Mill Creek City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
27 OFF-STREET PARKING
§ 17.27.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide adequate, not excessive parking for all land uses and structures. Benefits to providing the appropriate amount of parking are to reduce impervious surfaces such as parking areas which contribute to the amount of stormwater runoff that flows into area streams, and to utilize land in an efficient manner.
(Ord. 2005-609 § 2; Ord. 2009-702 § 2 (Exh. C))
§ 17.27.020 Applicability.
Off-street parking spaces as required by this chapter must be provided when any of the following circumstances exist:
A.
A new principal building is constructed.
B.
A principal building is relocated.
C.
The use or building is changed or expanded to the extent that the number of required parking spaces is increased by 15 percent.
(Ord. 2005-609 § 2; Ord. 2009-702 § 2 (Exh. C); Ord. 2024-928 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.030 Bicycle standards and requirements.
Bicycle parking shall be encouraged in all developments. Where provided, bicycle parking shall be inverted-U style bike racks or locker-type parking facilities unless otherwise specified.
A.
The community development director may require bicycle facilities when it is determined that the use or its location will generate a high volume of bicycle activity. Such a determination will include but not be limited to the following uses:
1.
Park/playfield;
2.
Public facilities;
3.
Library/museum/arboretum;
4.
Elementary/secondary school;
5.
Sports club; or
6.
Retail business (especially when located along a developed or projected bicycle trail or designated bicycle route).
B.
Bicycle facilities for patrons, when required, shall be located within 100 feet of the building entrance and shall be designed to allow either a bicycle frame or wheels to be locked to a structure attached to the pavement.
C.
All bicycle parking and storage shall be located in safe, visible areas that do not impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic flow and shall be well lit for nighttime use.
(Ord. 2005-609 § 2; Ord. 2009-702 § 2 (Exh. C); Ord. 2024-928 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.040 Parking design and construction requirements.
A.
Location. Parking spaces required for residential uses shall be provided on the same lot as the principal building. Driveways shall extend a minimum of 20 feet from the edge of improvements in the right-of-way or easement. Off-site parking for nonresidential uses shall be within 100 feet of the principal building or use being served. Minimum distance requirements may be increased up to 300 feet upon a showing of development difficulty or commitment to a shared parking use satisfactory to the director.
B.
Handicapped Spaces. All retail commercial, offices, personal services, health care, community facilities, multi-family buildings with dwelling units for rent, and other places of public accommodation must provide handicapped spaces as required by the International Building Code. All handicapped parking spaces shall be provided and designed in accordance with the 2003 American National Standard, as now or hereafter amended.
C.
Dimensional Requirements. All parking spaces shall comply with the dimensional standards of MCMC Tables 17.27.040-1 through 17.27.040-4. Up to 25 percent of all required spaces may be designated and clearly marked for compact cars.
D.
Access. All commercial and institutional parking facilities shall have direct access to a street without backing onto the right-of-way.
E.
Control Devices. All parking spaces shall be clearly designated with paint, raised rails or other devices. A wheel stop shall be provided for each space which abuts a pedestrian walkway less than 10 feet wide or any structure. All structures shall be guarded with suitable control devices visible to the driver.
F.
Surfacing. All parking facilities shall be constructed with a surface appropriate for the use and amount of associated traffic, as approved by the city. Paved surfaces are preferred, and the use of permeable surfacing materials is required when site and soil conditions make it feasible. In addition, the use of LID best management practices such as integrating LID stormwater management facilities into the required landscaping in parking lots is required whenever feasible.
G.
Grades. The maximum slope of a parking facility shall be six percent. The minimum slope shall be one and one-half percent.
H.
Landscaping. All parking facilities shall be landscaped by a fence, wall, hedge or other suitable vegetation where bordering a public right-of-way or residential zone district. Additional landscaping may be required. Landscaping shall comply with the design review objectives contained in MCMC § 17.34.040(C).
I.
Maintenance. All parking facilities shall be maintained in a clean and litter-free condition. Landscaped areas shall be free of weeds and dead plant material. Plantings shall be pruned if appropriate.
J.
Tandem parking spaces where provided shall not be counted toward the minimum requirements.
Minimum Standards for Off-Street Parking | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Table 17-27.040-1 Conventional Car Stall and Aisle Specifications | ||||||||
Parking Layout | Parking Angle A | Dimensions | One Way | Two Way | ||||
See Diagram | Stall Width B | Curb Length C | Stall Depth D | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | |
Parallel: One Side Two Sides | 0° 0° | 8 feet 8 feet | 21 feet 21 feet | 8 feet 8 feet | 12 feet 22 feet | 20 feet 38 feet | 22 feet 24 feet | 30 feet 40 feet |
Angular | 20 | 8.5 | 24.9 | 14.5 | 11 | 40 | 20 | 49 |
30 | 8.5 | 17 | 16.9 | 11 | 44.8 | 20 | 53.8 | |
40 | 8.5 | 13.2 | 18.7 | 12 | 49.4 | 20 | 57.4 | |
45 | 8.5 | 12 | 19.4 | 13.5 | 52.3 | 20 | 58.8 | |
50 | 8.5 | 11.1 | 20 | 15.5 | 55.5 | 20 | 60 | |
60 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 20.7 | 18.5 | 59.9 | 22 | 63.4 | |
70 | 8.5 | 9 | 20.8 | 19.5 | 61.1 | 22 | 63.6 | |
80 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 20.2 | 24 | 64.4 | 24 | 64.4 | |
Perpendicular | 90 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 19 | 25 | 63 | 25 | 63 |
 |
Table 17-27.040-2 Compact Car Stall and Aisle Specifications | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parking Layout | Parking Angle A | Dimensions | One Way | Two Way | ||||
Parallel | Stall Width B | Curb Length C | Stall Depth D | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | |
0° | 8 feet | 20 feet | 8 feet | 12 feet | 28 feet | 20 feet | 36 feet | |
Angular | 45 | 8 | 11.3 | 15 | 12.5 | 42.5 | 20 | 50 |
60 | 8 | 9.2 | 16.5 | 17 | 50 | 22 | 55 | |
Perpendicular | 90 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 54 | 25 | 57 |
Table 17-27.040-3 Interlocking – Conventional Cars | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parking Layout | Parking Angle A | Dimensions | One Way | Two Way | ||||
See Diagram | Stall Width B | Curb Length C | Stall Depth D | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | |
Parallel | 0° | 8 feet | 21 feet | 8 feet | 12/22 feet | 28/38 feet | 22/24 feet | 38/40 feet |
Angular | 20 | 8.5 | 24.9 | 10.5 | 11 | 32 | 20 | 41 |
30 | 8.5 | 17 | 13.2 | 11 | 37.4 | 20 | 46.4 | |
40 | 8.5 | 13.2 | 15.5 | 12 | 43 | 20 | 51 | |
45 | 8.5 | 12 | 16.4 | 13.5 | 46.3 | 20 | 52.8 | |
50 | 8.5 | 11.1 | 17.3 | 15.5 | 50.1 | 20 | 54.6 | |
60 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 18.6 | 18.5 | 55.7 | 22 | 59.2 | |
70 | 8.5 | 9 | 19.3 | 19.5 | 58.1 | 22 | 60.6 | |
80 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 19.5 | 24 | 63 | 24 | 63 | |
Perpendicular | 90 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 19 | 25 | 63 | 25 | 63 |
 |
Table 17-27.040-4 Interlocking – Compact Cars | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Parking Layout | Parking Angle A | Dimensions | One Way | Two Way | ||||
Parallel | Stall Width B | Curb Length C | Stall Depth D | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | Aisle Width E | Parking Section Width F | |
0° | 8 feet | 20 feet | 8 feet | 12 feet | 28 feet | 20 feet | 36 feet | |
Angular | 45 | 8 | 11.3 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 40.7 | 20 | 48.2 |
60 | 8 | 9.2 | 15.9 | 17 | 48.8 | 22 | 53.8 | |
Perpendicular | 90 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 54 | 25 | 57 |
(Ord. 2005-609 § 2; Ord. 2009-702 § 2 (Exh. C); Ord. 2017-814 § 2; Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.050 Nonresidential parking requirements.
A.
The required number of off-street parking spaces required for commercial uses is set forth in MCMC Table 17.27.050-1.
Table 17.27.050-1 | |
|---|---|
Use | Required Spaces |
Retail stores except as specified below, convenience stores, department stores, drug stores, and grocery stores | 1 per 250 square feet |
Furniture, appliance and hardware stores | 1 per 600 square feet |
Personal services facilities | 1 per 300 square feet |
Health care, veterinarian clinics and banks | 1 per 200 square feet |
Offices providing on-site customer services | 1 per 400 square feet |
Offices not providing on-site customer service | 1 per 800 square feet |
Bowling alleys | 4 per lane |
Commercial recreation facilities | 1 per 500 square feet or 1 per customer allowed by the maximum permitted occupant load |
Car repair and commercial garages | 3 plus 2 per each bay or stall and adequate provision for additional vehicle storage as determined by the director |
Service stations | 3 and 1 per 300 square feet associated retail sales area |
Automobile, recreational vehicle, and boat sales and services | 1 per 250 square feet office area, 1 per 300 square feet service area, and 1 per 1,000 square feet showroom area |
Restaurants, taverns, and cocktail lounges (0-4,000 square feet) | 1 per 200 square feet |
Restaurants, taverns, and cocktail lounges (4,001+ square feet) | 20 and 1 per 100 square feet in excess of 4,000 square feet |
Commercial nurseries | 1 per 300 square feet interior sales and 1 per 500 square feet outdoor retail area |
Motels and hotels | 1 per room/unit and one-half the required spaces for accessory uses |
Retail and wholesale warehouses and building material yards | 1 per 1,000 square feet storage area and 1 per 3 employees |
Manufacturing and laboratories, contract printing, research, and kennels | 1 per 1,000 square feet storage area and 1 per employee |
Mortuaries | 1 per 4 fixed seats or 8 feet of bench or 1 per 40 square feet of assembly area |
Storage warehouses that do not include self storage | 1 per employee |
Self storage warehouses | 1 per 50 storage units and 1 per 300 square feet office space |
B.
The required number of off-street parking spaces required for community facilities is set forth in MCMC Table 17.27.050-2.
Table 17.27.050-2 | |
|---|---|
Use | Required Spaces |
Outdoor places of public assembly | 1 per 8 fixed seats or 1 per 100 square feet assembly area |
Theaters | 1 per 3 seats |
Indoor places of public assembly, including churches, auditoriums | 1 per four seats or 8 feet of bench or 1 per 40 square feet assembly area |
Schools | 6 per classroom and 1 per employee |
Museums and libraries | 1 per 250 square feet |
Day care centers | 1 per 300 square feet |
Hospitals | 3 per bed |
Maintenance yard (municipal or utility) | 1 per 2 employees |
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.060 Residential parking standards.
A.
The required number of off-street parking spaces required for residential uses is set forth in MCMC Table 17.27.060-1. All distances are measured as walking distances unless otherwise noted.
Table 17.27.060-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Use | Required Spaces per Dwelling Unit (Unless Otherwise Noted) | ||
Standard | Major Transit Stop Within 1/2 Mile | Major Transit Stop Within 1/4 Mile | |
Single-unit dwelling | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Accessory dwelling unit | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Middle housing1 (lots no greater than 6,000 square feet) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Middle housing1 (lots greater than 6,000 square feet) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Multi-unit dwelling (0 – 1 bedrooms) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 |
Multi-unit dwelling (2 bedrooms) | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2 |
Multi-unit dwelling (3+ bedrooms) | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Boarding house | 1 per 4 sleeping units | 0 per sleeping unit | 0 per sleeping unit |
Nursing home | 1 per 3 beds | 1 per 3 beds | 1 per 3 beds |
Retirement home | 0.5 1 per employee | 0.5 1 per employee | 0.5 1 per employee |
1Middle housing parking standards take precedence and apply to all middle housing dwelling units, regardless of whether such units are also classified as single-unit or multi-unit dwellings. |
B.
Multi-Unit Parking Standards. Multi-unit dwellings with seven or more units must comply with the following:
1.
Approximately 25 percent of the required parking is intended to provide for guest parking. Guest parking must be provided outside of individual parking garages, must not be reserved for any individual unit, and may be covered or uncovered. The guest parking is for the use of tenants and their invited guests.
2.
The applicant must prepare and submit a parking management plan to the city for review and approval. The parking management plan must be in place prior to the occupancy of the first residential unit and must:
a.
Prohibit the storage of recreational vehicles and general storage within designated open, carport and garage parking spaces.
b.
Include a mechanism to clearly inform residents of the parking restrictions and consequences.
c.
Provide contingency measures such as permit parking for addressing parking problems should they arise.
C.
Alternative Parking Requirements Near Frequent Transit. Parking requirements contained in this chapter may be modified for housing within one-quarter mile of a major transit stop as follows:
1.
For housing units that are affordable to very low-income or extremely low-income individuals, minimum parking requirements may be no greater than one parking space per bedroom. The housing developer must record a covenant that prohibits the rental of a unit subject to this parking requirement for any purpose other than providing for housing for very low-income or extremely low-income individuals. The covenant must address price restrictions and household income limits and policies if the property is converted to a use other than for low-income housing.
2.
For housing units that are specifically for seniors or people with disabilities, minimum parking requirements may be no greater than one space per employee and one space per four beds to accommodate staff and visitors. The housing developer must record a covenant that prohibits the rental of a unit subject to this parking requirement for any purpose other than providing for housing for seniors or people with disabilities.
3.
One parking space per bedroom may be required if the director determines that a particular housing unit is in an area with a lack of access to street parking capacity, physical space impediments, or other reasons supported by evidence that would make on-street parking infeasible for the unit.
D.
Parking Requirements for New Housing in Existing Buildings. Off-street parking is not required for new dwelling units added entirely within the existing building envelope of a building located in a commercial zone or the MU/HDR zone, except that parking required for existing residential uses and nonresidential uses that remain after the new dwelling units are added must be retained. For the purpose of this subsection, “existing building” means a building that received a certificate of occupancy at least three years prior to the permit application to add dwelling units.
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.070 Unspecified use capacity requirements.
Any use not specified in MCMC § 17.27.050 through 17.27.060 must meet the requirements of the most similar use as determined by the director.
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.080 Calculations.
A.
Area – Square Feet. Unless otherwise specified, square feet refers to the gross building square footage, including outdoor areas used for the same or accessory use, e.g., outdoor eating area of a restaurant.
B.
Fractions. When the total number of all required spaces results in a fractional number of parking spaces, one space must be provided for a fraction of one-half or more, and no space is required for a fraction less than one-half.
C.
Credit for On-Street Parking. Based upon a parking study demonstrating adequate on-street parking availability, the director may grant a maximum 30 percent credit for required off-street parking for on-street parking adjacent to a specific use.
D.
Employees. The number of employees is based on the maximum potential number of employees during a single shift unless otherwise specified.
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.090 Shared parking.
A.
Mixed-Use Parking Requirements. For developments on lots or in buildings with combined uses, the required number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the spaces required for each use and shall not be reduced by more than 10 percent for each use. Examples of combined uses are: a furniture store with a retail display area and an attached storage warehouse, a storage warehouse with attached office, or a church with a parochial school. However, if the hours of use do not overlap, the requirements for the development shall be those of the use or combination of uses which overlap, requiring the greater amount of parking. Examples of mixed uses with hours of use that do not overlap are: an office building with an attached movie theater, a commercial use on the first floor with residential on the upper floors.
B.
Shared Parking Facilities. In cases where there are uses in close proximity of each other that operate or are used at entirely different times of the day or week, the director may approve shared parking facilities to satisfy the parking requirements of such uses if the parking facilities are within 300 feet of all uses being served and if the owners of the uses involved present a written agreement clearly setting forth the respective rights under this title, together with proof that the operating times are not in conflict. Examples of potential shared parking uses are stated above in mixed-use parking requirements. The director shall issue a written shared parking approval in accordance with MCMC § 14.09.010 if he determines the requirements have been satisfactorily demonstrated.
The director shall periodically confirm the involved uses and may terminate the shared use approval if the required conditions are no longer followed or applicable.
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
§ 17.27.100 Vehicle parking.
A.
All passenger vehicles including pickup trucks must be parked in a designated driveway, parking space, carport or garage.
B.
No recreation vehicle, boat, trailer, or junk vehicle may be parked or stored in any front yard or front yard setback area including the driveway, except that recreation vehicles and boats may be temporarily parked in the front yard setback area for purposes of cleaning and/or loading for a period not to exceed 72 hours. Any vehicles stored in a side yard shall be fully screened from view from any public right-of-way in accordance with the standards in MCMC § 17.22.070(B).
C.
Commercial Vehicles. No commercial vehicles or combination of commercial vehicle and trailer, or any type of motorized construction equipment, may be parked on any lot in a residential zone except for motorized construction equipment currently being used in conjunction with an approved construction project.
D.
Maintenance of Spaces. All required parking spaces must remain open and accessible for parking during the hours the use is open to the public or residents.
(Ord. 2025-933 § 2 (Exh. A))
