Milton City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
48 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
§ 17.48.010 Parking spaces – Required.
A.
Off-street parking spaces shall be provided as an accessory use, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, at any time any building or structure is erected, enlarged, or expanded, unless the modification is in the form of adding residential units or converting nonresidential space to a residential use, and the modification is entirely within the existing envelope of the building.
B.
Where compliance with tree retention and parking requirements would make a proposed residential development or redevelopment infeasible, parking will not be required as a condition of permitting the project.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2105 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 17.48.020 Parking spaces – Size and access.
A.
Aisle and driveway dimensions shall conform to the dimensions set forth in Table 17.48.020. The public works director may approve variations to these dimensions if special circumstances exist which prohibit strict compliance; provided, that such variations do not result in a traffic safety hazard, hinder vehicle access and egress and are designed in conformance with good engineering practices.
Table 17.48.020 Aisle and Driveway Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stall Angle | 45° | 60° | 90° |
Stall Width1 | |||
Regular space | 12'9" | 10'5" | 9'0" |
Compact space2 | 11'3" | 9'4" | 8'0" |
Stall Depth1 | |||
Regular space | 20'7" | 20'10" | 20'0" |
Compact space | 17'6" | 18'7" | 17'0" |
Driveway Aisle | |||
One-way | 14'0" | 18'0" | 20'0" |
Two-way | 17'0" | 18'0" | 20'0" |
Notes: |
|---|
1 Minimum space dimensions for residential parking is eight feet by 20 feet. |
2 Thirty percent of the required parking spaces, whenever 10 or more spaces are required, may be compact stalls. |
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2105 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 17.48.030 Parking spaces – Location.
A.
Off-street parking facilities shall be located as specified in this section.
B.
Where a distance is specified, the distance shall be the walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking facilities to the nearest point of the building that the facility is required to serve.
1.
For a single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling the parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or building site as the building they are required to serve. This requirement may be waived or modified for mixed-use developments which include multi-family dwellings.
2.
For any other building or structure, off-street parking facilities shall be located not more than 300 feet from the building or structure.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.040 Off-street parking requirements.
The minimum number of off-street parking spaces required shall be as follows:
Adult day care facility | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space for every 5 clients or fraction thereof; if the clients may not own vehicles, 1 space per 600 sf of gross floor area |
Adult entertainment business | 1 space per 100 sf of gross floor area |
Adult retirement community | 1 space per unit |
Agricultural buildings | 1 space per 2,000 sf of floor space |
Ambulance service | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space per vehicle used in coordination with the service |
Amusement parks | 1 space per 200 sf of area within enclosed buildings plus 1 space for every 3 persons that the outdoor facilities are designed to accommodate |
Animal hospital | 1 space per employee plus 1 space per 600 sf of gross floor area |
Apartment | 2 spaces per dwelling unit2 |
Assisted living facility | 0.75 spaces per unit |
Auction house/barn (no vehicle or livestock) | 1 space per 4 seats |
Automobile service station | 2 spaces per service bay |
Automobile wash | 5 spaces per washing stall in addition to the stall itself |
Automobile, repair | 1 space per 200 sf, plus 2 spaces per service bay, plus 1 space for each employee |
Automobile, sales | 1 space per 5,000 sf of lot area used for vehicle display, plus 1 space per 300 sf of showroom area |
Ballfield | 50 spaces per field |
Banks, savings and loan association | 1 space per 400 sf of floor area up to 20,000 sf, plus 1 per 500 sf of floor area in excess of 20,000 sf |
Bed and breakfast | 1 space per guest room |
Billiard hall and pool hall | 2 spaces per table |
Blueprinting and photostating | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Buy-back recycling center | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space per 1,000 sf of building area |
Cabinet shops | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Carpenter shops | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Child day care, commercial | 1 space per employee during the maximum shift per state license, and 1 space for every 10 students enrolled; and one pick-up/drop-off space for every 20 students enrolled, but in no case less than 2 loading spaces, based on the maximum students allowed per state license |
Child day care, family | 1 space for each employee |
Club or organization, private | 1 space for every 4 persons based on the fire occupancy load |
Commercial recreation < 2 ac. | 3 spaces per acre, plus 1 space per 200 sf of building area |
Commercial recreation > 2 ac. | 3 spaces per acre up to 2 acres, plus 2 spaces per acre for each additional acre or fraction thereof, plus 1 space per 200 sf of building area |
Composting facilities | 1 space for each employee |
Confectionery stores | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Contractor yards | 1 space for each employee on the maximum scheduled shift |
Convenience store | 1 space per 400 sf of gross floor area |
Crematories and mausoleums | 1 space per 4 fixed seats of chapel capacity, plus 1 space for every 3 employees |
Department stores | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Distributing plants | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Drug stores | 1 space per 400 sf of gross floor area |
Dry cleaners | 1 space per 200 sf of gross floor area used by the public |
Dwelling, ADU | 1 space per bedroom, no off-street parking required for units within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop1,2,3 |
Dwelling, multifamily | 2 spaces per dwelling unit, no off-street parking is required within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop1,3 |
Dwelling, single-family | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Dwelling, two-family | 2 spaces per dwelling unit, no off-street parking is required within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop1,3 |
Electric transmission substation | To be determined by the land use administrator |
Electric/neon sign assembly, servicing, repair | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Espresso stands | 1 space per employee, plus spaces for 3 waiting cars |
Fairgrounds | 8 spaces per acre up to 2 acres, plus 4 spaces per acre for each additional acre or fraction thereof |
Flea market | 8 spaces per acre up to 2 acres, plus 4 spaces per acre for each additional acre or fraction thereof |
Food markets and grocery stores | For establishments with less than 5,000 sf of gross floor area, 10 spaces; for establishments with over 5,000 sf of gross floor area, 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area |
Freight terminal, truck | 1 space per 250 sf of floor area devoted to office use, plus 1 space per company vehicle |
Furniture repair | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Golf and athletic facilities | 1 space for every 2 employees, plus 3 per golf hole |
Greenhouses, private and noncommercial | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Group homes | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space for every 5 clients or fraction thereof |
Hardware stores < 10,000 sf | 1 space per 400 sf of gross floor area |
Hardware stores > 10,000 sf | 1 space per 400 sf of gross floor area |
Health club | 1 space per 200 sf of gross floor area |
Heliports | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space per vehicle used in connection with the facility |
Home occupation | 1 space in addition to the requirement for the dwelling |
Horticultural nursery, wholesale and retail | 1 space per 1,000 sf of floor area, plus 1 space per 2,000 sf of site area |
Hospitals and sanitariums | 1 space per 3 beds |
Hotel | 1 space per room, unit, or guest accommodation |
Industry, light | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Inn | 1 space per room, unit, or guest accommodation |
Libraries | 1 space per 400 sf, plus 1 space per two employees |
Liquor stores | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Locksmiths | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Lumber yards | 1 space per 500 sf of gross floor area |
Machine shops, punch press up to 5 tons | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Medical-dental clinic | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area |
Mobile home park | 1 space per dwelling unit |
Mortuaries | 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Motel | 1 space per room, unit, or guest accommodation, plus 1 space for every 2 employees |
Motor vehicle impound yard in enclosed building | 1 space for every 2 employees |
Nonautomotive, motor vehicle and related equipment sales, rental, repair and service | 1 space per 600 sf of gross floor area |
Open-air theaters | 1 space per 6 seats |
Outdoor storage | 1 space for each employee on the largest shift |
Paint shop | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Parcel service delivery | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Pesticide application service | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Pet shop | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Plumbing shop | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Plumbing supply yards | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Post office, branch or contract station | 1 space for each employee on shift of maximum employees plus 1 space per 800 sf |
Post office, distribution center or terminal | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Printing establishments | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Professional offices | 1 space per 400 sf of floor space |
Public parks | Parking lot area equivalent to 1 percent of the total land area |
Public utility facilities | To be determined by the land use administrator |
Public utility service yard | 1 space for each employee on the maximum work shift |
Radio and TV repair shops | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Radio, cellular phone, microwave, and/or television transmission facilities or towers | 1 space |
Recreational areas, commercial, including tennis clubs and similar activities | 1 space per 200 sf of gross floor area |
Recreational centers privately operated | 1 space per 200 sf of gross floor area |
Recycling processing centers | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space per 1,000 sf of building area |
Religious institution | 1 space per 5 seats in the principal and auxiliary places of worship, or per independent parking demand study |
Restaurant | 1 space per 100 sf of gross floor area |
Restaurants, drive-through | 1 space per 200 sf of gross floor area |
Retail <1,000 square feet | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area |
Retail >1,000 square feet | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Rodeos | 1 space per 5 fixed seats |
Schools, elementary | 1 space for each teacher and staff member, plus 1 space for each 2 classrooms |
Schools, secondary | 1 space for every teacher and staff member, plus 1 space for every 5 students |
Secondhand store | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Self-service storage facility | 3 spaces plus 1 space per 100 units |
Sewage treatment plants | 1 space for each employee on the maximum work shift |
Shoe stores or repair shop | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Sports arenas | 1 space per 5 fixed seats |
Stable, private arena | 1 space per 4 pens or stables |
Stadiums | 1 space per 5 fixed seats |
Stationery store | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Storage for transit and transportation equipment | 1 space for each employee on the largest shift |
Studios (i.e., recording, artist, dancing, etc.) | 1 space per 800 sf of gross floor area |
Surface mining | 1 space for each employee of the largest shift |
Swimming pool, commercial | 1 space per 200 sf of pool surface area plus 1 space per 200 sf of building area for accessory structures in excess of 1,000 sf |
Swimming pool, public | 1 space per 200 sf of pool surface area plus 1 space per 200 sf of building area in accessory structures in excess of 1,000 sf |
Taverns | 1 space per 100 sf of gross floor area |
Theaters, enclosed | 1 space per 5 fixed seats |
Tool sales and rental | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Trailer-mix concrete plant | 1 space for each employee, plus 1 space per 1,000 sf of building area |
Transfer station solid waste facility | To be determined by the land use administrator |
Transit facilities, bus barns, park-and-ride lots, transit stations | 1 space per 600 sf of gross floor area |
Upholstering | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Video store (rental, not adult) < 5,000 sf | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Video store (rental, not adult) > 5,000 sf | 1 space per 300 sf of gross floor area for the first 1,000 sf of gross floor area, plus 4 spaces per additional 1,000 sf of gross floor area |
Vocational schools/colleges | 1 space for each 200 sf of gross floor area in classrooms |
Warehousing | 1 space per 2,000 sf of floor space |
Welding shops and sheet metal shops | 1 space for every 3 employees on the largest shift or 1 space per 1,000 sf of gross floor area, whichever requirement is greater |
Notes: |
|---|
1 Major transit stop is defined in RCW 17.08.855. |
2 For accessory dwelling units, off-street parking is not required within one-half mile of stops for a bus or other transit mode providing actual fixed route service at intervals of at least 15 minutes for at least five hours during the peak hours of operation on weekdays. |
3 Lots less than 6,000 square feet before any zero lot line subdivisions or splits have a minimum requirement of one parking spot per unit. |
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1451 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1515 § 1, 2002; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2056 § 9, 2022; Ord. 2057 § 8, 2022; Ord. 2105 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 17.48.050 Parking spaces – Unspecified uses.
In the case of a use not specifically mentioned in this chapter, the requirement for off-street parking facilities shall be determined by the land use administrator. Such determination shall be based upon the requirements for the use which in the opinion of the land use administrator shall be the most comparable use.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.060 Parking spaces – Mixed occupancies.
In the case of mixed uses, the total requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required parking facilities for any other use, except as specified in this chapter for cooperative use.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.070 Parking spaces – Cooperative provisions.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent cooperative provision of off-street parking facilities for two or more buildings or uses; provided, that the total of such off-street parking spaces supplied cooperatively shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately. None of the above provisions shall prevent the overlapping cooperative use of parking facilities when the time during which such facilities are used is not conflicting.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.080 Parking area – Development standards.
§ 17.48.090 Parking area – Motor barricades.
A rail, fence, wall, hedge, landscaped berm or other continuous barricade of height sufficient to retain all cars completely within the property shall be provided, except at exit or access driveways.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.100 Parking area – Landscaping standards.
Internal parking lot landscaping shall be provided as required under Chapter 17.15C MMC.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.110 Parking area – Entrances and exits.
The location and design of all entrances and exits shall be subject to the approval of the building inspector; provided, that no entrance or exit shall be closer than 15 feet to any adjoining lot located in any R district.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.120 Parking area – Surface.
Off-street parking areas shall be surfaced and maintained with a durable surface consisting of asphalt, concrete, grass block pavers, or permeable paving and shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water. Surfacing and drainage shall be subject to approval by the city. Existing gravel-surfaced spaces may be used to meet parking requirements, up to six spaces.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2105 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 17.48.130 Parking area – Lighting.
Any lighting used to illuminate any required off-street parking areas shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises in any R district.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.140 Parking area – Signs.
No sign of any kind, other than one designating entrances, exits, or conditions of use, shall be maintained on a parking area on that side which abuts upon or faces any premises situated in any R district. Such signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area, nor shall there be more than one such sign for each entrance or exit.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)
§ 17.48.150 Loading areas.
Every building constructed, altered, or enlarged, which is designed for, or used for, merchandising, manufacturing, warehousing or processing purposes, shall provide off-street loading space as follows:
A minimum of one space 30 feet by 12 feet for each 12,000 square feet of floor space, or fraction thereof, within the building which floor space is designed or used for the above purposes.
(Ord. 1405 § 2, 1999; Ord. 1912 § 1, 2017)