Charlotte, N.C. (WALKER CONSULTANTS) – A new North Carolina bill has eliminated “off-street parking minimums” statewide, and city and county governments will no longer have a say in parking requirements for new developments.
In an effort to reduce car dependence and give developers greater flexibility, House Bill 369 removes local government authority to require a minimum number of off-street parking spaces for most new developments. Beginning January 1, 2027, parking will mostly become a market-driven decision rather than a zoning requirement.
The bill, however, is much more than parking. Supporters of the bill suggest that eliminating these requirements can reduce unnecessary paving, lower development costs, create opportunities for additional housing, and lessen the impacts associated with oversized parking lots.
Requiring parking beyond what a development actually needs not only increases project construction costs but can consume land that could support additional housing or amenity and other community spaces that would benefit the overall project.
Although this legislation removes parking minimums, it does not eliminate the need for parking or the benefits of using a parking planner as developers are now left with the responsibility of determining how much parking a project truly needs based on land use, market demand, transportation usage, and overall, long-term operational needs. Not enough parking can create operational disadvantages, and too much parking can unnecessarily increase project costs.
“Deregulating parking minimums is a win for smarter development. It creates opportunities for more housing, better site design, and more efficient use of land. At the same time, it elevates the importance of data-driven parking planning to ensure each project delivers the right amount of parking—not too much and not too little,” Jim Corbett, Director of Planning at Walker Consultants, said.
North Carolina is one of several states rethinking how parking is regulated. Washington, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Montana have considered similar reforms, noting a growing conversation around how much parking new developments truly need.
With the elimination of parking minimums, the conversation is no longer about meeting arbitrary requirements—it is about determining the right amount of parking for project success. Walker is actively tracking these changes and helping clients confidently answer the question: How much parking do I really need?
