Chapter 18.48 — PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth regulations for the provision of off-street parking and loading areas in the various zoning districts when a new building is erected, when a building is enlarged more than twenty-five percent (25%), or when the use of the premises is changed to one (1) requiring a twenty-five percent (25%) or greater increase in required parking spaces. (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Required parking spaces shall be located as follows:

• A. Residential Uses. Required off-street parking spaces shall be provided on site for all residential uses.

• B. Nonresidential Uses. Required off-street parking spaces shall be provided on the subject property. Where required parking for a nonresidential use cannot be feasibly provided on the same site, the required parking may be located on another lot; provided, that:

  1. The most distant parking space is not more than four hundred (400) feet from the use;

  2. The parking lot site is covered by a recorded instrument in a form approved by the City Attorney;

  3. The parking lot site is not located in a residential zone unless the principal use requiring the parking is also allowed in a residential zone; and

4. The parking lot site is not within a road easement or right-of-way or private street. (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Parking area design and development standards shall be as follows:

• A. Surfacing. All required parking and loading areas shall be surfaced on an approved paved surface. Surfacing for temporary storage, sales yards and similar uses may be of a lesser standard as approved by the Building Official.

• B. Maneuvering Space and Access. All required parking areas shall conform to this Development Code, including the following minimum standards:

  1. Access driveways from a street to a parking facility shall be at least twelve (12) feet wide for a one (1) way driveway or to serve parking areas for four (4) or fewer vehicles. Access drives for two (2) way traffic or to serve parking areas for more than four (4) vehicles shall be twenty-four (24) feet wide;

  2. All parking areas shall be designed to provide safe and efficient but separate vehicle and pedestrian circulation systems from public ways to building entries;

  3. No on-site parking shall be allowed within ten (10) feet of a vehicular entrance to the property; and

  4. Required parking spaces cannot be provided in tandem.

• C. Circulation for Drive-Through Facilities. Each drive-through lane shall be separated from the circulation routes necessary for ingress to or egress from the property, or access to any parking space. Each such lane shall be striped, marked, or otherwise distinctly delineated and shall provide adequate vehicle stacking for a minimum of five (5) vehicles on site.

• D. Parking for bicycles shall be provided in all parking areas, except for projects smaller than a fourplex, in accordance with Table 18.48-3 and Section 18.48.070 .

• E. Dimension of Spaces and Aisles. The dimensions of required parking spaces and aisle widths in parking areas shall not be less than shown in Table 18.48-1 (Figure 18.48-1).

  1. To ensure the proper maintenance and utilization of these facilities, parking areas shall be designed so that a parked vehicle does not overhang required sidewalks, planters or landscaped areas. A permanent curb, bumper, wheel stop or similar device shall be installed which shall be adequate to protect the required sidewalks, planters and landscaped areas from vehicular damage. If such protection is provided by means of a method designed to stop the wheel, rather than the bumper of the vehicle, the stopping edge shall be placed no closer than two (2) feet from the edges of the required sidewalks, planter or landscaped areas and from any building. The innermost two (2) feet of each parking space (between curb and any planter or sidewalk) may be planted with low ground cover, and added to any required or proposed landscaping, to allow for bumper overhang. This additional planting area is considered part of the parking space and may not count toward satisfying any landscaping requirement. The Building Official may require other barrier curbs or wheel stops as deemed necessary to protect areas within or adjacent to the parking area from vehicular encroachment.

nd cover, and added to any required or proposed landscaping, to allow for bumper overhang. This additional planting area is considered part of the parking space and may not count toward satisfying any landscaping requirement. The Building Official may require other barrier curbs or wheel stops as deemed necessary to protect areas within or adjacent to the parking area from vehicular encroachment.

2. Compact Spaces. Fifteen percent (15%) of the required parking spaces, calculated after all applicable parking reductions are applied in accordance with Section 18.48.050 , may be designated compact car spaces. Compact car spaces shall be at least eight (8) feet in width and sixteen (16) feet in length and shall be clearly marked "compact cars only."

• F. Maintenance of Spaces. All required parking spaces in parking areas shall be adequately marked and maintained to ensure the proper utilization of the area.

• G. Structural Specifications. All structural elements including paved areas, curbs, gutters, drains, wheel stops, bumper stops, directional signs, and stop signs shall comply with City of Galt Public Works Department and Building Division requirements.

• H. Landscaping shall comply with Section 18.52.040(B)(5) and the Galt Landscape Design Guidelines.

Notes:

• 1See Section 18.48.030 for standards for compact car parking spaces.

• 2Lettered footnotes within parentheses refer to lettered dimensions in Figure 18.48-1.

• 3Two-way aisle.

• 4One-way aisle.

Figure 18.48-1 Parking Diagram

==> picture [463 x 250] intentionally omitted <==

(Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Parking spaces shall be provided as follows:

• A. When Required. Parking spaces required by this code shall be provided at the time any building or structure is erected or an existing building or structure is enlarged more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the gross floor area. Where existing buildings are proposed to be enlarged in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the gross floor area, off-street parking shall be provided as required herein for the area enlarged.

• B. Cumulative Parking for Multiple Uses. Where a site contains more than one (1) principal use, the amount of parking to be provided shall be the total of that required for each individual use, except as otherwise provided in Section 18.48.050(C) .

• C. Required Number of Parking Spaces. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided as specified in Table 18.48-2. Fractions of a parking space are equal to one (1) space (e.g., 1.3 spaces equals two (2) spaces).

(Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015; Ord. 2022-09, Amended, 12/06/2022)

The required number of parking spaces may be reduced in the following circumstances:

• A. Projects with Traffic Reduction Incentives. Required off-street parking for office, commercial, or industrial projects may be reduced if the applicant provides alternative facilities or programs which serve to reduce parking demand. Vehicle parking requirements may be reduced in accordance with the following standards, provided the total reduction does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the required parking for the use:

  1. Shower and Locker Facilities. Developments with twenty (20) or more employees may reduce their parking requirement one (1) space for every three (3) clothing locker facilities provided for bicycle commuting employees. In addition, the developer shall provide shower facilities for both men and women. Maximum reduction is ten percent (10%) of required parking.

  2. Secure Bicycle Parking. Developments which provide additional Class I or Class II bicycle parking facilities over and above the minimum requirement as set forth in Section 18.48.070 may reduce their parking requirement by one (1) space for every three (3) additional bicycle spaces provided. Maximum reduction is five percent (5%) of required parking.

  3. Preferred Carpool and Vanpool Parking Spaces. Office or industrial developments that guarantee preferred parking spaces (e.g., covered, shaded, or near building entrance) to employees who participate regularly in a carpool or vanpool may reduce their parking requirement by one (1) vehicle space for every one (1) space which is marked and reserved for carpools and vanpools at a preferred location. Maximum reduction is five percent (5%) of required parking.

• B. Senior Housing Projects. Required off-street parking for senior housing may be reduced to one (1) parking space for each three (3) dwelling units.

• C. Staggered Use of Common Parking Facilities. Required parking for multiple uses that use a common off-street parking facility may be reduced by up to twenty-five percent (25%) if all the

following circumstances are present:

1. The common parking area will provide twenty (20) or more parking spaces;

2. The typical use of the off-street parking facility would be staggered to such an extent that the reduced number of spaces would be adequate to serve all uses sharing the facility; and

3. The common parking area is covered by a recorded instrument in a form approved by the City Attorney.

• D. Reduction for Expansion of Existing Places of Worship. For existing facilities (lawfully established prior to the date of this code) that expand beyond twenty-five percent (25%) of the existing gross floor area, a reduction of up to fifty percent (50%) in the required additional offstreet parking spaces is allowed. Additionally, on-street parking within one hundred (100) feet of the property may count toward the required spaces. These reductions may be approved by the Community Development Director if all of the following conditions are present:

  1. The facility is located along a street frontage with a minimum right-of-way width of eighty (80) feet;

2. The street frontage has full improvements, such as sidewalk, curb, gutter and street width pavement; and

   3. The street frontage of the subject property has or will have City-approved, striped public parking.

• (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Parking areas shall include parking spaces accessible to the disabled in the following manner:

• A. Number of Spaces and Design Standards. Parking spaces for the disabled shall be provided in compliance with the California Building Code and the federal accessibility guidelines. Disabled accessible parking spaces shall count toward fulfilling the parking requirements of this code.

• B. Residential Multifamily Uses. For each dwelling unit required to be designed to accommodate the physically handicapped or required to be made adaptable for the physically handicapped, the required parking shall be provided in compliance with the California Building Code.

• (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Standards for bicycle parking are as follows:

• A. Bicycle Facility Classifications. Bicycle parking facilities shall be classified as follows:

  1. Class I, an enclosed box with a locking door, typically called a bicycle locker, where a single bicyclist has access to a bicycle storage compartment.

  2. Class II, a stationary bicycle rack designed to secure the frame and both wheels of the bicycle, where the bicyclist supplies only a padlock.

  3. Class III, a stationary bicycle rack, typically a cement slab or vertical metal bar, where the bicyclist supplies a padlock and chain or cable to secure the bicycle to the stationary object.

• B. Minimum Bicycle Parking Requirements. The minimum bicycle parking ratios are shown in Table 18.48-3.

• C. Design Standards. Bicycle parking facilities shall be a minimum Class III bike rack, or as otherwise required per the California Green Building Standards Code, and shall be installed in a manner which allows adequate spacing for access to the bicycle and the locking device when the facilities are occupied. The space shall be a minimum of two (2) feet by six (6) feet per bicycle with five (5) feet of maneuvering space provided behind the bicycle. The facilities shall be located on an asphalt or concrete surface and clearly visible and in a convenient location for patrons. Bicycle parking facilities shall not be located in required setbacks or within required accessible walkways.

• (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

The parking and storage of recreational vehicles and trucks in a residential zoning district shall be in conformance with the following standards:

• A. Recreational Vehicles.

  1. Recreational vehicles may be parked or stored on any lot or parcel of land within a residential zoning district in the City, provided they conform to all the following standards:

     • a. Recreational vehicles shall not be parked or stored in any required front yard or street side yard and a three (3) foot continuous fire access shall be maintained in interior side and rear yards.

     • b. Recreational vehicles shall not be used for human habitation, except to accommodate occupants or visitors of the premises for periods of less than seven (7) days in any one (1) year period.

• B. Trucks and Truck Trailers. No truck or truck trailer with a gross vehicular weight rating over five (5) tons shall be parked or stored in any zoning district, except the M, industrial, or LM, light industrial zoning districts. Trucks or truck trailers used for pickup or delivery service or used as part of the operation of a legally existing nonconforming use are exempt from this requirement. In no case shall such truck or truck trailer be parked at any location in any residential zoning district longer than required for such pickup or delivery service or service function, other than within the grounds of a legally existing nonconforming use located within the residential zoning district and of which operation the truck or truck trailer is a part.

• (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

All commercial and industrial uses where a large amount of goods are received and shipped shall provide loading and unloading space adequate to handle the truck traffic to the premises. Each required loading space shall be not less than ten (10) feet wide, thirty-five (35) feet long and fourteen (14) feet high.

(Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

Location of loading spaces shall be as follows:

• A. Loading spaces required by this chapter shall be located immediately adjacent to the exterior wall of the building they serve or within the building.

• B. Loading spaces shall not be located in the front of buildings.

• C. The location of loading spaces should prevent potential impacts on adjacent uses.

• D. Loading spaces shall be so located and designed so that trucks are not required to back into a public street for ingress or egress. Truck maneuvering areas shall be provided on site where necessary to comply with this requirement.

• E. Loading spaces shall be concealed from public view to the maximum extent possible.

• F. Loading spaces shall not block pedestrian and vehicular access to the site.

• (Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)

All parking and loading areas shall be maintained in good condition as determined by the City. Annual inspections may be conducted by the City to ensure compliance. Any violation or failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall be deemed a nuisance and shall be subject to penalties as set forth in Chapter 1.08.

(Ord. 2015-05, Repealed and Replaced, 06/16/2015)