The design standards specified in this section shall be mandatory for all new off-road parking facilities with a capacity of 4 or more vehicles. Such facilities shall be designed so that their use shall not constitute a nuisance or hazard, or unreasonable impediment to traffic.
(A) Parking lot dimensions shall be no less than those listed in the following table:
Angle of Parking Measured from Curb | Stall Width | Stall Depth | Aisle Width | |
1-Way | 2-Way | |||
Angle of Parking Measured from Curb | Stall Width | Stall Depth | Aisle Width | |
1-Way | 2-Way | |||
1. Automobile parking | ||||
90° | 9' | 18' | 20' | 22' |
60° | 9' | 18' | 18' | 21' |
45° | 9' | 18' | 15' | 18' |
30° | 9' | 18' | 12' | 15' |
Parallel | 8' | 22' | 12' | 18' |
2. Automobile and trailer parking | ||||
60° | 10' | 53' (measured perpendicular to curb) | 15' | |
(B) Each automobile parking space shall contain a rectangular area with minimum stall depth and width as stated in the table above. Parking spaces may be at various angles in relation to curbs or aisles as indicated in the table above, provided that all parking spaces shall contain the minimum rectangular area.
Figure 6. Parking Area Dimensions
(C) Parking areas shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other motor vehicle.
(D) The width of entrance and exit drives shall be:
(1) A minimum of 12 feet for 1-way use only;
(2) A minimum of 20 feet for 2-way use; and
(3) A maximum of 40 feet at the road line.
(E) No parking areas shall be designed to require or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public road in order to leave a parking space.
(F) Except for areas that are landscaped and so maintained, all portions of required parking facilities, including driveways shall be graded, surfaced with asphalt or other suitable material, and drained to the extent necessary to prevent dust, erosion or excessive water flow across roads or adjoining properties.
(G) All lighting fixtures used to illuminate parking areas shall be arranged to prevent glare into public roads and adjoining properties.
(H) Except where entrance and exit drives cross road lines, all parking areas for any purpose other than single family residences shall be physically separated from any public road by a concrete curb and by a planting strip which shall be not less than 10 feet in depth. This 10 foot planting strip shall be parallel to the road line and shall be measured from the future right-of-way line, if any.
(I) Boat launches. Permitted boat launch ramps shall have accessory parking areas to accommodate vehicles with boat trailers. Such parking areas shall be designed in accordance with the standards in division (A) above. A minimum of 20 vehicle and trailer parking stalls shall be provided for each boat launch ramp.
(J) Handicapped parking for non-residential and multi-family uses.
(1) Number of spaces. Any lot including 4 or more off-road parking spaces shall include a minimum of 1 handicapped space. The following number of handicapped spaces shall be provided, unless a revised regulation is officially established under the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act:
Total Number of Required Parking Spaces on the Lot | Required Minimum Number/Percent of Handicapped Parking Spaces |
Total Number of Required Parking Spaces on the Lot | Required Minimum Number/Percent of Handicapped Parking Spaces |
4 to 25 | l |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 8 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of required number of spaces |
1,001 or more | 20 plus 1% of required number of spaces over 1,000 |
(2) Location. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located where they would result in the shortest reasonable accessible distance to a handicapped accessible building entrance. Curb cuts shall be provided as needed to provide access from the handicapped spaces.
(3) Minimum size. Each required handicapped parking space shall be 8 by 18 feet. In addition, each space shall be adjacent to a 5 feet wide access aisle. Such access aisle may be shared by 2 handicapped spaces by being placed between them. However, 1 out of every 8 required handicapped parking spaces shall have an adjacent access aisle of 8 feet width instead of 5 feet.
(4) Slope. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located in areas of less than 2% slope in any direction.
(5) Marking. All required handicapped spaces shall be well-marked by clearly visible signs or pavement markings. Blue paint is recommended.
(6) Paving. Handicapped parking spaces and adjacent areas needed to access them with a wheelchair shall be covered with a smooth surface that is accessible with a wheelchair.
(K) To comply with 1995 amendments to Article 66B of the Code of Maryland, any new use required to provide 10 or more new off-road parking spaces shall include a suitable area for the parking of bicycles. Such area should allow for locking of bicycles to a secure feature, but shall not result in obstructions to fire exits or handicapped access.
(Ord. —, passed 5-13-1997; Am. Ord. —, passed 8-8-2000; Am. Ord. —, passed 4-30-2002; Am. Res. 2010-7, passed 5-25-2010)