No permit shall be issued for any parking facility until the plans and specifications, including required entrances, exits, and aisles, landscaping, screening, surface materials and drainage, have been submitted for review and are in compliance with this Code. Plans and specifications shall include proper drainage and retention, surface materials, curbing and screening as required, all parking areas clearly marked and dimensioned, with handicapped and loading or other special (i.e., compact, porous material) spaces designated. Before any building permit is issued, the parking lot layout must be found by the director to be in compliance with all requirements of this chapter.

(a)

Establish requirements for minimum off-street parking and loading areas in proportion to the need created by each use;

(b)

To reduce congestion in the streets and to ensure that uses and functions of public rights-of-ways are not interrupted;

(c)

Establish certain maximum as well as minimum requirements for parking spaces to reduce development costs and ensure that excess impervious surfaces are not constructed, while providing for additional parking spaces additions when a demonstrated need exists;

(d)

To promote flexible approaches to the provision of off-street parking, including in some cases, as appropriate, use of on-street parking, shared parking arrangements, smaller spaces for compact cars, and unimproved overflow or spillover parking areas.

(e)

To encourage the provision of bicycle parking and park and ride facilities, where warranted.

(f)

To establish design and improvement specifications for the development of parking lots, access aisles, parking decks, and connections of parking lots and decks to public streets.

(g)

To ensure that parking areas will be compatible with abutting residential districts.

This chapter shall apply to any new building constructed; for new uses or conversions of existing, conforming buildings; and for enlargements of existing structures. In addition, this chapter shall apply to any development providing five or more off-street parking spaces. This chapter shall not be construed as to require additional parking spaces to be furnished for an existing building which is repaired, altered, maintained, or modernized, where no significant structural alterations are made and the size of the building is not increased; provided, however, that when the occupancy of any building is changed to another use, parking shall be provided to meet the requirements of this chapter for the new use.

No existing facility used for off-street parking shall be reduced in capacity to less than the minimum required number of spaces, or altered in design or function to less than the minimum standards, unless specifically provided for in this chapter. Buildings, structures, and uses shall meet the following:

TABLE 17.1
MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES REQUIRED

(Amd. of 6-2-2011; Amd. of 2-7-2013; Amd. of 12-1-2016; Amd. of 12-20-2016; Amd. of 2-2-2017(4); Amd. of 9-7-2017(5); Amd. of 7-11-2019; Amd. of 1-5-2023)

(a)

Fractions. Where a fractional space results during the calculation of required parking, the required number of parking spaces shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.

(b)

Parking space requirement not specified. Where the parking requirement for a particular use is not described in this chapter, and where no similar use is listed, the director shall determine the number of spaces to be provided based on requirements for similar uses, location of the proposed use, the number of employees on the largest shift, and the expected demand and traffic generated by the proposed use.

(c)

Required parking for multiple uses. When a building includes a combination of uses, the required number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the required parking for each use, when the multiple uses operate simultaneously. For non-simultaneous use, the parking requirements for the use requiring the greater number of parking spaces will govern.

Off site parking may be used in combination to meet minimum parking space requirements; a reduction of required off-street parking spaces on a given site may be permitted by the director in cases where additional off-street, off-site, parking area of sufficient quantity and in conformity with this chapter compensates for the reduction, subject to the following:

(a)

The property is under one ownership, or a valid agreement exists between the two property owners for use of the parking area;

(b)

Off-site parking shall not exceed 50 percent of the required parking for a building or buildings.

(c)

Off-site parking shall be located within 800 feet of the building or buildings in which it is leased to serve.

(d)

Lease agreements, as applicable, must be of sufficient duration to serve the use or uses proposed to be partially served by the off-site leased parking.

(e)

Safe and convenient pedestrian access, such as a sidewalk or path, must exist or be provided from the structure or use to the off-site parking lot.

The 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.

The director may in individual cases administratively authorize a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces for projects that are directly served by public transit and for projects that provide bicycle parking, provided that it can be shown that such available alternative travel modes will reduce the overall need for parking on the site proportional to the requested reduction in parking spaces.

The director may in individual cases administratively authorize a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces for projects that are directly served by on-street parking approved by the director of engineering.

To avoid excessive surpluses which increase development costs and impervious surfaces, parking shall not be provided in quantities greater than 25 percent above the required minimum; provided, however, the following:

(a)

The director may allow parking at a rate in excess of 25 percent above the required number of spaces, on a case-by-case basis based upon the scale and impacts of the request, for good cause shown. The applicant shall make said request in writing which shall include documentation from an acceptable industry publication (e.g., Institute of Transportation Engineers, Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, etc.) or by a study prepared by a traffic engineering firm that documents parking requirements.

(b)

The director may allow a land area for parking that exceeds 25 percent above the required number of spaces to be designed and reserved for future parking use. In such a case, said reserved parking area shall not be developed except by written permission from the director, upon demonstration by the applicant that existing parking spaces are occupied at a rate of 90 percent or higher for 25 percent or more of the regular business hours in which the business or use operates during a non-holiday week.

(a)

Space size. An off-street parking space shall be a minimum of nine feet in width and 18 feet in length.

(b)

Compact parking. Compact auto parking spaces, shall be not less than eight feet wide by 17 feet long and may be used in commercial parking uses when more than 20 parking spaces are required, provided the area is clearly marked and not more than 20 percent of the entire parking area is designated compact auto parking.

(c)

Ninety-degree angled parking. For a single row of 90-degree head-in parking, the minimum depth for a parking space plus the width of the aisle shall be 42 feet. For two rows of 90-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum depth for parking spaces plus the width of the aisle shall be 60 feet.

(d)

Forty-five-degree angled parking. For a single row of 45-degree head-in parking the minimum width of parking space plus aisle shall be 31 feet. For two rows of 45-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum width for parking space plus aisle shall be 50 feet.

(e)

Thirty-degree angled parking. For a single row of 30-degree head-in parking the minimum width for a parking space plus aisle shall be 29 feet. For two rows of 30-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum width for parking spaces plus aisle shall be 45 feet.

(f)

Parallel parking. A single row of parking spaces may be provided parallel to an aisle, provided they are at least 22 feet in length and eight feet in width.

(g)

Driveway direction. Driveways less than 20 feet in width, if provided, shall be marked and limited to traffic flow in one direction only.

(Amd. of 11-1-2007; Amd. of 6-2-2011)

On the same lot with every building, structure or part thereof, erected or occupied for manufacturing storage, warehouse, truck freight terminal, department store, wholesale store, market, hotel, motel, or extended stay hotel or motel, hospital, mortuary, dry cleaning plant, retail business or other uses similarly involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained adequate space for the standing, loading and unloading of such materials to avoid undue interference with public use of streets and alleys.

(Amd. of 9-7-2017(5))

Unless otherwise approved by the director, loading spaces shall be a minimum of 14 feet wide, 60 feet long, with 14 feet of height clearance. Said loading area shall be located to the rear of the building unless site design precludes a rear location, in which case loading shall be to the side of a building.

One off-street loading space shall be provided for the first 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for light industrial use and one off-street loading space for the first 5,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for retail or other non-industrial use for which a loading space is required. One additional space shall be required for each additional 25,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for light industrial use and for each additional 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for retail or other non-industrial use.

All off-street parking and off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the structure or use, except as otherwise specifically permitted by this chapter.

(a)

Interference with right-of-ways prohibited. Parking space and loading area arrangements that require vehicles to back out into the public road right-of-way are prohibited except in village activity centers where speeds are low and the arrangement is approved by the director of engineering. Entrances to off-street parking for single family detached dwellings and manufactured homes onto a local street shall be exempt from this requirement.

(b)

Connections. The planning and community development director may require that parking areas and loading zones connect to other parcels.

(Amd. of 12-1-2011)

Parking facilities and loading areas shall be operated and maintained in accordance with the following:

(a)

Parking and loading areas shall not be used for the sale, storage, repair or dismantling of any equipment, materials or supplies, except that upon application the planning and community development director may approve temporary structures and uses such as tent sales.

(b)

Parking and loading areas shall not be used to store vehicles for sale, except in cases where the property owner owns the vehicle(s), provided auto sales is a permitted use in the district in which the property is located. This provision shall not apply to the placing of a "For Sale" sign on or in one licensed vehicle, boat, or other vehicle at the same time located in a private residential driveway or front yard and which licensed vehicle, boat, or other vehicle is owned by an occupant of said private residence.

(c)

An attendant's shelter building which does not contain more than 50 square feet of gross floor area and which is set a distance of not less than 20 feet from any boundary of the parking lot may be permitted.

(Amd. of 12-1-2011)

All parking shall have access to a public street. All loading areas shall have access to a public street or alley.

Parking and loading areas shall be properly graded for drainage, and they shall be drained so as to prevent damage to abutting properties or public streets. Curbing shall be installed as required by the director of engineering when considered necessary for drainage.

Parking and loading areas shall be surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, asphalt, pavers, or other dust-free surface; provided, however, that porous pavement parking spaces may be substituted for standard dust free pavements subject to the approval of the director of engineering according to standards that may be adopted by the director of engineering. The board of commissioners, however, may grant a variance for standard dust free pavements if (a) the applicant is a non-profit and tax-exempt organization, (b) the parking area under consideration is only for parking that is more than the required minimum as identified by this Code, or (c) the average daily traffic (ADT) associated with the use located on the property is less than 200 vehicles per day as determined by a traffic study. The variance shall be requested by variance application meeting the requirements of section 8-6.3 and in accordance with procedures in section 8-6.4. If a variance is granted, the dust-free pavement parking area shall not exceed a four percent grade. The director may approve a gravel parking lot if (i) the lot is to be used for the storage of vehicles or heavy equipment; or (ii) all or a portion of the lot will provide parking for agritourism (section 15-4.1) and/or special event (section 15-3.2) uses and the board of commissioners authorizes a gravel parking lot for such use. In the event only a portion of a lot would be used for agritourism or special event uses, gravel shall only be authorized for those portions that are used for agritourism or special event use. Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, excess parking for large scale retail establishments shall comply with section 12-11.5(f)(4). The provision of this section shall not prevent the use of pervious parking as provided in section 21-6.5(d)(3). For purposes of section 17-5.3(a)—(c) and (ii), all required accessible parking spaces shall be surfaced and shall comply with all requirements of the State of Georgia, including, but not limited to location, dimensions, and identification of accessible spaces.

(Amd. of 11-15-2004; Amd. of 6-2-2022; Amd. of 11-3-2022)

All parking and loading spaces must be striped with paint lines, lined with curbstones, or otherwise permanently marked to designate the space.

Adequate lighting shall be provided if the facilities are to be used at night or if necessary for security purposes. See chapter 16 for lighting requirements.

(Amd. of 11-15-2004)

Signs essential to the proper functioning of the parking lot and loading areas shall be installed. Such signs shall not be illuminated, shall not exceed four feet in area, or nine feet in height.

For all parking lots, a ten feet wide strip of land along the entire front perimeter of the site, located between the front property line and any vehicular use area, shall be landscaped. Any appropriately located landscaped or buffered areas, required by this Code, or other codes, can be counted toward this requirement,

(a)

Any parking area exceeding 25 spaces shall provide a minimum of 12.5 percent of the total parking area as landscaped islands. Landscape strips along the perimeter of a parking area shall not count toward meeting this requirement.

(b)

Each landscape area shall contain turf grasses, shrubs, trees, or other landscape material in any combination, but must consist of at least three plant types. Interior planting areas shall be located to most effectively relieve the monotony of large expanses of paving and contribute to orderly circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In order to achieve these objectives, trees shall be provided adjacent to and within the interior portion of parking areas in a ratio of one tree for every ten parking spaces. In addition, every parking space shall be within 50 feet of the trunk of a tree.

(c)

Landscape strips for parking lots along the right-of-way of any road classified as a minor arterial or greater shall feature a three-foot high evergreen hedge and/or a three-foot high vegetated berm. Applicants may opt to provide an additional five feet to the landscape strip [for a total of 15 feet] in lieu of the aforementioned features.

(Amd. of 11-15-2004)

(a)

Number required. The required number of accessible parking spaces shall be as provided in Table 17.2 below. Accessible parking spaces shall be included in the total number of required spaces and not in addition to the minimum parking requirements. Accessible parking spaces shall comply with all requirements of the State of Georgia, including, but not limited to location, dimensions, and identification of accessible spaces.

TABLE 17.2
ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES

(Amd. of 11-15-2004)

Stacking spaces shall be provided for any drive-through or establishment having drop-off and pick-up areas. Three stacking spaces for each drive-through window or communication/mechanical device shall be provided beginning at the first window or device encountered by the vehicle user. The following general standards shall apply to all stacking spaces, stacking lanes, and drive-throughs:

(a)

Stacking spaces and lanes shall not impede on and off-site traffic movements, shall not cross or pass through off-street parking areas, and shall not create a potentially unsafe condition where crossed by pedestrian access to a public entrance of a building.

(b)

Stacking lanes shall be separated from off-street parking areas. Individual lanes shall be striped, marked or otherwise distinctly delineated.

(c)

All drive-throughs shall be provided with a bypass lane with a minimum width of ten feet.

(Amd. of 1-5-2023)

For those uses which cater to the parking of semitractor trailers, designated off-street parking spaces shall be required in proportion to the use as determined by the planning and community development director. All parking spaces designated for semitractor trailer parking shall be at least 14 feet in width and 60 feet in length.

(Amd. of 12-1-2011)

One commercial vehicle and attached licensed and tagged trailer per acre, with a maximum of two, shall be allowed to be parked in connection with a residential dwelling unit in the agricultural zoning districts if owned by the occupants of the dwelling unit or owned by a firm, corporation or entity for which a dwelling unit occupant is employed provided they meet the conditions listed herein. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to supersede the nonconforming uses provisions in chapter 10 of this Code.

(A)

Commercial vehicle. A commercial vehicle means any self-propelled licensed motor vehicle used on a highway in commerce to transport passengers or property and has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 26,000 or more pounds.

(B)

Minimum lot area. The parcel must be a minimum of one acre in size and zoned agricultural (A1) or agricultural-residential (AG-RES).

(C)

Parking area surface. Unless the vehicle and attached trailer are otherwise parked or stored in an enclosed structure, the parking of one commercial vehicle including attached trailer, shall be limited to a stabilized surface made of concrete, crushed stone, gravel, asphalt, or pavers designated for the commercial vehicle and attached trailer, if applicable.

(D)

Vehicle parking location. No portion of a front yard may be used to park a commercial vehicle that is not a part of the driveway or parking area. If a designated parking area cannot be provided then the commercial vehicle and attached trailer, if applicable, must be located in the rear yard.

(E)

Setbacks. The commercial vehicle and attached trailer parking area must be setback a minimum of 25 feet from any property line.

(F)

Exemptions. The provisions of this Code shall not be construed to apply to:

1.

Vehicles owned by persons or business firms at the site for temporary business purposes, delivery, service or repair.

2.

Any vehicle involved in ongoing bona fide agricultural operations.

3.

Any vehicle owned by government or public utility such as electric, telephone, gas or cable television that is being used for service or repair on permitted construction projects.

4.

Any vehicle temporarily parked on the property for construction purposes where construction is underway and for which a current building permit or land disturbance permit has been issued by Forsyth County.

5.

Vehicles such as pickup trucks, vans or landscape trailers with two axles not meeting the definition of commercial vehicle.

(Amd. of 6-2-2011)

Notwithstanding any other parking restrictions contained in this Code, the restrictions of this section shall take precedence during the site development process. It is the responsibility of the LDP or commercial building permit holder to manage construction related parking in such a manner as to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public and to the neighboring properties. All construction related parking with respect to LDPs and commercial building permits shall be located on the site where the construction is to take place and no vehicles shall be parked on the right-of-way or any neighboring property. All construction plans submitted at the time of LDP application shall include a designated parking area for construction vehicles indicated on the plan. If relocation of this designated parking area is anticipated to be necessary during the site development process, each location of this phased parking shall be indicated. Failure to comply with this code section shall be considered a permit violation.

(Amd. of 7-9-2020(3))