Mechanized Parking.

Dallas City Code ch. 51A, art. IV, div. 51A-4.340

in effect

Dallas City Code § 51A-4.341 PURPOSE.

SEC. 51A-4.341. PURPOSE. This division provides alternatives to the standard parking and loading regulations in Division 51A-4.300 to allow parking within a structure when an approved mechanical system is used to park and retrieve vehicles. (Ord. 29128)

Dallas City Code § 51A-4.342 DEFINITIONS.

SEC. 51A-4.342. DEFINITIONS. In this division: (1) APERTURE AREA means the total area of window, door, and facade openings on the exterior of any portion of a mechanized parking facility, expressed as a percentage of the total facade area. (2) ARTICULATION means any portion of the exterior of a mechanized parking facility that includes a material change, facade openings, columns, pilasters, or other architectural element. (3) COMPATIBLE means similar in application, color, materials, pattern, shape, size, slope, and other characteristics but does not mean identical. (4) MECHANIZED PARKING means parking spaces located underground or within a structure where a mechanical system is used to park and retrieve vehicles. (5) TRANSLUCENT means not completely clear or transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through while diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc. on the inside of the structure are not visible from the exterior of the structure. (Ord. 29128)

Dallas City Code § 51A-4.343 PROCEDURES FOR MECHANIZED PARKING APPROVAL.

SEC. 51A-4.343. PROCEDURES FOR MECHANIZED PARKING APPROVAL. (a) In general. All mechanized parking must be approved by the building official. The building official shall deny an application for mechanized parking unless it meets all of the standards of this division. (b) Application. An applicant for mechanized parking approval shall submit an application to the building official on a form provided by the city. The applicant must be the person who will own, control, or operate the mechanized parking. The application must contain the following: (1) The name, street address, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the applicant or the applicant’s authorized agent. (2) The street address and main telephone number, if any, of the property where the mechanized parking will be located. (3) The application fee. (4) The name, street address, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of a person or persons to contact in an emergency or in case of a malfunction. (5) Building plans for the mechanized parking structure. (6) An operational plan for the mechanized parking that includes the following: (A) A statement describing the staffing required to operate the mechanized parking, if any. (B) A trip generation table with a description of the main uses to be served by the mechanized parking. (C) A stacking analysis. (D) A peak use analysis. (E) A statement detailing how long it takes to park and retrieve a vehicle. (F) A noise generation analysis and a noise mitigation plan. (7) Any other reasonable and pertinent information that the building official determines to be necessary for mechanized parking review. (Ord. 29128)

Dallas City Code § 51A-4.344 MECHANIZED PARKING LICENSE.

SEC. 51A-4.344. MECHANIZED PARKING LICENSE. (a) License required. (1) Mechanized parking may not be used unless a license is obtained under this section. (2) Mechanized parking licenses are issued by the building official. An application for mechanized parking under Section 51A-4.343 serves as an application for a license under this section. (b) Denial of license. The building official shall deny a mechanized parking license unless the mechanized parking meets all of the standards in this division. (c) Suspension of license by building official. (1) If the building official determines that a licensee has failed to comply with any regulation established under this division, the building official may suspend the mechanized parking license for a definite period not to exceed 60 days. (2) A licensee whose mechanized parking license is suspended shall not use the mechanized parking involved during the period of suspension except to release parked cars to drivers or owners. (3) If the licensee fails to comply within the suspension period, the building official shall revoke the license. (d) Revocation of license by building official. The building official shall revoke a mechanized parking license if: (1) the licensee fails to comply with the requirements of the license, this division, or other applicable law; (2) the applicant made a false statement of material fact on an application for a license; or (3) the building official determines that the mechanized parking unreasonably endangers the safety of persons or property or is not otherwise in the public interest. (e) Expiration of license. A mechanized parking license expires three years from the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked by the building official. (f) Renewal. A mechanized parking license may be renewed by making an application for renewal at least 30 days before the expiration of the license. If the building official determines that the license renewal involves substantive changes to the original application, a new application for mechanized parking approval must be submitted under Section 51A-4.343. If the license renewal does not involve substantive changes, the application for renewal must be filed with the building official on a form furnished by the city. (g) Appeal of denial, suspension, or revocation of license. If the building official denies, suspends, or revokes a license, the action of the building official is final unless the applicant or licensee files an appeal with the permit license and appeal board in accordance with Section 2-96 of the Dallas City Code. (Ord. 29128)

Dallas City Code § 51A-4.345 GENERAL STANDARDS.

SEC. 51A-4.345. GENERAL STANDARDS. (a) In general. Mechanized parking spaces may be counted as required parking if the mechanized parking otherwise complies with the requirements of this article. (b) Location. Mechanized parking must be located underground or in an enclosed above-ground parking structure. (c) Compliance with approved plans required. Mechanized parking must comply with the building plans and operational plan approved by the building official. (d) Maintenance. Mechanized parking must be maintained in a state of good repair and operation. (e) Exemption from construction and maintenance provisions. Mechanized parking is exempt from the construction and maintenance provisions for off-street parking in Sections 51A-4.301(d) and 51A-4.306(c), (d), and (e). The lighting requirements in Sections 51A-4.301(e) and 51A-4.306(b) apply only to the first floor of a mechanized parking facility. (f) Passenger loading and unloading. (1) A passenger loading and unloading area is required if the mechanized parking facility is served by an attendant or valet. (2) Passenger loading and unloading areas must comply with the requirements of Section 51A-4.306(f) regardless of zoning district. (3) The passenger loading and unloading area must have adequate means of ingress from and egress to a street or an alley. The building official shall only consider alley access in satisfaction of this requirement when alley access is permitted by this chapter. (g) Required stacking. (1) One stacking space per every 10 mechanized parking bays is required for a mechanized parking facility not served by an attendant or valet. (2) A mechanized loading bay counts as a stacking space. (3) Required stacking must comply with Section 51A-4.304. (4) The building official may reduce the stacking space requirement if the building official determines that all of the stacking spaces are not necessary based on an analysis of the operational plan. An applicant seeking a stacking space reduction from the building official shall provide the building official with a report by an independent professional engineer to justify the requested reduction. (h) No use of public right-of-way. All stacking, maneuvering, parking, and loading for mechanized parking must be accomplished on private property. (i) Access lane. (1) An access lane no less than 20 feet in width must be provided outside each mechanized loading bay if the mechanized parking facility is not fully automated. (2) An applicant seeking a reduction in the required width of an access lane from the building official shall provide the building official with a report by an independent professional engineer to justify the requested reduction. (3) The building official may waive this requirement or reduce the width of an access lane required under this subsection if the building official determines that doing so will not create a traffic hazard or increase traffic congestion on adjacent or nearby streets. (j) Required signs. A sign must be prominently displayed at all entrances of a mechanized parking facility. Each sign must: (1) state the business hours of operation of the mechanized parking facility; (2) have a phone number provided by the building official to be used for reporting violations of this division and any malfunctions of the mechanized parking facility; (3) have the phone number of the licensee; (4) have the issuance number of the license; (5) have a phone number for 24-hour assistance; (6) be constructed of weather resistant material; (7) be no less than 30 inches wide and 24 inches long; and (8) have clearly legible letters in a color that contrasts with the background material. (k) Facade. (1) These facade requirements apply to any portion of a building containing mechanized parking except when accessory to a single family or duplex use. If there is a conflict between the regulations within a zoning district that require concealment of parking structure facades, this subsection controls. (2) An aboveground mechanized parking facility must be concealed by a facade. It is recommended that the facade be: (A) compatible in appearance with the facade of the main building it serves, or (B) compatible in appearance with other buildings within a one block radius. (3) Aperture area or articulation must be provided at a minimum of 20 percent and a maximum of 80 percent for any street facing facade. (4) Articulation must be provided at least every 30 feet, measured horizontally and vertically. (5) Except for pedestrian and vehicular entrances, the aperture area must be screened. It is recommended that the required screening be constructed with an opaque or translucent material that may be permeable or impermeable and that the aperture area have no more than 36 square inches of transparent material in any given square foot of surface and have no more than 25 percent transparency. (6) The board of adjustment may grant a special exception to the standards in this subsection when, in the opinion of the board, the special exception will not adversely affect neighboring property. The alternative facade must provide adequate screening of equipment and structures and mitigate noise. (Ord. Nos. 29128; 31607)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-82699Fetched: 10/26/2026