CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND DESIGN

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 26, art. VIII, div. 6

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-581 Construction standards for parking and loading facilities.

Sec. 26-581. - Construction standards for parking and loading facilities. All parking and loading facilities shall be constructed in accordance with the Construction Code, except as otherwise provided for in this article. In addition, parking and loading facilities shall be: (1) Surfaced and maintained with asphalt, concrete, or all-weather surfacing or other permanent hard surfacing material sufficient to prevent the accumulation of mud, dust or loose material. Materials may be pervious; and (2) Graded and provide permanent storm drainage facilities that meet the construction specifications set by the city engineer. Surfacing, curbing and drainage improvements shall be sufficient to prevent free flow of water onto adjacent properties, public streets or alleys and to provide adequate drainage. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-582 Design and maintenance standards for parking and loading facilities.

Sec. 26-582. - Design and maintenance standards for parking and loading facilities. (a) All parking and loading facilities shall be designed to: (1) Include safety barriers, protective bumpers or curbing, and directional markers sufficient to provide safety, efficient utilization, protection to landscaping and bicycle spaces, and to prevent encroachment onto adjoining public or private property; (2) Ensure motorist visibility of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles when entering individual parking spaces, circulating within a parking facility, and entering and exiting a parking or loading facility; and (3) Provide for internal circulation patterns and the location and traffic direction of all drive aisles in accordance with accepted principles of traffic engineering and traffic safety. (b) All parking and loading facilities shall be maintained by the property owner to assure desirability and usefulness of the facility. Such facilities shall be maintained free of refuse, debris or other accumulated matter and shall at all times be available for the off-street parking or loading use for which they are required or intended. (c) A parking space shall not be in tandem unless the tandem parking space is reserved for use by occupants of the same residential unit to which the space is in tandem. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2017-151, § 14, 3-1-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-583 Design standards for bicycle spaces and bicycle racks.

Sec. 26-583. - Design standards for bicycle spaces and bicycle racks. (a) A bicycle space required by this article shall: (1) Be located on the same tract as the building or tract it is being provided for, except when an application for an encroachment permit has been approved by the traffic engineer to locate the bicycle spaces within the public right-of-way adjacent to the tract; and (2) Not obstruct access to parking spaces, other bicycle spaces, loading berths, or pedestrian walkways such as sidewalks and ramps. (b) Each bicycle space required by this article shall contain a bicycle rack that is: (1) Constructed of durable materials that can withstand permanent exposure to the elements and vandalism such as powdered-coated metal or stainless steel; (2) Designed to permit the locking of the bicycle frame and the front wheel to the bicycle rack by a standard size 'U lock' containing locking points between one foot and three feet from the ground, and provide a gap for pedal clearance; (3) Designed to accommodate the typical range of bicycle sizes; (4) Securely anchored to the ground or building; (5) Spaced with sufficient clearance from other bicycle racks to allow access to the bicycle spaces; and (6) Properly maintained by the applicant or responsible party. (c) The director shall develop and maintain a list of bicycle rack styles that meet and do not meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. The list will be available to the public on the department website. A bicycle rack style that is not identified on the list but meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this section as determined by the director shall not be prohibited from being used by the applicant to satisfy the requirements of this article. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013; Ord. No. 2017-151, § 15, 3-1-2017)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-584 Alternate design standards for parking facilities used for valet parking.

Sec. 26-584. - Alternate design standards for parking facilities used for valet parking. (a) For a freestanding class 7 use classification under section 26-492 of this Code, parking facilities intended to be used solely for valet parking purposes may be designed in a way that does not conform to the requirements of the Construction Code for the layout of parking spaces and drive aisles if a valet parking plan is submitted along with a site plan pursuant to section 26-473, which complies with the following standards: (1) The valet parking plan is submitted with the written consent of the property owner of the tract for which valet parking is proposed; (2) The layout and dimensions of the parking spaces and drive aisles provide for sufficient parking and maneuverability for a variety of passenger automobiles, motor vehicles, and light trucks; (3) If the valet parking plan provides for an on-site drop-off for vehicles using the valet parking services, the drop-off shall comply with the site plan review requirements of subsection (d) of section 26-474 of this Code; (4) The valet parking plan will mitigate the impact of spillover parking onto adjacent properties and residential neighborhoods; and (5) If a valet parking plan includes parking spaces that are required by this article, valet parking services must be provided for those parking spaces during all operating hours of the use classification. (b) The director shall review the valet parking plan along with the site plan and shall approve a valet parking plan that complies with the standards of subsection (a) of this section. No valet parking services may be provided pursuant to subsection (a) of this section unless the director approves the site plan along with the valet parking plan. (c) An applicant or responsible party that provides valet parking services pursuant to a valet parking plan approved by the director shall submit an annual certification of valet parking in accordance with section 26-502 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-585 Design standards for parking facilities for compact cars.

Sec. 26-585. - Design standards for parking facilities for compact cars. A maximum of 35 percent of the parking spaces required by this article may be designed and reserved for small or compact cars in accordance with the dimensions specified in the Construction Code. No designated spaces for compact cars shall be permitted in any building or tract designed to be used for residential purposes or in parking facilities with less than 40 parking spaces. Compact parking spaces shall be identified by appropriate signage or markings within the compact parking space. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-586 Parking lifts.

Sec. 26-586. - Parking lifts. (a) A parking lift shall not permitted within a parking facility except as follows: (1) The parking lift is within the boundaries of a special parking area approved by city council pursuant to division 3 of this article, and the management entity has provided for the operation and maintenance of the parking lifts in the most recently approved parking management plan; or (2) The parking lift is inside of a multi-story parking garage and the applicant or responsible party for the garage has provided for, in the sole professional judgment of the director: a. The appropriate screening for any neighboring single-family residential use; and b. The appropriate operation and maintenance of the parking lift. (b) A parking lift that is permitted in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall conform to the following standards: (1) The parking lift shall not be permitted to be installed above or within a parking space, bicycle space, or loading berth required by this article; and (2) The parking lift must be regularly maintained and operated by a trained operator when appropriate; (3) The parking lift shall not be permitted to be installed in an area that obstructs access to a parking space, bicycle space or loading berth required by this article. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-587 Accessible parking.

Sec. 26-587. - Accessible parking. Accessible parking spaces for vehicles operated by or for persons with disabilities shall be provided in accordance with state and federal standards. When only one parking space is required under this article, accessible parking requirements shall be in addition to the one parking space so required. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 26-588 Reconstruction after casualty.

Sec. 26-588. - Reconstruction after casualty. The building official shall issue a building permit that does not require the construction of a parking and loading facility required by this article if: (1) The building permit is for the reconstruction of a building damaged by fire or other casualty not intentionally caused by the owner of the building or the owner's agent and the estimated cost to rebuild is less than 75 percent of the estimated replacement cost of the entire building, not including the estimated replacement cost of the building foundation; and (2) The reconstruction would not result in an increase in the parking factor or a change in the use classification of the building or tract. (Ord. No. 2013-208, § 2(Exh. A), 3-6-2013)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26PA_ARTVIIIOREPALO_DIV6COMADEFetched: 10/26/2026