Farmington City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 32

OFF STREET PARKING, LOADING AND ACCESS

11-32-010: PURPOSE:

The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations for off street parking and loading, and access to such facilities, sufficient for each type of land use so as to reduce street congestion and traffic hazards and the need to park on public streets. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994)

11-32-020: EFFECT OF CHAPTER:

The regulations as contained in this chapter shall apply and govern in all zones. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994)

11-32-030: GENERAL PROVISIONS:

A. Off Street Parking Space Required: The minimum off street parking spaces as outlined in this chapter, along with adequate provisions for ingress and egress by standard size automobiles and adequate loading facilities, shall be provided for any use of land or main building or structure in the City. These facilities shall be provided at the time the use is established or the building erected; or at the time the building or structure is enlarged, altered, converted or changed in use, or moved. If more than one (1) use is located on a site, the number of off street parking and loading spaces provided shall be equal to the sum of the requirements for each use.

B. Location Of Off Street Parking: Parking areas as required by this chapter shall be located on the same lot as the main building or structure. However, in cases other than a dwelling where, due to size or location, the required parking cannot be provided on site, it may be located on other property not more than three hundred feet (300') from the nearest point of the main parcel. If off site parking is proposed to meet the minimum requirements of this chapter, a document shall be submitted by the applicant verifying that permission has been granted by the owner of the property on which the parking will be located to use such property.

C. Required Parking To Be Preserved: Space for off street parking required in connection with an existing building shall not be reduced in the number or size of parking spaces, nor shall it be utilized for any other purpose than off street parking, but shall be preserved in perpetuity as long as the requirement for said off street parking is needed.

D. Tandem Parking: Tandem parking shall not be allowed, except for single- family and two-family dwellings.

E. Parking In Front Yard or Side Corner Yard: No portion of a front yard or side corner yard shall be used for parking, except for the paved or gravel driveway area. No portion of a front yard or side corner yard, other than driveways leading to a garage or properly designated parking space, shall be paved or graveled to encourage or make possible the parking of vehicles thereon.

F. Traffic Study: For developments where the impacts of additional traffic on abutting streets or impacts associated with interior circulation may be critical, a traffic impact study may be required by the City. This study shall be prepared by an engineer specializing in traffic analysis. At the discretion of the City, the traffic study may include, among other things, an analysis of on site circulation, capacities of existing streets, number of additional trips which will be generated, origin/destination studies, peak traffic volumes and movements, the effect of driveways on traffic flow on adjacent streets, and the effect on functional characteristics of intersections due to proximity of driveways.

G. Joint Use Parking Areas: When two (2) dissimilar uses are located adjacent to each other and the demand for parking in conjunction with those uses would not conflict, the Planning Commission may authorize the use of such combined facilities requiring the maximum number of parking spaces for the larger use. Joint use of parking areas for similar adjacent uses may be provided as long as the total off street parking spaces is equal to the minimum requirement for each individual use. If the common facilities are located on more than one (1) lot, a covenant for the preservation of the parking facilities must be filed with the City.

H. Parking Standards For Historic Structures: As part of a site development application, the Planning Commission may consider and approve a reduction or modification of the standards contained herein for uses proposed in historic structures, providing it can be demonstrated that the standards for such use exceed that which is necessary in the specific case, that congestion on adjacent streets will not be significantly increased, and that by granting such a reduction, the safety and general welfare of the public will not be compromised. For the purpose of this chapter, “historic structure” is defined as a nonresidential building which is over fifty (50) years old and/or which is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties.

I. AP Districts: Off street parking, loading, and access standards for Agriculture Planned Districts shall be determined as part of the General Development Plan and agreement process set forth in Chapter 27B of this title.

J. Variances: The Planning Commission may authorize, as part of the standard review of a site plan and/or conditional use permit application, a reduction in the required parking and loading spaces as described in this chapter upon a finding that in a specific case, the nature of the use or premises, would mitigate the need for the full parking requirement specified in this chapter. Availability of street parking would not be justification for reducing the requirement. (Ord. 2017-13, 5-16-2017; amd. Ord. 2021-01, 1-19-2021; Ord. 2023-13, 3-14-2023; Ord. 2024-03, 1-2-2024; Ord. 2024-41, 7-16-2024)

11-32-040: MINIMUM PARKING SPACES REQUIRED:

Required off street parking shall be provided for each land use as listed below. For any use not listed, the requirements for the most nearly similar use which is listed shall apply. The Planning Commission shall determine which listed use is most nearly similar. In special cases where it is determined that there is not a similar use, the Planning Commission, in consultation with the developer, shall establish the minimum parking space requirement:

Use	Parking Spaces Required
Auditoriums, assembly halls, theaters, churches, funeral homes	1 parking space for every 4 seats. Where there are no fixed seats, 1 space shall be provided for every 50 square feet of gross floor area.
Auto repair/body shop	3 spaces for each service bay (service bay itself shall not be counted as a parking space) plus 1 space for each vehicle customarily used in operation of the business.
Commercial recreation, such as golf course, bowling alley, etc.	Determined by the Planning Commission.
Dental and medical clinics	3 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Drive-in facilities, required stacking space	There shall be sufficient distance in advance of a service window to store 4 cars, not including the vehicle at the window. In the case of a fast food restaurant, the distance between a menu board and the pick up window shall be sufficient to store 4 cars, not including the vehicles at the pick up window and menu board, and storage for at least 4 vehicles shall also be provided in advance of the menu board. A minimum of 20 feet per vehicle shall be provided. Such spaces shall be designed so as not to impede pedestrian or vehicular circulation on the site or on abutting streets.
Dwelling, multi-family (5+ units/building)	1.6 parking spaces per unit, plus 0.25 space per unit for visitors.
Dwelling, single-family to four-family	2 parking spaces per dwelling unit.
Elementary and junior high school	2 parking spaces per classroom.
Fast food or drive-in restaurant	20 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of sales and eating area plus a minimum of 4 employee parking spaces.
Hospitals	1 parking space per each bed.
Hotel and motel	1 parking space per unit, plus specified requirements for restaurants, auditoriums, meeting rooms and other related facilities.
Intensive commercial business, retail stores and shops	4 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Less intensive commercial businesses, including auto, lumber, appliance sales, etc.	1.5 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor sales and display area.
Manufacturing uses, research and testing, wholesale	2 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 space for each company vehicle operating from the premises. 1 parking space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided for warehousing and/or space used exclusively for storage.
Nursing home	1 parking space per each bed.
Offices and personal services	3 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Senior high schools	7 parking spaces per classroom.
Sit down restaurants and bars	12 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.

(Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994; amd. Ord. 2025-15, 4-15-2025)

11-32-050: OFF STREET LOADING:

A. Off Street Loading Required: For every building with a floor area over ten thousand (10,000) square feet which contains a commercial or industrial use, to or from which deliveries are regularly made by motor vehicle, at least one off street loading space shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with the building. For buildings larger than ten thousand (10,000) square feet, an additional loading space shall be provided for the next thirty thousand (30,000) square feet, or portion thereof. One additional loading space shall be provided for each increment of forty thousand (40,000) square feet thereafter.

B. Size Of Loading Space: Each loading space shall be not less than fourteen feet (14') wide and twenty five feet (25') long with a vertical clearance of fourteen feet (14').

C. Location Of Loading Space: Required loading spaces may occupy any required yard, except the front yard. The loading space shall be designed and arranged so that no vehicle may be parked or stored or requires maneuvering room within a public street. No loading space shall be located closer than fifty feet (50') to a residential boundary, except when it is screened by a six foot (6') wall or solid fence. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994)

11-32-060: ACCESS TO OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING SPACES:

A. Ingress And Egress: Adequate ingress and egress to all uses shall be provided as follows:

1. Residential driveways shall be not more than twenty feet (20') in width when serving as access to two (2) properly designated spaces, or thirty feet (30') in width when serving as access to three (3) properly designated parking spaces as measured at the front or side corner property line. "Properly designated parking spaces" shall include spaces in a garage, carport or on a parking pad located to the side of a dwelling and not located within the front yard or required side corner yard. Tandem parking on a residential driveway leading to a properly designated parking space contributes to the number of parking spaces required for a single- or two-family dwelling. Additional driveway width for access to a rear yard, for more than three (3) properly designated parking spaces, or for multiple-family residential developments, or for a different location of a properly designated parking space than set forth herein, may be reviewed by the planning commission as a special exception. Residential driveways shall be designed at a width which is the minimum necessary to provide adequate access to designated parking spaces.

2. Not more than one driveway for each separate street frontage shall be permitted on lots occupied by a one-family or two-family dwelling, except under the following circumstances:

a. On lots with at least the minimum width required in the zone, one additional driveway may be permitted providing that the sum of the width of both driveways does not exceed the maximum widths specified in subsection A1 of this section;

b. For lots having at least fifty feet (50') of width in excess of the minimum required width, one additional driveway, not exceeding sixteen feet (16') in width, may be permitted.

3. A maximum of one driveway for each one hundred feet (100') of public street frontage shall be allowed for commercial and industrial uses. Said driveways shall be not more than thirty six feet (36') in width. Minimum widths of driveways shall be not less than sixteen feet (16') for one-way traffic or twenty four feet (24') for two-way traffic. Planter strips designed to separate one-way entering and exiting traffic, which are not less than four feet (4') or more than twelve feet (12') in width, shall not be included in computing the total width of driveways and do not constitute a separation of driveways as regulated by subsection B of this section.

4. Driveways shall not exceed a slope of fourteen percent (14%).

5. Driveways shall have direct access to a public street for a building lot. Subject to satisfaction of the provisions of section 11-3-045 of this title and the grant of a special exception, direct access for a building lot may include access over one adjacent building lot, provided both building lots have full frontage on a public street, an access easement has been recorded acceptable to the city, and the full face of any dwelling unit located on both building lots fronts or is fully exposed to the public street.

B. Driveway Spacing:

1. Individual driveways or circular driveways on residential lots shall be spaced not less than forty feet (40') apart on the same lot and shall be not less than six feet (6') from side property lines unless otherwise approved by the zoning administrator.

2. Individual driveways on commercial or industrial developments shall be spaced not less than forty feet (40') apart on the same lot and shall be not less than fifteen feet (15') from side property lines except under the following circumstances:

a. A common driveway serves adjacent land uses;

b. Driveways cannot meet separation standards due to narrow lot frontage;

c. Driveways cannot meet separation standards due to location of existing driveways on adjacent lots; or

d. A professional traffic engineer, after preparing a traffic study, recommends that driveways be located closer to interior lot lines in order to maintain a safe distance from street intersections.

C. Distance From Intersections: No residential driveway shall be located closer than thirty feet (30') to the intersection of two (2) streets. This measurement shall be made from the intersection of the right of way lines of such streets. For commercial uses, industrial uses and apartments with seventeen (17) or more parking spaces, the driveway shall be no closer than forty feet (40') to the intersection of two (2) streets. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994; amd. Ord. 2005-11, 4-6-2005; Ord. 2005-51, 10-19-2005; Ord. 2011-10, 5-17-2011; Ord. 2014-07, 3-4-2014; Ord. 2020-24, 10-6-2020; Ord. 2024-03, 1-2-2024; Ord. 2024-41, 7-16-2024)

11-32-070: PARKING DEVELOPMENT, STANDARDS AND MAINTENANCE:

A. Location: Sites shall be designed to transition easily from surface to structured parking to accommodate future infill development.

B. Size: Each off street parking space shall be not less than nine feet by eighteen feet (9' x 18') except as otherwise provided.

C. Accessible Parking: All public parking areas shall provide spaces complying with standards for quantity and design established in the federal Americans with disabilities act.

D. Surfacing: All public parking areas, private residential parking areas for five (5) or more vehicles, and private industrial parking areas with three (3) or more parking spaces (including driveways and loading spaces) shall be paved with asphalt or concrete, shall have appropriate bumper guards so that cars do not project across sidewalks or property lines, and shall be marked so as to provide the orderly arrangement and movement of vehicles.

E. Grading: All parking areas shall be graded for proper drainage as approved by the city engineer. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994)

F. Curb And Gutter: All parking areas as described in subsection C of this section shall be finished around the perimeter with concrete curb and gutter. (Ord. 2006-28, 4-19-2006)

G. No Backing Onto Public Streets: All parking areas described in subsection C of this section shall be designed so that vehicles would not be required to back out into a public street.

H. Screening And Landscaping: All public and private parking areas, except single-family and two-family dwellings, shall be effectively screened by solid fencing or landscaping. The screening and landscaping plan shall be approved by the planning commission in a site plan review.

I. Lighting: Lighting used to illuminate any off street parking area shall be designed to direct light away from adjoining property in residential districts.

J. Design Of Parking Area: Dimensions of all parking lots shall be in compliance with the minimum standards illustrated by the following table and diagram:

MINIMUM DIMENSIONS IN PARKING LOT DESIGN

	W Stall Width	C Curb Length	D Stall Depth	A Aisle Width	B Bay Width
90° parking	9 feet	9 feet	18 feet	24 feet	60 feet
60° parking	9 feet	10.4 feet	16 feet	23 feet	55 feet
45° parking	9 feet	12.7 feet	13 feet	22 feet	48 feet

K. Parking Structure Design Standards:

1. Required Structure Parking:

a. Office and retail uses with more than two hundred fifty (250) proposed parking stalls which are over parked at a rate of one and a half (1 ½) times or greater than the number of required stalls (not calculating for potential reductions) shall utilize structured or underground parking for a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the proposed parking to prevent excessive areas of surface parking.

2. Location of structured Parking: Structured parking shall be located such that they are screened or have minimal visibility from streets other than freeways.

3. Parking Structure Design:

a. Parking structures shall be designed with similar components and materials as the principal onsite building. Exterior materials shall consist of concrete, masonry, rock, glass, or other materials approved by the planning commissions.

b. It is highly encouraged to utilize horizontal beam construction that avoids placing support columns or walls adjacent to parking stalls and aisles.

c. Parking Stall Size Reductions:

(1) Low Parking Turnover Uses: Uses with a low turnover parking rate including office, residential, schools, and other uses as approved by the planning commission. These uses may be allowed to have as many as ten percent (10%) of the required stalls provided with reduced parking stall dimensions as defined in this section. Parking stall dimensions may be reduced to eight and a half (8 ½) feet in width and in case a stall has two (2) feet of overhang space, a stall may be reduced to sixteen (16) feet in length. Stalls adjacent to a support column or wall shall be a minimum of eleven (11) feet in width.

(2) High Parking Turnover Uses: Uses with a high turnover parking rate including retail, restaurants, movie theaters, and medical and dental offices. These uses shall maintain standard dimensions of nine (9) feet by eighteen (18) feet unless otherwise approved by the city engineer.

d. In cases where a site is sloped, parking structures shall take advantage of the topography by retaining the slope with the structure. Where possible the structure shall not be visible from the public street.

e. Exterior facades of a parking structure shall provide a variation of materials, wall projections, or change in architecture every one hundred (100) feet.

f. Parking structures shall be designed to allow natural light and public visibility to improve safety.

g. Parking structure stairways shall be covered. It is encouraged to enclose the stairway with architectural elements that relate to the principal building.

h. Screening:

(1) Transformers, ventilation shafts, elevator equipment, and other equipment shall be screened from public view by landscaping, screen walls, or other features incorporated into the design of the structure.

i. Landscaping:

(1) Parking structures shall be landscaped around the base with trees and shrubs. Landscaping shall be provided either on the top level of the structure with the use of planter beds or potted plants, or with the use of green walls or trellised plants. (Ord. 1994-26, 6-15-1994; amd. Ord. 2025-5, 1-7-2025)