Peabody City Zoning Code

SECTION 9

- PARKING

9.1 - Off-street parking general requirements.

In order to lessen congestion in the streets, every building hereafter erected shall be provided with adequate garaging or parking space having access to a public way, within such building, upon the lot upon which it is located or upon contiguous or nearby lots as provided herein. Except in the case of parking for single-family, two-family, and three-family residences, no parking space that would allow backing into a public way shall be permitted.

9.1.1 Location of space. Required spaces may be provided on the same lot with the principal use or on a contiguous or nearby lot, provided that said lot is owned by the same entity as the principal lot and the distance between such parking lot and the use it serves shall not exceed 200 feet.

9.1.2 Floor area computation. In computing gross floor area, the entire floor area of each structure shall be included.

9.1.3 Size of parking space.

General: A parking space shall have a paved area of not less than 350 square feet for parking and access, and shall be accessible from a street.

(Ord. of 5-22-80, § 3)

Compact parking: A maximum of 30 percent of the total parking may be designated for compact spaces having a minimum footage of eight feet by 16 ½ feet in the IP district.

(Ord. of 11-10-88, § 1)

9.2 - Schedule of parking regulations.

With respect to the following uses, the off-street parking shall be provided as detailed below. If more than one use is included in a single development (excluding shopping centers), then the minimum off-street parking space requirements shall be cumulative (e.g. the parking space standards for each use should be added together). Please reference DDD design guidelines if parcel is located in the DDD zoning district for recommended parking ratios.

Uses	Minimum Parking Spaces	Maximum Parking Spaces	Comments
Residential:
Single-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings	Two parking spaces for each dwelling unit.	none
Visitor parking in multi-family dwellings with greater than 4 dwelling units	One visitor parking space for every three dwelling units.	One visitor parking space for every two dwelling units.	Said parking space shall be clearly designated as a visitor's parking space.
Mobile homes/mobile home parks	One parking space for each dwelling unit.	Two parking spaces for each dwelling unit.
Commercial vehicles parked in residential areas		One allowed per unit., not in a public way.	A single vehicle not to exceed GVW 12,000 lbs., used solely by owner of property
Institutional:
Convalescent or nursing homes	One parking space for each three beds.	One parking space for each two beds.
Continuing care retirement community	0.4 parking spaces for each dwelling unit.	0.5 parking spaces for each dwelling unit.
Day care center, family day care home, nursery school, kindergarten and school or other educational institution for persons less than 14 years of age.	One parking space for each employee. Off-street space for loading and unloading shall consist of an additional one space for each 12 clients of the licensed capacity.	One parking space for each employee, plus one space for each six clients of the licensed capacity. Off-street space for loading and unloading shall consist of an additional one space for each 12 clients of the licensed capacity.
Schools or other educational institution for persons age 14 and over.	One parking space for each employee, plus one space for each eight students based on the licensed capacity.	One parking space for each employee, plus one space for each five students based on the licensed capacity.	Sufficient off-street space for safe and convenient loading and unloading of clients shall be provided.
Municipal uses and structures	One parking space for every three employees,* plus two additional spaces, plus one parking space per municipal vehicle customarily used in operations or stored on the premises.	One parking space for each employee,* plus one parking space per municipal vehicle customarily used in operations or stored on the premises.	*Based upon the largest working shift in any 24 hour period.
Church, synagogue, or other place of worship.	One parking space for each five seats, or for each 200 s.f. of gross floor area if there are not fixed seats.	One parking space for each four seats, or for each 50 s.f. of gross floor area if there are no fixed seats.
Cemetery	One parking space for every one full-time employee.	Same as minimum.	Parking allowed on internal driving lanes so long as traffic is not obstructed.
Hospitals: licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as such	One for every dentist, physician, nurse & other employee, plus at least 3.5 for visitors per every dentist/physician rendering services on-premise.
Business:
Motel, hotel and rooming house	One parking space for each guest room, plus one parking space for each 500 s.f. of meeting, banquet or restaurant area.	0.75 parking spaces for each guest room, plus one parking space for each 400 s.f. of meeting, banquet or restaurant area.
Museum, community center, private membership club, civic, social, professional, fraternal or philanthropic organization	One parking space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area.	One parking space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area.
Theater, public hall and auditorium	One parking space for each five seats, or for each 100 s.f. of auditorium area if there are not fixed seats.	One parking space for each four seats, or for each 50 s.f. of auditorium area if there are no fixed seats.
Personal service establishment, business support services, banks and financial institutions, dry cleaning and laundry, and conveniences stores.	One parking space for each 250 s.f. of gross floor area on the first floor of a building and one parking space for each 500 s.f. of gross floor area thereafter.	One parking space for each 200 s.f. of gross floor area on the first floor of the building and one parking space for each 400 s.f. of gross floor area thereafter.	.
Commercial dry cleaning establishment	One parking space for each 350 s.f. of gross floor area.	One parking space for each 250 s.f. of gross floor area.
Clinic or medical building, including medical offices as an accessory use in a residential dwelling. Includes veterinary offices and kennels	One parking space for each 250 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area.	One parking space for each 200 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area.	.
Live/work	One parking space per unit.	Two parking spaces per unit.
Shopping center or mercantile	One parking space for each 250 s.f. of gross leasable area.	One parking space for each 225 s.f. of gross leasable area.	Parking should be calculated for the whole shopping center and without reference to the multiple uses contained therein.
Restaurant, lunchroom, cafeteria or bar, whether or not entertainment is provided or alcohol is served (including outdoor dining)	One space for each three seats or two parking spaces for each 150 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area, whichever is greater.	One space for each 1.5 seats or one parking space for each 100 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area, whichever is greater.
Fast food restaurant and restaurant with drive-through window (including outdoor dining)	One space for each 150 s.f. of customer service or dining area, plus three stacking spaces for the drive-through window. One parking space for each 200 s.f. if there is no customer service or dining area.	One space for each 75 s.f. of customer service or dining area, plus five stacking spaces for the drive-through window. One parking space for each 200 s.f. if there is no customer service or dining area.
The sale and rental of automobiles, other motor vehicles, boats and their accessories	One parking space for each 7,000 s.f. of outdoor display per sales area, plus one parking space for each 250 s.f. of interior display per sales area, plus parking requirements for auto service establishments (if applicable).	One parking space for each 5,000 s.f. of outdoor display per sales area, plus one parking space for each 150 s.f. of interior display per sales area, plus parking requirements for auto service establishments, if required (if applicable).
Automotive repair and service shops, marine/boat repair	Two parking spaces per service bay.	Three parking spaces per service bay.
Storage warehousing and wholesaling activities	No less than two parking spaces for the caretaker quarters, if any, plus a minimum of four additional parking spaces for use in connection with the on-site office.	Same as Minimum.
Health club	One parking space for every 200 s.f. of gross floor area. An additional one parking space for every 350 s.f. of retail space included in the health club, if retail is provided.	One parking space for every 150 s.f. of gross floor area. An additional one parking space for every 350 s.f. of retail space included in the health club, if retail is provided.
Outdoor recreation	One parking space for every four visitors expected at designed capacity for peak use.	One parking space for every two visitors expected at designed capacity for peak use.
Indoor recreation	One parking space for every 200 s.f. of gross floor area. An additional one parking space for every 350 s.f. of retail space included in the facility, if retail is provided. An additional 40 spaces per athletic field.	One parking space for every 150 s.f. of gross floor area. An additional one parking space for every 350 s.f. of retail space included in the facility, if retail is provided. An additional 50 spaces per athletic field.
Multiple retail/service complex	One parking space for each 280 square feet of gross leasable area.	One parking space for each 225 square feet of gross leasable area.	Parking should be calculated for the whole retail/service complex and without reference to the multiple uses contained therein.
Industrial:
Research and development	One parking space for each 500 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area.	One parking space for each 300 s.f. of gross floor area, excluding basement storage area.
All industrial, manufacturing and other uses	One parking space for each three employees employed, plus one parking space for every company-owned and operated vehicle, plus parking spaces for customer vehicles as determined adequate by the building inspector.	One parking space for each two employees employed, plus one parking space for every company-owned and operated vehicle, plus parking spaces for customer vehicles as determined adequate by the building inspector.	Based upon the largest working shift in any 24-hour period.

9.2.1 Central business parking requirements.

For all non-residential uses in the B-C zoning district, parking spaces are not required.

For all residential uses in the B-C zoning district, parking requirements will be as follows:

Dwelling units established in newly constructed buildings and/or dwelling units established in space that expands the envelope of an existing building shall comply with the Schedule of Parking Regulations in section 9.2.

For dwelling units established in rehabilitated buildings within the existing envelope of the building, parking requirements will be as follows:

Parking management and utilization of parking best practices is encouraged in order to: (i) promote the most efficient use of available parking spaces; and (ii) reduce the number of residential automobiles in the B-C zoning district and, thus, the total amount of required parking spaces. A parking management plan shall be presented within the special permit application and, in addition to the site plan, shall include the elements specified in the special permit application. Parking management plans approved by the special permit granting authority shall be revised annually and submitted to the building commissioner for review and approval to ensure such plan remains relevant and actively managed and enforced.

The 200-foot distance set forth in section 9.1.1 shall be relaxed to require only that the contiguous or nearby lot be located in the B-C zoning district.

If a contiguous or nearby lot is used for parking, the ownership of the lot must, for all times, be held by the same ownership as the lot on which the building is erected. If the parking lot ownership is separated from the ownership of the building, the parking management plan must be revised and such revised plan must be reviewed and approved by the special permit granting authority and any such change lacking such approval shall be deemed a violation, and the building commissioner shall void the certificate of occupancy. This provision shall not apply to parking spaces utilized in municipal lots where parking may be made available under the provisions of the ordinances of the City of Peabody

Each dwelling unit consisting of one or less bedrooms shall require a minimum of one parking spaces inclusive of visitor parking.

Each dwelling unit consisting of two bedrooms shall require a minimum of 1.5 parking spaces inclusive of visitor parking.

Each dwelling unit consisting of three or more bedrooms shall require a minimum of two parking spaces inclusive of visitor parking.

If when adding the total number of parking spaces required, the resulting number of parking spaces includes a fraction of a parking space, this fraction shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

(Amended 6-22-2017; Ord. No. Z4-2022, § 2, 10-27-2022)

9.3 - Driveways.

Driveway entrances in all districts excluding R-1, R-1A, R-1B and R-2 zoning districts shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width for one-way traffic and 20 feet wide for two-way traffic. Driveway entrances in R1, R1A, R1B, and R2 zoning districts shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width with minimum paved area for off-street parking as required in Section 9.

A permit from the building inspector shall be required for driveways and curbcuts. Driveways located on lots with up to three dwelling units shall cover no more than 15 percent of the lot, with a minimum landscape buffer of two feet from the property line.

(Amended 9-12-2013)

9.4 - Construction requirements.

The construction of three or more parking spaces shall meet the following standards, subject to the appropriate plans therefor by the building inspector:

The parking spaces shall be smoothly graded, properly drained and treated with bituminous or other all-weather hard surface and shall have appropriate bumper or wheel guards, where needed.

Where the land on which the parking spaces are located abuts a residential zoning district, the parking spaces shall be at least five feet from the lot line abutting the residential zoning district, and a wall or fence of solid appearance or a tight evergreen hedge having a height of no less than five feet shall be erected and maintained between such land and the lot line abutting the residential zoning district.

Any light used to illuminate said parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from adjoining premises and streets.

Parking areas shall include adequate provisions for on-site retention and treatment of stormwater in accordance with the applicable state and federal regulations, as they may be amended.

Parking areas serving all structures shall be paved, unless an alternative surface is approved by the board of appeals. This provision does not apply in the R-1, R-1A, R-1B and R-2 zoning districts.

9.5 - Landscaping.

Commercial or multi-family parking lots with 12 spaces or more shall meet the landscaping requirements found in section 10.7 of this ordinance.

9.6 - Off-street loading.

Where a business or industrial district adjoins a residence district on the same street frontage, with a side street intervening or serving as access to a residence district in the rear, such business or industrial buildings shall have no openings for loading or unloading vehicles on such a side street.

In business and industrial districts, adequate off-street loading, maneuvering and parking facilities shall be provided on the site for both company-owned and freight and delivery trucks. No storage or loading area shall be permitted nearer than 50 feet of an abutting residence district, and no storage or loading area shall be located on the side of a building facing a public way. In any event, no open storage shall be permitted on the premises.

Loading areas shall be subject to the same construction requirements as described for parking areas in section 9.5.