23.54.035

A. Quantity of Loading Spaces. 1. The minimum number of off-street loading berths required for specific uses shall be set forth in Table A. (See Table A for Section 23.54.035 .) 2. For uses not listed on Table A the Director shall determine the loading berth requirements. Loading demand and loading requirements for similar uses shall be considered in determining such requirements. 3. Existing deficits in the number of required loading berths shall be allowed to continue if a change of use occurs. 4. Uses shall be considered low-demand uses, medium-demand uses and high-demand uses, as follows. (See Table for 23.54.035 A.) 5. When a lot contains more than one (1) business establishment within the same category of low-, medium- or high-demand use, the square footage of the business establishments within the same category shall be added together in order to determine the number of required loading berths. B. Exception to loading requirements 1. For uses with less than 16,000 square feet of gross floor area that provide a loading space on a street or alley, the loading berth requirements may be waived by the Director if, after review, the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation finds that the street or alley berth is adequate. 2. Within the Downtown and South Lake Union Regional Centers and within the MPC-YT zone, loading berth requirements may be waived or modified if the Director finds, after consultation with and approval by the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, that the number of loading berths in Table A for 23.54.035 is not required and that the modified number will be sufficient. The applicant shall submit specific information addressing the following criteria, upon which the Director's determination shall be based: a. All loading is proposed to occur on-site or any loading that is proposed to occur in a public right-of-way can take place without disrupting pedestrian circulation or vehicular traffic; b. Additional evidence relating to the size, character, and operation of the building and likely tenancy; and c. Where loading occurs at a central loading facility, goods can be distributed to other buildings on-site without disrupting pedestrian circulation or vehicular traffic. C. Standards for Loading Berths. 1. Width and Clearance. Each loading berth shall be not less than ten (10) feet in width and shall provide not less than fourteen (14) feet vertical clearance. 2. Length. a. High-demand Uses. Each loading berth for a high-demand use shall be a minimum of fifty-five (55) feet in length unless reduced by determination of the Director as provided at subsection C2c. b. Low- and Medium-demand Uses. Each loading berth for low- and medium-demand uses, except those uses identified in subsection C2d, shall be a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet in length unless reduced by determination of the Director as provided at subsection C2c. c. Exceptions to Loading Berth Length. Where the Director finds, after consulting with the property user, that site design and use of the property will not result in vehicles extending beyond the property line, loading berth lengths may be reduced to not less than the following: (i) High-demand Uses. Thirty-five (35) feet when access is from a collector arterial or local access street; and forty-five (45) feet when access is from a principal or minor arterial street; (ii) Low- and Medium-demand Uses. Twenty-five (25) feet. d. Multipurpose convenience stores, sales, service and rental of major durables, and specialty food stores may be required by the Director to increase the length of required loading berths; however, these uses shall not be required to provide loading berths in excess of fifty-five (55) feet. The review of loading berth length requirements for these uses shall focus on the size of vehicles that frequently serve the business and the frequency of loading activity that will extend beyond the lot line during daytime hours (six (6:00) a.m. to six (6:00) p.m.). Large-truck loading occurring on a daily basis shall generally require longer loading berths; when such activity occurs on at least a weekly basis, it will be evaluated regarding the amount of traffic disruption and safety problems potentially created; such activity occurring on less than a weekly basis shall generally not require longer loading berths. 3. For uses not listed in Table A, the Director shall determine the loading berth length requirements. Loading demand and loading requirements for similar uses shall be considered. 4. Maneuvering Space for Loading Berths. In addition to the length of the loading berth, additional maneuvering space may be required by the Director in the following cases: a. For any uses with over ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area with loading berth access from a principal or minor arterial street; b. For high-demand uses with over ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area with loading berth access from a collector arterial or local access street, especially if located across the street from another high-demand use. When required, the additional maneuvering space shall be designed and arranged to allow the most efficient use of all required loading berths by motor vehicles of the types typically employed by the activities served. (Ord. 127375 , § 90, 2026; Ord. 124680 , § 12, 2015; Ord. 123963, § 22, 2012; Ord. 123649, § 40, 2011; Ord. 123046, § 65, 2009 [renamed charts to tables]; Ord. 121477, § 33, 2004 [department name change]; Ord. 121359, § 8, 2003; Ord. 119238, § 10, 1998; Ord. 118409, § 202, 1996 [department name change]; Ord. 117432 , § 40, 1994; Ord. 113658, § 10, 1987.)