Off-Street Parking Standards for the TD: Thoroughfare District in Raleigh
Development within the Raleigh TD: Thoroughfare District, a legacy zoning district, must comply with the general off-street parking standards established in Article 7.1 of the Unified Development Ordinance. These regulations primarily define maximum vehicle parking limits based on the specific land use rather than the district itself, while also establishing minimum requirements for short-term and long-term bicycle parking.
General Applicability in the TD: Thoroughfare District
The TD: Thoroughfare District is classified as a "Legacy District" within the City of Raleigh. According to the Rules of Interpretation, when an approved legacy or conditional zoning condition conflicts with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the UDO standards for parking are controlling if they are more stringent than the original district ordinance [Section 1.2.3, Section 1.3.4].
Unless otherwise specified in a property's specific conditional zoning language, all residential and commercial projects in the City of Raleigh TD: Thoroughfare District must calculate their required parking based on the "Required Parking" table in Article 7.1 [Section 7.1.2].
Residential Parking Requirements
Vehicle parking for residential uses in the City of Raleigh is governed by maximum caps. For smaller residential types like single-unit or two-unit living, there is no maximum limit for on-site parking. However, multi-unit living projects are strictly capped based on the number of bedrooms per unit.
Residential Vehicle and Bicycle Ratios
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 is only required for developments with 10 or more bedrooms [Section 7.1.2.C].
Commercial Parking Requirements
Commercial projects within the City of Raleigh TD: Thoroughfare District are generally subject to a maximum vehicle parking cap of one space per 200 square feet of gross floor area, though specific uses like restaurants have higher intensity allowances.
Commercial Vehicle and Bicycle Ratios
| Use Category | Vehicle Parking (Maximum) | Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) | Long-Term Bicycle Parking (Minimum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | 1 space per 200 SF | 1 per 10,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 per 5,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Retail Sales | 1 space per 200 SF* | 1 per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
| Restaurant / Bar | 1 space per 100 SF | 1 per 50,000 SF (min. 4) | 1 per 25,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Day Care | No maximum | None | 1 per 10,000 SF (min. 4) |
| Indoor Recreation | 1 space per 200 SF | 1 per 5,000 SF (min. 4) | None |
*Retail Sales vehicle parking includes an additional 1.5 spaces allowed for every 600 square feet of outdoor display area [Section 7.1.2.C].
Vehicle Parking Location and Layout
All on-site parking in the City of Raleigh must be arranged to ensure that no vehicle is forced to back onto a public street (excluding alleys) to gain access from one parking aisle to another [Section 7.1.6].
For projects involving single-unit, two-unit, or multi-unit living, tandem parking is permitted. To qualify, two spaces in tandem must have a combined minimum dimension of 8.5 feet in width by 36 feet in length and must be assigned to the same dwelling unit [Section 7.1.5.D].
Parking Surface Standards
In the City of Raleigh, all off-street parking and driveways must be constructed of permanent non-erodible materials. These include:
- Poured concrete or asphalt;
- Masonry or concrete pavers;
- Porous or semi-porous monolithic materials;
- Crushed stone or "crush and run," provided it is installed at a minimum depth of 4 inches and is delineated with anchored landscape edging [Section 7.1.9].
Sections Cited
- Section 1.2.3 Rules of Interpretation
- Section 1.3.4 Legacy Districts
- 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