Pacific City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 20
72 PARKING AND LOADING
§ 20.72.010 Description and purpose.
The provisions of this chapter are of general application for the various buildings and uses to one or more of the designated districts. It is the intent of this chapter to promote and protect property values and to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry.
(Ord. 485 § 11.01, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.020 Size of parking spaces.
Each off-street, residential parking space shall have a minimum dimension of eight feet wide by 18 feet deep. Each off-street, commercial parking space shall have a minimum dimension of eight and one-half feet wide by 18 feet deep.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.01, 1971; Ord. 1980 § 6, 2018; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.030 Location.
Off-street parking shall be provided on the development site for all RO, RS, RML, RMH, NB, HC, C, OP, LI and HI zones. All required parking must be under the same ownership as the development site served, except through special covenant agreements as approved by the city attorney, which bind the parking to the development site.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.02, 1971; Ord. 1361 § 14, 1998; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.040 Expansion and enlargement.
Whenever any building is enlarged in height or in ground coverage, off-street parking shall be provided for the expansion or enlargement in accordance with the requirements of the schedule, provided, however, that no parking space need be provided in the case of enlargement or expansion where the number of parking spaces required for such expansion or enlargement is less than 10 percent of the parking spaces specified in the schedule for the building. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to require off-street parking spaces for the portion of such building existing at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this title.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.03, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.050 Parking area design.
A.
All public or private parking areas or garages except those required in conjunction with a single-family dwelling on a single lot shall be designed, laid out and constructed in accordance with the provisions of this section.
1.
In any district, driveways or access ways providing ingress and egress to or from public or private areas or parking spaces shall be permitted, together with any appropriate traffic-control devices, in any required yard.
2.
In any residential district, public or private parking areas and parking spaces shall not be permitted in any required yard except as provided herein:
a.
Required parking spaces shall be permitted on driveways in the required front yard in conjunction with any residential dwelling on a single lot.
b.
Public or private parking areas, parking spaces or any building, or portion of any building intended for parking which is developed or maintained in conjunction with any building or use permitted or as a use permitted in any residential district shall be permitted in any rear and side yard that abuts an alley, provided the parking areas, structures or spaces shall comply with the parking diagram, Figure 1, on file with the city clerk.
3.
In any commercial or industrial district except NB, public or private parking areas or parking spaces shall be permitted in any required yard, except when rear and side yards of the districts are common with property zoned residentially, then parking areas shall be not less than 10 feet from the lot line.
B.
Nothing provided herein shall require compliance with this section for any completely automatic, unattended parking device or any attended public or private parking area.
C.
All public or private parking areas and parking spaces, except those required in conjunction with a single-family or two-family dwelling on a single lot, shall be designed and laid out to conform to the minimum standards as set forth in Figure 1, Minimum Parking Lot Requirements, on file with the city clerk.
D.
Groups of three or more parking spaces, except those in conjunction with single-family, two-family dwellings or an adult family home on a single lot, shall be served by a service drive so that no backward movement or other maneuvering of a vehicle within a street, other than an alley, will be required. Service drives shall be designed and constructed to facilitate the flow of traffic, provide maximum safety in traffic access and egress and maximum safety of pedestrians and vehicular traffic on the site, but in no case shall two-way and one-way driveways be less than 20 feet and 12 feet respectively.
E.
Public parking areas provided in excess of the requirements of this section or as a use permitted shall be designed and laid out in conformance to Figure 1, on file with the city clerk.
F.
All public and private parking areas shall be hard surfaced with materials meeting the requirements of Washington Department of Ecology for low impact development (LID). Such surfacing requirement shall also apply to vehicle storage areas and loading areas. Existing designated parking areas with legally nonconforming gravel surfacing or grass block pavers may be utilized to meet minimum parking requirements up to a maximum of six parking spaces.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.04, 1971; Ord. 1009 § 1, 1987; Ord. 1302 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1861 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2006 § 4, 2019; Ord. 2041 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.060 Plan for proposed parking area.
The plan of the proposed parking area shall be submitted at the time of the application for the use for which the parking area is required. The plan shall clearly indicate the proposed development, including location, size, shape, design, curb cuts, lighting, landscaping, construction details, and other features and appurtenances required.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05, 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.070 Traffic-control devices.
All traffic-control devices such as parking stripes designating car stalls, directional arrows or signs, bull rails, curbs, and other developments, shall be installed and completed as shown on the approved plans. Hard-surfaced parking areas shall use paint or similar devices to delineate car stalls and directional arrows. Where pedestrian walks are used in parking lots for the use of foot traffic only, they shall be curbed, or raised six inches above the lot surface. All driveways, off-street parking areas and public off-street areas immediately adjacent to a service driveway which leads to a hard surfaced public street shall be hard surfaced with a minimum of two inches of asphaltic concrete.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05(A), 1971; Ord. 1009 § 2, 1987; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.080 Minimum dimensions.
Minimum dimensions of off-street parking areas shall be not less than as shown on Figure 1, Minimum Parking Lot Requirements, on file with the city clerk.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05 (B), 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.090 Landscaping.
Landscaping shall be included as a part of lot design and shall include at least one landscape island for each eight off-street parking spaces. The landscape island(s) shall include at least one tree and ground cover (see Figure 20.72.090A). The width of the landscape island(s) and the tree size and type of groundcover shall be provided pursuant to Chapter 20.70 PMC. The end of both sides of the off-street parking area shall include one landscaped island regardless of whether there are less than eight spaces between the islands.
Figure 20.72.090A  |
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05(C), 1971; Ord. 1980 § 7, 2018; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.100 Screening.
Screening in the form of a solid masonry wall, architectural fences or dense coniferous hedges shall be erected or planted and maintained to a height of not less than five feet nor more than six feet where the parking lot for any nonresidentially zoned development has a common boundary with any residentially classified property.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05(D), 1971; Ord. 1009 § 3, 1987; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.110 Lighting of areas.
Lighting of areas for off-street parking shall be arranged so as not to constitute a nuisance or hazard to passing traffic and where the lots share a common boundary with any residentially classified property, the illuminating devices shall be so shaded and directed to play their light away from residentially classified property.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05(E), 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.120 Maintenance.
Maintenance of all areas provided for off-street parking shall include removal and replacement of dead and dying trees, grass and shrubs, removal of trash and weeds, and repair of traffic-control devices, signs, light standards, fences, walls, surfacing material, curbs and railings.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.05(F), 1971; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.130 Parking spaces required.
The number of off-street parking spaces required shall be no less than as set forth in the following:
Use | Parking Space Required |
|---|---|
Residential Types | |
A. Dwelling, single-family | Two for each dwelling unit on a single lot, plus one additional space required for each employee or contractor working within the dwelling more than 20 hours per week for a period exceeding 60 days, who are not residents of the dwelling |
B. Dwellings, two-family or multiple | Two for each dwelling unit on lots greater than 6,000 square feet. One for each dwelling unit on lots smaller than 6,000 square feet |
C. Motels | One for each guest room |
D. Rooming and/or boarding houses | One for each guest room |
Institutional Types | |
A. Churches, clubs, lodges | One for every four fixed seats or every eight feet of bench length or every 28 square feet where no permanent seats or benches are maintained – in main auditoriums (sanctuary or place of worship) |
B. Libraries | One for each 250 square feet of gross floor area |
C. Nursing homes, homes for the aged, group care homes | One for each five beds |
D. Schools – Elementary | One for each employee and faculty member |
Commercial Types | |
A. Retail establishments, except as otherwise specified | One for each 300 square feet of gross floor area |
B. Barber and beauty shops | One for each 75 square feet of gross floor area |
C. Bowling alleys | Six for each bowling lane |
D. Pharmacies | One for each 150 square feet of gross floor area |
E. Retail stores handling bulky merchandise, household furniture, or appliance repair shops | One for each 600 square feet of gross floor area |
F. Offices not providing services | One per four employees or one service per 400 square feet of gross floor area |
G. Food and beverage places with sale and consumption on the premises: | |
if less than 4,000 square feet floor area | One per 200 square feet of gross floor area |
if over 4,000 square feet floor area | Twenty plus one per 100 square feet gross floor area in excess of 4,000 square feet |
H. Medical and dental offices | One per each 150 square feet of gross floor area |
I. Office buildings, business and professional offices with on-site customer service | One for every 400 square feet of gross floor area |
J. Establishments or enterprises of a recreational or an entertainment nature: | |
1. Spectator type, e.g., auditoriums, assembly halls, theaters, stadiums, places of public assembly | One parking space for each four seats |
2. Participating type, e.g., skating rinks, dance halls | One for each 75 square feet of gross floor area |
3. Establishments for the sale of and consumption on the premises of food and beverages | One for each 60 square feet of gross floor area |
Industrial Types | |
A. Except as specifically mentioned herein, industrial uses listed as permitted in the industrial districts: | |
LI and HI | One for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
B. Warehouse and commercial storage and distribution operations | One for each 2,000 square feet of gross floor area |
C. Laboratories and research facilities | One for each 800 square feet of gross floor area |
D. Machinery or equipment rental or sales | One for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area |
E. Intermediate manufacturing and intermediate/final assembly | One for each 1,500 square feet of gross floor area |
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.06, 1971; Ord. 1745 § 4, 2009; Ord. 1980 § 8, 2018; Ord. 2041 § 3, 2021; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.140 Parking requirements for uses not specified.
The parking space requirements for buildings and uses not set forth herein shall be determined by the director and such determination shall be based upon the requirements for the most comparable building or use specified herein.
(Ord. 485 § 11.02.07, 1971; Ord. 1505 § 13, 2001; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.150 Loading areas.
Each off-street loading space shall measure not less than 30 feet by 12 feet and shall have an unobstructed height of 14 feet six inches and shall be made permanently available for such purposes, and shall be surfaced, improved and maintained as required in PMC § 20.72.050 through § 20.72.110. Required loading spaces shall be in conformance with the following:
A.
Freight terminals, industrial or manufacturing establishments, retail or wholesale stores or storage warehouses or any similar use which have, or intends to have, 10,000 square feet or more shall provide truck loading or unloading berths:
Square Feet of Aggregate Gross Floor Area | Required Number of Berths |
|---|---|
10,000 to 15,999 | 1 |
16,000 to 39,999 | 2 |
40,000 to 65,000 | 3 |
each add'l 16,000 | 1 additional. |
B.
Office buildings, restaurants or similar uses which have, or intend to have, an aggregate gross floor area of 40,000 square feet or more shall provide truck loading or unloading berths:
Square Feet of Aggregate Gross Floor Area | Required Number of Berths |
|---|---|
40,000 to 59,999 | 1 |
60,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
100,000 to 160,000 | 3 |
each add'l 60,000 | 1 additional. |
(Ord. 485 § 11.03, 1971; Ord. 1009 § 4, 1987; Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
§ 20.72.160 Parking requirements for residences served by frequent transit.
The following residential uses may reduce the minimum required parking rate to one parking space per dwelling unit if located within one-quarter mile of a transit stop that receives transit service at least two times per hour for 12 or more hours a day:
A.
Affordable housing that is affordable to very low-income or extremely low-income households.
B.
Senior housing.
C.
Housing for people with disabilities.
D.
Market rate multifamily housing.
E.
Accessory dwelling unit.
(Ord. 2107 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025)
