Battle Ground City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
133 PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS
§ 17.133.010 Purpose.
The provision of off-street parking and loading spaces in accordance with the needs and requirements of particular property uses is a necessary public policy in the interest of traffic safety, minimizing congestion and providing harmonious development.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.020 Applicability.
Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided for all development at the time of erecting new structures, or at the time of enlarging, moving or increasing of capacity by creating or adding dwelling units, commercial or industrial floor space or seating facilities. For developments phased in timing, parking and loading requirements may also be phased in accordance with the requirements applying for each particular time phase of development.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.030 Off-street parking space and access requirements.
A.
Parking areas shall be designed in accordance with Tables 17.133-1 and 17.133-3. Required parking shall be maintained and shall not be encroached upon by refuse containers, signs or other structures, nor used for the parking of equipment or storage of goods. Required parking spaces shall be provided with vehicular access to a public street or alley.
B.
Parking and driveways for single-family residential uses shall be improved with a permanent surface including but not limited to asphalt, concrete, brick or masonry or other material approved by the planning director.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 13-07 § 22, 2013; Ord. 16-15 § 7 (part), 2016; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.040 Minimum number of parking spaces required.
A.
When the parking requirements result in a fractional space requirement, 0.49 or less shall be rounded down to the next whole number and one-half or greater shall be rounded up to the next whole number.
B.
Where more than one use occupies a given structure or parcel of land or where a given business occupies a combination of uses, the minimum required number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the requirements for each use, except to the extent the uses comply with the requirements of this section for joint or shared parking.
C.
Where a building may be used for more than one purpose and the applicant does not limit the permitted uses in the building, parking spaces shall be provided based on the possible use(s) that require the most parking spaces.
D.
Special uses or those not specifically listed in Table 17.133-1 shall provide an adequate number of parking spaces as determined by the planning director or hearing examiner.
E.
Properties located in the downtown district are not required to provide any off-street parking.
F.
For additions, expansions or changes of use the minimum number of required parking spaces shall be based solely on the number of additional spaces required and not on any existing deficiencies in available off-street parking.
Table 17.133-1: Minimum Vehicular Parking Requirements | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Number of Vehicular Spaces Required |
Residential | |
1. One-family | 2 spaces/dwelling unit |
2. Two-family | 2 spaces/dwelling unit |
3. Three or more families | 1.5 spaces/dwelling unit |
4. Rooming or boarding house | 1 for each sleeping room |
5. Cottage housing | 1.25/dwelling unit |
6. Co-living | 0.25/dwelling unit |
Commercial | |
1. Auto parts store | 1 space/250 square feet of gross floor area |
2. Bank | 1 space/400 square feet of gross floor area |
3. Bed and breakfast inn | 1 space/guest room plus 2 spaces for the permanent residence |
4. Billiard hall/amusement arcade | 1 space/200 square feet of gross floor area |
5. Bowling alley | 3 spaces/each lane plus 1 space for each employee |
6. Commercial meeting rooms | 2 spaces/each 5 occupants of total meeting rooms based on total maximum capacity |
7. Commercial parking | To be determined through site plan review |
8. Commercial retail and grocery stores, 1,500 square feet or less | 1 space/350 square feet of gross floor area |
9. Commercial retail and grocery stores, 1,501 square feet or more | 1 space/200 square feet of gross floor area |
10. Commercial recreation facilities, enclosed | 1 space/400 square feet of gross floor area |
11. Commercial recreation facilities, unenclosed | 1 space/300 square feet of usable recreational area square footage |
12. Dance hall or school | 1 space/200 square feet of gross floor area |
13. Day care centers, preschools, kindergartens | 2 spaces/teacher or employee |
14. Dental office | 1 space/150 square feet of gross floor area |
15. Equipment rental, moving supplies | 1 space/1,000 square feet of site area |
16. Funeral home | 1 space/4 seats or 8 feet of bench length |
17. Gasoline service station without convenience or food store | 3 spaces |
18. Gasoline service station with convenience or food store | 1 space/pump plus 1 space/200 square feet of gross floor area |
19. Health club, spa | 1 space/150 square feet of gross floor area |
20. Hotel without convention center | 1 space/bedroom plus 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift |
21. Hotel with convention center | 1 space/bedroom plus 1 space per 400 square feet of gross floor area for the convention center |
22. Laundry, self-service | 1 space/each 2 washer-dryer combination |
23. Medical office | 1 space/150 square feet of gross floor area |
24. Miniature golf course | 1 space/hole |
25. Motel | 1 space/bedroom plus 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift |
26. Office (except medical and dental) | 1 space/400 square feet of gross floor area |
27. Retail garden nursery | 1 space/400 square feet of gross floor area |
28. Retail business, unenclosed | 1 space/each 500 square feet of open sales/display area |
29. Retail stores and outlets selling furniture, automobiles or other bulky merchandise where the operator can show the bulky merchandise occupies the major area of the building | 1 space/600 square feet of gross floor area |
30. Restaurants with drive-through | 1 space/200 square feet of gross floor area up to 2,000 square feet, plus 1 space/300 square feet over 2,000 square feet |
31. Restaurants without drive-through | 1 space/300 square feet of gross floor area |
32. Service or repair shops | 1 space/600 square feet of gross floor area |
33. Shopping centers having a gross leasable area (GLA) of 25,000 to 400,000 square feet | 4 spaces/1,000 square feet of gross leasable area |
34. Shopping centers having a gross leasable area (GLA) of 400,000 to 600,000 square feet | 4 to 5 spaces in a linear progression, with an average of 4.5 spaces/1,000 square feet of gross leasable area |
35. Shopping centers having a gross leasable area (GLA) of over 600,000 square feet | 5 spaces/1,000 square feet of gross leasable area |
36. Skating rink | 1 space/300 square feet of gross floor area |
37. Tennis, racquetball clubs | 1 space/1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
38. Theater, cinema | 1 space/3 seats |
39. Truck, trailer, boat, auto rental and sales | 1 space/600 feet of gross floor area |
40. Veterinarian, animal hospital | 1 space/300 square feet of gross floor area |
41. Wholesale garden nursery | 1 space/1,500 square feet of building and outside display |
42. Wholesale merchandise | 1 space/each 2,000 square feet of gross floor area |
Industrial | |
1. Industrial commercial services | 1 space/1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
2. Laboratories, research and development facilities | 3 spaces/1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
3. Manufacturing, processing, packing, assembly and fabrication establishment | 1 space/800 square feet of gross floor area |
4. Self-storage facility | 1 space/each 20 stalls plus two spaces for resident manager's office |
5. Warehouse, freight movement and distribution and storage | 1 space/2,000 square feet gross floor area |
Institutional and Places of Assembly | |
1. Arena | 1 space/3 seats or 12 feet of bench length |
2. Art gallery | 1 space/500 square feet of gross floor area |
3. Assisted living facility | 1 space/4 residents |
4. Auditoriums, other meeting rooms | 1 space/5 seats or 12 feet of bench length |
5. Child care facility, kindergarten | 1 space/teacher or employee plus 1 space per 12 persons served |
6. Church | 1 space/4 seats or 12 feet of bench length in the main auditorium |
7. Clubs and lodges | Spaces as determined by the planning director or hearing examiner to meet the combined requirements of the uses being conducted within the club or lodge |
8. College | 1 space/3 classroom seats |
9. Commercial school for adults | 1 space/3 classroom seats |
10. Convalescent facility, nursing home, congregate care facility | 1 space/3 beds for patients or residents |
11. Elementary school, public or private | 1 space/8 feet of bench length or 6 seats in an auditorium or assembly room, whichever is greater |
12. High school, public or private | 1 space/employee plus 1 space/each 4 students or 1 space/4 seats or 8 feet of bench length in the auditorium, whichever is greater |
13. Library | 1 space/250 square feet of gross floor area |
14. Medical centers and hospitals | 2 spaces/1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
15. Middle school, public or private | 1 space/6 seats or 8 feet of bench length in auditorium or assembly room, whichever is greater |
16. Museum | 1 space/400 square feet of gross floor area |
17. Park and ride lots | To be determined through site plan review |
18. Park without recreational facilities | To be determined by the planning director |
19. Park with recreational facilities | To be determined by the planning director |
20. Private utility operation | 1 space/each employee on largest shift |
21. Residential care facility | 1 space/7 residents served under the age of 12 1 space/5 residents served ages 12—17 1 space/4 residents served ages 18 years or older |
22. Retirement home facilities | 1 space/each 3 units |
23. Reading room | 1 space/400 square feet |
24. Stadium | 1 space/4 seats or 12 feet of bench length |
25. Theater, noncommercial | 1 space/4 seats |
26. Welfare or correctional institutions | 0.3 spaces per bed based on maximum capacity |
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 15-04 § 29 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018; Ord. 22-20 § 9, 2022; Ord. 26-13, 6/1/2026)
§ 17.133.050 Location of parking areas.
Off-street parking facilities required shall be located contiguous to the principal building or use. However, as much as twenty-five percent of the required number of parking spaces may be located within three hundred feet of the principal building or use, provided proof of ownership or lease for exclusive use of such premises is provided to the planning director. Such distance shall be measured between the nearest point of the parking facility and the nearest point of the principal building or use. If this option of utilizing nearby parking is exercised, then the parking area may not be discontinued or otherwise converted to another use unless the building or use otherwise meets the minimum required number of off-street parking spaces. Parking spaces shall not be located in a required front yard except for single-family or duplex residential uses.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.060 Reduction for mixed use or joint use parking spaces.
The planning director may authorize a reduction in the total number of required off-street parking spaces for two or more uses jointly providing parking facilities when their respective hours of need of maximum parking do not normally overlap; provided, that the developer submits sufficient data to demonstrate that the hours of maximum demand for parking at the respective uses do not normally overlap. Satisfactory legal evidence shall be presented to the planning director in the form of deeds, leases or contracts to establish the joint use and be recorded with the Clark County auditor's office against all properties involved. If a joint use arrangement is subsequently terminated, or if the uses change, the requirements of this title shall apply to each use separately.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 15-04 § 29 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.070 Parking lot design standards.
All parking lots containing three or more spaces shall meet the following requirements:
A.
The lot shall be surfaced with pavers, concrete or asphalt and maintained in good condition free of obstructions.
B.
Stormwater facilities shall be installed pursuant to Chapter 18.250 BGMC.
C.
All lighting facilities shall be so arranged to prevent the direct illumination of adjacent properties or public streets in conformance with BGMC § 17.131.100.
D.
Any off-street parking area other than for one-family or two-family dwelling units shall be screened with a B2 buffer or equivalent on each side that abuts residentially zoned properties.
E.
Parking spaces on the perimeter of a parking lot or abutting interior landscape areas or sidewalks shall be contained by a curb so placed to prevent a motor vehicle from extending into any required setback area or over an abutting property line or a street right-of-way, and to protect buildings and landscaping other than ground cover. Curbs shall be a minimum of four inches high and shall be located no more than three feet back from the front of the parking space. The front three feet of a parking space may be improved with a low-growing vegetated LID feature, instead of asphalt or concrete pavement. However, this area shall not be counted toward landscape or open space area requirements unless it is part of an LID stormwater feature.
F.
Except when provided for neighborhood retail pursuant to BGMC § 17.106.050, parking areas that contain a minimum of seven spaces shall contain landscape islands at a ratio of one island for every seven parking spaces. Landscape islands shall be distributed throughout the parking lot area. A landscape island shall be at least twenty-five square feet in total size, shall be a minimum of four feet wide, and shall be designed to prevent damage to landscaping within the island, such as by using a curb or wheel stop. Parking area landscaping shall be indicated on a landscape plan indicating the location, common and botanical name of the vegetation, initial planting size and mature planting size.
G.
At least one tree shall be planted in each landscape island. Trees in landscape islands shall reach a minimum mature height of thirty feet, cast moderate to dense shade in the summer, live a minimum of sixty years, require little maintenance and be suited for use in the proposed location.
H.
Parking spaces shall not be located in a required front yard or required landscape buffers except in the case of single- or two-family dwellings. Access drives and maneuvering areas shall not be located in a required yard or landscape buffer, except to the minimum extent practicable for access to the site.
I.
All parking areas shall comply with all applicable local, state and federal standards regarding parking and access for disabled persons.
J.
A site plan shall be submitted for review pursuant to Chapter 17.143 BGMC.
K.
Screening is required in parking areas along all property lines and along all public streets. The community development director may waive or reduce the requirement for screening along property lines in those instances where it can be shown that such screening limits the ability to conform to other requirements of this title. Screening along public streets shall be a minimum three feet in height. Screening along property lines shall be a minimum six feet in height.
L.
Natural Vegetation and Preservation. The preservation of native vegetation and mature trees such as conifers or Oregon white oaks is encouraged as part of parking lot design. The community development director may waive or reduce the requirements of this chapter to encourage the preservation of native vegetation and mature trees.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 00-024 §§ 4, 14, 2000; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 06-07 § 9, 2006; Ord. 10-08 § 9, 2010; Ord. 13-07 § 23, 2013; Ord. 16-15 § 7 (part), 2016; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018; Ord. 21-35 § 4, 2021)
§ 17.133.072 Residential Parking Design Standards.
The following design standards are required for all residential parking pursuant to RCW 36.70A.622:
A.
Parking spaces may not be required to exceed eight feet by 20 feet, except for the required parking for people with disabilities.
B.
Tandem parking spaces are permitted.
C.
Required parking spaces can be enclosed or unenclosed.
D.
Required parking spaces can be paved with grass block pavers.
E.
Up to six parking spaces in legally established non-conforming gravel parking areas can be counted toward minimum parking requirements.
F.
Minimum parking spaces are not required if compliance with tree retention would otherwise make a residential development infeasible.
(Ord. 26-13, 6/1/2026)
§ 17.133.075 Access standards for drive-in, drive-up and drive-through uses.
A.
All uses providing drive-in, drive-up and drive-through services shall provide on the same site adequate vehicular queuing spaces as specified in Table 17.133-2.
B.
The minimum queuing space requirement for uses supplying multiple service terminals or windows shall be determined through the site plan review process.
C.
A vehicular queuing space shall be a minimum of eighteen feet long and eight feet wide and shall not be used for backing and maneuvering space for parking or other purposes.
D.
Vehicle queuing and service windows shall not be located between a building and the public street except in cases where all of the following are included:
1.
Landscaping, including but not limited to a combination of trees, shrubs, ornamentals, and ground cover that would effectively screen the drive-through from the street;
2.
An architecturally integrated canopy constructed over the drive-through that is built with the same materials as the principal building. The canopy must be designed with an exterior wall, thereby screening the drive-through from the public street;
3.
A pedestrian connection from the street sidewalk to the building.
Table 17.133-2 Vehicle Queuing Standards | |
|---|---|
Use | Requirement |
Drive-in banks | 5 spaces/occupied service terminal |
Drive-in restaurant | 10 spaces/service window |
Gasoline service station | 3 spaces/serviceable side of each pump island |
Mechanical or automated car washes | 3 spaces/independent washing unit |
Parking facilities Free-flow entry Ticket dispense entry Manual ticket dispensing entry Attendant parking | 1 space/entry driveway 2 spaces/entry driveway 8 spaces/entry driveway 10 percent of the parking capacity served by the driveway |
Other types of facilities | To be determined by the planning director through the site plan review process |
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 10-08 § 11, 2010; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.080 Off-street loading requirements.
A.
New or substantially renovated buildings or structures that require receipt, delivery or distribution of materials and merchandise by trucks shall provide and maintain off-street loading spaces according to prescribed standards. The planning director may waive off-street loading requirements for uses that demonstrate a loading space is not needed. The applicant shall demonstrate that either the proposed use does not require receipt, delivery or distribution of materials and merchandise by truth that only small delivery trucks will access the site, or that large trucks will only access the site outside of normal business hours.
B.
Commercial and industrial buildings that have a gross floor area of five thousand square feet or more shall provide truck loading or unloading spaces in accordance with Table 17.133.080-1.
Table 17.133.080-1 Minimum Loading Spaces | |
|---|---|
Number of Spaces | Square Feet of Gross Floor Area |
1 | 5,000 up to 25,000 |
2 | 25,000 up to 50,000 |
C.
Loading spaces shall be a minimum of ten feet wide by forty-five feet long, with fourteen feet of height clearance, unless otherwise approved by the planning director.
D.
Loading spaces shall be designed in such a manner as to not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic or project into any public right-of-way. All loading space areas shall be separated from parking areas and shall be designated as truck loading spaces.
E.
No loading space shall be located in a required front yard setback or located closer than fifty lineal feet to a residential zoned lot.
F.
Loading spaces shall be screened as per BGMC § 17.131.030.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 15-04 § 29 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.100 Parking space and cross aisle design standards.
Table 17.133-3 Space and Aisle Dimensions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Stall Dimension | Compact Stall Dimension | Aisle Width Dimension | ||||
Angle (degrees) | Stall Width (feet) | Stall Depth (feet) | Stall Width (feet) | Stall Depth (feet) | 1-Way Aisle Width | 2-Way Aisle Width |
0 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 22 |
45 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 14 | 22 |
60 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 22 |
90 | 9 | 20 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 24 |
A.
Designated disabled parking stalls which meet minimum dimensional requirements shall be counted as standard size parking stalls and shall be provided as required by applicable state of Washington and the city-adopted building code, as amended for disabled person parking spaces.
B.
The width of each parking space includes a stripe that separates each space.
C.
Up to thirty percent of all required on-site vehicular parking spaces may be compact spaces. Such spaces shall be marked as "compact" or "C."
D.
Other parking angles, such as but not limited to thirty degrees or seventy-five degrees, may be approved by the planning director.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 15-04 § 29 (part), 2015; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
§ 17.133.110 Bicycle parking standards.
A.
Bicycle parking areas are encouraged in all new commercial and multifamily development, and are intended to encourage the use of bicycles as a form of transportation by providing safe and convenient places to park bicycles.
B.
Compliance with the bicycle parking standards contained in this section is required for all commercial developments in excess of thirty-five thousand square feet of gross floor area and all multifamily developments of fifty units or more.
C.
When required, bicycle parking shall be provided at a ratio of one space per five thousand square feet of gross floor area for commercial and one space per five units for multifamily. Bike parking provided on a voluntary basis is encouraged to meet this standard.
D.
The location of and access to bicycle parking areas should be in accordance with the following guidelines:
1.
Bicycle parking areas should be designed so as to be visible from the street, be convenient to cyclists, provide sufficient security from theft and damage, and to interact as harmoniously as possible with other forms of transportation.
2.
Outdoor bicycle parking areas must be lighted to reduce the potential for crime.
3.
Outdoor bicycle parking areas shall be located no farther than fifty feet from primary building entrances, and their location and design shall assure that bicycle parking does not obstruct vehicle parking or pedestrian accessways.
4.
Outdoor bicycle parking areas shall include a bicycle rack for the secure placement of bicycles.
5.
Outdoor bicycle parking areas including bicycle racks should be located so as to avoid conflict with pedestrian movement and access walks as required by the Uniform Building Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other applicable state and federal policies and guidelines.
6.
A pedestrian-accessible walk should be provided between the outdoor bicycle parking area and the primary building entrance and shall be constructed of hard surface materials with a minimum width of five feet. Public sidewalks may be used to meet this standard.
7.
Bicycle parking areas are encouraged to be sheltered from natural elements through methods such as roof extensions, overhangs, awnings, arcades, carports or enclosures. Where bicycle parking is installed in the public right-of-way as part of a public works project or specifically permitted as a mitigation measure by the planning director or hearing examiner, sheltering shall not be required.
E.
Bike racks provided pursuant to this section should meet the following provisions. Required bike racks shall meet the provisions of this section:
1.
Bicycle racks provided for required bicycle parking facilities should ensure that bicycles may be securely locked to the racks without undue inconvenience.
2.
Bicycle parking facilities should offer security in the form of either a lockable enclosure in which a bicycle can be stored or a stationary object such as a bicycle rack upon which a bicycle can be locked in accordance with the following requirement: bicycle racks should hold bicycles securely by the means of the frame. The frame must be supported so that the bicycle cannot be pushed or fall to one side in a manner that will damage the bicycle's wheels.
3.
Bicycle parking racks, shelters or lockers must be securely anchored to the ground or to a structure.
4.
Bicycle parking spaces should be a minimum of two and one-half feet wide by six feet long, and provide a vertical clearance of seven feet. A minimum five-foot wide access aisle shall be provided and maintained between or beside each row of bicycle parking.
5.
Each bicycle parking space should be accessible without moving another bicycle.
6.
Bicycle parking spaces required by this chapter shall not be rented or leased.
7.
Areas set aside for required bicycle parking should be clearly reserved for bicycle parking only.
F.
Bicycle parking areas shall be paved and surfaced in accordance with the following requirement: Outdoor bicycle parking areas should be surfaced with hard-surfacing material having a minimum depth of two inches, such as pavers, asphalt or concrete. This surface should conform with all requirements pertaining to stormwater drainage and control and shall be maintained in good and safe condition at all times.
(Ord. 99-004 § 8 (part), 1999; Ord. 04-024 § 31 (part), 2004; Ord. 16-24 § 3 (part), 2016; Ord. 17-06 § 6 (part), 2017; Ord. 18-10 § 3 (part), 2018)
