Hamilton Township Monroe County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Parking, Loading and Stacking Regulations
§ 150-114 Statement of legislative intent.
Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided to lessen congestion, to enhance safety, and to decrease the parking burden on and within public rights-of-way. The facilities required herein shall be available for the residents, occupants, patrons, or employees of the particular business or use for which such facilities are provided.
§ 150-115 General requirements.
A.
Off-street parking spaces shall be required when a new building or use is established, when an existing building or use is altered, enlarged, or expanded so as to require additional parking, and when an existing building or use is changed to a different use that requires additional parking.
B.
Parking lots shall be utilized to provide required off-street parking for every use except a single-family dwelling, in accordance with § 150-118A.
C.
Areas used for vehicle fueling, vehicle washing, or performing other vehicle-related services shall not count toward required parking spaces.
D.
Required spaces shall be provided on the same lot as the use requiring the spaces, except where common shared parking is provided.
E.
Common shared parking areas. Two or more uses shall provide for required parking in a common parking lot. The number of spaces required in a common parking facility shall be reduced in accordance with the following:
(1)
Parking shall be reduced where multiple buildings, structures or uses are on the same site or on contiguous sites, have a common parking lot, share customers or have different times of peak usage.
(a)
The applicant shall demonstrate that the hours of peak parking needed for the individual uses are staggered to the extent that a lower total of parking spaces will adequately provide for all uses served by the facility.
(2)
The number of spaces required in a common parking facility shall be reduced by not less than 10% and not more than 25% below the total for each independent use.
(3)
The reduction in the number of required off-street parking spaces is required for mixed-used developments, such as strip shopping centers and enclosed shopping malls, in the Mixed Use Corridor, Commercial and/or Employment-Industrial Districts.
(4)
The impact of the shared parking shall be consistent with the intent and purpose of the district in which it is located.
(5)
A written agreement shall be executed between the record owners of all of the buildings, structures or uses involved and all of the parking areas involved guaranteeing the availability of all parking areas including remote parking areas for the life of the proposed buildings, structures and/or uses.
(6)
In the event of a future change to the principal use or uses on the site, an area equal to any previous reduction in off-street parking area due to common shared parking shall be reserved and maintained with a minimum ground cover of grass.
F.
Irrespective of Subsection E above, individual uses within a development consisting of two or more uses may maintain off-street parking independent of other uses subject to the granting of a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(1)
Required parking shall be calculated for each independent use, and the sum total number of required parking spaces for each separate use shall be provided.
G.
Where the computation of required parking spaces results in a fractional number, the fraction of 1/4 or more shall be counted as one space.
H.
Off-street parking spaces shall be required in accordance with the table in § 150-116 of this article. Any use not specifically listed in this section shall comply with the most similar use listed.
I.
Parking lots are for the sole purpose of accommodating vehicles associated with a use. Parking lots shall not be used for the following purposes:
(1)
The permanently affixed sale, display, or storage of any type of merchandise.
(a)
Temporary and/or seasonal sale and display of merchandise including but not limited to Easter and Mother's Day flowers, Independence Day fireworks, and Christmas trees shall be exempted from this provision.
(2)
Performing services on vehicles.
(3)
Loading and unloading functions, except minor and incidental package delivery.
(4)
These prohibitions shall not apply to churches, community organizations, and similar nonprofit organizations that are holding a fund-raiser, such as a vehicle wash or plant sale.
J.
Parking location.
(1)
All handicap-accessible spaces shall be located in, and count towards, the number of parking spaces permitted to be placed between the principal structure and the primary road right-of-way.
(2)
Parking lots are prohibited from being located within the landscaped buffer, as established by this section, along adjoining public roads.
(3)
Where parking lots within a development are visible from adjoining public roads, appropriate visual treatments shall be provided to minimize the view of such parking lots. Appropriate visual treatments may include vegetative screens, earthen berms, and/or other visual treatments.
§ 150-116 Required facilities.
[Amended 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 134; 5-5-2025]
Unless otherwise regulated in this article or elsewhere in this chapter, the following parking facilities are required. Any structure or building hereafter erected, converted, or enlarged for any of the following uses, or any open area hereafter developed for commercial, residential, or similar purposes, for the following uses shall be provided with not less than the minimum off-street parking spaces, as shown below. All spaces shall be readily accessible to the uses they serve. "S.F.GFA" means "square feet of gross floor area."
Use | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
Academic Clinical Research Center [Added 9-13-2021] | 1 space per 1.5 students based on design capacity plus 1 space per classroom |
Adult-oriented uses | 1 per 150 S.F.GFA |
Agribusinesses | 1 per every 1.5 employees on largest shift (1 per 200 S.F.GFA plus 1 per employee) |
Agricultural equipment sales, service, repair | 1 per 1.5 employees |
Agricultural society meeting halls | 1 per every 3 seats |
Agricultural tourism operation and rural events venue [Amended 2-5-2024] | Indoor: 1 per 500 square feet of floor area Outdoor: 1 per 10,000 square feet of land devoted to the use |
Assemblage and light manufacturing, when part of an industrial or business park | 1 per every 1.5 employees on largest shift |
Bed-and-breakfast inns | 1 per guest room plus 1 per employee |
Business and professional offices | 1 per employee plus 2 per each professional office |
Contractor | 1 per 400 S.F.GFA |
Convenience stores | 1 per 150 S.F. of floor area accessible to customers |
Corporate headquarters | 1 per every 1.5 employees on largest shift plus 1 per 10 employees |
Cottage industry [Added 2-5-2024] | 2 spaces plus 1 per employee |
Data Center/Battery Energy Storage System [Added 7-7-2025] | 1 per every employee on largest shift |
Data processing services | 1 per employee on largest shift |
Dwelling units | 2 per unit |
Educational institutions | 1 per student plus 1 per employee |
Farm equipment sales, farm-related business and farm market [Added 2-5-2024] | 1 per 500 square feet of floor area |
Farm worker housing [Added 2-5-2024] | 2 spaces per unit |
Financial institutions | 1 per 200 S.F.GFA plus 1 per 2 employees |
Florists, retail | 1 per 200 S.F.GFA plus 1 space per employee on largest shift |
Funeral homes | 1 per 500 S.F.GFA |
Garden, building, or contractor supply | 1 per 300 S.F.GFA |
Golf courses | 1 per employee plus 3 per hole |
Group homes | 1 per employee plus 1 per resident |
Heavy manufacturing uses | 1 per every 1.5 employees on largest shift |
Home occupations | 1 per 150 S.F. of floor area accessible to customers plus 1 per each nonresident employee |
Horse boarding stables | 1 per horse boarded |
Hospitals | 1 per 2 beds plus 1 per staff physician plus 1 per employee on largest shift |
Hotels and motels, not exceeding 20 units | 1 per guest room plus 1 per employee on largest shift |
Hotels and motels, not exceeding 50 units | 1 per guest room plus 1 per employee on largest shift plus required spaces for any restaurant on site |
Hotels and motels, exceeding 50 units | 1 per guest room plus 1 per employee on largest shift plus 1 per 4 persons of capacity of any associated meeting rooms plus required spaces for any restaurant on site (calculated separately) |
Industrial or business park support uses, when part of an industrial or business park | Subject to type of support use |
Junkyards | 1 per employee |
Medical/dental clinic | 4 per doctor, dentist, or professional assistant plus 1 per employee |
Medical Marijuana Grower/Processor/Medical Marijuana Delivery Vehicle Office [Added 9-13-2021] | 1 per 1,000 square feet of floor area devoted to heavy industrial function or, 3 spaces per 4 employees on the largest shift, pus 1 space for every company vehicle normally stored on the premises. |
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facility [Added 9-13-2021] | 1 per 400 square feet of floor area devoted to customer use |
Membership club or fraternal lodges | 1 per every 3 seats |
Mineral recovery operations | 1 per employee on 2 largest successive shifts |
Nature preserves | 1 per acre accessible to public |
Nurseries, greenhouses, orchards, related horticulture | 1 space per employee on largest shift |
Open-air or closed-air slaughterhouse | 1 per employee; plus 1 per 200 square feet of floor area accessible to customers |
Park and recreation uses and easements | 4 per acre |
Parks, public and private | 4 per acre or 1 per 4 persons of maximum capacity |
Personal fitness center | 1 per 200 S.F.GFA |
Personal service businesses, excluding adult uses | 1 per employee plus 2 per each work station |
Places of worship | 1 per every 3 seats |
Postal and courier services | 1 per 100 S.F. of floor area accessible to customers plus 1 per employee |
Printing, lithography, and publishing | 1 per employee on 2 largest successive shifts |
Produce stands | 2 per every 1,000 S.F. of floor area |
Recreation, commercial | 1 per 200 S.F.GFA |
Recycled materials collection facilities | 1 per employee on 2 largest successive shifts |
Recycled materials processing facilities | 1 per employee on 2 largest successive shifts |
Repair services | 1 per 400 S.F.GFA |
Restaurants, excluding drive-through service | 1 per 2 seats plus 1 per employee on largest shift |
Restaurants, including drive-through service | 1 per 1.5 seats plus 1 per 2 employees on largest shift |
Retail businesses | 1 per 200 S.F. of floor area accessible to customers plus 1 per employee on largest shift |
Riding schools | 1 per horse boarded plus 1 per 1.5 students in largest class |
Schools, public and private | 1 per employee on largest shift plus 1 per 10 students, where school has students of driving age |
Scientific and commercial testing laboratories | 1 per every 1.5 employees on largest shift plus 1 per 10 employees |
Self-storage facilities | 1 per 4 storage units |
Shopping centers | 1 per 400 S.F. gross leasable area |
Studios instructing dance, music, arts, and science | 1 per employee plus 1 per 500 S.F. of display or performance area |
Truck terminal/distribution center/fulfillment center | 1 per every employee on largest shift |
Vehicle sales, service, and/or repair | 1 per 10 vehicles displayed or parked on site plus 1 per employee |
Vehicle washing facility | 1 per stall |
Veterinarian facilities and animal hospitals | 4 per veterinarian |
Warehouse/logistics center | 1 per every employee on largest shift |
Wildlife sanctuaries | 1 per acre accessible to public |
Wireless communications tower | 1 per employee accessing facility |
§ 150-117 Public right-of-way.
§ 150-118 Design standards for off-street parking areas.
All off-street parking areas shall be designed to meet the following standards:
A.
Where five or more parking spaces are required under § 150-116 or elsewhere in this chapter, such parking spaces, when contiguous, shall be considered a parking lot.
B.
A parking lot setback of 25 feet shall be established from all side and rear property boundaries. Where parking facilities are shared by adjoining properties, the required parking lot setback may be waived along the shared property boundary provided the parking lot setback is maintained along all other side and rear property boundaries of both properties.
C.
All off-street parking lots shall be paved so as to provide a durable and dust-free surface. Acceptable paving materials include concrete and asphalt. All entrance and exit drives shall be paved in accordance with PennDOT 408 specifications.
D.
All off-street parking lots shall be graded to provide for the adequate drainage of stormwater from the parking lot. The Township engineer shall be afforded the opportunity to review and comment on the grading plan for any parking lot.
E.
Circulation control shall be designed to provide one-way directional travel. No parking shall be provided or permitted along any circulation drive or along an entrance or exit drives. Drives shall be uniform in width and provide for 90° intersections.
F.
Customers and service traffic shall be separated. Loading and unloading areas shall be located so as not to interfere with customer or employee parking areas.
G.
Parking lots shall be designed so as to facilitate physical connections with existing and proposed parking lots on adjacent properties, in order to minimize the number of curb cuts along adjacent road frontages. No more than three consecutive parking lots shall be internally connected.
H.
The following landscaping regulations shall apply:
(1)
A landscaping strip of no less than five feet in width shall be provided along the perimeter of each parking area. Such landscaping strips may be located within the required setback areas.
(2)
Within each landscaping strip shall be planted a mixture of two or more of the following types of vegetation: grass, shrubs, flowering plants, or trees from the Township Tree List. At least one shrub, flowering plant, or tree shall be planted at intervals of at least 20 feet.
(3)
Suitable breaks in the landscaping strip shall be permitted for access drives to or from a public street.
(4)
A landscape buffer shall be provided between the parking lot and any adjoining residential properties and any properties in the R-1, RR, and AP Districts.
(5)
Standards for landscaping within off-street parking areas. All off-street parking lots containing 25 or greater parking spaces shall conform to the following landscaping requirements:
(a)
A terminal island shall be provided at both ends of all rows of parking spaces. Each terminal island shall measure at least five feet in width. For rows of parking one parking space in width, the terminal island shall be 15 feet in length. For rows of parking spaces two parking spaces in width, the terminal island shall be 30 feet in length. Terminal island width shall be measured perpendicular to the driveway providing vehicular access to the parking spaces. Terminal island length shall be measured perpendicular to the terminal island width.
(b)
Each terminal island shall include at least one tree, with the remaining area landscaped with appropriate ground cover or grass.
(c)
A divider strip of four feet in width between abutting rows of parking shall be provided. At least one tree shall be planted at twenty-foot intervals within the divider strip. The remaining area of the divider strip shall be landscaped with appropriate ground cover or grass.
(6)
Standards for landscaping the perimeter of off-street parking areas.
(a)
A landscaping strip shall be provided around the perimeter of all parking lots, except for the side of the parking lot bounded by the principal structure.
(b)
The minimum width of the perimeter landscaping strip shall be 10 feet, measured outward from the edge of the parking lot.
(c)
At least one tree shall be planted at thirty-foot intervals within the perimeter landscaping strip.
(d)
In instances where parking facilities are shared by adjoining uses, the perimeter landscaping strip shall be applied to the entire parking lot rather than on individual lots.
(e)
Number of trees. A minimum of one tree is required for every 20 linear feet measured around the perimeter of the parking lot.
(f)
Arrangement of trees. The required trees shall be planted around the perimeter of the parking lot in a manner providing visual buffering between the adjoining residential properties and the parking lot. The required trees are permitted to be located in the parking lot setback as required by this section. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop a landscape design using groupings of trees and variable tree spacing rather than a rigid approach.
(g)
Minimum tree standards. All required trees shall be a minimum of eight feet in height and shall have a minimum caliper of two inches immediately upon planting. Tree species shall be selected that will be a minimum of 25 feet in height when mature.
(h)
Maintenance. The applicant shall, within any landscape buffer area, replace any tree which dies with another tree of the same or similar species, within one year of the death of the original tree.
I.
All parking lots shall be provided with curbs or wheel or bumper guards so located and arranged that no part of any parked vehicle will extend beyond the boundaries of the parking lot into the public right-of-way.
J.
Each parking space shall not be less than 10 feet wide by 20 feet long.
K.
All spaces shall be delineated with painted lines or an approved equivalent durable delineation material and shall be maintained so that all parking spaces are clearly marked.
§ 150-119 Accessible parking spaces.
A.
Minimum number of accessible parking spaces.
(1)
One in every eight parking spaces, but not less than one space, must be van accessible, with a designated handicap sign and an access aisle at least eight feet wide.
(2)
Accessible parking spaces shall be required in accordance with the table below:
Total Spaces in Lot | Accessible Spaces Required | |
|---|---|---|
1 to 25 | 1 van | |
26 to 50 | 1 standard plus 1 van | |
51 to 75 | 2 standard plus 1 van | |
76 to 100 | 3 standard plus 1 van | |
101 to 150 | 4 standard plus 1 van | |
151 to 200 | 5 standard plus 1 van | |
201 to 300 | 6 standard plus 1 van | |
301 to 400 | 7 standard plus 1 van | |
401 to 500 | 7 standard plus 2 van | |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of total spaces | |
1,001 and over | 20 plus (1 per 100 over 1,000) |
B.
Design requirements for accessible parking spaces.
(1)
All accessible parking spaces shall comply with the minimum parking space design standards in § 150-118.
(2)
Accessible parking spaces for cars shall have a minimum five-foot-wide access aisle located adjacent to the designated parking space to permit a person using a wheelchair to enter or exit the car.
(3)
Van-accessible parking spaces shall have an access aisle no less than eight feet wide to accommodate a wheelchair lift; and a minimum vertical clearance height of eight feet six inches.
(4)
All accessible parking spaces shall be identified with a sign.
(a)
The sign shall include the international symbol of accessibility mounted high enough so it can be seen while a vehicle is parked in the space.
(b)
The space shall also include pavement markings.
(c)
All van-accessible spaces shall include an additional sign that identifies the parking spaces as "van accessible."
(5)
The access aisle shall be level (1:50 maximum slope in all directions), be the same length as the adjacent parking space(s) it serves and must connect to an accessible route to the building. Ramps must not extend into the access aisle.
(6)
Two accessible parking spaces may share an access aisle.
§ 150-120 Off-street loading requirements.
A.
Off-street loading and unloading space(s), with proper and safe access from street or alley, shall be provided on each lot where it is deemed that such facilities are necessary to adequately serve the uses within the district. Each loading and unloading space shall have the following characteristics:
(1)
Shall be at least 14 feet wide, 80 feet long, and shall have at least 15 feet of vertical clearance.
(2)
Shall provide adequate maneuvering room in compliance with all provisions of this section.
(3)
Shall have a paved surface and adequate drainage to provide safe and convenient access during all seasons.
(4)
Shall not be constructed between the street right-of-way and building setback line.
B.
Required off-street parking spaces (including access drive and aisles) shall not be used for loading and unloading purposes except during hours when business operations are suspended.
C.
Loading and unloading facilities shall be designed so that trucks need not back into or out of, or park in, any public right-of-way.
D.
No truck shall be allowed to stand in a right-of-way, an automobile parking area (including access drives and aisles), or in any way block the effective flow of persons or vehicles either on or into and out of the property.
E.
At least one off-street loading space shall be provided for all commercial and industrial operations in excess of 3,500 square feet of floor area. The number of loading and unloading spaces shall be left to the discretion of the developer; however, the standards of this section shall be maintained.
F.
Loading areas are prohibited from being located within the landscaped buffer, as established by this section along adjoining public roads.
G.
Where loading areas within a development are visible from a public street, as defined herein, appropriate visual treatments shall be provided to minimize the view of such loading areas. Appropriate visual treatments may include vegetative screens, earthen berms, architectural and/or other visual treatments.