City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 17C
Chapter 17C.230
Sections 17C.230.130...
 

Title 17C Land Use Standards

Chapter 17C.230 Parking and Loading

Section 17C.230.130 Parking Exceptions
  1. In center and corridor downtown, and FBC CA1, CA2, and CA3 zones any new building or building addition with a floor area less than three thousand square feet shall have no parking requirement. 
  1. In the neighborhood retail zone, any existing building, new building, or building addition, having a floor area less than three thousand square feet shall have no parking requirement.  In addition, if a building has a floor area of five thousand square feet or less, the parking requirement will be determined after deducting the three thousand square foot exemption from the building’s floor area.  For example, the parking requirement for a four thousand square foot building would be based on one thousand square feet of floor area – i.e., a four thousand square foot building size minus the three thousand square foot exemption.
  1. The Planning Director may approve ratios that are higher than the maximum or lower than the minimum if sufficient factual data is provided to indicate that a different amount is appropriate. The applicant assumes the burden of proof. Approval of parking above the maximum shall be conditioned upon increasing the amount of required landscaping by thirty percent. Approval of parking below the minimum shall be conditioned upon the project contributing towards a pedestrian and transit supportive environment both next to the immediate site and in the surrounding area. When determining if a different amount of parking is appropriate, the Director shall consider the proximity of the site to frequent transit service, the intensity of the zoning designation of the site and surrounding sites, and the form of the proposed use.
  1. If property owners and businesses establish a parking management area program with shared parking agreements, the Planning Director may reduce or waive parking requirements.
  1. Existing legal nonconforming buildings that do not have adequate parking to meet the standards of this section are not required to provide off-street parking when remodeling which increases the amount of required parking occurs within the existing structure.
  1. Attached Housing.

The following exceptions apply only to attached housing (defined in SMC 17A.020.010) in the RMF and RHD zones. Distances are measured in a straight line between the zone/overlay boundary to the lot line of the site containing the development.

    1. On a lot at least partially within one thousand three hundred twenty feet of CC, CA, or DT zone or CC3 zoning overlay, the minimum number of off-street vehicle parking spaces required is fifty percent less than the minimum required for Residential Household Living in Table 17C.230.130-1. 
    1. On a lot farther than one thousand three hundred twenty feet of a CC, CA, or DT zone or CC3 zoning overlay, the minimum number of off-street vehicle parking spaces required is thirty percent less than the minimum required for Residential Household Living in Table 17C.230.130-1.
  1. Parking is not required for residential development on sites located within one-half mile of a transit stop.

TABLE 17C.230.130-1
PARKING SPACES BY USE [1]
(Refer to Table 17C.230.120-1 for Parking Space Standards by Zone)
CU = Conditional Use

RESIDENTIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Group Living

 

1 per 4 residents

None

Residential

Household Living [2]

 

1 per unit 
plus 1 per bedroom 
after 3 bedrooms [3]; Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) – see Note [4];
Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) are exempt

None

COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Adult Business

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Commercial

Outdoor Recreation

 

20 per acre of site

30 per acre of site

Commercial Parking

 

Not applicable

None

Drive-through Facility

 

Not applicable

None

Major Event Entertainment

 

1 per 8 seats 
or per CU review

1 per 5 seats 
or per CU review

Office

General Office

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Medical/Dental Office

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Quick Vehicle Servicing

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Retail Sales and Service

Retail, 
Personal Service, 
Repair-oriented

1 per 330 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Restaurants and Bars

1 per 250 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 60 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Health Clubs, Gyms, Lodges, Meeting Rooms and similar continuous entertainment, such as Arcades and Bowling Alleys

1 per 330 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 180 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Temporary Lodging

1 per 
rentable room; 
for associated uses
 such as Restaurants, 
see above

1.5 per 
rentable room; 
for associated uses
such as Restaurants, 
see above

Theaters

1 per 4 seats or
1 per 6 feet of bench area

1 per 2.7 seats or
1 per 4 feet of bench area

Retail sales and services of large items, such as appliances, furniture and equipment

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Mini-storage Facilities

 

Same as 
Warehouse and Freight Movement

Same as Warehouse and Freight Movement

Vehicle Repair

 

1 per 750 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

INDUSTRIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Industrial Services, Railroad Yards,
Wholesale Sales

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Manufacturing and Production

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Warehouse and Freight Movement

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. 
of floor area 
for the 
first 3,000 sq. ft 
of floor area 
and then 
1 per 3,500 sq. ft. 
of floor area thereafter

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Waste-related

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Basic Utilities

 

None

None

Colleges

 

1 per 600 sq. ft. 
of floor area
exclusive of dormitories, plus
1 per 4 dorm rooms

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area
exclusive of dormitories, plus 1
per 2.6 dorm room

Community Service

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Daycare

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Medical Centers

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Parks and Open Areas

 

Per CU review 
for active areas

Per CU review 
for active areas

Religious Institutions

 

1 per 100 sq. ft. of main assembly area 
or per CU review

1 per 60 sq. ft. 
of main assembly area

Schools

Grade, Elementary, Junior High

1 per classroom

2.5 per classroom

High School

7 per classroom

10.5 per classroom

OTHER CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Agriculture

 

None 
or per CU review

None
or per CU review

Aviation and Surface Passenger Terminals

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Detention Facilities

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Essential Public Facilities

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Wireless Communication Facilities

 

None
or per CU review

None
or per CU review

Rail Lines and Utility Corridors

 

None

None

[1] The Planning Director may approve different amounts of parking spaces under the exceptions listed in SMC 17C.230.130.

[2] Parking is not required for residential development on sites located within one-half mile of a transit stop.

[3] For middle housing developed in the R1 and R2 zones, the following standards apply:

  • On lots smaller than 6,000 square feet, only one parking space per unit is required regardless of bedroom count.
  • On lots 6,000 square feet or larger, each unit with 4 or more bedrooms must provide a minimum of two parking spaces.

[4] Parking requirements for ADUs are provided in SMC 17C.300.130(A)(4).

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 23

Section 17C.230.130 Parking Exceptions
  1. In center and corridor downtown, and FBC CA1, CA2, and CA3 zones any new building or building addition with a floor area less than three thousand square feet shall have no parking requirement. 
  1. In the neighborhood retail zone, any existing building, new building, or building addition, having a floor area less than three thousand square feet shall have no parking requirement.  In addition, if a building has a floor area of five thousand square feet or less, the parking requirement will be determined after deducting the three thousand square foot exemption from the building’s floor area.  For example, the parking requirement for a four thousand square foot building would be based on one thousand square feet of floor area – i.e., a four thousand square foot building size minus the three thousand square foot exemption.
  1. The Planning Director may approve ratios that are higher than the maximum or lower than the minimum if sufficient factual data is provided to indicate that a different amount is appropriate. The applicant assumes the burden of proof. Approval of parking above the maximum shall be conditioned upon increasing the amount of required landscaping by thirty percent. Approval of parking below the minimum shall be conditioned upon the project contributing towards a pedestrian and transit supportive environment both next to the immediate site and in the surrounding area. When determining if a different amount of parking is appropriate, the Director shall consider the proximity of the site to frequent transit service, the intensity of the zoning designation of the site and surrounding sites, and the form of the proposed use.
  1. If property owners and businesses establish a parking management area program with shared parking agreements, the Planning Director may reduce or waive parking requirements.
  1. Existing legal nonconforming buildings that do not have adequate parking to meet the standards of this section are not required to provide off-street parking when remodeling which increases the amount of required parking occurs within the existing structure.
  1. Attached Housing.

The following exceptions apply only to attached housing (defined in SMC 17A.020.010) in the RMF and RHD zones. Distances are measured in a straight line between the zone/overlay boundary to the lot line of the site containing the development.

    1. On a lot at least partially within one thousand three hundred twenty feet of CC, CA, or DT zone or CC3 zoning overlay, the minimum number of off-street vehicle parking spaces required is fifty percent less than the minimum required for Residential Household Living in Table 17C.230.130-1. 
    1. On a lot farther than one thousand three hundred twenty feet of a CC, CA, or DT zone or CC3 zoning overlay, the minimum number of off-street vehicle parking spaces required is thirty percent less than the minimum required for Residential Household Living in Table 17C.230.130-1.
  1. Parking is not required for residential development on sites located within one-half mile of a transit stop.

TABLE 17C.230.130-1
PARKING SPACES BY USE [1]
(Refer to Table 17C.230.120-1 for Parking Space Standards by Zone)
CU = Conditional Use

RESIDENTIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Group Living

 

1 per 4 residents

None

Residential

Household Living [2]

 

1 per unit 
plus 1 per bedroom 
after 3 bedrooms [3]; Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) – see Note [4];
Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) are exempt

None

COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Adult Business

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Commercial

Outdoor Recreation

 

20 per acre of site

30 per acre of site

Commercial Parking

 

Not applicable

None

Drive-through Facility

 

Not applicable

None

Major Event Entertainment

 

1 per 8 seats 
or per CU review

1 per 5 seats 
or per CU review

Office

General Office

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Medical/Dental Office

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Quick Vehicle Servicing

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Retail Sales and Service

Retail, 
Personal Service, 
Repair-oriented

1 per 330 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Restaurants and Bars

1 per 250 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 60 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Health Clubs, Gyms, Lodges, Meeting Rooms and similar continuous entertainment, such as Arcades and Bowling Alleys

1 per 330 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 180 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Temporary Lodging

1 per 
rentable room; 
for associated uses
 such as Restaurants, 
see above

1.5 per 
rentable room; 
for associated uses
such as Restaurants, 
see above

Theaters

1 per 4 seats or
1 per 6 feet of bench area

1 per 2.7 seats or
1 per 4 feet of bench area

Retail sales and services of large items, such as appliances, furniture and equipment

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Mini-storage Facilities

 

Same as 
Warehouse and Freight Movement

Same as Warehouse and Freight Movement

Vehicle Repair

 

1 per 750 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

INDUSTRIAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Industrial Services, Railroad Yards,
Wholesale Sales

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Manufacturing and Production

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Warehouse and Freight Movement

 

1 per 1,000 sq. ft. 
of floor area 
for the 
first 3,000 sq. ft 
of floor area 
and then 
1 per 3,500 sq. ft. 
of floor area thereafter

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Waste-related

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

INSTITUTIONAL CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Basic Utilities

 

None

None

Colleges

 

1 per 600 sq. ft. 
of floor area
exclusive of dormitories, plus
1 per 4 dorm rooms

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area
exclusive of dormitories, plus 1
per 2.6 dorm room

Community Service

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Daycare

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Medical Centers

 

1 per 500 sq. ft. 
of floor area

1 per 200 sq. ft. 
of floor area

Parks and Open Areas

 

Per CU review 
for active areas

Per CU review 
for active areas

Religious Institutions

 

1 per 100 sq. ft. of main assembly area 
or per CU review

1 per 60 sq. ft. 
of main assembly area

Schools

Grade, Elementary, Junior High

1 per classroom

2.5 per classroom

High School

7 per classroom

10.5 per classroom

OTHER CATEGORIES

USE CATEGORIES

SPECIFIC USES

MINIMUM PARKING

MAXIMUM PARKING

Agriculture

 

None 
or per CU review

None
or per CU review

Aviation and Surface Passenger Terminals

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Detention Facilities

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Essential Public Facilities

 

Per CU review

Per CU review

Wireless Communication Facilities

 

None
or per CU review

None
or per CU review

Rail Lines and Utility Corridors

 

None

None

[1] The Planning Director may approve different amounts of parking spaces under the exceptions listed in SMC 17C.230.130.

[2] Parking is not required for residential development on sites located within one-half mile of a transit stop.

[3] For middle housing developed in the R1 and R2 zones, the following standards apply:

  • On lots smaller than 6,000 square feet, only one parking space per unit is required regardless of bedroom count.
  • On lots 6,000 square feet or larger, each unit with 4 or more bedrooms must provide a minimum of two parking spaces.

[4] Parking requirements for ADUs are provided in SMC 17C.300.130(A)(4).

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 23