Charlotte, NC Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

3, Development Bonus, applies to the UE, RAC, CAC-1, CAC-2, NC, IMU, TOD-UC, TOD-CC, TOD-NC, TOD-TR, N2-C, CG, CR, IC-1, IC-2, OFC, OG, and RC zoning districts. A project seeking the 'Maximum Height with Bonus' standard or a reduction in required on-site open space must earn points from Table 16-1, the Bonus Menu, which spans categories including Economic Mobility, Environmental, High Performance Construction, and Transportation Improvements. For the height bonus, one point buys one additional foot of building height, and the final height still cannot exceed the district's published 'Maximum Height with Bonus' figure; points can be spread across one or more buildings on the lot unless the table says otherwise.

5 can only be earned through affordable housing points, and any reduction applies to the lot as a whole rather than to an individual building. The largest single lever is affordable housing: for every 1% of a bonus-receiving building's gross floor area set aside as affordable housing (excluding parking-structure floor area) for a 30-year affordability period at or below 80% Area Median Income, a project earns 3 height-bonus points, up to 15 points, plus a 10% open-space reduction per 1%, up to a 50% reduction cap. C.