Chapter 17.72
OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS

Sections:

17.72.010    Intent.

17.72.020    Off-street parking design standards.

17.72.030    Number of off-street parking spaces.

17.72.040    Off-street loading design requirements.

17.72.050    Off-street loading berth requirements.

17.72.060    Joint use of required parking spaces for the downtown business (DB) and waterfront commercial (WC) districts.

17.72.070    Special provisions for lots with existing buildings in the downtown business district.

17.72.010 Intent.

A. Off-Street Parking. “Off-street parking” is defined as parking on privately owned property. The regulations concerning off-street parking are intended to reduce the need for parking on streets and the traffic congestion and hazards caused thereby, and to provide for off-street parking adequate to each type of development, both in terms of amount and location. All parking space requirements set forth in this chapter shall be met prior to the occupancy of buildings and shall be satisfactorily maintained for each use listed in this chapter.

B. Off-Street Loading. To avoid damage to the streets and hazards to the pedestrians and congestion on the streets, it is required that spaces in the form of off-street loading berths be provided on the same lot as the building to be served by the delivery or loading of goods, and that such berths be adequate in size and number to provide the service needed without affecting adjacent properties, public streets or public rights-of-way. (Ord. 573 § 2, 1990).

17.72.020 Off-street parking design standards.

A. The off-street parking required for the uses specified herein shall be for use only by the automobiles of the residents, employees and customers of the activity served by the off-street parking.

B. Off-street parking requirements shall be met on the same lot as the building served by the off-street parking or on a lot that is within 100 feet of the building or facility served by the off-street parking and is specially reserved for the service of such building. Notwithstanding the above, off-street parking facilities for independent and separate buildings and uses may be provided collectively on a common lot if these facilities are not less than the total requirements of the independent and separate uses, and if all other requirements are met.

C. All off‑street parking spaces shall be at least eight feet in width and at least 18 feet in length, both exclusive of access drives, yards, and ramps. Such spaces shall have a vertical clearance of at least seven feet. Lines demarcating parking spaces may be drawn at various angles in relation to curbs or aisles; provided, that the parking space so created contains within it the rectangular area required by this chapter. Parking area aisle widths shall conform to the following table, which varies the width requirement according to the angle of parking:

 

Parking Angle

Aisle Width

0°

30°

45°

60°

90°

One Way

12′

12′

15′

18′

20′

Two Way

19′

20′

21′

23′

24′

Driveways shall not be less than 12 feet in width for one way traffic and 20 feet in width for two-way traffic.

D. Off‑street parking spaces may be located in any required yard unless otherwise indicated in GHMC Title 17.

E. All off-street parking spaces and access areas shall be surfaced with portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete paving to the standards established by the city.

F. All open parking area with four or more parking spaces shall be effectively screened by a wall, a fence or landscaping from any institutional or public building and from any property in a residential district. (Ord. 710 § 71, 1996; Ord. 573 § 2, 1990).

17.72.030 Number of off-street parking spaces.

The following is the number of off-street parking spaces required for each of the uses identified below:

Use

Required Parking 

Dwelling, single-family

Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Dwelling, duplex

Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit.

Dwelling, triplex

One off-street parking space for each studio unit, 1.5 off-street parking spaces for each one bedroom unit, and two off-street parking spaces for units with two or more bedrooms.

Dwelling, fourplex

One off-street parking space for each studio unit, 1.5 off-street parking spaces for each one bedroom unit, and two off-street parking spaces for units with two or more bedrooms.

Dwelling, multiple-family

One off-street parking space for each studio unit, 1.5 off-street parking spaces for each one bedroom unit, and two off-street parking spaces for units with two or more bedrooms.

Accessory apartment

One off-street parking space per accessory apartment in addition to parking required for primary dwelling unit.

Family day care provider

Two off-street parking spaces.

Home occupation

One off-street parking space in addition to parking required for any other use; two parking spaces shall be required if the occupation requires customers or clients to visit the premises at any time.

Adult family home

Two off-street parking spaces.

Independent living facility

One off-street parking space for every four beds based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.1

Assisted living facility

One off-street parking space for every four beds based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.1

Skilled nursing facility

One off-street parking space for every four beds based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.1

Hospital

One off-street parking space for every two beds based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

School, primary

One off-street parking space for every five seats in the main auditorium or assembly room.

School, secondary

One off-street parking space for every four seats in the main auditorium or assembly room, or three off-street parking spaces for every classroom plus one additional off-street parking space for each staff member or employee, whichever is greater.

School, higher educational

One off-street parking space for every possible four seats in the classrooms based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

School, vocational/trade

One off-street parking space for every possible four seats in the classrooms based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Government administrative office

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Public/private services

For libraries: One off-street parking space for every 1,000 square feet of floor area; for police stations and fire stations: one off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area; for maintenance and storage facilities: one off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of floor area.

Religious worship, house of

One off-street parking space for every four fixed seats in the facility’s largest assembly area. For a fixed seat configuration consisting of pews or benches, the seating capacity shall be computed upon not less than 18 linear inches of pew or bench length per seat. For a flexible configuration consisting of moveable chairs, each seven square feet of the floor area to be occupied by such chairs shall be considered as a seat.

Museum

One off-street parking space for every 1,000 square feet of floor area.

Community recreation hall

One off-street parking space for every possible four seats in the auditorium(s) and assembly room(s) based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Clubs

One off-street parking space for each four persons of the building’s maximum seating capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Parks

Director shall determine the standards to be applied for parking using as a guide the uses listed in this section that most closely resemble the uses proposed.

Essential public facilities

Parking required as per underlying use.

Utilities

Director shall determine the standards to be applied for parking using as a guide the uses listed in this section that most closely resemble the use proposed.

Lodging, level 1

One and one-quarter off-street parking spaces for each room to rent in addition to two off-street parking spaces for the single-family residence.

Lodging, level 2

One and one-quarter off-street parking spaces for each room to rent.

Lodging, level 3

One and one-quarter off-street parking spaces for each room to rent.

Personal services

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Product services, level 1

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Product services, level 2

One off-street parking space for every 400 square feet of floor area, except for auto repair. For auto repair, four off-street parking spaces for each service bay.

Professional services

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area except for medical and dental offices. For medical and dental offices, one off-street parking space for every 250 square feet of floor area.

Sales, level 1

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Sales, level 2

One off-street parking space for every 400 square feet of floor area.

Sales, level 3

One off-street parking space for every 400 square feet of floor area.

Ancillary sales

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Commercial child care

One off-street parking space for every five possible seats in the main auditorium or assembly rooms.

Commercial recreation, indoor

One off-street parking space for every possible four seats in the auditoriums and assembly rooms based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code; for bowling alleys, five off-street parking spaces for each alley.

Commercial recreation, outdoor

Director shall determine the standards to be applied for parking using as a guide the uses listed in this section that most closely resemble the uses proposed.

Commercial entertainment

One off-street parking space for every possible four seats in the auditorium(s) and assembly room(s) based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Automotive fuel-dispensing facility

One off-street parking space for every two fuel pumps, if service bays are not provided. If service bays are provided, four off-street parking spaces for each service bay.

Vehicle wash

Two off-street parking spaces per service bay plus one space for every two employees. In addition, a stacking lane or lanes capable of accommodating a minimum of 10 percent of the projected maximum hourly throughput of vehicles for the vehicle wash shall be provided near the entrance to the wash bay(s). One car length within the stacking lane shall be equal to the length of a standard parking space.

Commercial parking lot

None required.

Animal clinic

One off-street parking space for every 250 square feet of floor area.

Kennel

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Adult entertainment facility

Parking required as per underlying use.

Restaurant 1

One off-street parking space for every three seats based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Restaurant 2

One off-street parking space for every three seats based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Restaurant 3

One off-street parking space for every three seats based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Tavern

One off-street parking space for every three seats based on maximum capacity as determined by the International Building Code.

Drive-through facility

One off-street space for every two employees assigned to the drive-through service area. In addition, a stacking lane or lanes capable of accommodating a minimum of 10 percent of the projected maximum hourly throughput of vehicles for the drive-through facility shall be provided near the drive-through service area. One car length within the stacking lane shall be equal to the length of a standard parking space.

Marina

For moorages/slips less than 45 feet, one off-street parking space for every two berths; for moorages/slips 45 feet or longer, one space for every berth. All moorage facilities shall provide a minimum of two parking spaces. If a commercial or residential development is to be combined with a watercraft usage requiring parking, the usage which generates the larger number of spaces shall satisfy the requirements of the other usage.2

Marine sales and service

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area except for boat sales and repair. For boat sales and repair, one off-street parking space for every 400 square feet of floor area.

Marine boat sales, level 1

One off-street parking space for every 300 square feet of floor area.

Marine boat sales, level 2

One off-street parking space for every 400 square feet of floor area.

Ministorage

One off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of floor area.

Industrial, level 1

One off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of floor area.

Industrial, level 2

One off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of floor area, except for moving companies and distribution facilities. For moving companies and distribution facilities, one off-street parking space for each vehicle in use, at any time, in the conduct of business.

Marine industrial

One off-street parking space for every 500 square feet of floor area.

Wireless communication facility

None required.

Accessory uses and structures

Parking required as per underlying use.

For any other use not specifically mentioned or provided for, the director shall determine the standards to be applied for parking using as a guide the uses listed above that most closely resemble the uses proposed.

1 If the facility or home is used exclusively for the housing of the elderly, disabled or handicapped, the decisionmaker may allow a portion of the area required for off-street parking to be reserved as a landscaped area if the decisionmaker finds that the required off-street parking is not immediately required and is in the best interest of the neighborhood.

2 See GHMC 17.48.070 for additional requirements for parking and loading facilities in the WM district.

(Ord. 1066 § 5, 2007; Ord. 1047 § 2, 2006).

17.72.040 Off-street loading design requirements.

A. Off-street loading berths shall be provided on the same lot as the use the berths serve and shall not occupy the front yard of the lot;

B. No loading berth shall be located closer than 25 feet to a residential lot line unless screened by shrubbery or a fence or a combination thereof, any one of which must be approved by the planning director;

C. Each loading berth shall be designed with access to a street or alley in a manner that does not permit undue interference with traffic movement on the public street or alley;

D. Each required loading berth shall be at least 10 feet by 25 feet in size and 18 feet in height and shall provide 85 feet of direct access uninterrupted by any change in horizontal or vertical direction between the loading dock and the street;

E. Each loading berth surface and access area shall be improved with portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete paving to the standards established by the city public works director;

F. Areas set aside for off-street loading berths shall not be considered as satisfying the requirements for off-street parking space and shall not be used for vehicle repairs or servicing;

G. No approach to loading docks shall exceed a seven percent slope;

H. All or part of the off-street loading requirements may be met by loading facilities within the buildings. (Ord. 573 § 2, 1990).

17.72.050 Off-street loading berth requirements.

Off-street loading berths for passengers and freight shall be provided as given below and shall be on the same lot as the activity served unless the nature of the activities allows several owners to share a common location:

A. Public Uses. One berth required for each 25,000 square feet of building floor space;

B. Commercial Uses. One berth required for each 10,000 square feet of wholesale commercial building floor space;

C. Professional Services Use. One berth required for each 25,000 square feet of building floor area;

D. Industrial Uses. One berth required for each 10,000 square feet of building floor space;

E. Residential Activities. One berth required for any residential facility occupying more than 50,000 square feet. (Ord. 1045 § 80, 2006; Ord. 573 § 2, 1990).

17.72.060 Joint use of required parking spaces for the downtown business (DB) and the waterfront commercial (WC) districts.

A. One parking area may contain required spaces for several different uses. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the required space assigned to one use may not be credited to any other use which will require parking space simultaneously.

B. To the extent that developments that wish to make joint use of the same parking spaces operate at different times, the spaces may be credited to both uses.

C. Joint use of parking as specified under this chapter shall be by written agreement between the developments using the parking facilities. The agreement shall be subject to the approval of the city. Said agreement shall be filed with the Pierce County auditor as a covenant running with the land and is deemed binding between the assenting parties. The parking agreement shall have a minimum term of five years and shall specifically provide that the party whose parking will be eliminated or reduced (the “affected party”) by the agreement’s termination shall notify the city at least six months prior to such termination. The affected party shall secure off-street parking sufficient to meet the code-required parking for the use. (Ord. 710 § 73, 1996).

17.72.070 Special provisions for lots with existing buildings in the downtown business district.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, whenever (1) there exists a lot with one or more structures on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, and (2) a change in use does not involve any enlargement of a structure proposed for such lot, and (3) the parking requirements of this chapter as applicable under the proposed changes cannot be satisfied on such lot because there is insufficient area available on the lot that can practicably be used for parking, the parking standards for this chapter may be reduced if parking is practicably available within 200 feet of the site, either as public parking and/or joint-use parking on private property. (Ord. 710 § 74, 1996).