Rappahannock County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

In all districts, all structures built and all uses established hereafter shall provide accessory off-street parking in accordance with the following regulations. When an existing structure or use is expanded, accessory off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the following regulations for the area or capacity of such expansion, as well as for the existing area of such structure or use.

The provisions of this article shall not be deemed to apply to motor vehicle storage or display parking areas associated with a vehicle sale, rental and service establishment.

All required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the structure or use to which they are accessory or on a lot contiguous thereto which has the same zoning classification and is under the same ownership, provided that where there are practical difficulties or if the public safety and/or public convenience would be better served by a location other than on the same lot or a contiguous lot, the Board or BZA, as applicable, acting upon a specific application, may authorize such alternative location, subject to the following conditions:

No off-street parking facilities for a structure or use permitted only in a commercial or industrial zoning district shall be located in a residential or resource preservation district.

Required off-street parking spaces may be provided cooperatively for two or more uses, subject to arrangements that will assure the permanent availability of such spaces to the satisfaction of the Board. The amount of such combined space shall equal the sum of the amounts required for the separate uses; provided, however, that the Board may reduce the total number of parking spaces required by strict application of said requirements when it can be determined that the same spaces may adequately serve two or more uses by reason of the hours of operation of such uses.

In those instances where a proposed neighborhood retail commercial use is located with an orientation toward pedestrian or bicycle traffic, the Board may reduce the number of off-street parking spaces by up to 20% of the number otherwise required by the strict application of the provisions of this article.

All required off-street parking spaces, their appurtenant aisles and driveways, and integrated low-impact design stormwater management structures shall be deemed to be required space on the lot on which the same are situated and shall not be encroached upon or be reduced in any manner except upon approval by the Board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Except as may be qualified elsewhere in this chapter, off-street parking spaces that are located on the ground and open to the sky may be located in any required yard but not nearer to any front lot line than 10 feet. Except as may be qualified elsewhere in this chapter, parking structures and carports shall be subject to the minimum yard requirements applicable in the zoning district in which located; except parking structures that are completely underground may be located in any required yard, but not closer than one foot to any lot line, provided that any visible indication of the underground structure, including entrances or ventilation stacks, shall not be located closer than 25 feet to any lot line.

All off-street parking space shall be used solely for the parking of vehicles in operating condition by patrons, occupants or employees of the use to which such parking is accessory. No motor vehicle repair work except emergency service shall be permitted in association with any required off-street parking facilities.

All off-street parking space shall be provided with safe and convenient access to a street. If any such space is located contiguous to a street, the street side thereof shall be curbed and ingress and egress shall be provided only through driveway openings through the curb of such dimension, location and construction as may be approved by the VDOT.

All off-street parking areas, including aisles and driveways, except those required for single-family detached dwellings, shall be constructed and maintained with a dustless surface. Off-street parking areas, including their related aisles and driveways, may, upon approval by the Administrator, be exempted from the provision if such facilities are for a temporary purpose; provided, however, that such areas shall be graveled and maintained in accordance with standards approved by the ZA. Additionally, all off-street parking areas shall provide stormwater management provisions, as specified in § 145, Stormwater Management.

In no event shall the required dimensions of any off-street parking areas be less than those presented in the following table:

All lighting fixtures used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be designed to comply with performance standards relative to glare of the zoning district in which such area is located, as well as § 170-119.

Landscape treatment and plant materials should be used to define vehicular and pedestrian circulation and minimize impervious areas within parking space.

Parking should not be located exclusively at the front of building sites; some parking should be located at the sides or rear of the site.

Sites with steep slopes should not be modified to produce a single ground plane for building and parking. In such cases, parking areas should be developed on one or more terraces with site elevations different from that of the building and linked by appropriate barrier-free pedestrian circulation.

Parking spaces required on an employee/person basis in the sections that follow shall be based on the minimum number of employees/persons on duty or residing, or both, on the premises at any one time or the occupancy load of the building, whichever is greater. Overlapping use of parking areas at shift changes shall be considered.

Where a given use or building contains a combination of uses as set forth in the following sections, parking shall be provided on the basis of the sum of the needs of the various uses. Structured and shared parking is encouraged to minimize impervious area of off-street parking space.

If there is uncertainty with respect to the amount of parking space required by the provisions of this chapter as a result of an indefiniteness as to the proposed uses of a building or of the land, the maximum requirement for the general type or use that is involved shall govern.

The maximum number of parking spaces allowed for any use shall be 120% of the minimum requirements set forth in the following sections.

Where the required number of parking spaces is not set forth for a particular use in the following sections and where there is no similar general type of use listed, the Zoning Administrator shall determine the number of spaces to be provided.

Dormitory, fraternity, sorority house or other residence hall located off campus: one space per two sleeping accommodations based on the occupancy load of the building, plus one additional space for each housemother, manager or employee.

Dwelling, single-family, detached: two spaces per unit, provided that only one space must have convenient access to a street.

Dwelling, single-family, attached:

Dwelling, multifamily:

Hotel or motel: one space per rental unit plus such spaces as are required for restaurants, assembly rooms and affiliated facilities, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

Mobile home/park: one and one-half (1 1/2) spaces per unit.

Nursing or convalescent facility: one space per three residents plus one additional space for each employee.

Tourist house, boardinghouse or rooming house: one space for each guest accommodation consisting of one or more persons in one vehicle.

Automobile service station: two spaces per bay plus one space per employee, but never less than five spaces.

Bowling alley: four spaces per alley plus one space per employee plus such additional spaces as may be required herein for affiliated uses such as restaurants.

Business service or supply service establishment: one space per 300 square feet of gross floor area.

Car wash: four spaces per bay/stall plus one space per employee of a self-service establishment; or one space per employee plus sufficient area for 10 stacking spaces per bay/stall for an automated establishment.

Eating establishment: one space per four seats plus one space per two employees where seating is at tables; and/or one space per two seats plus one space per two employees where seating is at a counter.

Eating establishment (drive-in) with no seating facilities: one space per 60 square feet of net floor area, with a minimum of 10 spaces.

Financial institution with drive-in windows: one space per 150 square feet of net floor area plus sufficient area for five stacking spaces for the first drive-in window and two stacking spaces per each additional window.

Financial institution: one space per 150 square feet of net floor area.

Furniture or carpet store: one space per 400 square feet of net floor area plus one space for each employee.

Medical or dental clinic: three spaces per examination or treatment room plus one for each doctor and employee.

Office: four and one-half (4 1/2) spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area plus one space per company vehicle.

Outdoor sales/display area other than vehicle sale, rental or service establishments: one space per 500 square feet of open sales/display area plus one space per employee.

Personal service establishment: one space per three seats or three persons based on the occupancy load plus one space per employee.

Recreational facility other than theater, auditorium, stadium, bowling alley or swimming pool: one space per three seats or three persons based on the occupancy load plus one space per employee.

Repair service establishment: One space per 200 square feet of gross floor area.

Retail sales establishment except furniture or carpet store: one space per 200 square feet of net floor area for the first 1,000 square feet plus six spaces per additional 1,000 square feet.

Shopping center: one space per 200 square feet of gross floor area for the first 1,000 square feet plus six spaces per each additional 1,000 square feet plus additional spaces, as required herein, for associated offices and theaters.

Swimming pool, commercial: one space per four persons lawfully permitted in the pool at one time plus one space per employee.

Theater, auditorium or stadium: one space per three seats or similar vantage accommodation provided plus one space per two employees.

Vehicle sale, rental and/or service establishment: one space per 500 square feet of enclosed sales/rental floor area plus one space per 2,500 square feet of open sales/rental display lot area plus two spaces per service bay plus one space per employee, but never less than five spaces.

Wholesale trade establishment: one space per 1.5 employees plus one space per company vehicle, but with a minimum of one space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

Manufacturing establishment or establishment for production, processing, assembly, compounding, preparation, cleaning, servicing and testing; repair or storage of materials, goods or products; and business offices accessory thereto: one space per 1.5 employees on major shift plus one space per company vehicle and piece of mobile equipment.

Scientific research and development establishment: four and one-half (4 1/2) spaces per five employees based on the occupancy load plus one space per company vehicle.

Warehousing, heaving equipment storage yard, lumber and building material yard, motor freight terminal or junkyard: one space per 1.5 employees on major shift plus one space per company vehicle plus sufficient space to accommodate the largest number of visitors that may be expected at any one time, but with a minimum of one space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

Airport, air park or airfield: one space per employee, plus one space for each vehicle used in connection with the facility plus sufficient space to accommodate the largest number of vehicles that may be expected at any one time.

Ambulance service or rescue squad: adequate space to accommodate all motor vehicles operated in connection with such use plus two additional parking spaces per each such vehicle.

Church, chapel, temple, synagogue or other place of worship: one space per four seats in the principal place of worship, provided that the number of spaces thus required may be reduced by not more than 50% if the place of worship is located within 500 feet of any public parking lot or any commercial parking lot where sufficient spaces are available by permission of the owner(s) without charge during the time of services to make up the additional spaces required.

College or university: based on a review by the Zoning Administrator of each proposal, including such factors as the occupancy load of all classroom facilities, auditoriums and stadiums, the availability of areas on site that can be used for auxiliary parking in times of peak demand, but in no instance less than one space per faculty and staff member and other full-time employee plus a sufficient number of spaces to accommodate the anticipated number of students and visitors who will drive to the institution at any one time.

Cultural center, museum or similar facility: one space per 30 square feet of gross floor area.

Country club: one space per four members, based on maximum anticipated membership.

Funeral chapel: one space per three seats in the main chapel or parlor plus one space per two employees plus one space for each vehicle used in connection with the business.

Group day-care facility, day-care center, nursery school, school of general education or school of special education: two spaces per each three employees plus a sufficient number of spaces to accommodate all persons who may be at the establishment at any one time under normal operating conditions.

Hospital: one space per two beds plus 1.5 spaces per each emergency room examination table or bed plus one space per employee on the major shift other than doctors plus one space per doctor assigned to the staff.

Institution providing intensive special medical/mental care or welfare institution: one space per two patients, based on the occupancy load, plus one space per employee or staff member on a major shift.

Library: one space per 2.5 patrons based on the occupancy load plus one space per employee on a major shift.

Private, civic or fraternal club or lodge: one space per three members based on maximum anticipated membership.

Public utility establishment: one space per 1.5 employees on the major shift plus one space per company vehicle.

School, elementary or intermediate: based on a review by the Zoning Administrator of each proposal, including such factors as the occupancy load of all classroom facilities, auditoriums and stadiums, proposed special education programs and student-teacher ratios.

School, secondary: based on a review by the Zoning Administrator of each proposal, including such factors as the occupancy load of all classroom facilities, auditoriums and stadiums, proposed special education programs and student-teacher ratios and the availability of areas on site that can be used for auxiliary parking in times of peak demand, but no less than one space per faculty and staff member and other full-time employee plus one space per eight students, based on the maximum number of students attending classes at any one time.

Swimming pool, community: one space for every seven persons lawfully permitted in the pool at one time plus one space per employee, subject to a lesser number determined by the Zoning Administrator in accordance with the number of members who are within a reasonable walking distance of the pool.

Tennis club: four spaces per court plus such additional spaces as may be required herein for affiliated uses, such as restaurants.