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Davidson County, NC Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Minimum space size
12 ft wide x 60 ft deep
Vertical clearance
16 feet above grade
Retail/commercial ratio
1 space per 5,000 sq ft gross area
Industrial ratio
1 space per 10,000 sq ft gross area
Variance authority
Board of Adjustment only

Summary

Every industrial and commercial building in unincorporated Davidson County must provide dedicated off-street loading space, separate from required parking. Each space needs a minimum 12-foot width, 60-foot depth, and 16-foot vertical clearance, sized to let a semi-trailer truck maneuver in one continuous motion.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Davidson County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(F) Off Street Loading and Unloading Requirements. 1) An off-street loading space shall have a minimum width of 12 feet, a minimum depth of 60 feet and have a vertical clearance of 16 feet above finished grade of the space. 2) Every industrial and commercial structure shall provide space for off-street loading and unloading of vehicles in addition to the required off street parking spaces. 3) Space designated for compliance with off-street parking requirements shall not be used to comply with the requirements for off-street loading space and vice versa. The off-street loading spaces shall be so located and arranged that a semi-trailer truck (WB 50) shall be able to use it by means of one continuous maneuver. (G) Off-Street Loading Space Requirements. Each use shall provide the following minimum off-street loading spaces: ... Retail/Commercial Uses: One (1) space/5,000 square feet gross area. Industrial Uses: One (1) space/10,000 square feet gross area.

Full Breakdown

6(F) requires every industrial and commercial structure to provide off-street loading and unloading space in addition to whatever off-street parking the use already needs; a space credited toward the parking requirement cannot double as the loading space, and vice versa. Each loading space must measure at least 12 feet wide by 60 feet deep with 16 feet of vertical clearance above finished grade, and the space must be arranged so a semi-trailer truck of WB-50 design can use it in one continuous maneuver rather than backing and repositioning.

6(G) then sets the minimum number of spaces by use: retail and commercial uses need one loading space per 5,000 square feet of gross floor area, while industrial uses need one space per 10,000 square feet. These standards sit within the same off-street parking and loading article that conditions every new use, building permit, or certificate of occupancy on meeting the article's requirements; where compliance with the off-street parking rules would cause an undue hardship, the Board of Adjustment, not the Zoning Administrator, is the body authorized to grant a variance from those terms.

Violations & Fines

Failing to provide the required loading space, undersizing it below the 12-by-60-foot minimum, or double-counting a parking space as loading space blocks issuance of a building permit, zoning permit, or certificate of occupancy under § VI.6's opening paragraph. Once a use is operating, violations are enforced under Article VIII civil penalties: $25 first violation, $50 second, $100 third, and $200 for the fourth and later violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I count my required parking spaces as loading spaces too?
No. Zoning Ordinance § VI.6(F)(3) specifically bars using space designated for off-street parking to satisfy the loading requirement, and vice versa; the two must be separate.
How many loading spaces does a retail store need in unincorporated Davidson County?
One loading space for every 5,000 square feet of gross floor area under § VI.6(G). An industrial building gets a looser ratio of one space per 10,000 square feet.
What size does a loading space have to be?
At minimum 12 feet wide, 60 feet deep, and with 16 feet of vertical clearance above finished grade, per § VI.6(F)(1), sized so a WB-50 semi-trailer truck can use it in one continuous maneuver.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Davidson County

All Davidson County rules

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