Motor Vehicle Parking.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 295-403
in effect295-403. Motor Vehicle Parking.
1. INTRODUCTION. All parking lots and off-street parking spaces shall comply with the requirements of this section.
2. NUMBER OF SPACES. a. Number Required. The number of off-street motor vehicle parking spaces required for a particular use shall be as specified in table 295-403-2-a. Except for within the C9A district, no off-street motor vehicle parking spaces shall be required for uses located in downtown zoning districts. Furthermore, no off-street motor vehicle parking spaces shall be required for uses located in a RED redevelopment district. Prior to issuance of any occupancy or construction permit, documentation that the required off-street motor vehicle parking spaces exist shall be provided to the commissioner of neighborhood services. For a use where the number of required spaces is “as required by the board for special use approval,” the board shall not be bound to require parking spaces, but if any parking spaces are to be required, the requirement shall be specified by the board at the time of special use approval. A planned development shall comply with the minimum parking standards set forth by this code unless otherwise specified in the planned development documents. In addition, all uses shall comply with the applicable bicycle parking requirements of s. 295-404.
Table 295-403-2-a NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, BY USE
Uses | No. of Parking Spaces Required
RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-family dwelling | no min.; max. of 4 spaces
Two-family dwelling | no min.; max. of 4 spaces on the premises
Multi-family dwelling:
Zoning Districts Min. ratio of parking spaces to dwelling units*
RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RO1, NS1, LB1, RB1 1:1
RT4, RT5, RM5, RM6, RM7, RO2, NS2, LB2, LB3, RB2, CS, C9A, IM 2:3
* Note: In RM6, RM7, C9A and IM districts, a private elderly housing project shall have one parking space for
every 2 dwelling units; in other zoning districts, a private elderly housing project shall have 2 parking spaces
for every 3 dwelling units. Public housing for low-income families and public or federally-assisted low-income
elderly housing projects shall provide one parking space for every 2 dwelling units.
Permanent supportive housing | one for every 5 dwelling units
Transitional housing | one for every 5 dwelling units
Attached single-family dwelling | no min.; max. of 4 spaces
Live-work unit | one for each live/work unit in the building
Mobile home | N.A.
Watchman/service quarters | none
Family day care home | see requirement for dwelling unit type
Accessory dwelling unit | none
Table 295-403-2-a NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, BY USE
Uses | No. of Parking Spaces Required
GROUP RESIDENTIAL USES
Rooming house | one for every 2 rooms
Convent, rectory or monastery | one per facility
Dormitory | one for every 15 beds or fraction thereof
Fraternity or sorority | one for every 2 rooms
Adult family home | one
Foster Homes
Foster family home | one
Small foster home | one
Group home or group foster home | one
Shelter Care Facilities
Family shelter care facility | one
Small group shelter care facility | one
Large group shelter care facility | one
Community living arrangement | one
EDUCATIONAL USES
Day care center | 2 (limited use) or as required by the board (special use)
School, elementary or secondary | none
College | none
School, personal instruction | none
COMMUNITY-SERVING USES
Library | none
Cultural institution | none
Community center | as required by the board for special use approval
Religious assembly | one for every 6 seats in the assembly hall
Cemetery or other place of interment | none
Public safety facility | none
Correctional facility | none
COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE USES
General office | one for each 500 sq. ft. of the first 2,000 sq. ft. of
gross floor area; one for each 1,000 sq. of gross
floor area in excess of 2,000 sq. ft.; storage or utility
spaces shall not be included when calculating gross
floor area
Government office | see general office
Bank or other financial institution | see general office
Currency exchange, payday loan or title loan agency | see general retail establishment
Installment loan agency | see general retail establishment
Cash-for-gold business | see general retail establishment
Pawn shop | see general retail establishment
Retail establishment, general | min. of one for each 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area;
max. of 3.5 for each 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
unless otherwise permitted pursuant to
s. 295-403-2-d; storage or utility spaces shall not be
included when calculating gross floor area
Garden supply or landscaping center | see general retail establishment
Home improvement center | see general retail establishment
Secondhand store | see general retail establishment
Outdoor merchandise sales | one for each 500 sq. ft. of outdoor or indoor space
devoted to the display of goods for sale
Table 295-403-2-a NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, BY USE Uses No. of Parking Space Required
Artist studio | none
Adult retail establishment | see general retail establishment
Tobacco or e-cigarette retailer | see general retail establishment
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE USES
Medical office | see general office
Health clinic | see general office
Hospital | one for every 4 beds
Medical service facility | see general office
Social service facility | see general office
Emergency residential shelter | as required by the board for special use approval
Nursing home | One for every 4 beds
Adult day care | 2 (limited use) or as required by the board (special
use)
GENERAL SERVICE USES
Personal service establishment | see general retail establishment
Business service | see general retail establishment
Catering service | see general office
Funeral home | one for each 100 square feet of floor area of a
chapel, parlor or other room used for funeral
services, but not less than 4 spaces
Laundromat | see general retail establishment
Dry cleaning establishment | see general retail establishment
Furniture and appliance rental and leasing | see general retail establishment
Household maintenance and repair service | see general retail establishment
Tool/equipment rental facility | see general retail establishment
Animal Services
Animal hospital/clinic | see general retail establishment
Animal boarding facility | see general retail establishment
Animal grooming or training facility | see general retail establishment
MOTOR VEHICLE USES
Light Motor Vehicle
Sales facility | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Rental facility | none (permitted or limited use) or as required by the
board (special use)
Repair facility | as required by the board for special use approval
Body Shop | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Outdoor storage | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Wholesale facility | none
Heavy Motor Vehicle
Sales Facility | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Rental facility | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Repair facility | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Body shop | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Outdoor storage | none (permitted use) or as required by the board
(special use)
Table 295-403-2-a NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, BY USE Uses No. of Parking Spaces Required
General Motor Vehicle
Filling station | as required by the board for special use approval
Car wash | none
Non-restaurant drive-through facility | None
Electric vehicle charging facility | None
Parking | N.A.
Parking lot, principal use | N.A.
Parking lot, accessory use | N.A.
Parking structure, principal use | N.A.
Parking structure, accessory use | N.A.
Heavy motor vehicle parking lot, principal | N.A.
Heavy motor vehicle parking lot, accessory | N.A.
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICE USES
Bed and breakfast | one for each sleeping room, plus one additional space
Hotel, commercial | one for every 1,000 square feet, or fraction thereof, of gross floor area on the ground floor or above
Hotel, residential | one for every 2 sleeping rooms
Tavern | see general retail establishment
Assembly hall | one for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof
Brewpub | see general retail establishment
Restaurant without drive-through facility | see general retail establishment
Restaurant with drive-through facility | see general retail establishment
ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION USES
Park or playground | none
Festival grounds | none
Recreation facility, indoor | see general retail establishment
Recreation facility, outdoor | as required by the board for special use approval
Health club | see general retail establishment
Sports facility | as required by the board for special use approval
Gaming facility | N.A.
Theater | one for every 100 square feet of floor area in the theater auditorium
Convention and exposition center | as required by the board for special use approval
Marina | none
Outdoor racing facility | as required by the board for special use approval
STORAGE, RECYCLING AND WHOLESALE TRADE USES
Recycling collection facility | none
Mixed-waste processing facility | none
Material reclamation facility | none
Salvage operation, indoor | none
Salvage operation, outdoor | none
Wholesale and distribution facility, indoor | none
Wholesale and distribution facility, outdoor | none
Storage Facilities
Indoor | none
Self-service | none
Outdoor | none
Hazardous material | none
Table 295-403-2-a NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, BY USE Uses No. of Parking Spaces Required
TRANSPORTATION USES
Ambulance service | see general office
Ground transportation service | see general office
Passenger terminal | none
Helicopter landing facility | none
Airport | none
Ship terminal or docking facility | none
Truck freight terminal | none
Railroad switching, classification yard or freight terminal | none
INDUSTRIAL USES
Alcohol beverage facility, micro | none
Alcohol beverage facility, large | none
Food processing | none
Manufacturing, light | none
Manufacturing, heavy | none
Manufacturing, intense | none
Research and development | none
Processing or recycling of mined materials | none
Industrial wastewater treatment facility | none
Contractor’s shop | see general office
Contractor’s yard | none
AGRICULTURAL USES
Plant nursery or greenhouse | none
Raising of livestock | none
Community Garden | none
Commercial farming enterprise | none
UTILITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE USES
Broadcasting or recording studio | see general office
Transmission tower | see general office
Water treatment plant | see general office
Sewerage treatment | see general office
Power generation plant | see general office
Small wind energy system | none
Solar farm | none
Substation/distribution equipment, indoor | see general office
Substation/distribution equipment, outdoor | see general office
TEMPORARY USES
Seasonal market | none
Temporary real estate sales office | none
Temporary concrete/batch plant | none
Live entertainment special event | none
b. Adjustment to Number Required. For any use except one- or 2-family residential, the number of parking spaces required for a particular use may be reduced in accordance with the following credits:
b-1. One space for each off-site parking space which is owned or rented by the property or business owner for the purpose of providing parking to the use in question. Such off-site spaces shall be located within 700 feet of the use, as measured by using the shortest pedestrian route from the nearest corner of the parking facility to the main public entrance of the use served, except that for a use located in the LB3 district, such spaces shall be located within 1,200 feet of the use. For a non-residential use, the off-site spaces shall not be located on a site containing a wholly residential use. If the use provides a valet parking service, the off-site spaces may be located more than 700 feet or 1,200 feet from the use, as the case may be, provided the property or business owner submits to the department written documentation of permission to use an off-site parking lot or structure for valet parking. Off-site parking spaces shall also conform with the regulations of the zoning district in which they are located.
b-2. One space for each on-street parking space that is located immediately adjacent to the site of the use, provided that such on-street space is available for public use during the hours of operation of the use. To qualify for this credit, an on-street parking space shall be in compliance with all city parking regulations and shall measure at least 20 feet long if a parallel space.
b-3. 0.75 spaces for each space in a shared parking facility that serves different uses on a shared site or adjacent sites. An applicant requesting approval of a shared parking facility shall submit survey data substantiating a request for shared parking facility credits. The application shall describe the limits of the area in which the shared parking credits are to apply and the parking space reduction applicable to each use. The number of required parking spaces shall only be reduced if the following criteria are met:
b-3-a. The shared parking spaces shall be maintained as long as the uses they serve are in operation.
b-3-b. The peak hours of parking demand for the uses served by the shared parking facility do not coincide.
b-3-d. The required number of bicycle parking spaces will be provided.
b-3-e. The property owner or owners shall sign and record, with the Milwaukee county register of deeds, a written agreement which is in a form satisfactory to the city attorney and which states that there will be no substantial change in the use or occupancy of the property or properties that will increase the demand for parking in the shared parking facility. This agreement shall also include a statement that the property owner or owners and their tenants shall be provided access to, and use of, the shared parking facility. A copy of the agreement shall be filed with the commissioner of neighborhood services.
b-4. Because of the relatively high availability of public transit service and resultant potential for reduced parking demand in the designated area in locations in close proximity to bus stops or locations providing accommodations for alternate forms of transportation, a reduction of 25% in the number of parking spaces required if the use meets one or more of the following criteria:
b-4-a. The use is located in the area bounded by Capitol Drive on the north, Lincoln Avenue on the south, Lake Michigan on the east and 43rd Street/Sherman Boulevard on the west.
b-4-b. The use is within 1,000 feet of any regularly scheduled bus stop providing local public bus service.
b-4-c. The use is within 1,320 feet of a bus station served by a designated bus rapid transit route offering high-frequency service.
b-5. One space for each space that the use is required to have but does not because the use was previously legally established without the currently required number of parking spaces and without a variance or special use permit from the board.
b-6. A reduction in the number of spaces required may be granted by the board upon a determination that a reduced number of spaces would be appropriate. Such reduction may occur only upon request of the owner, who shall submit survey data to support the argument for reducing the required number of spaces. In order to approve such a reduction, the board shall find either of the following:
b-6-a. The number of spaces needed to serve the use is fewer than the number normally required for this land use.
b-6-b. In the long term, occupancy of the structure or property will not result in an increase in parking demand.
b-7. One space for each space in a public parking lot or public parking structure located within 700 feet of the use, as measured by using the shortest pedestrian route from the nearest corner of the parking lot or structure to the main public entrance of the use served.
c. Shared Parking Required When Feasible. c-1. If the development is adjacent to a land use with off-street parking facilities and different hours of operation, and the applicant believes that provision of shared parking is infeasible, the applicant shall submit to the commissioner of neighborhood services a signed affidavit indicating that the applicant has made a good-faith effort to locate shared parking facilities, documenting the nature and extent of that effort, and explaining the rationale for concluding that the provision of share parking facilities is infeasible.
c-2. An applicant for a mixed residential and commercial development or a shopping center development adjacent to one or more existing mixed residential and commercial developments or shopping center developments shall submit to the commissioner of neighborhood services a parking demand study that indicates whether off-street parking for the proposed development can be combined with off-street parking at the existing developments.
d. Exception to Exceed Maximum Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces. d-1. The number of off-street parking spaces provided for a general retail establishment, or for any land use for which the off-street parking space requirement for a general retail establishment is cross-referenced in table 295-403-2-a, may exceed the maximum specified in table 295-403-2-a if the commissioner of neighborhood services finds one or more of the following to be true:
d-1-a. The additional spaces will be located in a parking structure.
d-1-b. The development site will contain additional facilities for the handling or treatment of storm water runoff.
d-1-c. A parking demand study indicates that provision of more than the maximum number of spaces is warranted by anticipated parking demand.
d-1-d. The adverse environmental effects of allowing additional parking spaces will be offset by other mitigation measures approved by the commissioner of neighborhood services, including but not limited to the creation or preservation of wetlands, acquisition of open space or implementation of storm water best management practices, as defined in s. 120-3-2, within the same watershed, as defined in s. 295-201-678.
d-2. To qualify for the exception from the maximum number of parking spaces permitted, the property owner, developer or other applicant shall submit to the commissioner of neighborhood services a written plan and supporting documents indicating an acceptable manner in which one or more of the criteria in subd. 1 will be met.
d-3. If the commissioner of neighborhood services determines, using the criteria in subd. 1, that an exception from the maximum number of parking spaces is not warranted, the property owner, developer or other applicant may appeal the commissioner's determination to the board. The board shall consider the appeal in the same manner it considers a request for a dimensional variance.
3. STANDARDS OF DESIGN. a. Dimensions. Parking spaces shall contain at least 160 square feet, excluding drives, lanes or aisles, and be provided with an unobstructed access lane thereto from a public street, alley or other open space approved by the commissioner of neighborhood services, except that spaces designated for compact cars shall contain at least 120 square feet.
b. Paving. All areas used for the parking of motor vehicles or trailers or light or heavy motor vehicle storage shall have paved or approved surfaces, as required in s. 252-74. The use of permeable paving, as defined in s. 200-08-68.5, is encouraged for all parking spaces provided above the minimum number required by this chapter.
c. Illumination. Parking spaces and areas shall comply with the illumination standards of s. 295-409.
d. Landscaping. Parking spaces and areas, and their required setbacks, shall comply with the applicable requirements of s. 295-405.
e. Motorcycle Parking Spaces. Each motorcycle parking space shall measure at least 4 feet wide and 32 square feet in total area. Five motorcycle parking spaces may be provided in lieu of any required automobile parking space. Motorcycle parking spaces provided in lieu of an automobile parking space need not be contiguous.
f. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.
f-1. Electric vehicle supply equipment is permitted in any legally established parking space.
f-2. Unless part of a legally established electric vehicle charging facility, electric vehicle supply equipment in a residential zoning district shall be for the use of owners, residents and tenants of the property, and shall not be retailed directly to the public.
f-3. Electric vehicle supply equipment shall not block any required pedestrian walkways, conflict with adjacent site elements such as bicycle parking, exempt the parking area from any required landscaping, or block vision triangle.
f-4. When outdoor electric vehicle charging equipment requires electrical distribution equipment, the electrical distribution equipment shall meet the applicable screening requirement of s. 295-405-6.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-2/CH295-sub4.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026