Section 8.2 - Off-Street Parking Regulations

8.2.1 Where any development is proposed, including new development, change of use of existing development, or enlargement of existing development, off-street vehicle parking (including parking for universal accessibility, and visitors) shall be provided onsite by the property owner in accordance with the requirements of this Bylaw.

Parking Setbacks

8.2.2 All off-street parking shall be restricted from the landscape areas as according to Section 7.2.3.

8.2.3 Where a setback for a garage or a carport (as allowed within a particular zone) is measured from the back of curb, edge of pavement, or a sidewalk (whichever is closest), the resulting parking stall can be counted as an off-street parking stall.

8.2.4 All off-street parking for residential use classes containing two or less dwelling units shall not have any off-street parking spaces located in the required front yard or flanking street setback area.

8.2.5 Notwithstanding Section 8.2.4, off-street parking for residential use classes containing two or less dwelling units may be located in the required front yard or flanking street setback area if:

1. the parking spaces are located on a driveway which provides access to a required off-street parking space that is not in the front yard or flanking street setback area; or
2. one off-street parking space may be located in the required front yard or flanking street setback area that does not provide access beyond the front yard or flanking street setback area if the parking space meets one of the permitted parking configurations shown specifically in Figure 8.2.5:

Figure 8.2.5 - Parking Stall Configurations

Tandem Parking

8.2.6 Tandem parking spaces is permitted only for the following land uses (not between land uses):

1. single detached housing (which may be in tandem with a secondary suite or carriage house);
2. short-term rental accommodations;
3. duplex and semi-detached housing; and
4. townhouses where the lot is located within the Core Area. Visitor parking stalls cannot be configured in tandem in any situation.

Size and Ratio

8.2.7 Each off-street parking space and parking lot layout shall conform to the following provisions:

8.2.8 Length, width, and height measurements shall be clear of obstructions (including but not limited to columns, lot lines, curbs, walls, pipes, roof features, fences, and emergency exit painted areas). Spacing measurements shall be taken from the inside to inside of obstructions.

8.2.9 Where a parking space abuts an obstruction (including but not limited to columns, lot lines, curbs, walls, pipes, roof features, fences, and emergency exit painted areas) the parking space width shall follow the following regulations:

1. be an additional 0.2 metres wider where the parking space abuts an obstruction on one side;
2. be an additional 0.5 metres wider where the parking space abuts an obstruction on both sides; and
3. be an additional 0.8 metres wider where the parking space abuts a doorway.

Number of Spaces

8.2.10 The minimum and maximum number of off-street vehicle parking spaces required for each use (including visitor spaces) is specified in Table 8.3 Required Parking except where additional parking is required by the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MOTI) if the site has direct access to a provincial highway. The total vehicle parking amount can be reduced with the rental housing incentives (as per Section 8.2.11) and the bicycle parking incentives (as per Section 8.5.8).

8.2.11 The minimum number of off-street vehicles parking spaces required for each use specified in Table 8.3 Required Parking may be reduced as per the following incentives (which may be combined):

1. Rental Housing Incentives: (i) If a development rezones to a rental sub-zone guaranteeing the development as rental housing, then a 20% reduction to the parking requirement (both base and visitor) can be applied if the development is located within an urban centre and a 10% reduction to the parking requirement (both base and visitor) can be applied if the development is located outside an urban centre.
2. Car-Share Incentives: (ii) Within the Core Area, Urban Centres, University South Village Centre, and Glenmore Village Centre, the total minimum off-street vehicle parking requirements for any residential and any commercial use (e.g. office and retail) can be reduced by five (5) parking spaces per car share vehicle (must provide a new vehicle to a car-share organization and the car-share spaces are counted to the overall parking count) subject to the following regulations:

- the maximum reduction in total required parking is 20% (for base parking requirement); and
- the car-share vehicle parking space must be located on-site or within 100 metres of the subject property, in a highly visible spot, at-grade, publicly accessible at all times (i.e., not within an enclosed parkade), clearly marked for the exclusive use of the shared vehicle and guaranteed to operate for a minimum of two years.

8.2.12 Parking spaces for secondary uses shall be provided in addition to the required parking spaces for the principal use on a lot.

8.2.13 Where calculation of the total number of parking spaces yields a fractional number:

1. any fraction less than one-half (0.5) rounds down to the nearest whole integer (including zero); and
2. any fraction one-half (0.5) or greater rounds up to the nearest whole integer.

8.2.14 Where gross floor area is used as a unit of measurement for the calculation of required parking spaces, it must exclude all parking and loading areas, secure bicycle parking areas, common stairways and mechanical rooms within the building.

8.2.15 Where Table 8.3 Required Parking does not clearly define requirements for a development, the single use class or combination of use classes most representative of the proposed development shall be used to determine the parking requirements.

8.2.16 Where a development consists of a mix of use classes, the total off-street parking requirement shall be the sum of the off-street parking requirements for each use class.

1. notwithstanding Section 8.2.16, in mixed-use developments the parking spaces required for offices and other commercial related land uses can be shared with the residential visitor parking requirements. Parking spaces must be available for both land uses (commercial and visitor) at all times.

Accessible Parking Standards

8.2.17 The minimum accessible parking shall be provided as a function of the total number of parking space provided on-site as described in Table 8.2.17 and illustrated in Figure 8.2.17:

1. if one or more visitor parking spaces are required, then at least one of those visitor parking spaces shall be configured as an accessible parking space;
2. designate as an accessible parking space using appropriate signage;
3. include accessible parking spaces in the calculation of the applicable minimum parking requirement; and
4. accessible parking spaces shall be located as close to a main building entrance, on a level non-skid surface.

Figure 8.2.17 - Accessible Parking Standards

Electric Vehicle Charging

8.2.18   The minimum electric vehicle parking and charging requirements are described in Table 8.2.18.