Design requirements for new parking areas.
Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-318
in effectSec. 54-318. - Design requirements for new parking areas.
a. Surface lots:
1. Standard Parking Space Size shall be 9′ × 18′6″ or 9′ × 17′ if vehicle overhang is provided.
2. Handicapped Parking Space Size and quantity shall be determined by Building Code and Federal regulations.
3. Parallel Parking Space size is required to be 7′ wide by 22′ long.
4. Aisle Width Aisles shall be of a sufficient width to provide safe access for the type and number of vehicles using the parking lot. The following dimensions shall be used as a guide for typical situations:
(a) 24 feet for 90° parking;
(b) 22 feet for two-way angled parking; 15 feet for 60° parking with one-way flow;
(c) 13′6″ for 45° parking with one-way flow.
5. Public parking lots not associated with a specific development and monitored during periods of use may have up to 20 percent of the total parking spaces designated with signs and pavement markings for compact cars only. Minimum size is 7′6″ wide and 16′ long.
b. Parking garages:
1. Parking garages may provide compact car spaces at a rate of up to forty percent (40%) of the total parking spaces provided.
2. Minimum width for standard parking spaces is 8′6″; for compact spaces 7′6″.
3. Minimum parking bay depth (two standard parking spaces and an aisle) is 60′ for 90° parking; for 60° parking with one-way traffic, the minimum depth is 54′, for 45° parking with one-way traffic, the minimum depth is 49′.
4. Handicapped parking space size and quantity shall be determined by Building Code and Federal regulations.
c. Maneuverability. Parking areas must allow adequate room for vehicles to access parking lots and maneuver into and out of spaces safely. Parking lots requiring vehicles to back onto a public right-of-way shall not be permitted, except that properties with exclusively residential uses, with up to 10 dwellings on a lot and parking access on a local or collector street carrying less than 650 vehicles per day, may have driveways which require a vehicle to back onto and maneuver in the public right-of-way.
d. Surface material requirements. But for the exceptions listed below, all surface parking lots shall be paved with a durable, hard surfaced material which is appropriate for the intended land use. All handicapped parking spaces, and the paths connecting spaces to buildings, shall be hard-surfaced regardless of the land use.
1. Exceptions. The following types of land uses shall be permitted to have surface parking lots which are paved with non-hard surfaced materials such as slag, gravel, ROC, or grasscrete, or not paved at all, provided that site drainage can be accommodated pursuant to city requirements; that a hard surfaced paved apron, of a length noted below, is constructed at each driveway entrance from a public street; and that the type of material and design of the paving material(s) used are found by the city to be suitable for the intended land use and the character of the property, historic or otherwise, and surrounding neighborhood:
(a) Exclusively residential uses with ten (10) or fewer residential units on one lot; all parking provided may be non-hard surfaced. Paved apron not required.
(b) Church, synagogue, or other place of worship; three-quarters (.75) of the parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty foot (20′) paved apron.
(c) Day care centers, preschools, elementary through junior high schools (8th grade); three-quarters (.75) of the parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty foot (20′) paved apron.
(d) Private clubs, fraternal lodges, country clubs; three-quarters (.75) of the parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty foot (20′) paved apron.
(e) Recreational facilities, marinas, driving ranges, golf courses; all parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty-five foot (25′) paved apron.
(f) Office uses allowed within the Residential Office (RO) zone district; all parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty foot (20′) paved apron.
(g) Retail uses; ten (10) percent of parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a twenty foot (20′) paved apron.
(h) Agricultural uses associated with the production, harvesting, packaging and shipping of agricultural products; all parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a thirty foot (30′) paved apron.
(i) Manufacturing establishments within the Light Industrial (Ll) or Heavy Industrial (Hl) zone district not catering to retail trade; all parking provided may be non-hard surfaced; requires a forty-five foot (45′) paved apron.
2. In making a determination of the suitability of a paving material and design, the types of vehicles which will typically use the parking lot, the anticipated amount of daily or weekly traffic, the drainage conditions of the site and surrounding area, and the character of the surrounding neighborhood, historic or otherwise, shall be considered.
e. Lighting. Lighting used to illuminate any parking area shall be shielded or otherwise designed to direct light away from adjacent residential districts.
Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/zoning?nodeId=ART3SIRE_PT4OREPARE_S54-318DERENEPAARFetched: 11/7/2026