Part II: Zoning Introduction
Zoning regulations control the use, physical development, and placement of structures on land within the City of Charlotte and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Regulations are intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all Charlotte residents and those that provide vital services to the community, and to provide for the orderly development of land in alignment with the City’s established land use policies as articulated within the adopted Comprehensive Plan and other development related policies adopted by the Charlotte City Council.
The conventional zoning district classifications in effect before the effective date of June 1, 2023 of this Ordinance are translated as shown in Table 3-1: Zoning Districts Translation to the zoning districts of this Ordinance. The new standards set forth in this Ordinance for these zoning districts shall apply to all properties within such zoning districts.
| Previous Conventional Zoning District | UDO Zoning District | Exceptions/Notations |
|---|---|---|
| B-1 | CG | |
| B-2 | CG | |
| B-D | ML-1 | |
| BP | OFC | |
| I-1 | ML-1 | |
| I-2 | ML-2 | |
| INST | IC-1 | |
| MUDD | CAC-2 | |
| O-1 | OFC | |
| O-2 | OFC | |
| O-3 | OFC | |
| R-3 | N1-A | |
| R-4 | N1-B | |
| R-5 | N1-C | |
| R-6 | N1-D | |
| R-8 | N1-D | |
| R-8MF | N2-A | |
| R-12MF | N2-B | |
| R-17MF | N2-B | |
| R-22MF | N2-B | |
| R-43MF | N2-B | |
| TOD-CC | TOD-CC | |
| TOD-NC | TOD-NC | |
| TOD-TR | TOD-TR | |
| TOD-UC | TOD-UC | |
| RE-1 | RC | |
| RE-2 | RC | |
| UMUD | UC | |
| UR-1 | N1-E | |
| UR-2 | N2-B | |
| UR-3 | N2-C | |
| UR-C | N2-C | |
| R-MH | MHP | |
| U-I | ML-1 | |
| Overlay Districts | ||
| HD | HDO | |
| Airport Zone | District eliminated | |
| AIR | ANDO | |
| MHO | MHO | |
| Mountain Island Lake Watershed Overlays | District eliminated | The regulations of Article 23 shall apply |
| Catawba River/Lake Wylie Watershed Overlays | District eliminated | The regulations of Article 23 shall apply |
| Lower Lake Wylie Watershed Overlays | District eliminated | The regulations of Article 23 shall apply |
| PED |
All districts except R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-8, R-8MF, R-12MF, R-17MF, R-22MF, R-43MF, TOD-TR, TOD-NC, TOD-CC, TOD-UC, and MUDD Zoning Districts: NC
R-3, R-4, R-5, R-6, R-8, TOD-TR, TOD-NC, TOD-CC, TOD-UC, and MUDD Zoning Districts: The zoning translation for the district applies |
Exception: Translation does not apply where PED Overlay is in conjunction with a conditional or optional district |
| TS | District eliminated |
Exception: Translation does not apply where TS Overlay is in conjunction with a conditional or optional district |
To carry out the purpose and intent of this Ordinance, land within the City of Charlotte has been classified into zoning districts as established below. In most cases these zoning districts correspond to the City’s adopted Place Types, and are intended to be applied in areas of the City designated as such on the City’s most recently adopted Policy Map. Specific zoning district standards may also reference Place Types as shown on the most recently adopted Policy Map.
A. Neighborhood 1 Zoning Districts
N1-A Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
N1-B Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
N1-C Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
N1-D Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
N1-E Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
N1-F Neighborhood 1 Zoning District
B. Neighborhood 2 Zoning Districts
N2-A Neighborhood 2 Zoning District
N2-B Neighborhood 2 Zoning District
N2-C Neighborhood 2 Zoning District
C. Commercial Zoning Districts
CG General Commercial Zoning District
CR Regional Commercial Zoning District
D. Campus Zoning Districts
IC-1 Institutional Campus Zoning District
IC-2 Institutional Campus Zoning District
OFC Office Flex Campus Zoning District
OG Office General Zoning District
RC Research Campus Zoning District
E. Manufacturing and Logistics Zoning Districts
ML-1 Manufacturing and Logistics Zoning District
ML-2 Manufacturing and Logistics Zoning District
F. Innovation Mixed-Use Zoning District
IMU Innovation Mixed-Use Zoning District
G. Neighborhood Center Zoning District
NC Neighborhood Center Zoning District
H. Community Activity Center Zoning Districts
CAC-1 Community Activity Center Zoning District
CAC-2 Community Activity Center Zoning District
I. Regional Activity Center Zoning Districts
RAC Regional Activity Center Zoning District
UE Uptown Edge Zoning District
UC Uptown Core Zoning District
J. Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Districts
TOD-UC Transit Urban Center Zoning District
TOD-NC Transit Neighborhood Center Zoning District
TOD-CC Transit Community Center Zoning District
TOD-TR Transit Transition Zoning District
K. Special Purpose and Overlay Zoning Districts
HDO Historic District Overlay
HDO-S Streetside Historic District Overlay
NCO Neighborhood Character Overlay District
RIO Residential Infill Overlay District
CCO Cottage Court Overlay District
MHO Manufactured Home Overlay
MHP Manufactured Home Park District
ANDO Airport Noise Disclosure Overlay
A. Location of Zoning Districts
The location and boundaries of the base and overlay zoning districts established by this Ordinance are set forth in the Official Zoning Map (“Zoning Map”), as periodically amended. The Zoning Map maintained by the Planning Department, and all the notations, references, and other information shown thereon are incorporated into, and made part of, this Ordinance.
B. Interpretation of Zoning Map
Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the zoning districts shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall be used to interpret the Zoning Map:
1. Where the Zoning Map shows a boundary line located within a street or alley right-of-way, railroad, or utility line right-of-way, easement, navigable or non-navigable waterway, or other planimetric feature, it shall be considered to be in the center of the right-of-way, easement, waterway, or other planimetric feature. If the actual location of such right-of-way, easement, waterway, or planimetric feature varies slightly from the location as shown on the Zoning Map, then the actual location shall control.
2. Where a map shows a boundary line as being located a specific distance from a street or alley right-of-way, railroad or utility line right-of-way, easement, navigable or non-navigable waterway, or other planimetric feature, this distance shall control.
3. Where a map shows a zoning district boundary to approximately coincide with a property line or city, town, county or state border, the property line or city, town, county, or state border shall be the zoning district boundary, unless otherwise indicated.
4. In instances when an approved rezoning petition included detailed information regarding a boundary line, such information shall be used as the correct boundary line location.
5. Where detailed information regarding a boundary line is not available, and where a map shows a zoning district boundary to not coincide or approximately coincide with any street or alley right-of-way, railroad or utility line right-of-way, easement, navigable or non-navigable waterway, other planimetric feature, or municipal border, and no dimensions are shown, the location of the boundary shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the map.
6. If, because of error or omission in the Zoning Map, any property within the jurisdiction of this Ordinance is not shown as being in a zoning district, a zoning district classification of N1-A shall be established for the property.
7. In instances where none of the above methods are sufficient to resolve the boundary location, the Zoning Administrator may interpret the reasonable maintenance of a regular boundary to establish the boundary location.
8. Interpretation of information on the Zoning Map will be made by the Zoning Administrator. Appeals of the Zoning Administrator’s interpretation may be made to the UDO Board of Adjustment. The Zoning Administrator will evaluate any alleged Zoning Map error using all available materials and records for the subject and adjacent properties. These materials include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. The tax map, current or historic.
b. Legal descriptions of properties or boundaries.
c. Historical zoning maps.
d. Approved rezoning petition information.
e. Tax records, current or historic.
f. Zoning and special use permit case files.
g. Official maps from other jurisdictions.
h. Topographic and planimetric maps and aerial photos.
i. Other documentable information from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.
Dimensional regulations, design regulations, and other aspects of the zoning districts within this Ordinance are frequently controlled by frontages. Where regulations within this Ordinance contain frontage designations, the following rules of determination apply.
A. Applicability and Establishment of Frontages
1. Applicability of Frontages
a. The dimensional regulations, design regulations, and other aspects of zoning districts frequently controlled by frontages shall apply to all portions of a lot less than 250’ from a street, platted right-of-way, or public open space establishing the frontage, as defined by Article 2 of this Ordinance.
b. The following dimensional regulations, design regulations, and other aspects of zoning districts frequently controlled by frontages shall not apply to accessory buildings or structures on any portions of a lot located 250’ or greater from a street, platted right-of-way, or public open space establishing the frontage, as defined by Article 2 of this Ordinance.
i. Frontage Build-To Zone
ii. Minimum Building Length as a Percentage of Lot Width Along Frontage
iii. Maximum Building Length Along a Frontage
iv. Maximum Blank Wall Area
v. Minimum Ground Floor Height (residential, nonresidential, and mixed-use development)
vi. Maximum Spacing for Required Prominent Entrances
vii. Transparency (ground floor and upper floor; residential, nonresidential, and mixed-use development)
viii. Site Layout Standards (residential, nonresidential, and mixed-use development)
ix. Nonresidential and Mixed-Use Building Design Standards
x. Residential Building Design Standards
2. Establishment of Frontages
The regulations of this Ordinance address a series of 13 frontage types. These frontage types apply whether shown on Charlotte Streets Map or established through the development process.
a. Uptown Signature
An Uptown Signature frontage includes those streets classified on the Charlotte Streets Map as Uptown Signature Streets. This frontage type applies only to Uptown Streets.
b. Main Street
A Main Street frontage includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as Main Streets.
c. Linear Park
A Linear Park frontage includes those streets classified on the Charlotte Streets Map as Linear Parks. This frontage type applies only to Uptown Streets.
d. 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard
A 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as:
i. 4 Lane Avenue
ii. 4+ Lane Avenue
iii. 5 Lane Avenue
iv. 5+ Lane Avenue
v. 4+ Lane Boulevard
vi. 5+ Lane Boulevard
e. 6 or More Lane Avenue/Boulevard
A 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as:
i. 6 Lane Avenue
ii. 6+ Lane Avenue
iii. 6+ Lane Boulevard
iv. Greater than 6+ Lane Boulevard
f. 2-3 Lane Avenue
A 2-3 Lane Avenue includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as:
i. 2 Lane Avenue
ii. 2+ Lane Avenue
iii. 3 Lane Avenue
g. Parkway
A Parkway includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as such.
h. Limited Access
Limited Access includes those streets on the Charlotte Streets Map classified as such.
i. Transit Station, Off-Street Public Path, Public Park
A transit station, off-street public path, or public park frontage includes the following:
i. A transit station (Including 100 linear feet to either side of a station platform) as shown on an adopted Metropolitan Transit Commission alignment station location.
ii. An off-street public path shown as an existing or future Greenway Trail, Cross Charlotte Trail (XCLT), or Transit Trail on a publicly adopted plan.
iii. A public park or other publicly owned open space.
j. Uptown Primary
An Uptown Primary frontage includes those streets classified on the Charlotte Streets Map as Uptown Primary Streets. This frontage type applies only to Uptown Streets.
k. Other – Primary
An Other – Primary frontage includes the following:
i. Collector streets, as shown on the Charlotte Streets Map or as designated through the development process.
ii. That portion of a public or network-required private local street sharing a boundary with a site classified as a Neighborhood 1 Place Type.
l. Uptown Secondary
An Uptown Secondary frontage includes those streets classified on the Charlotte Streets Map as Uptown Secondary Streets. This frontage type applies only to Uptown Streets.
m. Secondary
A Secondary frontage includes any public or network-required private local street not classified as a frontage as established in items 1 through 8 above.
B. Additional Frontage Determination
In addition to item A above, and in the case of a conflict, the following rules of determination shall apply.
1. Where a lot has only one street frontage, and such frontage is not a Main Street, 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard, 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard, 2-3 Lane Avenue, or Other – Primary as established per item A above, it shall be established as an Other-Primary frontage. This does not apply to Parkways or Limited Access roads.
2. Where a lot located in Uptown has only one street frontage, and such frontage is not an Uptown Signature or Linear Park, as established per item A above, it shall be established as an Uptown Primary frontage. This only applies to Uptown Streets.
3. Where a collector street is addressed specifically within a regulation, it shall not be considered an Other – Primary frontage for the purpose of such regulation.
4. Where regulations within this Ordinance reference a Primary Frontage, such designation includes the following categories:
a. Main Street
b. 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard
c. 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard
d. 2-3 Lane Avenue/Boulevard
e. Transit station, off-street public path, public park
f. Other – Primary
g. Uptown Signature
h. Uptown Primary
i. Linear Park
5. For the application of zoning district standards and zoning development standards (Articles 4 through 22), an Uptown Signature or Linear Park frontage shall be considered a Main Street frontage for all standards other than the frontage setback line.
6. For the application of zoning district standards and zoning development standards (Articles 4 through 22), an Uptown Primary frontage shall be considered an Other-Primary frontage for all standards other than the frontage setback line.
7. For the application of zoning district standards and zoning development standards (Articles 4 through 22), an Uptown Secondary frontage shall be considered a Secondary frontage for all standards other than the frontage setback line.
C. Lots with Multiple Frontages
1. When a lot has two frontages, at least one frontage shall be a primary frontage type. If neither frontage meets the criteria listed for a primary frontage type the longer of the two frontages shall be designated as an Other – Primary frontage type. If both frontages are of equal length, then either of the two shall be designated as an Other – Primary frontage type. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Other - Primary. If both frontages are Parkway or Limited Access Frontages, neither shall be designed Other – Primary. If both frontages meet the criteria for primary frontages, they shall both be designated as primary frontages.
2. For Uptown Streets, when a lot has two frontages, at least one frontage shall be a primary frontage type. If neither frontage meets the criteria listed for a primary frontage type, the longer of the two frontages shall be designated as an Uptown Primary frontage type. If both frontages are of equal length, then either of the two shall be designated as an Uptown Primary frontage type. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Uptown Primary. If both frontages meet the criteria for primary frontages, they shall both be designated as primary frontages.
3. When a lot has three frontages, at least one frontage shall be designated as a primary frontage type. If no frontage meets the criteria listed for a primary frontage type, the longest frontage shall be designated as an Other – Primary frontage. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Other - Primary. If all frontages are Parkway or Limited Access frontages, none shall be designed Other – Primary. All frontages that meet the criteria for primary frontages shall be designated as primary frontages, and the standards of Section 3.6 (below) may apply.
4. For Uptown Streets, when a lot has three frontages, at least one frontage shall be designated as a primary frontage type. If no frontage meets the criteria listed for a primary frontage type, the longest frontage shall be designated as an Uptown Primary frontage. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Uptown Primary. All frontages that meet the criteria for primary frontages shall be designated as primary frontages, and the standards of Section 3.6 (below) may apply.
5. When a lot has four or more frontages, at least two frontages shall be designated as primary frontage types. If less than two frontages meet the criteria for a primary frontage type, the longest of those not meeting the criteria shall be designated as an Other – Primary frontage to meet this minimum. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Other - Primary. If all frontages are Parkway or Limited Access frontages, none shall be designed Other – Primary. All frontages that meet the criteria for primary frontages shall be designated as primary frontages, and the standards of Section 3.6 (below) may apply.
6. For Uptown Streets, when a lot has four or more frontages, at least two frontages shall be designated as primary frontage types. If less than two frontages meet the criteria for a primary frontage type, the longest of those not meeting the criteria shall be designated as an Uptown Primary frontage to meet this minimum. Parkway and Limited Access frontages shall not be designated as Uptown Primary. All frontages that meet the criteria for primary frontages shall be designated as primary frontages, and the standards of Section 3.6 (below) may apply.
D. Hierarchy of Frontage Types
Where regulations within this Ordinance refer to a hierarchy of frontages, the following rules apply.
1. The established hierarchy of frontages is as follows, listed from highest to lowest:
a. Uptown Signature
b. Main Street
c. Linear Park
d. 4-5 Lane Avenue/Boulevard
e. 2-3 Lane Avenue
f. Transit station, off-street public path, public park
g. Uptown Primary
h. Other – Primary
i. 6 or more Lane Avenue/Boulevard
j. Uptown Secondary
k. Secondary
l. Parkway
m. Limited Access
If a lot has three or more frontages, any frontage other than a primary frontage may be classified as the “last frontage” and the alternative standards, in their entirety, may apply. If all frontages are primary frontages, the lowest frontage in hierarchy becomes the “last frontage”. In no instance shall a transit station, off-street public path, or public park frontage be deemed the “last frontage”.
A. Alternative Standards
1. For the N2-C, IMU, RC, IC-2, CAC-2, RAC, UE, TOD-CC, and TOD-UC Zoning Districts, the following apply to the “last frontage”:
a. No ground floor activation required.
b. No required prominent entrances.
c. No prominent entrance design required.
d. Ground floor transparency may be reduced to 10%.
2. For the N-2A, N-2B, NC, CAC-1, CG, CR, OFC, OG, IC-1, TOD-TR, and TOD-NC Zoning Districts, the following apply to the “last frontage”:
a. In all instances, items 1.a, 1.b, and 1.c above apply; If a building is located in a build-to zone, item 1.d above also applies.
b. If a building is located beyond a build-to zone, the following apply:
i. Green zone/pedestrian facilities shall be provided along the frontage.
ii. Transparency shall not be required on the ground floor.
iii. Parking and maneuvering between the building and the frontage are permitted but shall be located outside of the minimum required setback and behind the green zone/pedestrian facilities.
iv. Loading and service are permitted along this frontage but shall be located outside of the minimum required setback and behind the green zone /pedestrian facilities.
c. For any green zone/pedestrian facilities required by item 2.b above, the following apply:
i. Sidewalks/shared-use paths, amenity zones, and planting strips shall be provided as per the applicable requirements in Article 33.
ii. An additional 15’ of width beyond the required sidewalk/shared-use path shall be provided. This area shall run parallel to any required sidewalks/shared-use paths or amenity zones.
iii. Within the additional 15’ of width provided by item ii above, the following apply:
(A) The area is permitted to be crossed at the right-of-way with drives, or other required access facilities, perpendicularly (90 degrees) or to an angle no less than 75 degrees.
(B) The area may be terraced, if necessary, due to topographical constraints.
(C) The area may be improved with widened sidewalk. Widened sidewalk shall be a minimum of two feet in width up to a maximum of five feet in width.
(D) The area shall be planted with an additional row of trees. Tree plantings shall be spaced per the requirements of Article 20.
(E) The area may be enhanced with public art or public seating.
(F) The area shall be improved with landscaping or groundcover. Additional pavement in the area shall only be allowed for widened sidewalk or for access to provided public seating.
(G) Any required screening, such as for parking or service areas, shall be located outside of this area.