(a)

Except as provided in this chapter, no application for a building permit shall be approved unless there is included with the plan for such building, improvements, or use a plot showing the required space reserved for off-street parking and service purposes. Occupancy shall not be allowed unless the required off-street parking and service facilities have been provided in accordance with those shown on the approved plan.

(b)

Off-street parking requirement exceptions may apply in special districts or in conjunction with some specific uses.

(Code 1958, § 24-11; Code 1991, § 22-281; Ord. No. 24-06122023, § XI, 6-22-2023)

Off-street parking spaces shall not be reduced below the minimum required number for the use or facility to which they are assigned.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.01; Code 1991, § 22-282)

All off-street parking, loading, and service areas shall be constructed of concrete or asphalt. Where appropriate, the city engineer may approve energy efficient and sustainable materials when utilized as an alternative means of stormwater compliance if they are contextual (see Light Imprint Handbook—Integrating Sustainability and Community Design. v-1.3. DPZ-Charlotte, New Urban Press, 2008) and meet or exceed baseline requirements in the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. All such areas shall be at all times maintained, at the expense of the owners thereof, in a clean, orderly, and dust-free condition.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.02; Code 1991, § 22-283; Ord. No. 04232018-1, § VI(2), 4-23-2018)

All off-street parking, loading, and service areas shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks, and streets by curbing or other suitable protective device.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.03; Code 1991, § 22-284)

(a)

Parking stalls shall have a minimum width of nine feet and length of 19 feet. There shall be provided adequate interior driveways to connect each parking space with a public right-of-way. Interior driveways shall be at least 24 feet wide where used with 90-degree angle parking, at least 18 feet wide where used with 60-degree angle parking, at least 13 feet wide where used with 45-degree parking, and at least 12 feet wide where used with parallel parking; or, where there is no parking, interior driveways shall be at least ten feet wide for one-way traffic movement and at least 20 feet wide for two-way traffic movement.

(b)

Compact car spaces may be approved for parking located in the downtown business district when the principal use of a parking lot is long-term (e.g., designated for employee parking and multifamily residential uses). Parking lots with 30 or more spaces may include compact car spaces for up to 40 percent of the total number of required spaces. Compact car spaces shall be a minimum of eight feet by 13 feet in size and shall be clearly marked "compact car only" in letters 12 inches high and seven inches wide. The parking layout dimensions (in feet) for eight-foot compact parking stalls at various angles is outlined in exhibit A, parking layout dimensions, a copy of which is on file in the administrative offices of the planning and zoning department.

Exhibit A: Parking Layout Dimentions

(Code 1958, § 24-11.04; Code 1991, § 22-285; Ord. No. 06292005-1, § VIII, 6-29-2005; Ord. No. 02232009-1, § I, 2-23-2009)

Two or more neighboring uses of the same or different types may provide joint facilities, provided the number of off-street parking spaces is not less than the sum of the individual requirements.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.05; Code 1991, § 22-286)

Each off-street parking space shall be clearly marked, and pavement directional arrows or signs shall be provided wherever necessary. Markers, directional arrows and signs shall be properly maintained so as to ensure their maximum efficiency.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.06; Code 1991, § 22-287)

In order to ensure a proper and uniform development of public parking areas throughout the area of jurisdiction of this chapter, to relieve traffic congestion on the streets, and to minimize any detrimental effects on adjacent properties, off-street parking space shall be provided and maintained as called for in the table in section 22-43. For any use or class of use not mentioned in this schedule, the requirements shall be the same as a similar use as mentioned therein. Parking requirements for additions to existing uses shall be based only upon the new addition even if the existing use is deficient.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.07; Code 1991, § 22-288)

(a)

In all zoning districts, off-street parking spaces for the storage and parking of self-propelled motor vehicles for the use of occupants, employees and patrons of the buildings hereafter erected, or enlarged after the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived, shall be provided as herein prescribed. The remodeling or alteration of present buildings in the downtown C-2 district shall be exempt from these provisions if:

(1)

The exterior dimensions are not changed; and

(2)

Any increase in floor space is confined within the basic structure;

(3)

Apartments in the downtown C-2 district shall provide the required number of parking spaces, no farther than 1,500 feet from the apartment.

(b)

Required parking spaces shall be maintained and shall not be encroached upon so long as such main building or structure remains, unless an equivalent number of such spaces are provided elsewhere in conformance with this chapter. The owner of a building structure or other land use requiring off-street parking space must show, to the satisfaction of the zoning administrator, that the owner is the record title holder of the property devoted to such principal land use and of the property proposed for off-street parking use, or that the owner is the lessee of such property.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.08; Code 1991, § 22-289)

The off-street parking facilities required for all other uses shall be located on the lot or within 1,000 feet of the permitted use requiring such off-street parking, such distance to be measured along lines of public access to the property between the nearest point of the parking facilities to the building to be served.

(Code 1958, § 24-11.09; Code 1991, § 22-290)

The following table of off-street parking standards specifies the number of parking spaces required for each designated use:

(Code 1958, § 24-11.10; Code 1991, § 22-291; Ord. of 3-23-1972; Ord. of 3-27-1972; Ord. of 4-24-1972; Ord. of 9-25-1972; Ord. of 4-23-1973; Ord. of 3-25-1974; Ord. of 6-24-1975; Ord. of 8-26-1985; Ord. of 8-28-1995, § VII; Ord. NO. 04232018-1, § VII, 4-23-2018; Ord. No. 52-11132023, § V, 11-13-2023; Ord. No. 19-07282025, § II, 7-28-2025)

(a)

On the same premises with every building structure or part thereof, erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage, warehouse, truck freight terminal, goods display, department store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, laundry, dry cleaning, or other uses similarly involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials, or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for standing, loading, and unloading services in order to avoid undue interference with public use of the streets and alleys.

(b)

Such loading and unloading space, unless otherwise adequately provided, shall be an area ten feet by 50 feet, with 15-foot height clearance, and shall be provided according to the following schedule:

(c)

Owners of two or more uses requiring the joint use of off-street loading facilities may file an executed agreement with the city, in a form approved by the city, providing for joint use of loading facilities and demonstrating the adequacy of the facility to serve anticipated loading needs.

(d)

Where it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the zoning administrator that loading/deliveries will occur during times when parking areas will be sued at less than 75 percent of capacity, or that deliveries will occur during hours when the establishment or facility is not open for normal business activities, the requirement for loading areas may be waived.

(Code 1958, § 24-12; Code 1991, § 22-292; Ord. of 8-26-1985; Ord. No. 24-06122023, § XII, 6-22-2023)

Industrial, wholesale, and retail operations shall provide space as follows:

(1)

Off-street loading spaces shall be provided as appropriate to the functions and scope of operation of individual or groups of buildings and uses.

(2)

Off-street loading spaces shall be designed and constructed so that all maneuvering to park and unpark vehicles for loading and unloading can take place entirely within the property lines of the premises. Loading spaces shall be provided so as not to interfere with the free, normal movement of vehicles and pedestrians on public rights-of-way.

(3)

Ingress and egress to off-street loading spaces shall conform to driveway entrance regulations of the city.

(Code 1958, § 24-12; Code 1991, § 22-293)

(a)

The rules and regulations for the control and protection of the city rights-of-way shall be those promulgated by the city for the control and protection of city rights-of-way.

(b)

Application and permit forms shall be filed with the city engineering department.

(Code 1958, §§ 24-13, 24-13.1; Code 1991, § 22-294; Ord. No. 24-06122023, § XIII, 6-22-2023)

A reduction of the generally applicable minimum off-street parking requirements shall be allowed in all zoning districts as follows:

(1)

On-street parking provided adjacent to the site may count as part of the required parking supply, provided the design is deemed appropriate by the city manager or their designee.

(2)

Where the ability for on-street parking exists in a public right-of-way, one on-street parking space may be substituted for every required off-street parking space, provided the on-street space immediately abuts the subject property.

(3)

Each on-street parking space shall only be counted for one property. Where a space straddles a property line (as projected into the right-of-way), the space shall only be counted by the owner whose property abuts 50 percent or more of the on-street parking space.

(4)

The city manager or their designee may determine that to ensure future roadway capacity, the on-street parking reduction may not be available.

(5)

On-street parking in a public right-of-way shall not count towards any applicable parking maximums.

(Ord. No. 19-07282025, § III, 7-28-2025)