Off-site required parking
Seattle Mun. Code § 23.54.025
in effectA. Where allowed 1. Off-site parking provided to fulfill required parking may be established by permit on a lot if the parking proposed is otherwise allowed by the provisions of this Title 23 on the lot where the off-site parking is proposed or is already established by permit on the lot where the off-site parking is proposed. 2. The standards in this Chapter 23.54 that apply to parking accessory to the use for which the parking is required shall be met on the lot where off-site parking is proposed, if new parking spaces are proposed to be developed. Existing parking may be used even if nonconforming to current standards provided it is not required for a use on the lot that is the site of the off-site parking. 3. If parking and parking access, including the proposed off-site parking, are or will be the sole uses of a site, or if surface parking outside of structures will comprise more than one-half of the site area, or if parking will occupy more than half of the gross floor area of all structures on a site, then a permit to establish off-site parking may be granted only if flexible-use parking is a permitted use for the lot on which the off-site parking is located. B. Development standards 1. Off-site parking shall satisfy the screening and landscaping requirements and other development standards applicable where it is located, except to the extent that it is legally nonconforming to development standards prior to establishment of the off-site parking use. Unless otherwise provided, development standards regarding the relation of parking to structures apply to off-site parking in the same manner as they apply to parking accessory to the uses in such structures. 2. Parking allowed only as temporary surface parking does not qualify as off-site parking. 3. Parking provided to fulfill required parking shall not be established as off-site parking for more than one use unless authorized to be shared according to the shared parking provisions of this Chapter 23.54 . 4. If maximum parking limits apply to a use, off-site parking permitted for that use shall count against the maximum limit unless otherwise expressly stated in the provisions of this Title 23 applicable to the lot where the use requiring parking is located. C. Permit requirements. 1. When all or part of the required parking for a use is to be provided on a lot other than the lot on which the use requiring parking is located, a permit must be obtained to establish off-site parking for the use requiring parking as a use on the off-site parking lot. 2. The permit application must be submitted by or on behalf of the owner of the off-site parking lot along with written consent of the owner of the lot on which the use requiring parking is located, or such owner's authorized representative. 3. The permit may be issued only after the applicant has demonstrated that the off-site parking complies with all applicable requirements of this Title 23 . An application to establish off-site parking, or to change the use for which off-site parking is provided, may be considered as part of the application to establish, expand or change the use requiring off-site parking. D. Required notice. 1. When off-site parking is required parking for a use on any lot, notice of this off-site parking arrangement shall be recorded with the King County Recorder for both lots. The notice shall: a. include legal descriptions of both the lots on which the use requiring parking is located and the off-site parking lot; and b. identify by an attached drawing the number and location of spaces established as off-site parking for the use requiring parking; 2. A copy of the notice, with attached drawing, shall be submitted as part of any permit application for any use for which the off-site parking is to be used to satisfy all or part of the parking requirement. Once the permit application is complete in every other respect, a copy of the notice, with attached drawing and a recording number assigned by the King County Recorder, shall be submitted prior to issuance of the permit. E. Termination, change, or suspension of off-site parking use 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 23.54.025.F, a change of use permit is required to terminate any off-site parking use, or to establish a new use for which off-site required parking is to be provided on the off-site parking lot. Such a change of use permit shall not be issued unless: a. The owner of the lot on which the use requiring parking is located has been notified in writing of the change of use; and b. The off-site parking is not required for any reason, which may include one or more of the following: 1) The use requiring parking has been discontinued or reduced in size; 2) The parking is no longer required by this Title 23 ; 3) Other parking meeting the requirements of Title 23 has been provided for the use requiring parking and, if it is off-site parking, established by permit; or 4) A variance allowing the use requiring parking to continue without all or part of such off-site parking has been granted. 2. If the owner of a lot where off-site parking is established plans to improve the lot and continue to provide off-site parking for the use requiring parking after completion of the improvements, the owners of such lot and the lot on which the use requiring parking is located, or such owners' authorized representatives, may apply for a temporary suspension of the off-site parking use, by submitting to the Director: a. A plan, with attached drawings showing the number and location of parking spaces, for providing interim parking for the use requiring parking, satisfying all applicable requirements of this Title 23 , until improvements to the off-site parking lot are completed; b. A plan, with attached drawings showing the number and location of parking spaces, for the provision of permanent parking for the use requiring parking, satisfying all applicable requirements of this Title 23 , when the improvements are completed; and c. Such other materials as the Director may require to evaluate the proposal. 3. If the Director approves the plans for purposes of subsection 23.54.025.E.2, then the Director may authorize the suspension of the off-site parking use pending the completion of the proposed improvements, conditioned upon issuance of a building permit for the proposed improvements, issuance of any permits necessary to establish the interim parking use, and the actual provision of the other off-site parking in accordance with applicable development standards. 4. If a use requiring off-site parking is suspended as a result of fire, act of nature, or other causes beyond the control of the owners, or for substantial renovation or reconstruction, then subject to the applicable provisions in the zone or district where the off-site parking is located, the Director may approve the temporary use of the off-site parking to serve one or more other uses, or as flexible-use parking, for a period not to exceed 180 days, subject to extensions for not more than 180 days if at the end of the initial period or any extension the use requiring parking has not recommenced. 5. No permit for the demolition of a structure including off-site parking, established under this Section 23.54.025 , or of any portion thereof necessary for such off-site parking, shall be issued, except in case of emergency, unless the off-site parking use has been terminated or temporarily suspended pursuant to this subsection 23.54.025.E. If any such structure, or such portion thereof, is destroyed as a result of fire, act of nature, or other causes beyond the control of the owners, then the owner of the off-site parking lot may obtain a change of use permit. Upon such destruction of off-site parking, the lot with the use requiring parking will be subject to subsection 23.54.025.G. F. Off-site parking established by covenant 1. Off-site parking established by a covenant or other document approved by the Director and recorded in the King County real property records consistent with this Section 23.54.025 as in effect immediately prior to April 19, 2011, if that date is after either the date of vesting under Section 23.76.026 of the Master Use Permit application with which the covenant was submitted or the date when such covenant or other document was approved, may be used as required parking for the use(s) identified in such covenant to the extent consistent with the Master Use Permit and any other conditions of the Director's approval, without compliance with subsections 23.54.025.C and 23.54.025.D, so long as such off-site parking use is not discontinued for a period of 90 days, and subject to compliance with any applicable development standards. The owner of any such off-site parking spaces and the owner of the use requiring parking are each responsible for notifying the Director should the use of any or all of those spaces as off-site parking for the use requiring parking cease. 2. When maximum parking limits apply to a use requiring off-site parking, off-site parking permitted for that use under this subsection 23.54.025.F shall count against the maximum limit unless otherwise expressly stated in the provisions of this Title 23 that apply to the lot where the use requiring parking is located. 3. Off-site parking established by covenant or other document approved by the Director, and not by permit establishing off-site parking use, is not subject to the requirements of subsection 23.54.025.E. 4. Any replacement off-site parking established by covenant in compliance with subsection 23.54.025.G.1.e shall be considered to have been established as described in subsection 23.54.025.F.1. G. Effect of loss of required off-site parking 1. If, for any reason, any off-site parking used to satisfy required parking for any use requiring parking is not available for off-site parking for such use in conformity with the applicable use permit, then it shall be unlawful to continue the use requiring parking unless: a. Other parking meeting the requirements of this Title 23 is provided on the same lot as the use requiring parking within 30 days; b. Other off-site parking is secured, a permit is applied for to establish the off-site parking use within 30 days, such permit is obtained within 180 days, and the other off-site parking is completed in accordance with all applicable requirements and is in use within 180 days unless the Director, upon finding that substantial progress toward completion has been made and that the public will not be adversely affected by the extension, grants an extension in writing; c. The loss of off-site parking is caused by damage to or destruction of a structure, and either: 1) The owners of the off-site parking and of the lot of the use requiring parking apply for a permit to establish other existing spaces on the off-site parking lot as parking for such use within 90 days, and such permit is granted within 180 days; or 2) The owner of the off-site parking lot applies for any permit necessary to repair or rebuild the structure so as to provide the off-site parking within 90 days, the off-site parking is completed in accordance with all applicable requirements within 180 days, unless the Director, upon finding that substantial progress toward completion has been made and that the public will not be adversely affected by the extension, grants an extension in writing, and if the location on the lot of the off-site parking is modified, the owner executes and records within 180 days an amendment to the notice identifying the location of the off-site parking in the rebuilt or repaired structure; or d. A variance is applied for within 30 days and subsequently granted; or e. The off-site parking was exempt, under subsection 23.54.025.F, from the requirements of subsections 23.54.025.C, 23.54.025.D, and 23.54.025.E, and within 30 days substitute off-site parking, on a lot where such parking is permitted by the provisions of this Title 23 and consistent with all applicable development standards, is provided and established by recorded parking notice or covenant consistent with the terms of this Section 23.54.025 . 2. Unless a variance is applied for within such 30-day period and not denied, upon the expiration of any applicable period in subsections 23.54.025.G.1.a, 23.54.025.G.1.b, or 23.54.025.G.1.c without the completion of the action or actions required, the use requiring parking shall be discontinued to the extent necessary so that the remaining parking for that use satisfies the applicable minimum parking requirement. Upon the denial of a variance from parking requirements the use requiring parking must be discontinued to that extent, unless the conditions of subsection 23.54.025.G.1.a, 23.54.025.G.1.b, 23.54.025.G.1.c, or 23.54.025.G.1.e are then satisfied. Each period stated in this subsection 23.54.025.G runs from the first date upon which spaces established as off-site parking are not available for use as off-site parking. H. Signage. Signage for off-site parking is required, subject to the applicable restrictions in the zone or district, both on the same lot as the use requiring parking and on the off-site parking lot, as follows: 1. One or more signs, each of a size and at a location to be approved by the Director, must be placed on the same lot as the use requiring parking indicating the address of the off-site parking and that it is available to one or more user groups (e.g., customers, employees, residents). 2. One or more signs, each of a size and at a location to be approved by the Director, must be placed on the off-site parking lot identifying the use(s) served by the parking spaces, and sufficient signage shall be provided to clearly specify the spaces that are reserved for each use requiring parking and, if applicable, the days and times when the spaces are so reserved. 3. The Director may allow the use of temporary signage for off-site parking serving spectator sports facilities. I. Management and operation of off-site parking. If a party other than the owner of the off-site parking lot is responsible for its management and operation, the Director may require verification from the owner of the off-site parking lot that the party responsible for its management and operation has been apprised of the requirements of this section 23.54.025 and any applicable permits. (Ord. 126157 , § 43, 2020; Ord. 125558 , § 45, 2018; Ord. 124843 , § 49, 2015; Ord. 124378 , § 58, 2013; Ord. 123495, § 66, 2011 [replaced entire text]; Ord. 112777, § 32, 1986.)
Source: Seattle Municipal Code (Municode library)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_codeFetched: 7/25/2026