Cranston City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
64 OFF-STREET PARKING
§ 17.64.010 Off-street parking.
A.
Applicability. No land shall be used or occupied and no structure shall be erected or used unless the off-street parking spaces required herein are provided. Such parking spaces are not required for any structure or use existing at the time of enactment of this chapter; provided, however, that parking spaces as specified in this chapter shall be provided for any enlargement or alteration to any such existing structures or use.
B.
Location. The off-street parking spaces required by this chapter shall be on the same lot as the structure or use they are intended to serve. The zoning board of review may grant exceptions to allow provision of the required spaces on a separate lot or lots within a radius of two hundred (200) feet in C-1, C-2 and C-3 districts; and a radius of eight hundred (800) feet in C-5, M-l and M-2 districts, measured from the lot line of the principal use.
C.
Extension of Parking Across District Boundaries in Residential, Commercial and Industrial Districts. It is the intent of the zoning ordinance to encourage proper off-street parking areas so as to protect public safety, alleviate traffic congestion and encourage economic development that is in harmony with surrounding land use.
The off-street parking, loading and unloading spaces may be provided for a conforming use in any commercial and industrial district on the same or adjoining parcel of land to a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the boundary of any such district in the manner provided in this section, including residential zoning districts or other commercial or industrial zoning districts.
Any such extension into a residential zone shall have ingress and egress only via the lot(s) in the zoning district on which the conforming use is located and shall not substantially increase traffic in the adjoining zoning district.
D.
Continuation of Facilities. Required parking spaces associated with a permitted use shall not be reduced or encroached upon in any manner unless a change in the parking requirements of the associated permitted use occurs to permit a corresponding change in the area of the associated parking space.
E.
Off-Street Parking Facilities.
1.
Off-street parking facilities for the handicapped shall conform to the state of Rhode Island Building Code, as amended.
2.
A driveway of at least ten (10) feet by eighteen (18) feet shall be considered a parking space for a one family dwelling.
F.
Street Access.
1.
Each parking space shall have vehicular access to a street. Driveways, aisles and spaces in all multifamily, commercial and industrial developments shall be so arranged that vehicles will leave and enter the street with a forward motion.
2.
Curb openings shall conform to the following design standards:
Residential Construction: | |
Minimum Width | 10 Feet |
Maximum Width | 20 Feet |
Multi-Family, Commercial and Industrial Construction: | |
Minimum Width | 12 Feet |
Maximum Width | 35 Feet |
3.
Curb Openings at Corner Lots. On a corner lot, no curb opening shall be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet to the end of the radius curb.
G.
Parking Spaces Reserved for One Structure or Use. No part of an off-street parking area required for any building or use for the purposes of complying with the provisions of this section shall be included as part of an off-street parking area similarly required for another building or use; provided however, that where the zoning board of review finds that such required off-street parking will not be used simultaneously by more than one building or use, it may reduce the required parking space to an area adequate for the combined uses at the time when the parking area will be in greatest use.
H.
Construction Requirements.
1.
Every parcel of land which, after the effective date of this chapter is changed to a parking area for more than five vehicles or to a drive-in business or motor vehicle sales or service establishment or any parcel of land hereafter developed in a C-4 district, shall be developed as follows, subject to the approval of the plans thereof by the inspector of buildings.
2.
Such area, where subject to wheeled traffic shall be treated with bituminous or other all weather, hard surfacing and shall have appropriate bumper or wheel guards where needed.
3.
Where such area adjoins, faces or extends into a residential district in the rear or on the side of the principal building, a wall or fence or solid appearance or a tight evergreen hedge having a height of no less than five feet shall be erected and maintained between such area and the property in the residential district. No such wall, fence or hedge need be erected in or adjacent to any front yard or corner side yards.
4.
Any light used to illuminate such parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from adjoining premises and streets.
I.
Off-Street Parking Space Requirements. The following numbers of amounts of off-street parking spaces or areas shall be required for the following uses:
1.
Accessory dwelling unit: one additional parking space.
2.
Bowling alleys: three spaces for every two alleys.
3.
Churches: one space for each 10 seats in main room or area in which services are held.
4.
Congregate retirement living facilities: one space for each two units, plus one for each employee.
5.
Dance halls and nightclubs, hall include all of the following three requirements.
a.
One space per 25 square feet of dance floor area.
b.
One space per three seats for tables and chair areas or one for every three persons based on the capacity as determined by the fire chief or designee, which ever is greater.
c.
One space per three-fourths employees of the facility.
6.
Eating and drinking establishments: one space for each three seats provided for patron use.
7.
Funeral homes: one space for each company vehicle, plus one space for each three seats in meeting rooms.
8.
Game room: one space for every three amusement machines or devices or higher fraction thereof.
9.
Hospitals and sanitariums: one space for each two beds.
10.
Hotels, motels: one space for each room to rent.
11.
Marinas: where marinas are included as an accessory use, the parking spaces otherwise required shall be increased by one parking space for each boat mooring space in excess of five boat moorings.
12.
Medical or dental clinics: four spaces for each 1,000 square feet of floor area.
13.
Multi-family dwelling structures: for residential structures or groups of structures with three or more dwelling units, two spaces for each dwelling unit, excepting that for multi-family structures designed for the elderly, 90%t or more of whose units are to be occupied by persons at least 60 years of age, the number of parking spaces shall be one for each dwelling unit.
14.
Nursing homes: one space for each two beds.
15.
Offices: four spaces for each 1,000 square feet of floor area.
16.
Retail business and service establishments except eating and drinking establishments: one space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area of buildings or groups of buildings having a gross floor area of zero to 5,000 square feet, excluding basement storage area.
One space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area of buildings or groups of buildings having a gross floor area greater than 5,000 square feet, excluding basement storage.
Four spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area of buildings or groups of buildings located within a State Enterprise Zone having a gross floor area greater than 190,000 square feet, excluding basement storage.
17.
Schools: one space for each two employees, including teachers and administrators, but excluding members of religious orders, plus sufficient off-street space for safe and convenient loading and unloading of students.
18.
Detached and attached single and two-family dwellings: one space for each dwelling unit.
19.
Theaters, auditoriums, stadiums: one space for each four seats, plus one additional space for each two employees.
20.
Welfare institutions (asylums orphanages and so forth): one space for each doctor (staff or visiting) associated with the institution, plus additional spaces equal to three-fourths of the number of employees, plus such additional space for business and social visitors as shall be determined necessary by the inspector of buildings in light of the needs of the particular institution.
21.
Wholesale establishments, establishments processing for direct consumption and industrial district uses: one space for each employee-used vehicle or one space for each four employees employed at maximum employment, whichever is greater; plus space for every company owned and operated vehicle plus spaces for customers' vehicles as determined appropriate by the inspector of buildings.
(Prior code § 30-18(p); Ord. 2010-28, § 2, 9/27/2010; Ord. 2026-2, 1/20/2026)
