The purpose of this chapter is to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public streets and promote the safety and welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the off-street parking, loading and unloading of motor vehicles.

   (a)   Application for Building Permits. An application for a building permit for a new or enlarged building, structure or use shall include therewith a plot plan, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any parking or loading facilities to be provided in compliance with this Zoning Code.

   (b)   Application of Requirements. Off-street parking and loading requirements of this chapter apply as follows:

      (1)   All buildings and structures erected or enlarged and land uses initiated after the effective date of this Zoning Code shall provide accessory off-street parking or loading facilities as required by this chapter for the use thereof.

      (2)   When a building or structure erected or enlarged prior to or after the effective date of this Zoning Code undergoes a decrease in the number of dwelling units, the gross floor area, the seating capacity, the number of employees or another unit of measurement specified in this chapter for required parking or loading facilities, and when such decreases would result in a requirement for fewer total parking or loading spaces through application of this chapter, parking and loading facilities may be reduced accordingly. However, existing parking or loading facilities shall be so decreased only when the facilities remaining will at least equal or exceed the parking or loading requirements resulting from application of this Zoning Code to the entire building or structure as modified.

      (3)   When a building or structure undergoes an increase in the number of dwelling units, the gross floor area, the seating capacity or another unit of measurement specified in this chapter for required parking or loading facilities, and when such increase would result in a requirement for additional total parking or loading spaces through application of this Zoning Code, parking and loading facilities may be increased accordingly. However, existing parking or loading facilities shall be increased so that the facilities will at least equal or exceed the parking or loading requirements resulting from application of this Zoning Code to the entire building or structure as modified.

   (c)   Existing Parking and Loading Spaces. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in existence on the effective date of this Zoning Code may not be reduced in number unless they already exceed the requirements of this chapter for equivalent new construction. In this event, the spaces shall not be reduced below the number required by this chapter for such equivalent new construction.

   (d)   Service of Existing Uses of Land or Buildings. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the establishment of off-street automobile parking or loading facilities to serve any existing use of land or buildings, subject to full compliance with this chapter, except that off-street parking areas accessory to existing multifamily structures cannot be located off the premises containing the principal use, unless on a lot adjacent thereto, without special authorization from Council.

   (e)   Damage or Destruction of Buildings and Uses. A building, structure or use which is in existence and is a conforming use on the effective date of this Zoning Code and which is subsequently damaged or destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion or other cause, may be reconstructed, re-established or repaired, with or without off-street parking or loading facilities, except that parking or loading facilities equivalent to any maintained at the time of such damage or destruction shall be restored or continued in operation. However, it is not necessary to restore or maintain parking or loading facilities in excess of those required by this Zoning Code for equivalent new construction.

   Requirements governing the number and location of off-street parking and loading facilities in relation to the use of property are established in this chapter. The parking and loading requirements for any use not specified in this chapter shall be the same as for a similar specified use, as determined by Section 1282.13.

   Floor area, as employed in this chapter in the case of office, merchandising or service types of uses, means the gross floor area of a building or structures used or intended to be used for service to the public as customers, patrons, clients, patients or tenants, including areas occupied by fixtures and equipment used for display or sale of merchandise. “Floor area,” for the purposes of this chapter, does not include any area used for:

   (a)   Stairs/stairwells;

   (b)   Elevator shafts; or

   (c)   Elevator equipment rooms.

(Ord. 2005-40. Passed 11-28-05.)

   Off-street parking facilities accessory to a residential use and developed in a Residential District in accordance with this chapter shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which such facilities are accessory, or by guests of such occupants. Under no circumstances shall required parking facilities accessory to residential structures be used for the storage of commercial vehicles, or for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants, visitors or customers of business or manufacturing establishments.

(Ord. 2016-14. Passed 3-28-16.)

   Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses or for mixed uses may be provided collectively in any zoning district in which separate parking facilities for each constituent use is permitted. However, the total number of spaces so located together shall not be less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use.

   When required accessory off-street parking facilities are provided elsewhere than on the lot on which the principal use served is located, they shall be in the same possession, either by deed or long-term lease, as the property occupied by such principal use. The owner of such property shall be bound by covenants filed of record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County requiring the owner and his or her heirs and assigns to maintain the required number of parking spaces during the existence of such principal use.

   Accessory parking facilities provided elsewhere than on the same zoning lot with the principal use served in accordance with Section 1282.13, may be located in any zoning district except as follows:

   (a)   No parking facilities accessory to a multifamily use shall be located in an R-1-A District.

   (b)   No parking facilities accessory to a business or manufacturing use shall be located in a Residential District.

   (c)   No parking facilities accessory to a manufacturing use shall be permitted in a B-1 District.

(Ord. 2005-27. Passed 7-11-05; Ord. 2016-14. Passed 3-28-16.)

(Ord. 1982-17. Passed 10-25-82; Ord. 1987-53. Passed 10-12-87; Ord. 2001-37. Passed 9-10-01; Ord. 2016-14. Passed 3-28-16; Ord. 2021-13. Passed 5-10-21.)

   Off-street automobile parking facilities shall be located as specified in this section. Where a distance is specified, such distance shall be walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking area to the nearest entrance of the building that the parking area is required to serve.

   (a)   For one and two-family dwellings, off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot with the building they are required to serve.

   (b)   For three and four-family dwellings, not over two stories in height, off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve. For the purpose of this subsection, a group of such uses constructed and maintained under single ownership or management shall be assumed to be on a single lot or parcel of land.

   (c)   For multi-family residential uses, containing four or more dwelling units, off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve, or on a separate lot or parcel of land not more than 300 feet from the nearest entrance to the principal building being served, provided that the lot or parcel of land selected for the parking facilities is located in an multi-family residential district or a less restricted district.

   (d)   For rooming houses, lodging houses, clubs, hospitals, sanitariums, orphanages, homes for the aged, convalescent homes, dormitories, sorority and fraternity houses and for other similar uses, off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot or parcel of land as the principal building being served, or on property contiguous to the zoning lot on which is located the building they are intended to serve, provided, however, said off-street parking shall not be located in an R-1-A One-Family Dwelling District.

   (e)   For uses other than those specified above, off-street parking facilities shall be provided on the same lot or parcel of land as the principal building being served.

(Ord. 2016-14. Passed 3-28-16.)

   Parking requirements for specific uses shall be as follows:

   (a)   One and two-family dwellings, two parking spaces for each family dwelling unit;

   (b)   Three or more family dwellings, two parking spaces for each family dwelling unit;

   (c)   Hotels and clubs, one parking space for each six guests or sleeping rooms and suites, plus one parking space for each 300 square feet of floor area devoted to supplementary parking- generative activities such as bars, ballrooms, dining rooms, nightclub facilities and the like;

   (d)   Lodging, rooming and boarding houses, one parking space for each four guests, plus one additional space for the owner or manager if he or she is a resident on the premises;

   (e)   Private clubs or lodges (without sleeping rooms), parking spaces equal in number to twenty-five percent of the total membership;

   (f)   Hospitals, one parking space for each three hospital beds, plus one parking space for each 1,500 square feet of gross floor area in resident's quarters, plus one additional space for each staff or visiting doctor;

   (g)   Sanitariums, convalescent homes, nursing homes or homes for the aged, one space for each four patient beds plus one additional space for each staff or visiting doctor;

   (h)   Medical or dental clinics and similar facilities, one parking space per 200 gross square feet of floor area;

   (i)   Mortuaries or funeral parlors, five parking spaces for each room used as a chapel or parlor, plus one space for each funeral vehicle maintained on the premises, plus one space for each family residing on the premises;

   (j)   Bowling alleys, two parking spaces for each alley plus such additional spaces as may be determined by the Building Commissioner for affiliated uses such as bars, restaurants and the like;

   (k)   Convention halls, dance halls, skating rinks, assembly halls, exhibition halls or other places of assembly, one parking space for each 100 square feet of floor area used for assembly;

   (l)   Stadiums, sports arena, auditorium and gymnasium, other than incidental to a school, one parking space for each eight seats;

   (m)   Indoor theaters, one parking space for each ten seats up to 500, plus one parking space for each five seats above 500;

   (n)   Church, Sunday school, high school, college and university auditoriums, one parking space for each four seats provided in such buildings or structures;

   (o)   Airports, railroad passenger stations, bus depots or other passenger terminal facilities (special uses), such parking space as Council, subject to the recommendation of the Plan Commission, deems adequate for employees, passengers, spectators, visitors and others;

   (p)   Banks, business or professional offices, or public administration buildings, one parking space for each 230 square feet of floor area; and drive-in banks and facilities shall have four stacking spaces per teller window;

   (q)   Mixed uses, the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses, computed separately in accordance with this section, provided that facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required parking facilities for any other use in the same building or on the same lot;

   (r)   Establishments handling the sale and consumption, on the premises, of alcoholic beverages, food or refreshments, one parking space for each 230 square feet of floor area;

   (s)   Retail stores and service shops, one parking space for each 230 square feet of floor area;

   (t)   Furniture and appliance stores, motor vehicle sales, wholesale stores, household equipment, furniture repair shops or machinery sales, one parking space for each 600 square feet of floor area; and

   (u)   Manufacturing and industrial uses, research and testing laboratories, laundry and dry-cleaning plants, printing, binding, publishing and issuing of newspapers, periodicals, books and other reading matter, telephone exchanges, warehouses and storage buildings, engraving shops, assembly of materials and products, and other similar uses, one parking space for each four employees, based upon the maximum number of persons to be employed at any one work period during the day or night, plus such additional parking facilities as are required for all vehicles used in the conduct of the enterprise.

(Ord. 1983-13. Passed 10-24-83; Ord. 1986-31. Passed 9-8-86; Ord. 2008-15. Passed 4-14-08; Ord. 2022-19. Passed 11-14-22.)

   (b)   Location. No permitted or required loading berth shall be closer than fifty feet from any property in a Residential District unless completely enclosed by building walls, or a uniformly painted solid fence or wall, or a combination thereof, not less than six feet in height. No permitted or required loading berth shall be located within twenty-five feet of the nearest point of intersection of two streets. Loading berths open to the sky may be located in required yards.

   In all districts where property uses include the loading and unloading of materials or merchandise from vehicles, off-street loading and unloading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements

   (a)   Hospitals or sanitariums containing 40,000 to 100,000 square feet of gross floor area, one off-street loading and unloading space, plus one additional such space for each additional 100,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof in excess of 100,000 square feet;

   (b)   Buildings containing bowling alleys, taverns, restaurants or any retail shops and having 10,000 or more square feet of gross floor area, one off-street loading and unloading space;

   (c)   Banks, business or professional offices or public administration buildings containing 20,000 square feet or more of gross floor area, one off-street loading and unloading space;

   (d)   Buildings containing furniture and appliance stores, motor vehicle sales, wholesale stores, household equipment or machinery sales, and having 8,000 to 25,000 square feet of gross floor area, one off-street loading and unloading space; and

   (e)   Buildings containing manufacturing uses, research and testing laboratories, laundry and dry-cleaning establishments, printing, binding, publishing and issuing of newspapers, periodicals, books and other reading matter, warehouse and storage facilities, engraving shops, assembly of materials and products, processing and distribution of materials and products and other similar uses having more than 8,000 square feet of gross floor area, exclusive of basement area, and less than 40,000 square feet of gross floor area, one off-street loading and unloading space, plus one additional such space for each additional 60,000 square feet of gross floor area in excess of 40,000 square feet.