Irmo City Zoning Code

6-1.1. General requirements.

(a)

Where application of the requirements of Table 1 results in a fractional space requirement, the next larger requirement shall apply.

(b)

Wherever a building or use constructed or established after the effective date of this appendix is changed or enlarged in floor area, number of dwelling units, seating capacity, or otherwise to create a need for an increase of 15 percent or more in the number of existing parking spaces, such spaces shall be provided on the basis of the enlargement or change.

(c)

In determining the parking requirements for multiple occupancy sites such as shopping centers, strips, or malls, and/or mixed uses occupying the same building, the intent shall be to provide enough on-site parking to accommodate the majority of traffic generated by the range of uses which might locate at the site over time. Therefore, the required parking numbers per gross floor area shall correspond to broad use categories as allowed in the respective zoning district, not specific uses. The total minimum number of required parking spaces as determined by the planning commission shall be documented on the approved site plan for the facility. A change of tenants and/or use of a unit within an existing multiple occupancy site or building shall not require an alteration in parking requirements. A change in floor area of a unit or units within a multiple occupancy site may require additional parking per subsection (b) above.

(d)

Maximum parking standards.

(1)

Parking lots of 21 to 50 spaces may not have more than 150 percent of the number of spaces required in Table 1.

(2)

Parking lots of 51 spaces or more may not have more than 125 percent of the number of parking spaces required in Table 1.

(e)

Off-street parking shall not be permitted in any required buffer area.

(f)

During site plan review for land development applications, the planning commission may modify the off-street parking requirements for development activities on parcels that have been reduced in size by road widening and/or other transportation improvement projects to the point at which the development cannot reasonably provide the required number of parking spaces. Where space allows, parking requirements will be enforced.

(g)

Existing developments where off-street parking spaces were removed by road widening and/or other transportation improvement projects and no longer meet the minimum off-street parking requirements shall be exempt from these requirements until such time as a new land development application is submitted for review.

6-1.2. Land to provide parking.

Required off-street parking per Table 1 must be provided on the same lot as the principal use for which off-street parking is required, with the following exceptions:

(1)

Off-street parking requirements are waived where public on-street parking is provided along the street in the area abutting the principal use.

(2)

Near-by (within 750 feet walking distance) public parking garages or lots are available and approved for use by the planning commission.

(3)

A near-by (within 750 feet walking distance) off-site parking facility, the title to which and/or easement for the use of which runs with and/or is appurtenant to the title to such principal use, approved by the planning commission.

(4)

Shared parking plan. For adjacent or near-by (within 750 feet walking distance) uses proposing joint use of a parking lot, the applicant(s) submitting a shared parking plan for approval shall submit sufficient data to indicate the principal operating hours of the uses. If the data supports that the peak parking demands of the various uses will not overlap such that sufficient parking can be available during all hours of operation, the planning commission shall determine the shared parking requirements. The total minimum number of required parking spaces as determined by the planning commission shall be documented on the approved site plan for the facility.

6-1.3. Design standards.

The following design and development standards shall apply to all off-street parking areas:

(1)

Parking dimensions. Parking stalls shall be not less than nine feet by 19 feet, except that a maximum 20 percent of the total number of stalls may be eight and one-half feet by 18 feet and designated for small cars. However, the dimensions of all parallel parking stalls shall be not less than nine feet by 24 feet. Parking for tractor-trailers shall be 12 feet by 50 feet. The minimum isle width shall be as follows:

Table 4
Off-Street Parking Minimum Aisle Widths

(2)

Construction, paving. Expansive impervious surface parking lots shall be avoided. Instead, parking lots shall be broken down into sections as appropriate for the type and size of the development and shall be separated by landscaped dividing strips, berms, and similar devices per the Landscaping regulations of this Ordinance. Paving may consist of asphalt, concrete, crushed stone, pavers, gravel, or other material approved by the Planning Official. Pervious pavement is encouraged.

(3)

Drainage. Parking lot construction shall be designed to minimize off-site stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff shall be utilized to the maximum extent practicable for landscaping irrigation and/or diverted to vegetative swales and bio retention cells.

(4)

Parking lots. Parking lots shall be designed to the extent practicable so as not to drain into or across public sidewalks or onto adjacent property, except into a natural watercourse or a drainage easement.

(5)

Separation from walkways and streets. Off-street parking spaces shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks, streets, or alleys and required yards and buffer areas by a wall, fence, curbing, or other protective device approved by the planning official per the community appearance, buffering, screening, landscaping, common open space, and tree protection regulations of this appendix.

(6)

Entrances and exits. Landscaping, curbing, or other approved barriers shall be provided along boundaries to control entrance and exit of vehicles or pedestrians. All off-street parking areas shall be designed so that all movement onto a public street is in a forward motion. Entrance and exit driveways (curb cuts) to public streets and alleys must be at least 40 feet from intersections of public streets, measured from the centerline of the intersection to the centerline of the driveway.

(7)

Marking. Parking lots shall be marked by painted lines, curbs, parking bumpers, and blocks or other means to indicate individual spaces. Signs or markers, as approved by the planning commission, shall be used as necessary to ensure efficient traffic operation of the lot.

(8)

Lighting. Lighting shall be provided if off-street parking spaces are to be used at night. Lighting fixtures shall be shielded to prevent misdirected or excessive artificial light that will trespass into adjacent residential properties, interfere with traffic, or contribute to night sky light pollution.

(9)

Landscaping. Off-street parking areas shall be landscaped in accordance with the landscaping regulations of this appendix.

(10)

Pedestrian circulation.

a.

Walkways, no less than six feet in width, shall be provided along any façade that abuts parking areas.

b.

Internal pedestrian walkways shall be provided where pedestrians cross parking aisles or driveways. Walkways shall be distinguished from driving surfaces through the use of durable, low-maintenance surface materials such as pavers, bricks, scored concrete, or scored and painted asphalt to enhance pedestrian safety and comfort. Raised walkways may be installed if elevated six inches with tapered side slopes and meet ADA standards.

(11)

Bicycle parking spaces. A minimum of one bicycle rack providing space for at least two bicycles shall be provided for retail commercial generating foot traffic. For buildings 15,000 square feet or greater, bicycle racks providing spaces for five percent of the required number of auto spaces or a maximum of 15 spaces shall be provided.

(12)

Maneuverability. Parking areas/lots shall be designed to facilitate internal traffic circulation in a manner to avoid congestion and collision between entering and exiting vehicles and other structures. No parking space shall be designed to permit a vehicle to use an immediate sidewalk or roadway to maneuver in a forward direction.

6-1.4. Maintenance.

All off-street parking areas shall be maintained in a clean, orderly, dust-free, and weed-free condition at the expense of the owner or lessee and not used for the sale, repair, dismantling, or servicing of any vehicle or equipment except for service and auto repair stations.

6-1.5. Parking spaces for the physically handicapped.

(a)

Generally. When off-street parking is required for any building or use, parking for the handicapped shall be included when calculating the overall parking requirements for such building or use, based on the following table:

(b)

Van accessible spaces and handicapped parking dimensions. A minimum of one van accessible space shall be provided for each six handicapped spaces or fraction thereof. Handicapped parking spaces shall measure eight feet in width by 20 feet in length. Each accessible parking space must be adjacent to a five foot wide access aisle. Van accessible spaces must be adjacent to an eight foot wide access aisle.

(c)

Location of handicapped parking spaces.

(1)

Handicapped spaces shall be located as close as possible to ramps, walkways, and entrances.

(2)

Parking spaces should be located so that physically handicapped persons are not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked cars to reach entrances, ramps, and walkways. Note that the state building code has special accessibility requirements for multi-family, hotel/motel, hospital and physical therapy outpatient, and rehabilitation facilities.

(Ord. No. 22-34, 10-18-2022)

All uses requiring on-site, off-street parking facilities shall provide off-street loading space sufficient for their requirements. Such space shall be arranged so that no vehicle being loaded or unloaded in connection with normal operations shall stand in or project into a public street, walkway, alley, or private street. Off-street loading and unloading space shall in all cases be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the structures they are intended to serve. The planning commission may waive or modify off-street loading requirements for established facilities that have insufficient space to provide on-site, off-street loading.

6-3.1. Heavy-duty vehicle parking.

It has been determined by town council that certain heavy-duty vehicles should not be parked in residential or low density commercial areas. Many of these vehicles are commercial in nature, but not all commercial vehicles are prohibited per the following section. For example, a typical passenger vehicle featuring commercial signage would not be prohibited, while a box truck (i.e. a U-Haul truck), with or without signage, would be prohibited. Likewise, a heavy-duty pickup truck, such as a three-quarter-ton, one ton, or one-and-a-half ton truck (i.e. an F-250, F-350, or F-450, respectively) would not be prohibited under this ordinance, as they are regularly owned for personal use, while chassis cab variants of these and larger trucks would be prohibited.

(1)

Construction vehicles/equipment and heavy-duty vehicles shall be prohibited from parking in the following districts: RS (single family residential), RG (general residential), CO (office commercial), CN (neighborhood commercial) or any areas of negotiated developments with density and use similar to the above zones. The prohibition holds whether on-street or off-street, on private property, public property, or public right-of-way except when said trucks are being used during normal business hours to make deliveries or perform service, when residents are using the vehicle to move in or out of a residence, or when contained within a completely enclosed building removed from vision from a street or other property.

(2)

The types of trucks specifically prohibited include but are not limited to: tractor-trailers; truck tractors; trailers only; box trucks; stake trucks; flat-bed trucks; tank trucks including those with and without DHEC identification numbers; dump trucks; concrete mixers; tow trucks; stretch limousines; trucks equipped for hauling shipping containers, timber, rocks, dirt, logs, wood chips, automobiles, and boats; vehicles which require a commercial driver's license to operate; and any type of truck with eight or more wheels. Additionally, construction vehicles such as backhoes, track hoes, skid steers, etc. are prohibited.

(3)

The zoning administrator shall be authorized to make a determination whenever there is a question regarding the construction, commercial, or heavy-duty nature of a vehicle under this ordinance.

6-3.2. Inoperable vehicle parking in residential areas.

(a)

Vehicles without current license plates or which are non-operational are considered inoperable. Such vehicles shall not be parked for more than 15 days in a residential area unless parked in a completely enclosed building or physically removed from vision from the street or other public or private property. Visual obscurity may be achieved by parking in the rear yard or by use of an approved custom car cover. Vehicles with a car cover must be parked on a paved driveway. Only one inoperable vehicle may be stored on a residential lot outside of a completely enclosed building. All tires on such vehicles or trailers must be inflated.

(b)

If a vehicle is mechanically inoperable but is undergoing repairs or restoration and is not stored in an enclosed building, a vehicle restoration permit is required. This permit is valid for one year and may be renewed if, in the opinion of the town, substantial work has been performed on the vehicle. Mechanically inoperable vehicles without a valid restoration permit are prohibited and must be placed in an enclosed building or removed from the property.

6-3.3. Parking, storage, and use of recreational vehicles (campers, travel trailers), utility trailers, and boats.

(a)

No recreational vehicle, trailer or boat shall be parked or stored in any required front yard except on a paved driveway. These may be stored on a natural or grass surface in a rear or side yard behind the front building line. Per section 3-4.1, corner lots have two front yards, so RV, trailer, or boat parking on such lots would have to be in the rear yard or the side opposite the road.

(b)

No recreational vehicle, trailer, or boat shall be parked in any right-of-way, whether standing alone or attached to a tow vehicle.

(c)

A recreational vehicle, trailer or boat may be parked anywhere on premises for a period not to exceed 24 hours during loading or unloading.

(d)

Recreational vehicles and trailers may be used for temporary lodging on a residential lot for up to 14 days per calendar year. Such vehicles and trailers must be parked on a paved driveway or approved surface if located in the front yard. When incidental to on-premises construction pursuant to a valid building permit, such vehicles and trailers may be occupied as temporary lodging for renewable 60-day periods.

6-3.4. Front yard parking in residential areas.

(a)

It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle anywhere in the front yard of a residence, except in the driveway or a parking area approved by the planning official. Parking on the grass or front lawn area of any residence is allowed for visitors and for temporary parking as long as it does not kill the grass. Parking on dirt areas in the front lawn area of a home is not allowed, except for temporary use by visitors.

(1)

Parking area construction that shall be approved by the planning official include:

a.

Poured concrete slab.

b.

Asphalt paved area.

c.

Concrete steppingstones, pavers, and bricks laid out to form a parking pad.

d.

Any pervious substrate such as gravel, crusher run, or ground asphalt contained within a boundary/border made of landscaped timbers, railroad timbers, landscaping blocks, bricks, or solid concrete blocks to contain the substrate.

(2)

Additional parking areas will be approved providing they meet the construction requirements of subsection (1) above and meet the following location requirements listed in descending order of preference:

a.

Additional parking area adjoining either side of the original driveway

b.

Side yard on the same side of the residence as the original driveway

c.

Side yard on the opposite side of the residence as the original driveway

d.

In the front yard area in front of the residence, but as close to the side yard as possible

(3)

Additional parking areas shall be maintained by the property owner and/or tenant. Gravel or other approved substrate, as well as substrate boundaries, must be replenished regularly and/or maintained in good condition. Failure to do so will be considered a nuisance, as per chapter 14 of this Code.

(4)

Additional parking areas installed prior to this ordinance—June, 2025—shall also be maintained to this Code.

(5)

Enforcement of this subsection 6-3.4 shall begin July 1, 2026 in an effort to educate the public and give residents time to take necessary action to meet this ordinance.

(6)

Any vehicle with a valid handicap plate or placard on the vehicle is exempt from this subsection 6-3.4.

(Ord. No. 25-09, 6-17-2025)