(A) Intent.
(1) Accessory off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided and maintained for all buildings, structures or premises used in whole or in part for purposes permitted by this chapter in accordance with the provisions of this section, or as otherwise indicated in § 156.051 of this code, or elsewhere.
(2) The regulations of this section are designed to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public streets by establishing minimum requirements for on-site storage of motor vehicles in accordance with the use to which the property is occupied.
(B) Scope.
(1) No use lawfully established prior to the effective date of the ordinance establishing the Zoning Code shall be required to provide and maintain the parking and loading requirements herein; provided, however, that off-street parking and loading spaces required by any previous ordinances adopted pursuant to the state’s planning statutes shall be continued and maintained.
(2) For any nonconforming use which is hereafter damaged or partially destroyed, and which is lawfully reconstructed, re-established or repaired, off-street parking and loading facilities equivalent to those maintained at the time of such damage or partial destruction shall be restored and continued in operation; provided, however, in no case shall it be necessary to restore or maintain parking or loading facilities in excess of those required by this chapter for equivalent new uses.
(3) When the intensity of use of any building, structure or premises shall be increased through the addition of dwelling units, floor area, beds, seating capacity or other unit of measurement, parking and loading facilities as required herein shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.
(4) Whenever the existing use of a building, structure or premises shall hereinafter be changed or converted to a new use permitted by this chapter, parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required for such new use.
(5) Accessory off-street parking or loading facilities in existence on the effective date of the ordinance establishing the Zoning Code shall not hereafter be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not be further reduced below the requirements for a similar new use under the provisions of this chapter.
(6) Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the voluntary establishment of accessory off-street parking or loading facilities to serve any existing use of land or buildings, provided that all regulations herein governing the location, design and operation of such facilities are adhered to.
(7) Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided on the same lot as the use served, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and may be situated as one or more individual areas.
(8) Accessory off-street parking facilities for separate uses may be provided collectively if the total number of spaces so provided is not less than the sum of the separate requirements for each such use, and provided that all regulations governing location of accessory parking spaces in relation to the use served are adhered to. Further, no parking space or portion thereof shall serve as a required space for more than one use unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(9) Accessory off-street parking and loading facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this chapter.
(10) Accessory off-street parking facilities required herein shall be utilized solely for the parking of passenger automobiles or light trucks of less than one ton capacity, of patrons, occupants or employees of specified uses. Said parking facilities shall not be used for storage, display, sale, repair, dismantling or wrecking of any vehicle, equipment or material.
(11) Required off-street loading and unloading spaces shall not be construed as being part of the required off-street parking spaces.
(12) Loading and unloading berths shall not be required for business uses and industrial uses which demonstrably do not receive or transmit goods or wares by truck delivery.
(13) Accessory off-street parking facilities are not required in a block frontage contained in a B-2 or I-2 District in which the ground floor area of business or industrial structures, including their accessory buildings, existing at the time of passage of the ordinance establishing the Zoning Code, equaled 50% or more of the entire area of the block frontage.
(C) General provisions.
(1) Each required off-street parking space shall be at least nine feet in width and at least 20 feet in length, exclusive of access drives or aisles, ramps, columns or office or work areas. Such space shall have adequate vertical clearance. For parallel parking, the length of the parking space shall be increased to 24 feet.
(2) Each required off-street loading space shall be of a size not less than that required for an off-street parking space but scaled larger to delivery vehicles expected to be used, logically and conveniently located for bulk pickups and deliveries, and accessible to such vehicles when required off-street parking spaces are filled; provided that for industrial uses, the off-street area required for the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials or merchandise is held to be a 12-foot by 45-foot loading space with a 14-foot height clearance; provided further that if more than one berth is provided, the minimum dimensions are held to be ten feet by 45 feet with a 14-foot height clearance.
(3) Except on lots occupied by one-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings, each off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle or driveway at least 12 feet wide or such additional width and design in accordance with the following table, so as to provide safe and efficient means of vehicular access to such parking space. Such aisle or driveway shall be unobstructed and allow for the passage of emergency vehicles at all times.
Parking Angle (in degrees) | Aisle Width (in feet) |
45 | 14 |
60 | 18 |
90 | 24 |
The angle shall be measured between center line of parking space and center line of aisle. | |
(4) All off-street parking or loading facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movement.
(5) In determining the minimum required number of off-street parking or loading spaces, the following instructions shall be applicable in such computations.
(a) If the unit of measurement is any fraction of the unit specified in relation to the number of space to be provided, said fraction shall be considered as being the next unit and shall be counted as requiring one space.
(b) In sports arenas, church and other places of assembly in which patrons occupy benches, pews or other similar seating facilities, each 22 inches of such seating shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining requirements hereunder.
(6) Accessory off-street parking areas may count toward the open space requirements of this chapter.
(7) Accessory off-street parking and loading areas shall be provided to the rear of the required front building setback line, except as specified otherwise by this chapter. When permitted within required setback distances, a landscape screen shall be provided along the property line.
(8) (a) Adequate employee and customer off-street parking area shall be provided, including such areas incidental to display, servicing and repair.
(b) No such parking shall be permitted on driveway approaches, landscape areas, adjacent alleys or streets, on any public right-of-way or in such a manner as to restrict motorists’ visibility.
(D) Minimum parking requirements.
(1) The minimum parking spaces required per type of use is as follows:
Type of Use | Minimum Parking Space |
Type of Use | Minimum Parking Space |
Amusement establishments, including swimming pools, golf courses, bowling alleys, skating rinks and similar facilities | 1 parking space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area, or 5 parking spaces for each hold, alley or 100 square feet of water area, whichever is greater |
Automobile and truck repair | 1 for each 200 square feet of net floor area |
Automobile service sales room, business services, clothing services, food services, personal services, retail service and retail stores generally and tavern or night club | 1 for each 125 square feet of net floor area |
Billiard room, dancing academy, sporting activities, department store and automobile, truck or trailer rental and sales area | 1 for each 200 square feet of net floor area |
Boarding schools, vocational and trade schools, colleges and similar educational institutions | 1 parking space for each 6 students, based on the maximum number of students attending classes on the premises at any one time during a 24-hour period |
Bowling alley or roller rink | 3 for each lane plus 1 for each 6 spectator seats |
Churches, theaters, auditoriums, assembly halls, undertaking establishments and similar places of congregation | 1 parking space for each 5 seats in the main sanctuary or room, plus 1 space for each employee per largest working shift |
Commercial, manufacturing and industrial establishments not catering to the retail trade | 1 parking space for each 2 employees on the largest shift, plus an adequate number of spaces for visitors and company vehicles operating from the premises |
Community centers, public buildings, utilities and public service uses including libraries, museums and similar places of assembly | 1 parking space for each 800 square feet of gross floor area, or 1 space for each 2 employees per largest working shift, whichever is greater |
Drive-in establishments | 2 parking spaces for each 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 space for each employee for largest working shift |
Group housing, including rooming and boarding houses, dormitories, elderly housing, fraternities and sororities | 1 parking space for each 2 beds, or each 2 sleeping units, rooming units or dwelling units in the case of elderly housing plus 1 space for each employee per largest working shift |
Hotel or motel | 1 for each 3 employees plus 1 for each sleeping unit |
Indoor theater | 1 for each 6 seats |
Motor bus or passenger station | 1 for each 3 employees plus 1 for each 10 seats in waiting room. Other retail uses in connection therewith shall provide 1 space for each 2 employees |
Newspaper publishing | 1 per employee on largest shift |
Open-air type business uses, including auto and boat sales, kennels, plant nurseries and commercial amusement establishments | 1 parking space for each employee per largest working shift, plus 2 spaces for each service stall |
Philanthropic and charitable institutions | 1 parking space for each 2 employees per largest working shift, plus an adequate number of spaces to serve the public |
Private (or commercial) club or lodge | Space to accommodate 50% of the active membership at 1 space per each 3 members, or as determined by the Board. The determination shall be based upon the particular lodge or club use that would be required to satisfy estimated peak parking load requirements |
Radio and television studios | 1 per employee, plus 1 for each 6 seats in main auditorium |
Residential uses | As required in the applicable sections of this chapter |
Farm house or farm dwelling | 2 |
Manufactured home | 2 |
Multi-family dwelling (or apartment building) | 2 for each dwelling unit |
Single-family dwelling | 2 |
Two-family dwelling | 2 for each unit |
Schools, public and private (education institution) | |
Elementary or junior high | At least 3 parking spaces shall be provided for each classroom |
High school | At least 6 parking spaces shall be provided for each classroom |
Sports area | At least 1 parking space shall be provided for each 5 seats when the facility is of an independent nature. When such facility is utilized in conjunction with a school, either the parking requirement based on seating capacity of the largest single facility contained herein or the above requirement based on classroom number shall be applicable, whichever results in the greater number of spaces |
Storage warehouse or wholesale establishment | 1 for each 3 employees or occupants. The maximum number of employees or occupants to be used in determining spaces |
(2) For uses not specified in this section or in such instance when the requirement for an adequate number of spaces is unclear or not specified in another part of this chapter or for special exceptions or a unit development plan and the like, the number of parking spaces shall be determined by the Zoning Inspector or the Board of Zoning Appeals, whatever the case may be, on the basis of similar requirements, the number of persons served or employed and the capability of adequately serving the visiting public. Such determination, if made by the Zoning Inspector, may be appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(3) In case of conflict between the provisions of this section, the higher requirement shall govern.
(4) For purposes of determining off-street parking requirements under this section, GROSS FLOOR AREA shall mean the total horizontal areas of the one or several floors of the building or portion thereof devoted to such use, including accessory storage areas located within selling or working space such as counters, racks or closets and any basement floor area devoted to retailing activities, to the production or processing of goods or to offices; provided, however, GROSS FLOOR AREA shall not include that area devoted entirely and permanently to storage purposes, parking and loading facilities or space used for restrooms, utilities or elevator shafts.
(E) Off-site parking facilities. Required off-street parking facilities shall be provided hereinafter. The Board of Zoning Appeals is hereby authorized to grant an off-site parking facility as a special exception in accordance with the following conditions.
(1) A development plan for such off-site parking facility shall be filed with the Board of Zoning Appeals as a required exhibit accompanying the special exception application and shall be made part of the conditions of any approval therefore. Said development plan shall demonstrate compliance with all applicable standards of this chapter, shall be amended and reapproved to indicate any change or other modification of uses served, or number of parking spaces provided therefore, and shall indicate:
(a) Adjacent streets, alleys and lots;
(b) All individual primary uses to be served, including the location use and number of parking spaces for each such use;
(c) A layout drawn to scale of aisles and driveways, entrances, exits and turn-off lanes, parking spaces, setbacks, drainage facilities and landscaping and buffer screening; and
(d) Type of lighting and pavement proposed, and identification signs including location, size and design thereof.
(2) Off-site parking facilities shall be provided with setback distances equivalent to the requirements of the district, and ingress and egress points shall be limited to protect the function of adjoining streets.
(3) (a) Off-site parking facilities shall be encumbered by any instrument duly executed and acknowledged, which subject said accessory off-street parking facilities to parking use served.
(b) Said instrument shall specify and bind the time period to the anticipated life of the building or use to which the parking facilities are accessory.
(c) Said instrument shall be filed in the applicable improvement location permit files of the Zoning Inspector’s office, and placed on public record in the office of the County Recorder.
(4) Off-site parking facilities shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of division (F) below. Further, said facilities shall be developed under such conditions imposed by the Board of Zoning Appeals as to protect Residential Districts and maintain at a minimum the disturbance to nearby residential uses.
(F) Development standards.
(1) All off-street parking areas for four or more automobiles shall be developed in accordance with the standards of this section, except in the case of one-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings, agricultural and rural uses and storage of vehicular merchandise not counting toward the minimum requirements as set forth in this chapter.
(2) Required off-street parking spaces shall be as designed, arranged and regulated, as to have individual spaces marked, be unobstructed and have access to an aisle or driveway so that any automobile may be moved without moving another, and so that no maneuvering directly incidental to entering or leaving a parking space shall be on any public right-of-way or walkway.
(3) Off-street parking spaces may be open to the sky or enclosed in a building. In any instance when a building is constructed or used for parking facilities on the lot, said building shall be treated as any major structure and subject to all requirements thereof.
(4) No repair work, sales or service of any kind shall be permitted in association with accessory off-street parking facilities unless such facilities are enclosed in a building and otherwise permitted in the district.
(5) All open off-street parking areas shall be surfaced with an all-weather paving material capable of carrying a wheel load of 4,000 pounds, or improved with concrete or a compacted macadam base and surfaced with an asphalt pavement, to adequately provide a durable and dust-free surface which shall be maintained in good condition and free of weeds, dirt, trash and debris, except that:
(a) A gravel surface may be used for a period not exceeding one year after the date of granting the certificate of occupancy where ground conditions are not immediately suitable for permanent surfacing as specified above; and
(b) A gravel surface in the area of storage or handling may be used permanently in association with industries that handle liquids or chemicals which create a potential hazard if containment should be lost and where absorption into the ground through a loose surface material would eliminate or alleviate such hazard.
(6) (a) Driveway entrances or exits shall be no closer than 25 feet to any adjoining residential property line or ten feet to an adjoining nonresidential property line or designed in such a manner as to least interfere with traffic movement.
(b) No driveway across public property at the right-of-way line of the street shall exceed a width of 30 feet; provided, however, two driveways not exceeding 30 feet in width each may constitute a single entrance-exit divider designed driveway; provided, further, that such driveways shall conform to the requirements of the County Highway Department.
(7) (a) In any district, each use which is so located that it fronts upon and provides access to an arterial thoroughfare shall provide a frontage land paralleling and adjoining the improved part of the right-of-way at least 11 feet in width for turn traffic entering the lot.
(b) Such frontage lane shall be at least 100 feet in length, exclusive of the entrance way and taper area; provided, however, if the lot frontage is too small to meet such requirements, the frontage lane shall extend the entire width of the lot.
(8) (a) Any lighting facilities used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be so located, shielded and directed upon the parking area in such a manner that they do not reflect or cause glare onto adjacent properties or interfere with street traffic.
(b) In no instance shall bare unshaded bulbs be used for such illumination.
(9) (a) Such parking areas shall be graded and properly drained in such a manner that there will be no free flow or water onto either adjacent property or public sidewalks.
(b) Further, any additional run-off generated by such improved areas shall be disposed of in appropriate drainage facilities.
(10) Such parking areas shall be so lined or designated as to ensure the most efficient use of the parking spaces, and provided with bumper guards or wheel guards so located that no part of the parked vehicle will extend beyond the boundary of the established parking area into any minimum required yard or onto adjoining property.
(12) Parking areas located in the Business and Industrial Districts shall be provided with a landscape screen not less than four feet in height whenever the parking area is located within 100 feet of adjoining residential uses or fronting upon any adjoining residential uses, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(13) The ground area between the required off-street parking area setback and any lot line shall be landscaped with appropriate material to adequately indicate delineation.
(14) Parking areas may be provided with a one-story shelter building or guard building which shall not exceed 100 square feet of gross floor area and shall conform to all the structural requirements of the district.
(G) Loading requirements.
(1) Uses and buildings with a gross floor area of 5,000 square feet or more shall provide off-street loading spaces in accordance with the following table, provided that loading spaces shall not be required for uses which do not receive or transmit goods or wares by truck delivery:
Use Description | Floor Area in Square Feet | Number of Loading Spaces Required |
Use Description | Floor Area in Square Feet | Number of Loading Spaces Required |
Manufacturing, distribution, wholesaling, storage and similar uses | 5,000 - 25,000 | 1 |
25,001 - 50,000 | 2 | |
50,0001 - 100,000 | 3 | |
Each 50,000 above 100,000 | 1 | |
Office buildings, hotels and motels, retail sales, hospitals, institutions and similar uses | 5,000 - 60,000 | 1 |
60,001 - 100,000 | 2 | |
Each 100,000 above 100,000 | 1 | |
(2) Off-street loading areas shall be developed in accordance with the standards in division (F) above.
(Ord. 8-7-12-3, passed 10-10-1961; Ord. passed 1- -2004)