Mounds View City Zoning Code

OFF-STREET PARKING

§ 160.330 PURPOSE.

The regulation of off-street parking spaces in this chapter is to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public right-of-way and to promote the safety and general welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for off-street parking of motor vehicles in accordance with the utilization of various parcels of land or structures.

(Prior Code, § 1121.01)

§ 160.331 APPLICATION.

The regulations and requirements set forth herein shall apply to all off-street parking facilities in all of the zoning districts in the city.

(Prior Code, § 1121.02)

§ 160.332 DEFINITION.

The term FLOOR AREA, for the purpose of calculating the number of off-street parking spaces required, shall be determined on the basis of the exterior floor area dimensions of the buildings, structure or use times the number of floors, minus 10%.

(Prior Code, § 1121.03)

§ 160.333 SITE PLAN REQUIREMENT.

All applications for a building or an occupancy permit in all zoning districts shall be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale and dimensioned indicating the location of off-street parking and loading spaces in compliance with the requirements set forth in this chapter.

(Prior Code, § 1121.04)

§ 160.334 USE AND OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS.

(A) Non-conforming structures. Should a non-conforming structure or use be damaged or destroyed by fire, it may be re-established if elsewhere permitted in these zoning regulations; except that, in doing so, any off-street parking or loading space which existed before shall be retained.

(B) Change of use or occupancy of land. No change of use or occupancy of land already dedicated to a parking area, parking spaces or loading spaces shall be made, nor shall any sale of land, division or subdivision of land be made which reduces area necessary for parking, parking stalls or parking requirements below the minimum prescribed by these zoning regulations.

(C) Change of use of occupancy of buildings. Any change of use or occupancy of any building, including additions thereto, requiring more parking area shall not be permitted until there is furnished such additional parking spaces as required by these zoning regulations.

(Prior Code, § 1121.05)

§ 160.335 REDUCTION OF PARKING AREA.

Off-street parking spaces and loading spaces or lot area existing upon the effective date hereof shall not be reduced in number or size unless the number or size exceeds the requirements set forth herein for a similar new use.

(Prior Code, § 1121.06)

§ 160.336 PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Parking spaces for the disabled shall be provided according to the state’s Building Code requirements.

(Prior Code, § 1121.07)

§ 160.337 CALCULATING SPACE.

(A) Fractions of space. When determining the number of off-street parking spaces results in a fraction, each fraction of one-half or more shall constitute another space.

(B) Places of assembly. In stadiums, sports arenas, religious institutions and other places of public assembly in which patrons or spectators occupy benches, pews or other similar seating facilities, each 22 inches of the seating facilities shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining requirements.

(C) Several uses. Should a structure contain two or more types of use, each use shall be calculated separately for determining the total off-street parking spaces required.

(Prior Code, § 1121.08) (Ord. 900, passed 05-26-2015)

§ 160.338 STALL, AISLE AND DRIVEWAY DESIGN.

(A) Dimensions.

(1) Parking space size. Each parking space shall not be less than nine feet wide and 18 feet in length exclusive of access aisles, and each space shall be served adequately by access aisles. Spaces designed as curbside parallel parking shall be 22 feet in length.

(2) Maximum residential driveway widths. (For the purpose of this section, the width of a driveway in an R-1, R-2 or R-5 District shall include any parallel-attached parking area):

Residential Zoning District	Maximum Driveway Width
R-1, Single-Family Residential	35 feet. or the width of the garage, plus an additional 12 feet, whichever is greater
R-2, Zero Lot Line Subdivisions	Width of the garage servicing dwelling unit (refer to Section 1107.07, subdivision. 3d and 3e of this chapter if driveways are combined)
R-2, Single- and Two-Family Residential	If driveways are separate, width of the garage or 20 feet, whichever is greater; if combined, width of garages or 36 feet, whichever is greater
R-3, Medium Density Residential, and R-4, High Density Residential	32 feet
R-5, Mobile Home Park	24 feet

(B) Within structures. The off-street parking requirements may be furnished by providing a space so designed within the principal building or one attached thereto; however, unless provisions are made, no building permit shall be issued to convert the space into a dwelling unit or living area until other adequate provisions are made to comply with the required off-street parking provisions of this chapter.

(C) Circulation. Except in the case of single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings, parking areas shall be designed so that circulation between parking bays or aisles occurs within the designated parking lot and does not depend upon a public street or alley. Except in the case of single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings, parking area design which requires backing into the public street is prohibited.

(D) Dimensions. Except in the case of single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings, parking areas and their aisles shall be developed in compliance with the following minimum standards:

Angle	Wall to Interlock Minimum Dimension A	Interlock to Interlock Minimum Dimension B	Wall to Wall Minimum Dimension C
45 degrees	44.8 feet	43.0 feet	47.0 feet
60 degrees	52.5 feet	51.0 feet	54.0 feet
75 degrees	61.3 feet	61.0 feet	62.0 feet
90 degrees	63.0 feet	63.0 feet	63.0 feet

(E) Curb cuts and driveway openings.

(2) Curb cut widths. Widths of curb cuts shall be as follows, subject to requirements of division (E)(5) below:

Type of Land Use	Maximum Width of Curb Cut
Commercial, Industrial (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1)	32 feet
Medium Density Residential (R-2, R-3) and High Density Residential (R-4)	32 feet
Public Parks and Preservation Areas (R-1, CRP)	32 feet
Single-Family Residential (R-1) Manufactured Homes (R-5)	24 feet
Zero Lot Line Subdivisions (R-2) (with combined driveways)	36 feet
Zero Lot Line Subdivisions (R-2) (with separate driveways)	20 feet

(3) Curb cut openings shall be at a minimum of three feet from the lot line in residential districts and five feet from the lot line in business or industrial districts.

(4) Driveway access curb openings on a public street, except for single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings, shall not be located less than 40 feet from one another.

(5) Each property elevation of any parking area shall be allowed one curb cut access for each 125 feet of street frontage. All property shall be entitled to at least one curb cut. Single-family uses and zero lot line subdivided lots shall be limited to one curb cut access per property unless, upon application for a variance of this restriction, the Board of Adjustment and Appeals finds that it is in the interest of public safety to waive such. Medium density residential (two to six units) may have two curb cuts; provided, neither curb cut exceeds 20 feet in width.

(6) Curb cuts that do not conform to this division (E) may remain in existence unless deemed by the Director of Public Works/Parks and Recreation to be a danger or public safety hazard. Notices to abandon a curb cut may be appealed in writing to the City Council.

(7) In conjunction with individual driveway replacement projects, non-conforming curb cuts shall be made conforming to whatever extent practicable. If, in the opinion of the Directors of Public Works/Parks and Recreation and Community Development, a non-conforming curb cut cannot be made conforming without undue hardship or disruption to the property, the curb cut may remain in existence, unchanged. In conjunction with street improvement projects, non-conforming driveways shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the City Council to determine, at its sole discretion and to the extent practicable, if the non-conforming curb cut must be made conforming. Decisions regarding curb cuts may be appealed in writing to the City Council.

(F) Grade elevation. The grade elevation of any parking area shall not exceed 5%.

(G) Surfacing.

(1) All areas, as allowed in § 160.055(D) of this chapter, to be utilized for parking space and driveways shall be surfaced with a permanent improved surface material as defined in § 160.012 of this chapter, suitable to control dust, drainage and erosion, meeting the requirements of § 152.003 of this code of ordinances, except as follows: a gravel surface material meeting the specifications of § 152.003(E) of this code of ordinances may be used for parking areas in an R-1 or R-2 District not to exceed 300 square feet or, if to be used as a parking surface for an RV, the minimum area that would encompass the wheel-base area of one recreational vehicle. Plans for surfacing and drainage of driveways and stalls for five or more vehicles shall be submitted to the Director of Community Development for review, and the final drainage plan must receive the Director of Public Works/Parks and Recreation’s written approval.

(2) All areas used regularly for the parking of a vehicle or vehicles shall be serviced by an improved driveway adjoining to the property’s primary driveway. Access to separate parking areas shall be achieved only from the property’s approved curb cut opening at the street. Regularly accessing parking areas by other means or locations shall be prohibited.

(H) Striping. Except for single-family, two-family and townhouses, all parking stalls shall be marked with yellow painted lines not less than four inches wide.

(I) Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area shall be so arranged so to reflect the light away from adjoining property, abutting residential uses and public rights-of-way and be in compliance with § 160.031 of this chapter.

(J) Signs. No sign shall be so located as to restrict the sight lines and orderly operation and traffic movement within any parking lot. All signing must conform to Ch. 161 of this code of ordinances.

(K) Curbing and landscaping.

(1) Except for single-family and two-family developments, all open off-street parking shall have a perimeter curb barrier around the entire parking lot.

(2) The specifications and location of this curb barrier shall comply herewith and with the setback requirements for parking areas stated in § 160.055(D) of this chapter.

(3) Grass, plantings or surfacing materials shall be provided in all areas bordering the parking area.

(L) Required screening. All open, non-residential, off-street parking areas of five or more spaces shall be screened and landscaped from abutting or surrounding residential districts in compliance with § 160.030(F) of this chapter.

(Prior Code, § 1121.09) (Ord. 524, passed 02-22-1993; Ord. 590, passed 11-26-1996; Ord. 620, passed 07-27-1998; Ord. 640, passed 10-11-1999; Ord. 642, passed 01-10-2000; Ord. 756, passed 01-24-2005; Ord. 793, passed 01-30-2008; Ord. 829, passed 09-03-2009; Ord. 869, passed 04-05-2012; Ord. 1035, passed 4-14-2025)

§ 160.339 MAINTENANCE.

It shall be the joint and several responsibility of the lessee and owner of the principal use, uses or building to maintain, in a neat and adequate manner, the parking space, accessways, striping, landscaping and required fencing/screening.

(Prior Code, § 1121.10)

§ 160.340 LOCATION.

All accessory off-street parking facilities required by this chapter shall be located and restricted as follows.

(A) Required accessory off-street parking shall be on the same lot under the same ownership as the principal use being served, except under the provisions of § 160.344(A) of this chapter.

(B) Except for single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings, head-in parking, directly off of and adjacent to a public street, with each stall having its own direct access to the public street, shall be prohibited.

(C) Accessory off-street parking shall comply with the required minimum setbacks as stated in § 160.055(D) of this chapter.

(Prior Code, § 1121.11) (Ord. 590, passed 11-26-1996)

§ 160.341 USE OF REQUIRED AREA.

Required accessory off-street parking spaces in any district shall not be utilized for open storage, sale or rental of goods, storage of inoperable vehicles, as regulated by § 160.035 of this chapter, and/or storage of snow.

(Prior Code, § 1121.12)

§ 160.342 SCHEDULE OF OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

The following minimum number of off-street parking spaces shall be provided and maintained by ownership, easement and/or lease for and during the life of the respective uses hereinafter set forth:

Major bus terminal, taxi terminal, bottling company, shop for a trade employing six or less people, garden supply store, building materials sales in structure	Eight off-street parking spaces, plus one additional space for each 800 square feet of floor area over 1,000 square feet
Auto repair, boats and marine sales and repair	Two spaces per service bay plus one per employee on the largest shift
Baseball field, stadium	At least one parking space for each eight seats of design capacity
Boarding house, fraternity house, sorority house	At least two parking spaces for each three persons for whom accommodations are provided for sleeping
Bowling alley	At least five parking spaces for each alley, plus additional spaces as may be required herein for related uses contained within the principal structure
Car wash (in addition to required magazining or stacking space)	a. Automatic drive through, serviced: a minimum of ten spaces, or one space for each employee on the maximum shift, whichever is greater
	b. Self-service: a minimum of two spaces
	c. Motor fuel station car wash: zero in addition to that required for the station
Religious institution, theater, auditorium	At least one parking space for each three seats, based on the design capacity of the main assembly hall. Facilities, as may be provided in conjunction with such buildings or uses, shall be subject to additional requirements which are imposed by this chapter
Community center, physical culture studio, fitness studio or club, library, private club, lodge, museum, art gallery	Three spaces for each 1,000 square feet of floor area
Drive-in establishment and convenience food	20 stalls per 1,000 square feet of dining space or one stall per every three seats, whichever is greater; plus ten stalls per 1,000 square feet of kitchen space or one stall per employee, whichever is greater
Golf driving range, miniature golf, archery range	Ten off-street parking spaces, plus one for each 100 square feet of floor area
Manufacturing, fabricating or processing of a product or material; warehouse, storage, handling of bulk goods, post offices	At least eight spaces, plus one space for each two employees on each shift based on maximum planned employment or, at a minimum, at least eight spaces, plus one space for each 500 square feet of floor area
Medical, dental or hospital out-patient clinics	Six spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area
Motel, motor hotel, hotel	One space per each rental unit, plus one space for each ten units and one space for each employee on any shift
Motor fuel station	At least four off-street parking spaces, plus two off- street parking spaces for each service stall. Those facilities designed for sale of other items than strictly automotive products, parts or service shall be required to provide additional parking in compliance with other applicable sections of this chapter
Multiple-family dwellings	One and one-half parking spaces per unit; at least one of the required spaces shall be a garage stall or a covered space. A minimum of one garage stall or covered space shall be designated and included with each rental unit
Office building, animal hospital and professional office	Four spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area
Public park, playground and play field	At least five parking spaces for each acre of park over one acre, two parking spaces per acre for playgrounds, and ten spaces for each acre of play field. When a public recreation site has more than one use designation, the areas must be divided for determining the required parking spaces
Restaurant, caf , private club serving food and/or drinks, bar, tavern, nightclub	20 stalls per 1,000 square feet of dining and bar space or one stall per every three seats, whichever is greater; plus ten stalls per 1,000 square feet of kitchen space or one stall per employee, whichever is greater
Retail sales and service business with 50% or more of gross floor area devoted to storage, warehouses and/or industry	At least eight spaces or one space for each 200 square feet devoted to public sales or service, plus one space for each 500 square feet of storage area; or at least eight spaces or one space for each employee on the minimum shift, whichever is appropriate
Retail store and service establishment	At least one off-street parking space for each 200 square feet of retail floor area, plus one per employee
Sanitarium, convalescent home, rest home, nursing home or day nursery	Four spaces, plus one for each three beds for which accommodations are offered
School, elementary and junior high	At least one parking space for each classroom, plus one additional space for each 50-student capacity
School, high school through college and private and day or church school	At least one parking space for each seven students, based on design capacity, plus one additional space for each classroom
Single-family and two-family dwellings	Two spaces per unit
Skating rink, dance hall or public auction house	20 off-street parking spaces, plus one additional off-street parking space for each 200 square feet of floor space over 2,000 square feet
Townhouse and condominium	Three spaces per unit, two of which shall be garage spaces
Undertaking establishment	At least 20 parking spaces for each chapel or parlor, plus one parking space for each funeral vehicle maintained on the premises. Aisle space shall also be provided off the street for making up a funeral procession

(Prior Code, § 1121.13) (Ord. 900, passed 05-26-2015; Ord. 1044, passed 6-23-2025)

§ 160.343 PROOF OF PARKING.

A reduction in parking space requirements may be administratively granted by the Director of Community Development or formally in conjunction with a City Council approved development review if the following conditions are met:

(A) The number of spaces being reduced does not exceed 15% of the required amount;

(B) The required area for the spaces being omitted must be available for later use if necessary;

(C) The required area for the spaces being omitted must be complementary and coordinated with the proposed parking spaces and access to property;

(D) The required area for the spaces being omitted shall be designated as undevelopable other than being used for parking or access; and

(E) A written agreement approved by the City Attorney shall be filed with the property requiring that the owner or subsequent owners be required to improve the omitted parking spaces if needed by the use of the property.

(Prior Code, § 1121.14) (Ord. 620, passed 07-27-1998)

§ 160.344 JOINT FACILITIES AND DRIVEWAYS.

(A) Joint facilities.

(1) Except in the R-1 and R-2 Districts and as herein provided, required off-street parking facilities serving two or more uses may be located on the same lot or in the same structure; provided that, the total number of parking spaces furnished shall not be less than the total sum of the separate requirements for each use.

(2) The City Council may, after receiving a report and recommendation from the Planning Commission, approve a conditional use permit for one or more businesses to provide the required off-street parking facilities by joint use of one or more sites where the total number of spaces provided are less than the sum of the total required for each business should they provide them separately. When considering a request for such a permit, the Planning Commission shall not recommend that the permit be granted, nor the Council approve a permit, except when the following conditions are found to exist:

(a) Up to 50% of the parking facilities required for a theater, bowling alley, dance hall, bar or restaurant may be supplied by the off-street parking facilities provided by types of uses specified as primarily daytime uses in division (A)(2)(d) below;

(b) Up to 50% of the off-street parking facilities required for any use specified under division (A)(2)(d) below as primary daytime uses may be supplied by the parking facilities provided by the following: nighttime or Sunday uses, auditoriums incidental to a public or parochial school, religious institutions, bowling alley, dance hall, theaters, bar or restaurant;

(c) Up to 80% of the parking facilities required by this chapter for a church or for an auditorium incidental to a public or parochial school may be supplied by the off-street parking facilities provided by uses specified under division (A)(2)(d) below as primarily daytime uses;

(d) For the purpose of this section, the following uses are considered as primarily daytime uses: banks, business offices, retail stores, personal service shops, household equipment or furniture shops, clothing or shoe repair or service shops, manufacturing, wholesale and similar uses;

(e) Other joint use of parking facilities that may be found to be in keeping with the intent of this chapter; provided that, the conditions in division (A)(2)(f) below and any other imposed by the City Council are met; and

(f) Conditions required for joint use.

1. The building or use for which application is being made to utilize the off-street parking facilities provided by another building or use shall be located within 300 feet of the parking facilities and not separated by a public way.

2. The applicant shall show that there is not substantial conflict in the principal operating hours of the two buildings or uses for which joint use of off-street parking facilities is proposed.

(3) A properly drawn legal instrument, executed by the parties concerned for joint use of off-street parking facilities, duly approved as to form and manner of execution by the City Attorney, shall be filed with the City Administrator and recorded with the county’s Register of Deeds.

(B) Joint driveways. Joint driveways serving and being located on more than one property are allowed under the following conditions:

(1) The right-of-way and maintenance agreements be drafted and filed with the county on the properties affected;

(2) The curb cut width shall not exceed existing allowable widths established by this chapter; and

(3) Off-street parking spaces required by a district shall be provided for each property as required by use. The portion of the driveway that is shared by the properties shall not be used to meet the requirements of this chapter for off-street parking.

(Prior Code, § 1121.15) (Ord. 445, passed 07-25-1988; Ord. 844, passed 05-20-2010; Ord. 900, passed 05-26-2015)