Chapter 18.74
PARKING REGULATIONS
Sections:
18.74.020 Required off-street parking.
18.74.035 Uniform parking stalls and drive aisles.
18.74.040 Development standards.
18.74.060 Construction permit required.
18.74.075 Bicycle parking standards.
18.74.010 Off-street parking.
(a) Purpose. To alleviate or prevent congestion of the public streets, and to promote the safety and welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the off-street parking and loading of motor vehicles, in accordance with the use to which property is put.
(b) Scope of Regulations. The off-street parking and loading provisions of this chapter shall apply as follows.
(1) When the intensity of use by any building, structure or premises shall be increased through addition of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other units or measurement specified herein for required parking or loading facilities, parking and loading facilities as required herein shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.
(2) Whenever the existing use of a building or structure shall hereinafter be changed to a new use, parking or loading facilities shall be provided as required for such new use. However, if the said building or structure was erected prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, additional parking or loading facilities are mandatory only in the amount by which the requirements for the new use would exceed those for the existing use if the latter were subject to parking and loading provisions of this chapter.
(3) For single-family homes with existing, nonconforming, two-car garages, additional residential floor area can be approved without the parking as long as the garage is fully accessible and has at least seventeen (17) feet by seventeen (17) feet inside dimensions and a garage door, or doors, at least fifteen (15) feet wide.
(4) For all buildings and structures erected and all uses of land established after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required by this chapter. (Zoning Ord. § 37-1).
18.74.020 Required off-street parking.
Off-street parking shall be provided as required in the following schedule (for required residential parking refer to residential chapters):
(a) “A” definitions:
(1) Agricultural Uses, Labor Camps, Agricultural Roadside Stands. As specified in use permit approval.
(2) Amusement or Recreational Enterprises (Not Specifically Referred to in This Schedule). As specified in use permit approval but in no case less than one space per two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area.
(3) Auditoriums of a School, Church, College or Institution. One parking space for each six individual seats or equivalent or one space per fifty (50) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater.
(4) Auditoriums Other than School, Church, College or Institution. One parking space for each four seats or one space per thirty-two (32) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater.
(5) Auto Accessory Sales and Service. One space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area.
(6) Auto Laundry. Reservoir parking spaces equal to five times the capacity of the laundry shall be provided plus one space for each two employees.
(7) Auto Repair and Service. One space for each four hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area, but in no case less than six spaces.
(8) Automobile, Boat, Mobile Home, Trailer Sales or Rental. One space for each four hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area plus one reserved space for each two employees; but in no case less than six spaces.
(b) “B” definitions:
(1) Bowling Alleys. Five spaces for each alley plus additional spaces as may be required herein for accessory uses such as restaurants, bars, and the like.
(c) “C” definitions:
(1) Cemeteries, Mausoleums. As specified in use permit approval.
(2) Churches.
(A) One space for each six individual seats or equivalent in the auditorium or church or one space per fifty (50) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater, plus one space for each classroom or office.
(B) For convents, parish houses and the like – one space for each automobile owned and/or operated by the church.
(C) For administration offices accessory to the church operation – one space for each office.
(3) Convalescent Homes, Rest Homes, Nursing Homes, Sanitarium, Etc. One space for every four beds plus one space for each two employees (other than the staff doctors) plus one space for each doctor assigned to the staff, but in no case less than one space per seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of gross floor area.
(d) “D” definitions:
(1) Drive-In Theaters. As specified in use permit approval.
(2) Data Centers. One space per four thousand (4,000) square feet of gross floor area.
(e) Reserved for future use.
(f) “F” definitions:
(1) Financial and General Business Offices, Banks and Real Estate. One space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area.
(2) Fraternity House, Sorority House, Dormitories, Boarding House. One space per sleeping room.
(3) Furniture and Major Appliance Stores or Furniture Repair Shops. One space for each four hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area.
(g) “G” definitions:
(1) Golf Driving Ranges. One space for each tee plus one space for each employee.
(h) “H” definitions:
(1) Hospitals. One parking space for each two beds plus one space for each two employees (other than staff doctors) plus one space for each doctor, but in no case less than one space per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area.
(2) Hotels and Motels. One space for each lodging unit or dwelling unit.
(3) Heavy Industrial (MH – Industrial Uses Except Warehousing and Wholesale Establishments). Permitted professional office and commercial uses shall provide parking for the specific use as required in this section.
(A) One parking space per one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of gross floor area or one space per three employees on the shift during which the greatest number of employees is used, whichever is greater.
(i) Reserved for future use.
(j) Reserved for future use.
(k) Reserved for future use.
(l) “L” definitions:
(1) Light Industrial (ML – Industrial Uses). Permitted professional office and commercial uses shall provide parking for the specific use as required in this section.
(A) One parking space per seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of gross floor area or one space per three employees on the shift during which the greatest number of employees is used, whichever is greater.
(2) Planned Industrial (MP – Industrial Uses). Permitted professional office and commercial uses shall provide parking for the specific use as required in this section.
(A) One space for each four hundred fifty (450) square feet of gross floor space.
(3) Lodges and Clubs. One space for each one hundred (100) square feet of gross floor space.
(m) “M” definitions:
(1) Medical and Dental Offices. Five spaces for each doctor or dentist but in no case less than one space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area.
(2) Medical Laboratories. One space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area.
(3) Mortuaries – Funeral Home. One space for each five individual seats or equivalent in a chapel or public assembly room or one space per forty (40) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater, plus one space for each funeral vehicle.
(4) Museums, Art Galleries.
(A) One parking space for each one hundred (100) square feet of public display area (not including storage, work rooms and the like) for the first two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet; with a minimum of fifteen (15) parking spaces required; then one parking space for each additional one hundred fifty (150) square feet of display area from two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet to and including five thousand (5,000) square feet; then one parking space for each additional two hundred (200) feet of display area from five thousand (5,000) square feet to and including ten thousand (10,000) square feet; then one parking space for each additional five hundred (500) square feet of display area over ten thousand (10,000) square feet.
(B) One truck loading dock shall be provided for buildings with a gross floor area of five thousand (5,000) square feet or more.
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Example of Parking Requirements |
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|---|---|
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1,500 square feet or less |
minimum 15 spaces |
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2,500 square feet |
minimum 25 spaces |
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5,000 square feet |
minimum 41 spaces |
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10,000 square feet |
minimum 66 spaces |
(n) “N” definitions:
(1) Nursery, Preschool. One space per classroom or office but in no case less than three spaces.
(o) “O” definitions:
(1) Office – Business, Professional, Financial, Banks, Real Estate. One space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area. Office use not exceeding ten percent of an industrial building’s floor space shall require parking at the industrial ratio.
(p) “P” definitions:
(1) Public Utility and Public Service Uses and Public Utility Service Yards. One space for each three employees on the maximum shift plus one space for each vehicle permanently assigned to the facility.
(q) Reserved for future use.
(r) “R” definitions:
(1) Research Laboratories. One space for each seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of gross floor area occupied exclusively by laboratory equipment, plus one space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area.
(2) Restaurants, Bars and Taverns. One space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area or one space for each three seats, whichever is greater.
(3) Retail Stores, Shops and Services. One space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area.
(s) “S” definitions:
(1) Schools – Business, Professional and Trade Schools. One parking space for each classroom or office plus one space for each five students attending classes on the premises at any time during any twenty-four (24)-hour period, but in no case less than one space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area.
(2) Schools – High Schools, Colleges and Universities. One parking space for each classroom or office plus one space for each ten students attending classes on the premises at any time during any twenty-four (24)-hour period.
(3) Schools – Nursery, Elementary and Intermediate (Public or Private). One parking space for each classroom or office but in no case less than three spaces.
(4) Self-Storage Facilities. One space per ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area.
(5) Stadiums, Arenas, Auditoriums (Other than Church, College or Institutional Auditorium), Convention Halls, Dance Halls, Exhibition Halls, Skating Rinks and Other Similar Places of Assembly. One parking space for each four seats or one space per thirty-two (32) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater.
(t) “T” definitions:
(1) Theaters. One parking space for each four seats or one space per thirty-two (32) square feet of usable seating area, whichever is greater.
(u) Reserved for future use.
(v) Reserved for future use.
(w) “W” definitions:
(1) Warehousing and Wholesaling Establishments in MH Zone Only. One space for each three employees on the maximum shift or one space for each two thousand (2,000) square feet of floor area, whichever is greater.
(x) Reserved for future use.
(y) Reserved for future use.
(z) Reserved for future use. (Zoning Ord. § 37-2; Ord. 1984 §§ 1, 2, 8-21-18).
18.74.030 Size and access.
All off-street parking facilities shall be designed and laid out in accordance with at least the minimum requirements as shown on the figures following this chapter.
The compact-size dimensions may be used for up to fifty percent (50%) of the required parking spaces in all commercial, industrial, institutional, and unassigned stalls in residential lots with more than twenty-five (25) spaces. In order that standard cars are not parked in compact spaces so as to block aisles, and in order that compact cars are not parked in standard spaces, reducing the availability of standard spaces, the design of the parking facilities shall be clearly marked and arranged so that the compact spaces are convenient and will be used by preference for parking compact cars and so that it is physically difficult for standard-size cars to use compact spaces. The recommended layout is a twenty (20)-foot wide one-way aisle with forty-five (45) or sixty (60)-degree standard spaces on one side and ninety (90)-degree compact spaces on the other.
Parking spaces not open on both sides shall have an extra foot in width.
In duplex and multifamily residential development where two garage doors face each other, the back-out space between the doors must be a minimum of twenty-eight (28) feet. (Zoning Ord. § 37-3).
18.74.035 Uniform parking stalls and drive aisles.
As an alternative to a mixture of standard-size and compact spaces, off-street parking facilities may be designed with one hundred percent (100%) uniform-size stalls, measuring eight and one-half feet in width and seventeen (17) feet in depth. For parking facilities using the uniform stall dimensions, the minimum drive aisle width is twenty-four (24) feet. (Ord. 1992 § 2, 11-27-18).
18.74.040 Development standards.
(a) Surfacing. All open required off-street parking areas shall be improved with two inches plant mix asphalt on six inches base rock with a prime coat and a seal coat, or five inches concrete with 10 x 10 x 10 wire mesh and expansion joints.
Asphalt driveway areas which provide access to trash enclosures shall be improved with three inches plant mix asphalt on eight inches base rock with a prime coat and a seal coat.
(b) Drainage. Proper drainage is required for all surfaced areas.
(c) Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be directed and maintained so as not to interfere with persons using any public street or improvement or to unnecessarily interfere with the use and enjoyment of property of any person.
(d) Signs. Directional signs are permitted on parking areas in accordance with the sign regulations of Chapter 18.80 SCCC.
(e) Screening and Landscaping. All open automobile parking areas which abut upon a public street right-of-way shall provide landscaping to a depth of at least ten feet of said street right-of-way and of any plan line, with openings for walkway or drive purposes in accordance with City standards.
An additional five percent of the gross lot area shall be devoted to landscaping. Major canopy trees shall be provided throughout the parking area and adjacent to buildings. Trees shall be spaced at either a minimum distance of thirty-six (36) feet on center or in an alternative design to accomplish an equivalent density of screening and degree of shading, as approved by the Director of Community Development.
(f) Fencing. A solid fence at least six feet in height shall be required on all common property lines when any parking facility is established abutting residentially zoned property.
(g) Walkway. A walkway, if provided adjacent to a building and parking stalls, shall be at least four feet in width.
(h) Repair and Service. No motor vehicle repair work of any kind shall be permitted within any required off-street parking area. The sale of gasoline, motor oil or any other merchandise is also prohibited within any required off-street parking area.
(i) Location of Accessory Off-Street Parking Facilities. The location of off-street parking and garage spaces shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the use served except as otherwise provided in this title.
(j) Existing Parking and Loading Facilities. Accessory off-street parking and loading facilities which are located on the same lot or parcel as the building or use served and which were in existence on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or were provided voluntarily after such effective date, shall not hereafter be reduced below or if already less than, shall not further be reduced below the requirements of this chapter for a similar new building or use.
(k) Parking Assessment District. Off-street parking facilities may be provided collectively for all building structures or uses located within a parking assessment district. The Planning Commission may recommend to the City Council waiving of the parking requirements of this title for properties within a parking assessment district.
(l) Computation. When determination of the number of off-street parking spaces required by this title results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction of one-half or less may be disregarded while a fraction in excess of one-half shall be counted as one parking space. Each space shall be individually accessible.
(m) Permissive Parking and Loading Facilities. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the voluntary establishment of off-street parking or loading facilities in excess of the requirements of this title to serve any existing use of land or buildings; provided, that all regulations herein governing the location, size and access design, improvement and operation of such facilities are adhered to.
(n) Use of Parking and Garage Facilities. Off-street parking and garage facilities serving a residential use and developed in any residential district in accordance with the requirements of this section shall be used solely for the storage of passenger automobiles owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which such facilities are accessory or by guests of said occupants. Under no circumstances shall required parking and garage facilities serving a residential structure be used for storage of commercial vehicles or for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants, visitors or customers of business or manufacturing establishments.
(o) Mixed Uses. When two or more uses are located on the same zoning plot or within the same building, parking spaces equal in number to the sum of the separate requirements for each such use as required by the subject zoning district shall be required. No parking space or portion thereof shall serve as required space for more than one use.
(p) Other Uses. For uses not specifically listed in this chapter, parking spaces shall be provided on the same basis as required for the most similar listed use, as determined by the Zoning Administrator. (Zoning Ord. § 37-4; Ord. 2011 § 15, 2-11-20).
18.74.050 Driveway standards.
(a) Driveways (On-Site).
(1) Back-out parking into the street right-of-way is prohibited except for single- and two-family dwellings.
(2) One-way driveways for residences serving not more than three garages or parking spaces shall be at least a minimum width of ten feet (eight-foot pavement with one-foot clearance on each side).
(3) Two-way driveways providing access to less than twenty-five (25) residential parking spaces or garage spaces shall be at least a minimum width of fourteen (14) feet (twelve (12) feet of pavement with one-foot clearance on each side).
(4) Two-way driveways providing access to twenty-five (25) or more residential parking spaces or garage spaces shall be at least a minimum width of twenty-six (26) feet (twenty-four (24)-foot pavement with one-foot clearance on each side).
(5) One-way driveways providing access to all properties other than residential shall be a minimum width of at least fourteen (14) feet (12 feet of pavement with one-foot clearance on each side).
(6) Two-way driveways providing access to all properties other than residential shall be a minimum width of at least twenty-two (22) feet (twenty (20) feet of pavement with one-foot clearance on each side).
(b) Minimum Turning Radius. Whenever the alignment of a driveway changes, the minimum inside turning radius of such driveway shall be twenty-five (25) feet.
(c) Driveways (Off-Site).
(1) No person, firm, or corporation shall construct or maintain any driveway across any curbing or sidewalk, or connecting with any uncurbed roadway without first securing a City permit. All construction of such driveways shall be done in conformity with City of Santa Clara standards and specifications, and shall be subject to City inspection.
(2) Widths of driveways shall be measured along lowered curb section and shall not exceed thirty (30) feet or be less than twenty-four (24) feet in width. For one- and two-family residences, driveways shall not exceed twenty (20) feet or be less than twelve (12) feet in width nor exceed two in number for each property. Approaches to one-lane driveways may be twenty (20) feet wide.
(3) Not more than fifty percent (50%) of the frontage upon any street of the parcel of land to be served thereby shall be devoted to driveways, except that, in cases of narrow frontages on cul-de-sacs, normal driveways may be permitted subject to approval of the City Engineer.
(4) Driveways on the same property shall be at least twenty-four (24) feet apart.
(5) Driveways located in proximity to street intersections should, in general, satisfy the following minimum criteria and shall be otherwise located if so required by the City Engineer:
(A) Located no closer than thirty-five (35) feet from the curb line of the intersecting street and not within the curved portion of a constant radius curb return in any case except for curb returns of greater than sixty (60) feet constant radius where driveway encroachment may not exceed one-eighth of the total arc length.
(6) No driveway shall be located within an intersection crosswalk, which is defined by the prolongation of the boundary lines of sidewalks.
(7) Driveways may start from property line, but in no case may driveways on adjoining properties be closer than three feet except where mutual easements described in deeds provide for a common driveway along the property line. Such common driveways shall be subject to all other requirements and specifications.
(8) No driveway shall be less than three feet from the center of a fire hydrant, utility pole, or street light standard.
(9) No driveway shall be constructed less than five feet from the center of a traffic signal standard.
(10) Adjustments to utility facilities or other public improvements shall be accomplished without cost to the City.
(11) Any abandoned driveway shall be reconstructed to standard City sidewalk, curb, and gutter requirements, concurrent with the new driveway construction without cost to the City.
(12) Where practical, difficulties, unnecessary hardships and effects inconsistent with the general purpose of these driveway standards may result from the strict application of certain provisions thereof, variances may be granted by the City Engineer. (Zoning Ord. § 37-5).
18.74.060 Construction permit required.
A construction permit, to be issued by the building inspection division, shall be required to establish, construct, enlarge, alter, move, improve, remove or convert any off-street parking facility.
Exception: when a building permit is issued for a main building and when construction work on the main building and the parking facility will be finished concurrently, the building permit may be considered to be the construction permit for the parking facility. (Zoning Ord. § 37-6).
18.74.075 Bicycle parking standards.
(a) Class One Bicycle Parking. Class One spaces are spaces in secure, weather-protected facilities intended for use as long-term, overnight, and workday bicycle storage by dwelling unit residents, nonresidential occupants, and employees. Class One bicycle parking includes bicycle lockers, bicycle rooms or cages where each bicycle can be individually locked.
(b) Class Two Bicycle Parking. Class Two spaces are located in a publicly accessible, highly visible location intended for transient or short-term use by visitors, guests, and patrons to the building or use. Bicycle racks that provide two points of contact to prevent bikes from pivoting and falling over are the most common form of Class Two bicycle parking. (Ord. 1961 § 2, 12-13-16).
Parking Regulations
Ch. 18.74
MINIMUM INSIDE DIMENSIONS
Parking Regulations
MINIMUM INSIDE DIMENSIONS