18A.35.040 Parking | Pierce County Code

18A.35.040 Parking.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this Section is to regulate off-street and on-street parking areas to ensure adequate parking, lessen traffic congestion, and create uniform standards which provide sufficient on-site areas for parking and maneuvering of motor, transit, and nonmotorized vehicles. Associated design standards are located in PCC 18J.15.080.

B. Applicability. This Section applies to all new construction and expansions to existing structures except where otherwise noted. Off-street parking shall be required for expansions or enlargements of existing structures in accordance with the requirements of Table 18A.35.040-1 unless otherwise specified. This Section shall be used in conjunction with Title 18J PCC standards. When conflicts exist, the most restrictive shall apply.

C. Required Automobile Parking Spaces. Off-street parking spaces shall meet the requirements of this Section and if applicable, Title 18J PCC, at the time any building or structures is erected, enlarged, or expanded.

D. Proximity of Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities shall be located as hereinafter specified. Where a distance is specified, such distance shall be the walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking facilities to the nearest point of the building that such facility is required to serve.

1. For a single-family dwelling, required parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or building site as the building they are required to serve, except for projects designed according to the Urban Infill Design Standards of Title 18J PCC.

2. For multi-family and condo projects, required parking shall be distributed in such a manner that required parking stalls are located no more than 100 feet from the unit they are to serve.

3. For churches, hospitals, group homes, institutions, rooming and lodging houses, nursing and convalescent homes, community clubs, and club rooms, parking facilities shall be located not farther than 150 feet from the facility.

4. For mixed use buildings located within a Residential Targeted Area designated by the Pierce County Council pursuant to RCW 84.14, all off-street parking facilities, including parking for residential uses, shall be located no further than 300 feet from the mixed use building.

5. For uses other than those specified, parking facilities shall be located not farther than 300 feet from the facility.

E. Parking Quantity Standards. The number of off-street parking spaces shall be determined by using Table 18A.35.040-1. In the case of a land use not specifically mentioned in Table 18A.35.040-1, required off-street parking shall be determined by the approval authority.

1. Mixed Occupancies. In the case of two or more proposed land uses in the same development, the total off-street parking required shall be the sum of the uses calculated separately. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not fulfill the parking requirements for any other use, except as hereafter specified in Chapter 18A.75 PCC for Use Permits or when meeting the requirements of shared parking in subsection E.3.

2. Reducing Minimums. The approval authority may allow less than the minimum parking when:

a. The applicant is able to demonstrate fewer spaces are needed based on an estimate of parking demand prepared by the applicant or consultant and, if available, other relevant studies; or

b. On-street parking is available and approved; or

c. It is an expansion of or change of use in an existing structure where on-street parking has historically been the majority or only parking available or where impervious surfaces are being reduced to meet standards, all landscape standards are being met, and all other parking standards are met in accordance with this Chapter; or

d. For multi-family housing, universities and colleges, and religious assembly uses where alternative transportation options such as, but not limited to, transit are located adjacent to or are located within convenient walking distance to the development; or

e. For universities and colleges when the applicant can demonstrate that off-street parking is not needed for a specified number of students who will telecommute; or

f. For mixed use buildings located within a Residential Targeted Area designated by the Pierce County Council pursuant to RCW 84.14, the total required parking pursuant to Table 18A.35.040-1 may be reduced by 20 percent when the mixed use building(s) is located within 1,200 feet of a transit center and safe walking conditions to the transit center exist. Of the total parking provided, a minimum of one space shall be provided for each residential unit having two or fewer bedrooms and two spaces shall be required for each residential unit having three or more bedrooms. All required residential parking shall be located on-site and shall be clearly reserved for use by the residents of the building. If any portion of the non-residential parking for the mixed use building(s) will be met through the use of on-street parking or off-site parking, it shall be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director that adequate on-street or off-site capacity exists to accommodate said parking. The Director may require a written shared parking agreement for off-site parking when the Director determines that such an agreement is necessary to adequately document off-site parking availability.

g. For shared housing affordable to very low-income households earning 50 percent or less than Pierce County median income, minimum parking spaces may be reduced when the applicant is able to demonstrate that adequate alternative transportation options such as transit or reliable private shuttle service are available within 1/2-mile walking distance to the development. The affordable housing units shall remain affordable for 50 years. A recorded agreement, lien and covenant running with the land, binding all the assigns, heirs and successors of the applicant, shall secure the affordability requirements. The recorded covenant must provide that if the property is converted to a use other than for very low-income affordable housing within the required affordability duration, the property owner must comply with the parking requirements in effect at the time of conversion.

3. Shared Parking. Two or more non-residential uses on the same or separate sites may share the same parking if:

a. The total number of parking spaces provided is at least equal to the sum of the minimum number of spaces required for each use less the mixed use parking reduction standard (subsection 18A.35.040.E.1 above), and no greater than the sum of the maximum number of spaces permitted for each use; or

b. The uses operate during different hours and the parking demands occur at different times, and the following documentation is submitted in writing to the Department:

(1) The names and addresses of the owners or tenants that are sharing the parking;

(2) The uses that are involved in the shared parking;

(3) The location and number of parking spaces that are being shared;

(4) An analysis showing that the peak parking times of the uses occur at different times and that the parking area will be large enough for the anticipated demands of both uses; and

(5) A legal document such as an easement, lease agreement, or deed restriction that guarantees access to the parking lot for both uses.

c. Where parking lots are shared the combined number of required parking spaces may be reduced by up to 20 percent.

4. Exceeding Maximums. Parking spaces may exceed the maximum when constructed of permeable pavement or accommodated in a multi-storied or underground parking structure and meets the requirements of the Pierce County Stormwater Management and Site Development Manual.

5. On-Street Parking. In urban zones, on-street parking may be used to meet off-street parking requirements if approved by the County Engineer.

6. Carpool Spaces. All major employers or major worksites, as defined by RCW 70.94.524, shall designate at least 5 percent of the required vehicle spaces as carpool spaces. Carpool spaces may be included in total required parking or may exceed maximum allowed.

7. Bicycle Facilities. New development shall provide at least one bicycle rack or locker for each 25 vehicle parking stalls, with at least one provided for each development, except in the Frederickson, Mid-County, Parkland-Spanaway-Midland, and South Hill Community Plan urban areas, where bicycle parking shall be calculated based on space to secure a single bicycle in a rack, locker, or other secure area using the following:

a. Short-term parking is generally required for the visiting public for short durations, and shall be located near public entrances as a bicycle rack.

b. Long-term bicycle parking shall be provided for residents, students, employees, and others who are expected to spend more than two hours at a location. Long-term parking shall be provided in bike lockers, rooms, and other sheltered and secured parking stations that provide a high level of protection against theft.

c. All bicycle parking shall provide at least two points of contact for securing a bicycle and be made of durable, weather-resistant materials and secured to the ground or wall of a building in such a way as to prevent removal.

d. Required bicycle parking levels shall be determined by using Table 18A.35.040-2.

Table 18A.35.040-1. Required Parking Spaces
Land Use	Minimum Parking	Maximum Parking
Residential Use Category
Single-Family, Two-Family, Mobile Home	2 per dwelling unit
Developments approved pursuant to Chapter 18J.17 PCC, Urban Infill Design	1 per dwelling unit when located within 1/4 mile of a transit route. 1.5 per dwelling unit when located more than 1/4 mile from a transit route.
Multiple-family dwellings:
Studio and one-bedroom units	1.5 per dwelling unit
Two-bedroom units	2 per dwelling unit (1)
Three- or more bedroom units	2.25 per dwelling unit (1)
Community Residential Facilities and Shared Housing (Group Homes, Senior Housing, Rooming Houses, Congregate Housing, Shared Housing Village, etc.)	1 per 2 bedrooms/2 sleeping units	1 per 2 bedrooms/2 sleeping units
Residential Care Facilities	1 per 4 beds + 1 per 2 employees on maximum shift	1 per 4 beds + 1 for each maximum shift employee
Civic Use Category
Administrative Government Services, Community and Cultural Services, Postal Services, Public Safety Services, Transportation	1 per 400 square feet	1 per 300 square feet
Daycare centers, including dog daycare and adult daycare	2 loading plus 1 per each employee	8 plus 1 per each employee in a maximum shift
Religious Assembly	1 per 5 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat) in the principal place of assembly for worship, including balconies and choir lofts, plus 1 per 100 square feet of the principal place of assembly for worship.	1 per 4 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat) in the principal place of assembly for worship, including balconies and choir lofts, plus 1 per 50 square feet of the principal place of assembly for worship.
Hospitals and Institutions	1 per 4 beds plus 1 for each employee on a maximum shift	1 per 2 beds plus 1 for each employee on a maximum shift
Medical, Dental, Emergency Medical, Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries	1 per 250 square feet
Elementary Schools, Middle and Junior High Schools	1 per employee	2 per employee
High Schools	1 per employee plus 1 per each 10 students	2 per employee plus 1 per each 5 students
University, vocational school, or other post-secondary school/college	1 per 1,000 feet of floor area exclusive of dormitories plus 1 per 4 dorm rooms, or 0.3 per maximum student enrollment	0.5 per maximum student enrolllment
Office/Business Use Category
Administrative and Professional offices (including banks), Educational Services	2 per 1,000 square feet	5 per 1,000 square feet
Resource Use Category
Resource Uses: For retail or professional uses, see those parking categories for parking standards.	1 per 2 non-resident employees	1 per non-resident employee
Commercial Use Category
Commercial Uses:	2 per 1,000 square feet	7 per 1,000 square feet
Exceptions:
Golf Courses (public and private): Clubhouses, restaurants and other facilities shall be calculated separately by use.	2 per hole and 1 per designated driving station on driving range	6 per hole and 2 per designated driving station on driving range
Eating and Drinking Establishments	1 per 250 square feet	1 per 100 square feet
Drive-up facilities: Drive-up facilities shall be calculated in addition to required parking for primary use.	4 vehicle queue per drive-up facility provided	10 vehicle queue per drive-up facility provided
Mortuaries or funeral homes	1 per 4 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat) within chapel or other indoor assembly area	2 per 4 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat) within chapel or other indoor assembly area
Pleasure craft moorages	1 per each 3 moorage stalls	1 per each 2 moorage stalls
Lodging: Additional facilities such as conference rooms, banquet areas, or restaurants shall be calculated separately by use.	1 per 2 units plus 1 per resident manager unit	1.5 per unit plus 1 per resident manager unit
Stadiums, auditoriums, theaters	1 per 4 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat), or for unseated venue, 1 per 4 occupants per Fire Marshal determination of maximum occupancy	1.5 per 4 seats (18 inches of bench area equals 1 seat) or 1.5 per 4 occupants per Fire Marshal determination of maximum occupancy
Storage	1 per 100 storage units plus 1 per resident or employee, plus 1 space for each unit that could accommodate personal hobby activities	4 per 100 storage units plus 1 per resident or employee
Bowling Alleys	2.5 per alley	4 per alley
Industrial Use Category
Industrial Uses	1 per 1,000 square feet or 1 per each 3 employees on a maximum shift
(1) In the TCTR, UCOR, and NCOR zone classifications, minimum parking spaces may be reduced to 1.5 spaces per unit regardless of the number of bedrooms when the multifamily development site is within 1/4 mile of a High Capacity Transit Route.

Table 18A.35.040-2. Required Bicycle Parking Spaces in the Frederickson, Mid-County, Parkland-Spanaway-Midland, and South Hill Community Plan Areas
Land Use	Minimum Long-term Bicycle Parking	Minimum Short-term Bicycle Parking
Residential uses, except residential care facilities, in TCTR, NCOR, and UCOR	1 per unit	1 per 25 units
Residential uses, except residential care facilities, in all other urban zones	1 per unit	1 per 50 parking spaces
Residential Care Facilities	1 per 25 parking spaces	1 per 25 parking spaces
Schools	3 per classroom	1 per classroom
Industrial uses	1 per 10,000 square feet	1 per 20,000 square feet
All other uses	1 per 10,000 square feet	1 per 5,000 square feet or 1 per 25 parking stalls (whichever is greater)