Raleigh's CX- district that include more than 16 residential units or more than 10,000 square feet of nonresidential space and exceed the maximum vehicle parking ratios must mitigate their impact. In zones with an Urban Frontage, any spaces provided beyond the maximum must be [Sec. 7.1.4]:
- Located within a parking structure.
- Made available to the general public or shared with another use (at least 20%).
- Equipped with 50% more electric vehicle (EV) ready or capable spaces than otherwise required.
Parking Lot Landscaping
For any project in the CX- Commercial Mixed Use district involving a surface parking lot with more than 10 spaces, the City of Raleigh mandates specific landscaping to reduce the heat island effect and manage stormwater [Sec. 7.1.7.A]:
- Perimeter Islands: A 5-foot wide landscape island must be provided along primary internal access drives [Sec. 7.1.7.C].
- Interior Islands: One landscaped interior island (minimum 300 square feet) must be provided for every 10 parking spaces [Sec. 7.1.7.D].
- Tree Coverage: At least one shade tree is required for every 2,000 square feet of parking area. In areas with an Urban Frontage, this requirement is reduced to one shade tree per 4,000 square feet [Sec. 7.1.7.F].
Specialized Frontage Requirements
If a CX- Commercial Mixed Use property has a specific frontage designation on the City of Raleigh's Official Zoning Map, additional parking restrictions may apply:
- Parking Limited (-PL): Permits a maximum of two bays of on-site parking with a single drive aisle between the building and the street [Sec. 3.4.1.C].
- Urban Frontages (-UL, -UG, -SH, -GR, -GP): Generally prohibit any on-site parking or vehicular surface areas between the building and the primary street [Sec. 3.4.7 to 3.4.10].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.5.5. Parking Setbacks
- Section 3.1.1. District Intent Statements
- Section 3.2. Base Dimensional Standards
- Section 3.4. Frontage Requirements
- Section 7.1.1. Applicability
- Section 7.1.2. Required Parking
- Section 7.1.4. Vehicle Parking Mitigation
- Section 7.1.7. Vehicle Parking Lot Landscaping