Forest Hill City Zoning Code
Division 9
Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements
§ 9.02.231 Parking requirements based on use.
In all districts there shall be provided at the time any building or structure is erected or structurally altered (except as provided in section 9.02.232), off-street parking spaces in accordance with the following requirements.
(1)
Residential uses.
(A)
Fraternity/sorority house, dormitory.
One (1) parking space for each two (2) beds.
(B)
Boarding or rooming house.
One (1) parking space for each guest room or residence unit.
(C)
Mobile home/mobile home park.
Two (2) parking spaces per mobile home unit plus additional space as required herein for accessory uses.
(2)
Institutional and special uses.
(A)
Church or other place of worship.
One (1) space for each three (3) seats in main auditorium or sanctuary.
(B)
Community center, library, museum or art gallery.
Ten (10) parking spaces plus one additional space for each three hundred (300) square feet of floor area. If an auditorium is included as part of the building, its floor area shall be deducted from the total and additional parking provided on the basis of one (1) space for each four (4) seats that it contains.
(C)
Mortuary or funeral home.
One (1) parking space for each three hundred (300) square feet of floor area other than chapel; one (1) for each four (4) seats in chapel.
(D)
Hospital.
One (1) parking space per employee on the largest shift, plus one (1) space for each bed.
(E)
Home for the aged, convalescent home, sanitarium, or similar institution.
One (1) parking space for each six (6) beds plus one (1) space for each employee on the day shift.
(F)
School, elementary or junior high.
One (1) parking space for each classroom plus one (1) space for each five (5) seats in the auditorium.
(G)
School, high school.
One (1) parking space for each classroom and one (1) space for each five (5) students.
(H)
College, university, or trade school.
One (1) parking space for each classroom plus one (1) space for each four (4) students.
(I)
Kindergarten, day nursery, or day-care center.
One (1) parking space for every six (6) pupils or children.
(3)
Recreation and entertainment uses.
(A)
Bowling alley.
Six (6) parking spaces for each lane.
(B)
Bingo establishment.
One (1) for each one hundred (100) square feet of gross floor area.
(C)
Dance hall, assembly hall, or exhibition hall without fixed seating.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred (100) square feet of floor area.
(D)
Pool halls, coin arcades, skating rink, or other indoor commercial amusements.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred twenty-five (125) square feet of floor space.
(E)
Nightclub or bar.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred (100) square feet of floor area.
(F)
Theater, auditorium (except school), sports arena, stadium, gymnasium, athletic field.
One (1) parking space for each four (4) seats.
(G)
Private club, health club, country club, golf club, lodge or fraternal organization.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor area.
(H)
Miniature golf, driving range, go-cart track, carnival or other outdoor commercial amusements.
One (1) parking space for each five hundred (500) square feet of site area, exclusive of buildings.
(I)
Restaurant/fast food/eating establishments.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred (100) square feet of floor area.
(4)
Personal service and retail.
(A)
Retail or personal service establishment, except as otherwise specified herein.
One (1) parking space for each two hundred (200) square feet of floor area.
(B)
Furniture or appliance store, household equipment, hardware store and wholesale establishments.
Two (2) parking spaces plus one (1) additional parking space for each three hundred (300) square feet of floor area.
(C)
Outside retail sales.
One (1) parking space for each six hundred (600) square feet of site area.
(D)
Coin-operated laundry.
One (1) parking space for each one hundred twenty-five (125) square feet of floor area.
(E)
Hotel or motel.
One (1) parking space for each rentable unit plus one (1) parking space for each one hundred (100) square feet of public areas.
(F)
Short-term rentals.
One (1) parking space per bedroom plus one (1) space required for property owner. All parking spaces shall be accommodated within the property boundaries and absolutely no street parking shall be allowed for calculating parking requirements.
(5)
Business and professional services.
(A)
Bank, savings and loan, or similar institution.
One (1) parking space for each three hundred (300) square feet of floor area.
(B)
Medical, dental, or veterinary clinic/office.
One (1) parking space for every one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor area.
(C)
Other offices, business, or professional.
One (1) parking space for every three hundred (300) square feet of floor area.
(6)
Automotive, boat, machinery, and equipment.
(A)
Service/filling station.
One (1) parking space for every two hundred (200) square feet of floor area; minimum of six (6) spaces required.
(B)
Auto/boat repair, garage or shop.
Three (3) parking space for every service bay, plus one (1) per employee, plus one (1) per service vehicle.
(C)
Vehicle, boat, machinery, or equipment sales.
One (1) parking space for each five hundred (500) square feet of sales floor area indoor and one (1) parking space for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of lot area for outdoor sales.
(D)
Auto/boat parts and accessory sales.
One (1) parking space for every two hundred (200) square feet of floor area.
(E)
Car wash.
One (1) parking space per wash bay plus one (1) parking space for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of site area exclusive of building area; minimum of ten (10) spaces required.
(7)
Storage, wholesale, and manufacturing.
(A)
Brick, lumber yard, or similar area.
One (1) parking space for every five hundred (500) square feet of site area.
(B)
Open storage of sand, gravel, petroleum products, etc.
One (1) parking space for every two thousand (2,000) square feet of site area.
(C)
Warehouse and enclosed storage.
One (1) parking space for every one thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area and one (1) parking space for three hundred (300) square feet of office or sales area.
(D)
Manufacturing or industrial, research or testing laboratory, creamery, bottling plant, or similar establishment.
One and one-half (1-1/2) parking spaces for each employee on maximum working shift plus space to accommodate all trucks and other vehicles used in connection therewith, but not less than one (1) parking space for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of floor area.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-171), adopted 3/15/16; Ordinance 2020-02, sec. 3, adopted 3/3/20; Ordinance 2020-03, sec. 3, adopted 3/3/20)
§ 9.02.232 Rules for computing number of parking spaces.
In computing the number of parking spaces required for each of the above uses the following rules shall govern:
(1)
“Floor area” shall mean the total floor area of the specific use and “site area” shall mean the entire property to be accessed by customers or utilized for said use.
(2)
Should fractional spaces result in the calculation, then the parking spaces required would be rounded up to the next larger number.
(3)
The parking space requirement for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as the required for a use similar in nature.
(4)
For the purpose of this section, requirements shall be based on gross area, but shall not include enclosed or covered areas used for off-street parking or loading.
(5)
Whenever in any building there is a change of use, or an increase in floor area or in number of employees or other unit of measurement hereinafter specified for the determination of required off-street parking spaces, additional off-street parking facilities shall be provided on the basis of the increased requirements of the new use or other unit measurement, provided, however, that in case such change in use creates a need for an increase in off-street parking spaces of less than ten (10) percent of parking facilities or of less than five (5) spaces, whichever number is greater, no additional parking facilities shall be required.
(6)
In the case of mixed uses, the parking spaces required shall equal the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-172), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.233 Supplemental off-street parking requirements.
(a)
Location of off-street parking.
All parking spaces required herein shall be located on the same lot with the building or use served. Exceptions may be made for the following:
(1)
Where an increase in the number of spaces is required by a change or enlargement of use, the required spaces may be located not to exceed three hundred (300) feet from an institutional building served and not to exceed five hundred (500) feet from any other nonresidential building served; as long as such additional off-site parking is located in the same zoning district as the main use or in any other district which permits a commercial parking lot or garage.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent collective provisions of off-street parking facilities for two (2) or more buildings or uses, provided that the total of such off-street parking spaces supplied collectively shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately; provided also that the requirements set forth in section 9.02.233(a)(1) as to maximum distance between parking areas and establishments served shall apply to each establishment participating in the collective provisions of parking.
(3)
Buildings or uses not normally open, used, or operated during the principal operating hours of theaters, churches, or other of the aforesaid establishments are defined as banks, business offices, retail stores, personal service shops, household equipment or furniture shops, clothing or shoe repair or service shops, manufacturing buildings or similar uses. In any case where the required parking spaces are not located on the same lot with the building or use served, or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a written agreement thereby assuring their retention for such purposes, shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the city attorney and shall be filed with the application for a certificate of occupancy.
(4)
The required parking spaces for all newly constructed single-family and two-family uses shall be located behind the front building line and shall not be located within the required side yard.
(5)
Required parking spaces shall be located in such a manner so as to permit space for entering and exiting without backing onto a public street. Parking spaces on the perimeter of the parking lot and abutting a property line shall have a wheel stop or curb as a barrier two (2) feet from the end of the parking space.
(b)
Use of off-street parking and loading spaces.
Required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be used for these respective purposes only and shall not be used for the sale, storage, display, repair or servicing of boats, trailers, campers, motor vehicles, or other goods, materials or products.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-173), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.234 Minimum dimensions for off-street parking.
(a)
Ninety (90) degree angle parking.
Each parking space shall be not less than nine (9) feet wide nor less than eighteen (18) feet in length. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than twenty-four (24) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line.
(b)
Sixty (60) degree angle parking.
Each parking space shall be not less than nine (9) feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle or less then seventeen (17) feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than twenty (20) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line. The first parking space shall be placed a minimum of ten (10) feet from the property line or sidewalk, whichever is greater.
(c)
Forty-five (45) degree angle parking.
Each parking space shall be not less than nine (9) feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle nor less than sixteen (16) feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than eighteen (18) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line. The first parking space shall be placed a minimum of six and one-half (6-1/2) feet from the property line or sidewalk, whichever is greater.
(d)
Use of alleys.
When off-street parking facilities are located adjacent to a public alley, the width of said alley may be assumed to be a portion of the maneuvering space requirement.
(e)
Excess facilities.
Where off-street parking facilities are provided in excess of the minimum amounts herein specified, or where off-street parking facilities are provided but not required by this article, said off-street parking facilities shall comply with the minimum requirements for parking and maneuvering space herein specified.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-174), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.235 Off-street loading space.
Every building or part thereof erected or occupied for retail business, service, manufacturing, storage, warehousing, hotel, mortuary, or any other similar use involving the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials or merchandise, shall provide and maintain on the same premises loading space in accordance with the following requirements:
(1)
For normal retail, commercial sales, service or wholesale establishment, industrial, or manufacturing use, or similar uses, off-street loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following schedule:
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Loading Spaces Required |
|---|---|
1 to 15,000 | 1 |
15,000 to 40,000 | 2 |
40,000 to 65,000 | 3 |
65,000 to 100,000 | 4 |
100,000 to 150,000 | 5 |
Each additional 50,000 or portion thereof | 1 additional |
(2)
For hotels, office building, banks, auditoriums, sports, arenas, restaurants, or similar uses, off-street loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following schedule:
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Loading Spaces Required |
|---|---|
1 to 50,000 | 1 |
50,000 to 100,000 | 2 |
100,000 to 150,000 | 3 |
150,000 to 250,000 | 4 |
Each additional 100,000 or portion thereof | 1 additional |
(3)
Each required loading space shall be a size not less than twelve (12) feet by thirty (30) feet, with a clearance height of fourteen (14) feet.
(4)
Schools, day schools, day-care centers and similar child training and care establishments shall provide loading and unloading space on a private drive, off-street, to accommodate one motor vehicle for each ten (10) students or children to be enrolled in or cared for by the establishment at design capacity.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-175), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.236 Handicapped parking.
Handicapped parking shall be governed by state law; contact building official.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-176), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.237 Development standards for parking, loading, and drive areas.
(a)
Paving and drainage.
All access drives, loading areas, off-street parking areas, and vehicular storage or display areas shall be of a dust-free, all-weather hard surface paved with not less than five (5) inches of reinforced concrete pavement over compacted subgrade or not less than two (2) inches of hot mix asphalt concrete over at least six (6) inches of crushed stone base or not less than four (4) inches lime treated subgrade, or an equivalent pavement. Parking areas shall be graded and drained in such a manner that runoff shall be properly channeled into a storm drain, watercourse, ponding area, or other appropriate facility.
(b)
Pavement marking.
All parking, loading and handicapped spaces shall be legibly marked and striped on pavement.
(c)
Curbs, wheelstops, and islands.
All parking, loading spaces, and vehicular storage and sales areas shall be provided with curbs, wheelstops, or raised islands so located as to prevent overhang of parked vehicle into landscaped areas, public right-of-way or sidewalk areas.
(d)
Lighting.
Any light used to illuminate or identify a parking or loading area shall be placed so as to reflect the light away from any residential use.
(e)
Drive and access ways.
(1)
Entrances and/or exits on a public street shall not be located less than one hundred (100) feet from the nearest point of intersection of two (2) street right-of-way lines unless the tract is not of sufficient size to accommodate this restriction. In such case, the driveway shall be located as far as possible from said intersection.
(2)
Driveway widths shall be no less than twelve (12) feet and no greater than fifty percent (50%) of the lot width where it fronts on said public street and in no case shall entrance be more than forty (40) feet in width. Driveways for single-family residential uses shall have an approach radius of no less than ten (10) feet. All other driveways shall maintain a minimum approach radius of fifteen (15) feet.
(3)
Only one (1) driveway approach shall be permitted on lots having lineal frontage on a public street of one hundred (100) feet or less. Additional openings for such lots may be permitted if, after reviewing submitted proof of necessity and convenience, the zoning administrator deems it necessary.
(4)
There shall be no less than twenty (20) feet between any two (2) adjacent entrances and/or exits on local and collector streets and not less than fifty (50) feet between any two (2) adjacent entrances and/or exits on arterials and major thoroughfares.
(f)
Construction standards.
Construction of all drives, access ways, parking and storage facilities shall comply with the guidelines set forth and on file with the department of public works.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-177), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.238 Maintenance.
To insure that all requirements set forth in this section are carried forward, it will be the responsibility of the owner of the parking area to maintain the facility. Such facilities shall be kept free of trash, debris, vehicle repair operation or display and advertising uses. At no time after initial approval of the parking area layout can changes be made in the location and/or number of spaces or access ways without approval of the zoning administrator.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-178), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.239 Design approval.
A site plan, clearly designating the requirements set forth herein, shall be submitted at the time of application for building permit or certificate of occupancy. The zoning administrator shall grant approval of all off-street parking area layouts and designs, and shall determine that the spaces provided are usable and facilitate an adequate circulation pattern.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-179), adopted 3/15/16)
§ 9.02.240 Exceptions and adjustments.
(a)
The zoning administrator may adjust the application of these requirements, in part or in whole, if in his judgment, such an adjustment is consistent with the purpose and intent of this article.
(b)
Appeals of the zoning administrator’s decision or interpretation of this article, or any variance or special exception requested due to undue hardship, shall be directed to and acted on by the board of zoning adjustment.
(Ordinance 2016-03-001, sec. 2 (64-180), adopted 3/15/16)