Parking ratios are the number of parking spaces per unit of a variable, with many regions having minimum and maximum ratios. They serve to ensure enough parking is available, prevent congestion, and encourage public transport. Developers must show parking plans, and zoning variances can be requested if the ratio is not met.
A parking ratio is a number of parking spaces per unit of a variable, such as square footage, number of seats in a spot, rooms, etc. Many regions establish a minimum and maximum ratio as part of their development and transit policies. Homeowners without enough parking can apply for a variance if it’s a legacy from a previous era, but they often need to upgrade their parking if they want to do work on the property, like tearing down a building and building a new one. Information on current parking ratio laws should be available through the city government.
Parking ratios serve a number of functions. The minimal ratios are supposed to ensure that enough parking is available for everyone to use. In a city with limited street parking, for example, requiring one off-street space for every room may be part of a plan to free up street space by having residents park off-street. In a business, there must be enough parking to serve customers. The parking relationship may also include a mandate for accessible parking, generally in terms of one wheelchair accessible space per set number of parking spaces for disabled patrons.
At the extreme extreme, the parking ratio can also work to prevent congestion and encourage the use of public transport. If the only available parking is limited and expensive, commuters may turn to other options to get to work. These may include pooling cars and vans, taking the train, etc. This will reduce the amount of traffic in a city’s core and may reduce environmental problems. Some cities around the world enacted retroactive maximum parking ratio laws in the 1990s and early 2000s to address these issues.
When developers propose to build new facilities, including homes, businesses, workshops, etc., they are usually required to show parking plans as well. These should incorporate information about the current parking ratio and the planned uses of the property. For a movie theater or concert venue, the ratio is often based on the number of seats, while retail buildings typically have a ratio based on square footage. The developer must be able to accurately estimate these factors and provide enough parking to meet the need.
It is possible to request a zoning variance if the number of spaces does not meet the parking ratio. The owner must show why this is necessary. An example might be a building on an irregularly sized lot, where the lot is not large enough to add parking without substantial construction work, such as creating an underground parking area.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
