Wicomico County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 10
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 225-130 Purpose.
In order to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles, to lessen congestion in the streets, to prevent obstructing traffic and blocking streets, alleys and entrances to buildings, the following regulations are established.
§ 225-131 Access.
Access to lots shall be provided as follows in C-1 Select Commercial, C-3 Regional Commercial, LB-1 Light Business and Institutional and LB-2 Light Business and Residential Districts:
A.
Access to the development shall be provided only in such a manner as will not cause traffic congestion nor aggravate existing congestion.
B.
Direct access onto a street or major highway shall be reduced or eliminated wherever the approving authority determines that alternative or unified points of access are available to a site resulting in better traffic flow and less traffic congestion.
§ 225-132 Minimum dimensions for maneuvering space.
Minimum dimensions for off-street parking and maneuvering space or driveways thereto shall be:
A.
Ninety-degree angle parking. When provided, each parking space shall meet the following requirements:
B.
Sixty-degree angle parking. When provided, each parking space shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
A minimum of nine feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle.
(2)
A minimum of 21 feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line.
(3)
Maneuvering space or driveways thereto shall be not less than 16 feet wide when measured perpendicular to the parking or building line.
C.
Forty-five-degree angle parking. When provided, each parking space shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
A minimum of nine feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle.
(2)
A minimum of 20 feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line.
(3)
Maneuvering space or driveways thereto shall be not less than 15 feet wide when measured perpendicular to the parking or building line.
§ 225-133 General off-street parking requirements.
A.
No land shall be used or occupied, no structure shall be designed, erected or expanded, used or occupied and no use shall be operated unless the off-street parking space herein required is provided.
(1)
Any change in the existing use of land to another use shall provide the required parking for the new use. See § 225-136 for allowance to reduce the required parking.
(2)
Any expansion of the building or land area of the existing use shall require the additional parking as required for the area of any such expansion.
B.
Off-street parking facilities shall be on the same lot or parcel of land as the structure they are intended to serve, unless it meets the requirements of § 225-136 allowing for cross-easements and shared facilities.
C.
Whenever a building permit and/or zoning authorization has been granted based on plans containing off-street parking space provisions, failure to continually provide such parking shall be considered a violation of this chapter.
D.
A maximum of 50% of the required off-street parking for places of noncommercial assembly may be met by using parking facilities which normally serve business if:
E.
Connection to public right-of-way. All off-street parking areas that make it necessary for vehicles to back out directly into a public road, street or highway are prohibited except for single-family dwellings. Individual dwelling units which are contiguous within a residential structure and which have their own individual driveway shall be considered as a single-family dwelling for the purpose of this parking requirement.
F.
No parking area shall be used for the sale, repair, dismantling or servicing of any vehicles, equipment, materials or supplies.
G.
All off-street access or parking facilities for more than five cars and associated accessways shall be:
(1)
Paved with permanent, all-weather materials of either tar and stone, bituminous asphalt or concrete; however, the Board of Appeals or the Planning Commission by special exception may permit an alternative surface treatment method which allows for the use of pervious materials and natural drainage;
(2)
Drained so as to prevent damage to or erosion on abutting properties or public streets;
(3)
Lighted if parking facilities are to be used at night;
(4)
Periodically maintained by the owner in accordance with specifications herein required;
(5)
Arranged for convenient access and safety of pedestrians and vehicles; and
(6)
(8)
The type of permanent all-weather materials required above in Subsection G(1) for paving off-street driveways and/or parking facilities for more than five cars may, by special exception, be constructed of a porous paving system and/or pervious paving materials, subject to the following conditions:
(a)
The use proposed is of an intermittent, low-intensity or seasonal nature.
(b)
All parking spaces required by law to be reserved for use of handicapped individuals shall be constructed of either tar and stone, bituminous asphalt, or concrete.
(c)
All other provisions of this section, not inconsistent with this subsection, shall be applicable.
I.
For the purpose of determining the number of off-street parking spaces for certain uses, the number of seats is the number of seating units installed or indicated, or each 24 linear inches of benches, pews, or space for loose chairs.
§ 225-134 Off-street parking requirements for individual districts.
In addition to the general off-street parking requirements listed in § 225-133 above, parking in the following districts shall be provided as follows:
A.
In the A-1, V-C, and residential districts, the following standards shall apply for the following large vehicles:
(1)
Specialized vehicles, such as recreational vehicles, campers, boats and boat trailers, may be parked or stored in all residential districts under the following conditions:
(2)
Commercial vehicles:
(a)
Commercial vehicles may be parked overnight in a residential district, provided:
(3)
In an REC District, off-street parking may not be located in the front yard or in front of the principal structure, whichever is more restrictive.
C.
In the V-C and residential districts, no motor vehicle, whether operable or inoperable, shall be parked in the front yard of any residence unless the same shall be positioned in a driveway or designated stabilized parking area with direct access to a public street.
§ 225-135 Number of spaces required.
A.
In the case of any building, structure or premises, the use of which is not specifically mentioned in this Part 10, the provisions for any similar use, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, shall apply.
B.
When determination of the number of parking spaces required results in a requirement fractional space, any fraction shall be counted as one parking space.
C.
Unless otherwise specified elsewhere in this chapter, parking requirements according to use shall be as shown in the following table:
Table of Minimum Parking Requirements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Use | Off-Street Parking Requirement (number of spaces) | ||
Agricultural | |||
Generally | As determined by Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Farm-related business | Provided for as determined by the approving authority. Truck parking shall be limited to trucks used by the farm or in the farm occupation. | ||
Farmers' market | 1 per 200 square feet of market floor area, except that paved parking facilities shall not be required | ||
Wayside stand | 1 per 200 square feet of wayside stand, with a minimum of 2 parking spaces | ||
Emergency Services | |||
Generally | As determined by Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Firehouse | 1.0 for the Fire Marshal, plus 1.0 for the Fire Chief, plus 2.0 per shift of regularly employed firefighters. If an assembly hall is associated with the firehouse, then 1 additional space per 100 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided. | ||
Commercial - Retail and Wholesale | |||
Generally | As determined by the Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Appliance and equipment retail, service, wholesale store | 2 per every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per every 300 square feet of gross floor area over 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Convenience store | 1 per every 250 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Convenience store with fuel sales | 1 per 250 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per pump | ||
Furniture stores | 1 per 500 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per employee on maximum shift | ||
Restaurant | |||
Drive-thru and fast food | 1 per 4 seats, plus 1 per 2 employees on maximum shift | ||
Standard | 1 per 3 seats, plus 1 per employee on the maximum shift | ||
Retail store shopping centers: | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Community | 1 per 225 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Neighborhood | 1 per 225 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Regional | 1 per 225 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Grocery/food store (super market) | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Wholesale establishment | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Commercial Service | |||
Generally | As determined by Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Bar, pub, tavern | 1 per 2 seats, plus 1.0 per 3 employees | ||
Beauty parlor | 2 per operator chair plus 1.0 for every 2 waiting area chairs | ||
Financial institutions | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Funeral home or mortuary | 35 per viewing room, plus 1 per business vehicle, plus 1 per employee | ||
Hotel, motel, country inn | 1.1 per room, plus 1 per 2 employees on maximum work shift | ||
Laundromat/dry cleaners | 1 per 2 machines used in operation of the business | ||
Medical clinic or dispensary, doctor's office | 4 per doctor, plus 1 additional per 2 employees | ||
Nightclub | 1 per 2 seats | ||
Office building, professional building or similar use | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Veterinary clinic | 1 per 400 square feet of floor space in office, with a 4-space minimum | ||
Industrial | |||
Generally | As determined by the Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Industrial buildings | 1 per 2 employees for the largest shift | ||
Research centers | 1 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Institutional | |||
Civic club, private club, lodge, library, museum | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per employee | ||
Places of assembly | 1 per 3 seats | ||
Hospital | 1 per 5 rooms, plus 1 per staff doctor, to include 1 additional space per 3 employees regularly employed. All parking areas shall be located at least 50 feet from any adjacent residential district. | ||
School, nursery | 6, plus 1 per 2 employees and 1 off-street unloading and loading area | ||
School, general | 1 per teacher, plus 1 for each regular employee, plus 1 for each 5 students in grades 10-12 | ||
Schools of special instruction | 1 per 150 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per 3 employees | ||
Motor Vehicle-Related Sales and Service Operations | |||
Generally | As determined by Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Motor vehicle filling stations | 1 per gasoline pump, plus 2 additional, plus 1 per employee | ||
Motor vehicle repair garage | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area, excluding retail sales area which shall meet the requirements for that use, plus 1 per employee | ||
Public and Semipublic Facilities | |||
Generally | As determined by the Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Bus terminal | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per employee and 1 for regularly scheduled buses | ||
Recreation, Amusement, Entertainment | |||
Generally | As determined by the Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Billiard hall | 4 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Bowling alley | 3 per bowling lane, plus 1 per employee | ||
Campgrounds | 3 off-street parking spaces designated for each 2 campground sites. Such parking may be provided in common areas or on individual sites. | ||
Golf course | 6 per hole | ||
Health club | 1 per every 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 per every 2 employees | ||
Marina | 0.5 per slip | ||
Miniature golf | 1.0 per hole | ||
Swimming pool, indoor commercial | 1.0 per 4 persons, up to capacity | ||
Theater, auditorium, stadium, arena | 1.0 per 3 seats of the maximum seating capacity | ||
Residential | |||
Generally | As determined by the Zoning Administrator according to comparable standards | ||
Accessory apartment | 1.0 per bedroom; space shall not be located in the front yard | ||
Bed-and-breakfast | 1.0 per guest room, plus 1.0 per owner's unit | ||
Day-care center, group | 1.0 per 7 children, plus 1.0 per staff person | ||
Dwellings | |||
Single-family, two-family | 1.0 per unit | ||
Multifamily | |||
One-bedroom units | 1.5 per unit | ||
Two-bedroom units | 2.0 per unit | ||
Three-or-more-bedroom units | 2.5 per unit | ||
Group homes | 1.0 per staff person, plus 1.0 per 2 occupants | ||
Guest rooms | 1.0 per guest room, provided that said space shall not be provided in the required front yard | ||
Home-based business | |||
Type I | No additional parking beyond what is required for the residential use, except there shall be no allowance to back out directly into a public road | ||
Types II and III | 3 hard, dust-free parking areas located outside of the front yard. Parking may only be permitted in a required side yard if fully screened from abutting properties, except there shall be no allowance to back out directly into a public road. | ||
Retirement housing complex | 1.0 per 3 living units, plus 1.0 per employee | ||
Manufactured home park | 2 spaces per manufactured home site. One space may be permitted on each manufactured home site if the second space is provided in a common parking area which shall be within reasonable walking distance of the individual manufactured home site. Where the common parking area is provided on-street, it shall be limited to 1 side only and the paved portion of the roadway widened an additional 9 feet. | ||
Nursing or convalescent care facility | 1.0 per 5 rooms, plus 1.0 per employee | ||
§ 225-136 Flexibility in administration required.
The county recognizes that, due to the particularities of any given development, the inflexible application of the parking standards set forth in § 225-135C, Number of Spaces Required, may result in a development either with inadequate parking space or parking space in excess of its needs. Alternative off-street parking standards may be accepted if the applicant can demonstrate that such standards better reflect local conditions and needs.
A.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Planning Commission or the Board of Appeals may by special exception allow deviations from the parking requirements set forth in § 225-135C, Number of spaces required, when it finds that:
(1)
A residential development is irrevocably oriented toward the elderly.
(2)
A business is primarily oriented to walk-in trade.
(3)
Change in circumstances. The number of parking spaces may be reduced, if the applicant can prove that, by reason of reduction in floor area, seating area, number of employees, change in use of the property or change in other factors controlling the regulation of the number of parking spaces, the proposed reduction is reasonable and consistent with the regulations of this chapter.
(4)
The Board of Appeals or Planning Commission may approve parking off the lot which it is to serve if:
§ 225-137 Stacking lanes.
All drive-in or drive-thru facilities for any permitted or accessory use shall conform to the following standards:
A.
Off-street stacking lanes shall be provided for at least 60 feet in length from the leading edge of each drive-in or drive-through facility entrance.
B.
Stacking lanes shall be at least 11 feet in width, exclusive of any accessway or maneuvering area required by this chapter.
C.
Stacking lanes shall not be located in either parking spaces or areas as required by this chapter nor be arranged so as to block access to any required parking spaces.
§ 225-138 Off-street loading and unloading.
A.
After the effective date of this chapter, no land shall be used or occupied, nor shall any structure be designed, erected, expanded, used or occupied, and no use shall be operated, unless off-street loading requirements herein required are provided.
B.
Specific requirements of loading and unloading spaces.
(1)
The following shall provide a minimum of one truck loading or unloading space:
(b)
Hospitals that contain a gross floor area of 15,000 square feet but less than 40,000 square feet.
(c)
Shopping centers: one off-street loading and unloading space for each 20,000 square feet of aggregate floor space for all shopping center establishments
(d)
Schools, general instruction: one off-street loading and unloading area shall be provided.
(2)
One additional space shall be provided for the above-listed uses for each additional 60,000 square feet of gross floor space.
(3)
Each loading or unloading space shall be a minimum size of 25 feet by 15 feet with a fourteen-foot overhead clearance. Larger vehicles will require larger spaces.
D.
Service drives. Service drives and loading and unloading areas shall be located so that, in the process of loading and unloading, no truck shall block the passage of other vehicles on the service drive or extend into any public street or private drive used for traffic circulation.