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SEC. 154. DIMENSIONS FOR OFF- STREET PARKING, FREIGHT LOADING, AND SERVICE VEHICLE SPACES. (a) Parking Spaces. Parking spaces may be either independently accessible or space-efficient as described in Section 154(a)(4) and 154(a)(5), except as required elsewhere in the Building Code for spaces specifically designated for persons with physical disabilities. Space-efficient parking is encouraged. (1) Each independently accessible off-street parking space measuring an area of 144 square feet (8 feet by 18 feet) shall count as a standard space and measuring 112.5 square feet shall count as a compact space (7.5 feet by 15 feet), except for the types of parking spaces authorized by subsection (a)(4) below and spaces specifically designated for persons with physical disabilities, the requirements for which are set forth in the Building Code. Every parking space shall be of usable shape. The area of any such space shall be exclusive of driveways, aisles, and maneuvering areas. (2) Any ratio of standard spaces to compact spaces may be permitted, so long as compact car spaces are specifically marked and identified as a compact space. (3) Off-street parking spaces in DTR, C-3, RTO, NCT, Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use, PDR-1-D, and PDR-1-G Districts shall have no defined area or dimension requirements, except as required elsewhere in the Building Code for spaces specifically designated for persons with physical disabilities. For all uses in all Districts, refer to Sections 153 and 151.1(c) for rules regarding calculation of parking spaces. (4) Permitted off-street parking spaces in mechanical parking structures that allow a vehicle to be accessed without having to move another vehicle under its own power shall be deemed to be independently accessible. Parking spaces that are accessed by a valet attendant and are subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Zoning Administrator to insure the availability of attendant service at the time the vehicle may reasonably be needed or desired by the user, shall be deemed to be independently accessible. Any conditions imposed by the Zoning Administrator pursuant to this Section 154 shall be recorded as a Notice of Special Restriction. (5) Space-efficient parking is parking in which vehicles are stored and accessed by valet, mechanical stackers or lifts, certain tandem spaces, or other space-efficient means. Tandem spaces shall count toward permitted off-street parking spaces if no more than one car needs to be moved to access the desired parking space. (6) Ground floor ingress and egress to any off-street parking spaces provided for a struc- ture or use, and all spaces to be designated as preferential carpool or van pool parking, and their associated driveways, aisles and maneuvering areas, shall maintain a minimum vertical clear- ance of seven feet. (b) Freight Loading and Service Vehicle Spaces. Every required off-street freight loading space shall have a minimum length of 35 feet, a minimum width of 12 feet, and a minimum verti- cal clearance including entry and exit of 14 feet, except as provided below. (1) Minimum dimensions specified here- in shall be exclusive of platform, driveways and maneuvering areas except that minimum vertical clearance must be maintained to accommodate variable truck height due to driveway grade. (2) The first such space required for any structure or use shall have a minimum width of 10 feet, a minimum length of 25 feet, and a min- imum vertical clearance, including entry and exit, of 12 feet. (3) Each substituted service vehicle space provided under Section 153(a)(6) of this Code shall have a minimum width of eight feet, a minimum length of 20 feet, and a minimum verti- cal clearance of seven feet. (Amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 32-91, App. 1/25/91; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 129-06, File No. 060372, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 112-08, File No. 080095, App. 6/30/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 188-15 , File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (a)(1) amended; Ord. 188-15 , Eff. 12/4/2015. Nonsubstantive amendment; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Section header and divisions (a)-(a)(5) amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. SEC. 155. GENERAL STANDARDS AS TO LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING, FREIGHT LOADING, AND SERVICE VEHICLE FACILITIES. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Required off-street parking and freight loading facilities shall meet the following standards as to location and arrangement. Facilities which are not required but are actually provided shall also meet the following standards unless such standards are stated to be applicable solely to required facilities. In application of the standards of this Code for off-street parking and loading, reference may be made to provisions of other portions of the Municipal Code concerning off-street parking and loading facilities, and to standards of the Better Streets Plan and the Bureau of Engineering of the Department of Public Works. Final authority for the application of such standards under this Code, and for adoption of regulations and interpretations in furtherance of the stated provisions of this Code shall, however, rest with the Planning Department. (a) Required Parking and Loading on the Same Lot as the Use Served. Every required off-street parking or loading space shall be located on the same lot as the use served by it, except as provided in Section 161 of this Code. (b) Off-Street Parking and Loading on Private Property. Every off-street parking or loading space shall be located in its entirety within the lot lines of private property. Shared driveways are encouraged. (c) Adequate Means of Ingress and Egress. Every off-street parking or loading space shall have adequate means of ingress from and egress to a Street or Alley. Access to off-street loading spaces shall be from Alleys in preference to Streets, except where otherwise specified in this Code. Adequate reservoir space shall be provided on private property for entrance of vehicles to off-street parking and loading spaces, except with respect to spaces independently accessible