Davis City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 40
25 PARKING AND LOADING AREAS, PUBLIC GARAGES AND PARKING LOTS
Prior History: Ord. 296 § 23; Ord. 316 § 13, 14, 15; Ord. 342 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 377 §§ 6 - 10; Ord. 440 § 1; Ord. 449 § 1;; Ord. 465 § 1; Ord. 501 § 3; Ord. 527 § 5; Ord. 560 § 1; Ord. 920 § 2; Ord. 924 § 5; Ord. 945 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 946 §§ 2, 5; Ord. 1002 § 2; Ord. 1014 §§ 4, 5; Ord. 1040 § 1; Ord. 1357 §§ 13, 14; Ord. 1419 § 11; Ord. 1487 § 1; Ord. 1783 § 1; Ord. 1787 § 24; Ord. 1821 § 3; Ord. 1940 § 2 - 6; Ord. 2022 § 12, 2000; Ord. 2110 § 3, 2003; Ord. 2118 § 6, 2003; Ord. 2148 § 2, 3, 2004; Ord. 2232 § 2, 2006; Ord. 2276 § 6, 2007; Ord. 2390 § 2, 2012; Ord. 2572 § 3, 2020.
§ 40.25.010 Compliance with article.
New, existing or substantially altered uses shall not be required to provide off-street parking. Parking requirements for off-street parking space applicable to structures constructed prior to adoption of the ordinance codified in this article shall not be a continuing obligation of the owner of the real estate on which any such structure is located.
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)
§ 40.25.020 Joint use of parking or loading space.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the joint use of off-street parking or off-street loading space for two or more buildings or uses.
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)
§ 40.25.030 Off-street loading spaces required.
In any district, in connection with every building or part thereof hereafter erected and having a gross floor area of ten thousand square feet or more which is to be occupied by manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display, retail store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, laundry, dry cleaning or other uses similarly requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained, on the same lot with such building, at least one off street loading space.
Each loading space shall be not less than ten feet in width, twenty-five feet in length, and fourteen feet in height.
Subject to the limitations in subsection (d) of this section, such space may occupy all or any part of any required yard or court space.
No such space shall be located closer than fifty feet to any lot in any R district or a district designated for future residential development in the City General Plan, unless wholly within a completely enclosed building or unless enclosed on all sides by a wall not less than eight feet in height.
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)
§ 40.25.040 Parking space and size.
When off street parking is provided, the facilities shall comply with the design standards from the public works department. Off-street parking spaces and maneuvering shall meet the requirements as established by the City of Davis.
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)
§ 40.25.050 Location of off-street parking.
When off-street parking is provided, spaces shall meet the following requirements:
Off-street parking spaces, including aisles, shall be located behind the front and street side yard setback line in all residential districts when the principal use is other than a single-family or duplex dwelling.
For single-family and duplex dwellings, the following conditions shall be met for the parking and storage of all vehicles, materials and equipment:
No more than one driveway per street frontage may be extended from the edge of the public street to the property except where the total width of the street frontage is eighty feet or greater, or where a circular driveway is utilized.
Where adequate access is provided (minimum ten-foot sideyard), parking in the required rear yard of single-family and duplex dwellings shall be permitted if the minimum usable open space requirement is met and the total coverage, inclusive of any accessory structures and areas surfaced for parking, does not exceed thirty percent of the required rear yard area.
Impervious surfacing in the required front yard and/or side yard area shall be limited to forty percent, or eighteen feet in total width, whichever is greater. If concrete runners are utilized, the area between the runners shall be counted as part of the total surfacing area.
Areas surfaced for parking spaces shall meet minimum length and width standards for parking spaces, individually and in aggregate. For example, the minimum driveway width for two required spaces side by side on a driveway shall be eighteen feet (nine feet (minimum parking space width) times two spaces equals eighteen feet).
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)
§ 40.25.060 Development and maintenance of parking areas.
The following shall be required if a parking area is provided:
Screening. An area with screening shrubs or a fence of acceptable design shall be required at the front yard setback line. If screening shrubs are used, any such planted area shall be served by an underground irrigation system. Such planted area shall not be surfaced in part or whole with concrete, asphalt or other surface material, but shall contain earth, and may, in addition, contain filters such as wood shavings, bark, volcanic rock or other similar mulch material.
Fencing. A solid fence at least six feet high is required when any surfaced area is established abutting residentially zoned property.
Surfacing. Any off-street parking area shall be surfaced with asphaltic or Portland cement binder pavement or compacted gravel (minimum four inches compacted base), grass-crete or other surface approved by the director, so as to provide a durable, dustless and continuous (from point of access to edge of public street) all weather surface that is appropriately structured and bordered for permanence, and shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the area, and shall be so arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe loading and unloading and parking and storage of vehicles.
Lighting. Lighting, if provided, shall reflect away from residential areas and public streets.
Use. Parking spaces, including driveways, shall be used for automobile parking only. No sales, dead storage, repair work, dismantling or servicing of any kind shall be permitted. Uncovered parking spaces for single-family and duplex dwellings located in the front yard shall not be used for, or obstructed by, storage of material, equipment or inoperable vehicles.
Urban Heat Island Effect.
If an applicant chooses to provide a parking lot, one or a combination of the following must apply to the satisfaction of the director. A property owner or applicant may also elect to change between compliance methods if there is an already existing parking area, to the satisfaction of the director:
Fifty percent of the paved parking area shall be shaded with tree canopies within fifteen years of securing a certificate of occupancy; development of such canopy shall be in accordance with the City of Davis Climate-Ready Tree list and the parking lot shading guidelines.
One tree well, measuring six feet by six feet minimum, shall be provided for every five parking stalls, including parking provided in front of buildings. The end of each row of parking stalls shall be capped by a tree well measuring a minimum of six feet by eighteen feet. Tree wells shall include structured soil. A tree shall be planted and maintained in each tree well and two trees in the end cap planters and shall be in accordance with the City of Davis Climate-Ready Tree list and the parking lot shading guidelines.
Solar energy structures encompassing no less than fifty percent of the paved parking area.
Landscaping.
The landscape plan and elevations submitted for review by the director or designee shall demonstrate the reasonable expected growth and shading patterns of the proposed landscaping materials. Drought resistant plantings are to be selected from the City of Davis Climate-Ready Tree list, subject to review by the director or designee. Landscaping shall be reasonably maintained.
Landscaping shall cover a minimum of ten percent of the site. A planter measuring no less than fifteen feet in width shall be provided along all frontages of the property. A planter measuring no less than five feet in width shall be provided along the rear and interior sides of the property.
Screening. Where a parking lot adjoins an R district, a solid wall or fence six feet in height shall be located on the property line, except in a required front yard. In ease case where fences are required in connection with a use in any district, such fence shall be landscaped as appropriate.
(Ord. 2677, 11/4/2025)