Harrisburg City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 7
327 Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 7-327.1 Purpose.
[Amended 4-13-2021 by Ord. No. 6-2021]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards for the provision of off-street parking for different land uses, including design standards and screening requirements, in specific zoning districts. This chapter also provides criteria to permit a reduction or waiver of parking requirements in order to encourage alternative transportation modes and the utilization of existing off-street parking spaces.
§ 7-327.2 Applicability.
[Amended 4-13-2021 by Ord. No. 6-2021]
This chapter applies to each use that is newly developed, enlarged, significantly changed in type or increased in number of establishments. Reductions or waivers of the required off-street parking spaces are only permitted based on specific provisions of this chapter. Any requests for a reduction in off-street parking spaces or other requirements of this chapter require a special exception which much be approved by the Zoning Hearing Board. The off-street parking requirements in this chapter do not apply to uses within the Downtown Center or Commercial Neighborhood Zoning Districts. This section shall not apply to those multifamily dwelling, affordable housing developments which have received a certificate of qualification pursuant to Chapter 12-101 of Title 12, Affordable Housing Certification, and contain at least 25% affordable housing dwelling units.
§ 7-327.3 General standards.
A.
Parking spaces and driveways shall be laid out to result in safe and orderly use and to fully take into account all of the following: vehicular access onto and off the site, vehicular movement within the site, loading areas, pedestrian patterns and any drive-through facilities. No parking area shall cause a safety hazard or impediment to traffic off the lot.
B.
Structures and uses lawfully in existence at the effective date of this Code shall not be required to provide additional new parking spaces to meet the requirements of this chapter, except as provided in Subsection D below.
C.
When a property contains or includes more than one type of use, the number of parking spaces required shall be the sum of the parking requirements for each separate use, except as may be allowed under § 7-327.8, Reduction in off-street parking requirements. Where the calculation of required parking spaces does not result in a whole number, the calculation shall be rounded to the closest whole number.
D.
All parking spaces and off-street loading spaces required by this Code shall be available so long as the use or building which the spaces serve still exists, and such existing spaces shall not be reduced in number below the minimum required by this Code. No required parking area or off-street loading spaces shall be used for any other purpose (such as storage or display of materials) that interferes with the area's availability for parking to serve a use, except that an owner of a parking area may allow use of the spaces for parking by another use during specific times of the day and week when they are clearly not needed for the primary user.
E.
Any new use or expansion of an existing use which is required to provide 10 or more off-street parking spaces shall include the following requirements for bicycle parking:
(1)
A bicycle parking rack shall be designed to allow a bicycle to be locked to the frame and wheel utilizing a standard U-lock or similar device, such as a staple rack, or ring and post design.
(2)
Bicycle racks shall be placed in highly visible locations, as conveniently located as the most convenient parking space, to minimize theft and vandalism.
(3)
Bicycle parking and automobile parking shall be located so as to protect bicycles from damage.
(4)
In cases where bicycle parking racks are not visible from the primary street, signage shall be required to direct cyclists safely to bicycle parking areas.
(5)
Bicycle parking areas shall have a four-foot-wide access aisle to ensure safe access to spaces.
(6)
Bicycle parking areas shall not result in obstructions to fire exits or handicapped access.
§ 7-327.4 Expansion and change of use.
§ 7-327.5 Location of parking spaces.
A.
Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot or abutting lot with the principal use served, unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that a legally guaranteed method of providing the spaces is available using parking spaces within 500 feet of walking distance from the principal use being served.
B.
To meet the requirement that the availability of the parking be guaranteed, an applicant may provide a suitable deed restriction for the life of the use. If a lease is used to meet this requirement, then the applicant shall provide written evidence that such lease will remain in effect for the life of the use in order to maintain the validity of the zoning permit.
§ 7-327.6A Off-street parking requirements.
[Amended 4-13-2021 by Ord. No. 6-2021]
The following table contains the minimum off-street parking requirements for residential and nonresidential land uses. Any proposed uses not specifically listed in the Table of Parking Requirements shall comply with the requirements for the most similar use listed in such table, as determined by the Zoning Officer. Off-street parking requirements for employees are based on the number of employees for the largest shift.
Off-Street Parking Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
Types of Uses | Number of Minimum Off-Street Parking Spaces Required | |
A. | Residential Principal Uses | |
(For accessory uses, refer to Subsection C.) | ||
Dormitory (7-309) | 1 space per 3 students | |
Dwelling, attached | 1 space per unit | |
Dwelling, detached | 1 space per unit | |
Dwelling, multifamily | 1 space per unit and 1 space for each 5 units for guest parking | |
Dwelling, manufactured home | 1 space per unit | |
Dwelling, semidetached | 1 space per unit | |
Supportive housing-emergency (7-309) | 1 space for every 20 beds and 1 space for each employee | |
Supportive housing-family | 1 space per unit | |
Supportive housing-facility (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 units and 1 space for each employee | |
B. | Nonresidential Principal Uses | |
(For accessory uses, refer to Subsection C.) | ||
Adult day care (7-309) | 1 space for every 5 adults and 1 space for each employee | |
Adult establishment (7-309) | 1 space for each 30 square feet of floor area and 1 space per employee | |
Amusement arcade (7-309) | 1 space per 80 square feet of gross floor area | |
Amusement park | 1 space per 200 square feet of activity area | |
Animal hospital/veterinarian, kennel (7-309) | 1 space for every 15 animals of capacity and 6 spaces per veterinarian | |
Animal stables | 1 space for every 2 stalls and 1 space for each employee | |
Assembly or finishing of products using materials produced elsewhere | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | |
Auction house | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | |
Automobile auction or storage compound | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | |
Auto body shop and/or repair garage (7-309) | 2 spaces per service bay and 1 space for each employee | |
Auto, RV, boat, or manufactured home sales (7-309) | 1 space per 15 vehicles or homes and 1 space for each employee | |
Bakery | 1 space for every 200 feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Betting use (7-309) | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Building supplies and building materials, wholesale sale of | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Business services | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
B.Y.O.B. club (7-309) | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Car wash (7-309) | 3 spaces for each washing bay | |
Cemetery (7-309) | 1 space per caretaker and 2 spaces for visitors | |
Childcare center (7-309) (see also accessory uses, Subsection C) | 1 space for every 6 children and 1 space per employee | |
Coffee shop/cafe | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
College or university | 2 spaces for every 4 students and 1 space for each employee | |
Commercial recreation and entertainment facility | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Communication tower/antenna (7-309) | 1 space for every employee for tower locations | |
Community center | 1 space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Conference center | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Convenience store (7-309) | 1 space for every 75 square feet of retail floor area | |
Convenience store with gas dispensing (7-309) | 1 space for every 75 square feet of retail floor area | |
Correctional facility (7-309) | 1 space for every employee | |
Correctional facility, community (7-309) | 1 space for every employee | |
Crafts or artisan's studio | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area | |
Distillery, brewery, pickling process, or sugar refinery | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Distribution including package delivery | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Dry cleaners, laundries and/or laundromat (commercial or industrial) - see also personal services | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Emergency medical treatment center | 2 spaces for each bed and 1 space for each employee | |
Essential services | 1 space for every employee | |
Farmer's market and/or flea market | 2 spaces for each vendor | |
Financial institution | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Fitness center | 1 space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Florist | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Funeral home (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 seats | |
Greenhouse, garden center or plant nursery | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Grocery store or supermarket | 1 space for every 150 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space per employee | |
Grocery store or supermarket with gas dispensing | 1 space for every 150 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space per employee | |
Grocery store or supermarket with gas dispensing | 1 space for every 150 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space per employee | |
Home improvement or building supply store | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Hospital (7-315) | 1 space for every 2 beds and 1 space for each employee | |
Hotel or motel | 1 space for every 2 guest rooms and 1 space for each employee and 1 space for every 400 square feet of restaurants and other hotel facilities | |
Hotel, extended-stay | 1 space for every 2 guest rooms and 1 space for each employee and 1 space for every 400 square feet of restaurants and other hotel facilities | |
Industrial equipment sales, repair and service | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Junk yard (7-309) | 1 space per employee | |
Library | 1 space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Liquid fuel storage, bulk or off-site distribution, retail propane distribution | 1 space per employee | |
Liquor store/beer distributor | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Lumber yard | 1 space for each employee | |
Manufacturing and/or assembly | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Marina and/or boat rental | 1 space for every 3 boat slips | |
Meat processing | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Medical or dental office, testing center, or laboratory | 5 spaces for each doctor and 1 space for each employee | |
Membership club | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Mineral extraction (7-309) | 1 space for each employee | |
Municipal-owned uses | See requirements for specific land uses | |
Museum, cultural or science center, or planetarium | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Natural areas or wildlife refuges | 1 space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Nightclub or dance hall (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 persons based on capacity | |
Offices | 1 space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area | |
Pawn shop | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Personal services | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Photo processing, bulk | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Place of worship | 1 space for every 4 seats | |
Post office | 1 space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Power generating facility | 1 space for each employee | |
Printing or book binding | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee | |
Public utility facility | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet or 1 space for each employee | |
Racetrack | 1 space for every 4 seats plus 1 space for each employee | |
Recording studio | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Recreation, indoor | 1 space for every 4 persons based on capacity and 1 space for each employee | |
Recreation, outdoor (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 persons based on capacity and 1 space for each employee | |
Recreation, public | 1 space for every 4 persons based on capacity and 1 space for each employee | |
Recycling and bulk collection center (7-309) | 1 space for each employee | |
Research, engineering or testing facility or laboratory | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Restaurant - see also drive-through facilities under Subsection C | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Retail store | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Sawmill | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet or 1 space for each employee | |
School, public or private, primary or secondary (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 students and 1 space for every student 16 years and older and 1 space for each school employee | |
Scrap metal processor (7-309) | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet or 1 space for each employee | |
Self-storage development (7-309) | 1 space for every 25 storage units and 1 space for each employee | |
Shopping center | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Solid waste landfill, solid waste to energy facility, or solid waste transfer facility (7-309) | 1 space for each employee | |
Swimming pool, nonhousehold (7-309) | 1 space for each 4 persons of capacity | |
Target range (7-309) | 1 space for each 4 visitors | |
Tattoo and body piercing establishment | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Theater, indoor | 1 space for each 4 persons of capacity | |
Theater, outdoor | 1 space for each 4 persons of capacity | |
Trade school | 1 space for every 2 students | |
Transportation terminal (bus, train, or rail) | 1 space for every 200 square feet of waiting space plus 1 space for each employee | |
Treatment center (7-309) | 5 spaces for each doctor or counselor | |
Trucking company terminal | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Warehouse and/or wholesale trade | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Welding shop | 1 space for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Wind energy facilities | 1 space for each employee | |
C. | Accessory residential and nonresidential uses | |
Accessory dwelling unit (7-309) | 1 space per unit | |
Adult day care (7-309) | 1 space for every 5 adults and 1 space for each employee | |
Bed-and-breakfast (7-309) | 1 space per unit | |
Child care home - family (7-309) | No spaces required | |
Child care home - group (7-309) | No spaces required | |
Child day-care center (7-309) | 1 space for every 6 children and 1 space per employee | |
Coffee shops/cafes | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Dormitory | 1 space per 3 students | |
Drive-through facility (7-309) | See Chapter 7-309 for stacking requirements | |
Essential services | 1 space for every employee | |
Fitness center | 1 space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Heliport, emergency | No requirement | |
Home occupation (7-309) | No requirement | |
Restaurant | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Retail store | 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area and 1 space for each employee | |
Rooming house or boardinghouse | 1 space per unit | |
Special occasion home (7-309) | 1 space for every 4 persons for events | |
§ 7-327.6B Affordable housing off-street parking incentives.
[Added 4-13-2021 by Ord. No. 6-2021]
This section shall apply to those multifamily dwelling, affordable housing developments which have received a certificate of qualification pursuant to Chapter 12-101 of Title 12, Affordable Housing Certification, and contain at least 25% affordable housing dwelling units.
Affordable Housing Off-Street Parking Requirements | |
|---|---|
Types of Uses | Number of Minimum Off-Street Parking Spaces Required |
A. Residential Principal Uses | |
Dwelling, multifamily | 1 space per market rate unit and 0.5 space per affordable housing dwelling unit |
If the total number of parking spaces required for a multifamily dwelling, affordable housing development is other than a whole number, the number shall be rounded down to the next whole number.
§ 7-327.7 Accessible off-street parking requirements.
A.
Any parking lot for multifamily dwellings, commercial, institutional, and recreational development shall include a minimum of one space for vehicles transporting disabled persons. The following number of such spaces shall be provided, unless a revised regulation is officially established under the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA):
Total Number of Parking Spaces on the Lot | Required Minimum Number/Percent of Accessible Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
1 to 25 | 1 |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 8 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of required number of spaces |
1,001 or more | 20 plus 1% of required number of spaces over 1,000 |
B.
Accessible parking spaces shall be located where they would result in the shortest reasonable path to an accessible building entrance. Curb cuts with an appropriate slope shall be constructed as needed to provide access from the accessible parking spaces.
C.
Each required accessible parking space shall be a minimum of eight feet in width by 18 feet in length. In addition, each space shall be adjacent to a five-foot-wide access aisle. Such access aisle may be shared by two accessible spaces by being placed between them.
D.
Accessible parking spaces shall be located in areas of less than 2% slope in any direction.
E.
All required accessible parking spaces shall be well-marked by clearly visible signs and pavement markings. Accessible parking spaces shall be identified by five-foot-high freestanding signs placed at the head of the parking space and facing the space. Such signs shall depict the international symbol of accessibility and indicate whether the space is for a car or a van.
§ 7-327.8 Reduction in off-street parking requirements.
A.
The Zoning Hearing Board may permit a reduction, in whole or in part, of the required off-street parking spaces based on a special exception application covered under Chapter 7-323, Special Exceptions and Variances, provided that the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that some or all of the following criteria can be met:
(1)
Adequate commercial or public parking is available in the vicinity;
(2)
Public transportation service is deemed adequate to provide the needs for such;
(3)
A car-share facility or similar arrangement is established on the property for residents or building tenants;
(4)
That the applicant agrees through a legally binding agreement to offer to provide a subsidy of mass transit costs of all persons working within the use to reach the use. Such subsidy shall reduce the costs to at least 50% of the cost of a monthly transit pass. Such benefit shall not be convertible into another benefit or cash. Such agreement shall also legally bind successors and lessees, and be in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor; and
(5)
That parking permanently shared with another use or another lot with shared internal access or another lot within 400 feet of the entrance to the use will reduce the total amount of parking needed because the uses have different peak times of parking need or overlapping customers. Reduced parking requirements for joint parking shall only continue in effect as long as such uses or their closely similar successor uses remain in operation and shall be guaranteed by a legally binding agreement. If such agreement becomes legally ineffective, then all parking shall be provided as would otherwise be required by this Chapter 7-327.
§ 7-327.9 Design standards for off-street parking.
A.
The following general requirements shall apply to off-street parking:
(1)
No parking area shall be designed to require or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public street (not including an "alley") in order to leave a parking space, except for a one-, two- or three-family dwelling;
(2)
All parking lots shall have curb cuts approved by the City Engineer at all points of ingress and egress;
(3)
Every required parking space shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other vehicle, except spaces for one dwelling unit or for approved "valet" parking areas;
(4)
Parking areas shall not be within a required yard setback, except that parking for a single-family dwelling may be located within a required rear yard setback. Where driveways traverse a front yard or side yard setback, no vehicles shall be parked within the required setback or to the fore of a building wall or a plane created by an imaginary extension of the wall, and in such areas the driveway shall not be wider than 10 feet;
(5)
All parking areas shall include clearly defined and marked traffic patterns. In any lot with more than 30 off-street parking spaces, landscaped areas shall be used to direct traffic within the lot. Major vehicular routes shall be separated as much as is reasonable from major pedestrian routes within the lot; and
(6)
Separation from a street (not including an "alley") shall be as follows:
(a)
All areas for off-street parking, off-street loading and unloading and the storage or movement of motor vehicles shall be physically separated from the street by a raised curb, planting strip, wall or other suitable barrier against unchanneled motor vehicle entrance or exit, except for necessary and approved vehicle entrances and exits to the lot.
B.
Each parking space shall include a rectangle with a minimum width and minimum length as indicated in the following table:
Parking Angle | Standard Space Width | Standard Space Length | Aisle Width (1-Way) | Aisle Width (2-Way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
90 degrees | 9' 0" | 18' 0" | 20' 0" | 24' 0" |
60 degrees | 9' 0" | 21' 0" | 18' 0" | NA |
45 degrees | 9' 0" | 19' 10" | 15' 0" | NA |
30 degrees | 9' 0" | 16' 10" | 12' 0" | NA |
Parallel | 8' 0" | 21' 0" | 11' 0" | 20' 0" |
NA | = | not allowed. Where parking spaces of 30°, 45°, 60° parking spaces are provided, the parking lot must be designed for one-way traffic. |
C.
Standard space width may be reduced to eight feet six inches for spaces designated for contracted day-long or long-term use within parking garages. Deviation for other spaces requires a special exception.
D.
All spaces shall be marked to indicate their location, except those of a one- or two-family dwelling;
E.
If a parking area is permitted to not be paved by the City Engineer, then a minimum width of 10 feet per space shall be used.
F.
The requirements for parking space size and aisle widths shall not apply to areas approved as valet parking.
G.
Parking spaces may be designed with two feet of their minimum length overhanging a landscaped planting strip, provided:
H.
The maximum length of a parking aisle shall be 300 feet.
§ 7-327.10 Driveway standards.
A.
The minimum width of a driveway at the site's entrance and exit shall be in accordance with the following table:
Public Street (at the edge of the cartway)* | 1-Way Use | 2-Way Use |
|---|---|---|
Minimum | 12 feet | 24 feet |
Maximum | 35 feet | 50 feet |
* | Unless a different standard is required by PennDOT for an entrance to a state highway. |
B.
At least 50 feet shall be provided between the center lines of any two driveways or driveways along one street within one lot. The number of driveways may not exceed two per lot on a street frontage.
C.
If a driveway enters onto a collector or arterial street, then the center line of that driveway or accessway where it enters the collector or arterial street shall be a minimum of 75 feet from the center line of any other street, where that street enters the collector or arterial street at a different point than the driveway.
D.
Where there will be new or intensified access to a state street or other work within the right-of-way of a state street, a state highway occupancy permit shall be obtained, as applicable.
E.
The locations of driveways that are clearly limited and designed for use by only emergency vehicles are not regulated by this chapter.
F.
All driveways shall be constructed without impacting drainage along a public street and shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer.
§ 7-327.11 Drainage standards.
A.
Parking, loading facilities, driveways and vehicle sales display areas shall be graded and adequately drained to prevent erosion or excessive water flow across streets or adjoining properties.
B.
All drainage shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer. All parking lots shall have curb cuts approved by the City Engineer at all points of ingress and egress.
C.
Except for landscaped areas, all portions of required parking, loading facilities and driveways shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete or decorative paving block or such other material as may be approved by the City Engineer.
D.
The City Engineer may approve a stone parking area if it is used for industrial purposes and is located to the rear of buildings and is served by a paved driveway, or if the parking area is used for recreational park purposes.
§ 7-327.12 Lighting standards.
A.
All parking lots shall be adequately illuminated for security and safety purposes.
B.
The applicant shall certify that the lighting, as proposed, meets published illumination standards established by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) or other generally acceptable professional organization for the lighting of public spaces. Approved lighting sources shall be provided and maintained in operating condition. See Chapter 7-331, Environmental Performance Standards.
§ 7-327.13 Recreational vehicle storage.
A.
A maximum of two uninhabited recreational vehicles in transportable condition may be stored or parked on a lot outside of an enclosed building. A recreational vehicle shall not block required sight distance or a public sidewalk.
B.
Any recreational vehicle or trailer required to be registered or licensed under state law to be operated that is not registered or licensed shall be kept out of view from any public street or abutting dwelling.
§ 7-327.14 Repairing of motor vehicles.
A.
No person shall cause an obstruction to vehicle or pedestrian traffic as a result of working upon a motor vehicle on a street or alley. No motor vehicle shall be worked upon on a residential lot or street or alley in such a manner that generates nuisances, public safety hazards or hazards to the environment. Only minor and emergency servicing of vehicles shall occur on a street or alley, which servicing shall not involve disassembling, spray painting, body work or changing of engines.
B.
Repairs to motor vehicles shall only occur in a residential district if the vehicle is owned or leased by a permanent resident of the dwelling.
§ 7-327.15 Unregistered, commercial and junk vehicles.
A.
Parking of unregistered, commercial and junk vehicles shall be regulated to prevent the character of residential areas from being harmed by nuisances, hazards and visual blight and to prevent the establishment of junkyards in residential districts.
B. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TRACTOR OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER TRAILER OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
A motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight greater than 6,000 pounds and is primarily used for business purposes, including but not limited to making service calls, transporting equipment used in a business or in accomplishing physical work as part of a business (such as hauling material).
A truck with a minimum of three axles that is primarily intended to pull a trailer, as defined below, and not primarily to carry goods itself.
A commercial vehicle with a length of 20 feet or more that is not self-propelled, that is intended to haul materials, vehicles, goods, gases or liquids and that is intended to be pulled by a tractor (as defined above), and that is not a "recreational vehicle."
C.
Within a residential district, no motor vehicle that does not display current registration and safety inspection (or safety inspection and registration that expired less than 90 days prior) and no "junk vehicle" shall be parked or stored in any way that is visible from a public street or an adjacent dwelling. The provision for a safety inspection sticker shall not apply to an antique vehicle that is not required to have such a sticker under state law, provided such vehicle still displays current registration and is operable.
D.
In a nonresidential district, a maximum of one "junk vehicle" shall be parked or stored in such a way that the vehicle is visible from a public street or a dwelling. This section shall not apply to a permitted auto sales use, auto service station, junkyard or auto repair garage, provided that the regulations for that use are met.
E.
In a residential district, a maximum of two "commercial vehicles" may be parked for no more than eight hours in any forty-eight-hour period on private property. Such vehicles shall be permitted only if used by residents of the property as a means of transportation between their home and work. No commercial vehicle on a vacant or residential lot in a residential district shall have a gross vehicle weight of over 15,000 pounds if parked outside of an enclosed building:
(1)
In a residential district, the engine of a tractor of a tractor-trailer shall not be idled for more than 10 minutes on the property between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or be repaired, except for clearly emergency repairs;
(2)
No trailer of a tractor-trailer shall be parked, stored, maintained or kept in a residential district for more than eight hours in any forty-eight-hour period; and
(3)
See requirements of the state Motor Vehicle Code that require vehicles parked on a public street to display current registration.
§ 7-327.16 Off-street loading.
A.
Each use receiving or shipping material or merchandise by trucks larger than a pickup truck or standard passenger van shall provide sufficient off-street loading facilities, which meet the requirements of this subsection, to accommodate the maximum demand generated by the use. For the purposes of this section, the words "loading" and "unloading" are used interchangeably.
B.
Off-street loading facilities shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
Each off-street loading space shall be at least (in feet):
Largest Type of Truck Routinely Serving the Use | Minimum Width in Feet | Minimum Length in Feet |
|---|---|---|
Tractor-trailer | 12 (except 11 if more than 10 such spaces on a lot) | 40 to 65 depending on size (with 12 feet clear height) |
Trucks - other than tractor-trailers, pickups or standard-sized vans | 10 | 25 |
Pick-up truck or standard-sized van | 9 | 18 |
(2)
Each space shall have sufficient room for loading and unloading without conflicting with traffic movements within the lot and on a public street (other than an "alley"). No facility shall be designed or used in such a manner that it threatens a safety hazard, public nuisance or a serious impediment to traffic on a public street;
(3)
Each space and the needed maneuvering room shall be located outside of any required buffer areas and paved area setbacks. An appropriate means of access to reach a street shall be provided;
(4)
To the maximum extent feasible, buildings shall be designed with any new loading facilities being located internal to the lot or building, in a location that will not interfere with traffic on streets. As a second choice, new loading facilities shall be accessed from a suitable alley or a less heavily traveled nonresidential street, as opposed to a residential street or a public street carrying significant through traffic:
(a)
Within the DC Zoning District, where a major public street needs to be used for loading and unloading:
(b)
Within the DC Zoning District, the use of on-street loading shall be considered only as a last resort. The City may restrict the location of on-street loading spaces as necessary to avoid increased traffic congestion. Such restrictions may follow an overall loading plan for downtown.
(5)
Applicants for new principal commercial and industrial uses, including conversions from previous uses, that do not have their own off-street loading facilities or direct access to an on-street loading space shall submit a statement to the City Engineer describing their proposed method of providing loading and unloading for their use, and hours when most deliveries are expected.
C.
Fire lanes shall be provided where required by state or federal regulations or other local codes. The specific locations of these lanes are subject to review by the City Fire Chief or designee. All buildings shall have adequate access for emergency vehicles.
§ 7-327.99 Penalty.
Chapters 7-701 and 1-305 shall apply.