23.54.030

All parking spaces provided, whether required by Section 23.54.015 or not, and required barrier-free parking, shall meet the standards of this Section 23.54.030 . A. Parking space dimensions 1. "Large vehicle" means the minimum size of a large vehicle parking space shall be 8 feet in width and 19 feet in length. 2. "Medium vehicle" means the minimum size of a medium vehicle parking space shall be 8 feet in width and 16 feet in length. 3. "Small vehicle" means the minimum size of a small vehicle parking space shall be 7.5 feet in width and 15 feet in length. 4. "Barrier-free parking" means a parking space meeting the following standards: a. Parking spaces shall not be less than 8 feet in width and shall have an adjacent access aisle not less than 5 feet in width. Van-accessible parking spaces shall have an adjacent access aisle not less than 8 feet in width. Where two adjacent spaces are provided, the access aisle may be shared between the two spaces. Boundaries of access aisles shall be marked so that aisles will not be used as parking space. b. A minimum length of 19 feet or when more than one barrier-free parking space is provided, at least one shall have a minimum length of 19 feet, and other spaces may be the lengths of small, medium, or large spaces in approximate proportion to the number of each size space provided on the lot. 5. "Tandem parking" means a parking space equal to the width and two times the length of the vehicle size standards in subsections 23.54.030.A.1, 23.54.030.A.2, and 23.54.030.A.3 for the size of the vehicle to be accommodated. 6. No wall, post, guardrail, or other obstruction, or lot line, is permitted within the area for car door opening. Columns or other structural elements may encroach into the parking space a maximum of 6 inches on a side, except in the area for car door opening 5 feet from the longitudinal centerline, or 4 feet from the transverse centerline of a parking space (see Exhibit A for 23.54.030 ). 7. If the parking space is next to a lot line and the parking space is parallel to the lot line, the minimum width of the space is 9 feet. Exhibit A for 23.54.030 Encroachments Into Required Parking Space B. Parking space requirements. The required size of parking spaces shall be determined by whether the parking is for a residential, live-work, or nonresidential use. In structures containing residential uses and also containing either nonresidential uses or live-work units, parking that is clearly set aside and reserved for residential or live-work use shall meet the standards of subsection 23.54.030.B.1. Parking for all other uses within the structure shall meet the standards of subsection 23.54.030.B.2. All uses shall provide barrier-free accessible parking if required by the Seattle Building Code or the Seattle Residential Code. 1. Residential uses a. When five or fewer parking spaces are provided, the minimum required size of a parking space shall be for a medium vehicle, as described in subsection 23.54.030.A.2, except as provided in subsection 23.54.030.B.1.d. b. When more than five parking spaces are provided, a minimum of 60 percent of the parking spaces shall be striped for medium vehicles. The minimum size for a medium parking space shall also be the maximum size. Forty percent of the parking spaces may be striped for any size category in subsection 23.54.030.A, provided that when parking spaces are striped for large vehicles, the minimum required aisle width shall be as shown for medium vehicles. c. Assisted living facilities. Parking spaces shall be provided as in subsections 23.54.030.B.1.a and 23.54.030.B.1.b, except that a minimum of two spaces shall be striped for a large vehicle. d. For an individual garage serving an individual dwelling unit, the minimum required size of a parking space shall be for a medium vehicle, as described in subsection 23.54.030.A. 2. Nonresidential uses a. When ten or fewer parking spaces are provided, a maximum of 25 percent of the parking spaces may be striped for small vehicles. A minimum of 75 percent of the spaces shall be striped for large vehicles. b. When between 11 and 19 parking spaces are provided, a minimum of 25 percent of the parking spaces shall be striped for small vehicles. The minimum required size for these small parking spaces shall also be the maximum size. A maximum of 65 percent of the parking spaces may be striped for small vehicles. A minimum of 35 percent of the spaces shall be striped for large vehicles. c. When 20 or more parking spaces are provided, a minimum of 35 percent of the parking spaces shall be striped for small vehicles. The minimum required size for small parking spaces shall also be the maximum size. A maximum of 65 percent of the parking spaces may be striped for small vehicles. A minimum of 35 percent of the spaces shall be striped for large vehicles. d. The minimum vehicle clearance shall be at least 6 feet 9 inches on at least one floor, and there shall be at least one direct entrance that is at least 6 feet 9 inches in height for all parking garages accessory to nonresidential uses and live-work units and for all flexible-use parking garages. 3. Live-work uses. The first required parking space shall meet the parking standards for residential use. Additional required parking for a live-work use shall meet the parking standards for nonresidential use. C. Backing distances and moving other vehicles 1. Adequate ingress to and egress from all parking spaces shall be provided without having to move another vehicle, except in the case of multiple spaces provided for a dwelling unit or in the case of tandem parking authorized under subsection 23.54.020.B. 2. Except for lots with fewer than three parking spaces, ingress to and egress from all parking spaces shall be provided without requiring backing more than 50 feet. D. Driveways. Driveway requirements for residential and nonresidential uses are described below. When a driveway is used for both residential and nonresidential parking, it shall meet the standards for nonresidential uses described in subsection 23.54.030.D.2. 1. Residential uses a. Driveway width. Driveways less than 100 feet in length that serve 30 or fewer parking spaces shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width for one-way or two-way traffic. b. Except for driveways serving one dwelling unit, driveways more than 100 feet in length that serve 30 or fewer parking spaces shall either: 1) Be a minimum of 16 feet wide, tapered over a 20 foot distance to a 10 foot opening at the lot line; or 2) Be a minimum of 10 feet wide and provide a passing area at least 20 feet wide and 20 feet long. The passing area shall begin 20 feet from the lot line, with an appropriate taper to meet the 10-foot opening at the lot line. If a taper is provided at the other end of the passing area, it shall have a minimum length of 20 feet. c. Driveways of any length that serve more than 30 parking spaces shall be at least 10 feet wide for one-way traffic and at least 20 feet wide for two-way traffic. d. Driveways for two attached dwelling units may be paired so that there is a single curb cut providing access. The maximum width of the paired driveway is 18 feet. e. Driveways with a turning radius of more than 35 degrees shall conform to the minimum turning path radius shown in Exhibit B for 23.54.030 . Exhibit B for 23.54.030 Turning Path Radius f. Vehicles may back onto a street from a parking area serving five or fewer vehicles, provided that either: 1) The street is not an arterial as defined in Section 11.18.010 ; or 2) For a lot with one dwelling unit or one parking space, the Director may permit backing onto an arterial based on a safety analysis that addresses visibility, traffic volume, and other relevant issues. g. Nonconforming driveways. The number of parking spaces served by an existing driveway that does not meet the standards of this subsection 23.54.030.D.1 shall not be increased. This prohibition may be waived by the Director after consulting with the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, based on a safety analysis. 2. Nonresidential uses a. Driveway widths 1) The minimum width of driveways for one-way traffic shall be 12 feet and the maximum width shall be 15 feet. 2) The minimum width of driveways for two-way traffic shall be 22 feet and the maximum width shall be 25 feet. b. Driveways shall conform to the minimum turning path radius shown in Exhibit B for 23.54.030 . c. For driveways that provide access to a solid waste management use the Director may allow both a maximum driveway width greater than the limits set in subsection 23.54.030.D.2.a and appropriate turning path radii, as determined necessary for truck maneuvering. 3. Driveway slope for all uses. No portion of a driveway, whether located on a lot or on a right-of- way, shall exceed a slope of 15 percent, except as provided in this subsection 23.54.030.D.3. The maximum 15 percent slope shall apply in relation to both the current grade of the right-of-way to which the driveway connects, and to the proposed finished grade of the right-of-way if it is different from the current grade. The ends of a driveway shall be adjusted to accommodate an appropriate crest and sag. The Director may permit a driveway slope of more than 15 percent if it is found that: a. The topography or other special characteristic of the lot makes a 15 percent maximum driveway slope infeasible; b. The additional amount of slope permitted is the least amount necessary to accommodate the conditions of the lot; and c. The driveway is still useable as access to the lot. E. Parking aisles 1. Parking aisles shall be provided according to the requirements of Table A for 23.54.030 and Exhibit C for 23.54.030. Table A for 23.54.030 Parking aisle dimensions Parking angle Stall width Stall length (in feet) Aisle width (in feet) 1 Curb depth per car (in feet) Unit width (in feet) 2 Curb length per car (in feet) 0° Small 18 10 7.5 25 18 Medium 20 10 8 26 20 Large 24 12 8 28 24 45° Small 15 11 15.91 42.82 10.61 Medium 16 13 16.97 46.94 11.3 Large 19 13 19.09 51.18 11.3 60° Small 15 13 16.74 46.48 8.66 Medium 16 15 17.86 50.72 9.24 Large 19 17.5 20.45 58.41 9.24 75° Small 15 16.5 16.43 49.36 7.76 Medium 16 18.5 17.52 53.55 8.25 Large 19 20 20.42 60.84 2 8.25 90° Small 15 20 15 50 7.5 Medium 16 22 16 54 8 Large 19 24 3 19 62 2 8 Footnotes for Table A for 23.54.030 1 Required aisle width is for one-way traffic only. If two-way traffic is proposed, then the minimum aisle width shall be 20 feet or greater. 2 60 feet may be substituted for required unit width on lots where the available width is in 60-foot whole multiples, provided that the minimum width of the parking stalls shall be 9 feet. 3 For lots 44 feet in width or less, the Director may reduce the aisle width to as low as 20 feet if large parking spaces are provided at 90 degrees as long as the spaces are 9 feet wide. Exhibit C for 23.54.030 Parking Aisle Dimensions 2. Minimum aisle widths shall be provided for the largest vehicles served by the aisle. 3. Turning and maneuvering areas shall be located on private property, except that alleys may be credited as aisle space. 4. Aisle slope shall not exceed 17 percent provided that the Director may permit a greater slope if the criteria in subsections 23.54.030.D.3.a, 23.54.030.D.3.b, and 23.54.030.D.3.c are met. F. Attendant parking. In downtown zones, any off-street parking area or structure providing more than five parking spaces where automobiles are parked solely by attendants employed for that purpose shall have parking spaces at least 8 feet in width, and 15 feet in length. Subsections 23.54.030.A, 23.54.030.B, 23.54.030.C, 23.54.030.D, and 23.54.030.E shall not apply, except that the grade curvature of any area used for automobile travel or storage shall not exceed that specified in subsection 23.54.030.D.3. Should attendant operation be discontinued, the provisions of subsections 23.54.030.A, 23.54.030.B, 2054.030.C, 23.54.030.D, and 23.54.030.E shall apply to the parking. G. Off-street bus parking. Bus parking spaces, when required, shall be 13 feet in width and 40 feet in length. Buses parked together shall not be required to have adequate ingress and egress from each parking space. H. The Director may, as a Type I decision, modify any required dimension or distribution percentage of parking spaces identified in subsections 23.54.030.A or 23.54.030.B to allow more efficient use of a surface parking area or parking garage, when the parking area or parking garage provides adequate and safe circulation. (Ord. 127376 , § 62, 2026; Ord. 127219 , § 28, 2025; Ord. 127099 , § 47, 2024; Ord. 126685 , § 43, 2022; Ord. 126682 , § 10, 2022; Ord. 125558 , § 48, 2018; Ord. 124843 , § 50, 2015; Ord. 124378 , § 59, 2013; Ord. 123872, § 6, 2012; Ord. 123649, § 39, 2011; Ord. 123495, § 67, 2011; Ord. 123209, § 56, 2009; Ord. 122311 , § 71, 2006 [amended one "shall" to "must"]; Ord. 121477, § 32, 2004 [department name change]; Ord. 121476, § 15, 2004; Ord. 121196, § 25, 2003; Ord. 119238, § 9, 1998; Ord. 118409, § 201, 1996 [department name change]; Ord. 117432 , § 39, 1994; Ord. 117263 , § 52, 1994; Ord. 115568 , § 9, 1991; Ord. 115326, § 28, 1990; Ord. 113710, § 3, 1987; Ord. 113658, § 9, 1987; Ord. 113279, § 30, 1987; Ord. 113263, § 28, 1986; Ord. 112777, § 32, 1986.)