Parking Lot Standards

Commercial parking facilities such as parking surfaces and parking striping are required to be maintained and kept in a state of good repair at all times.

Common Violations

  • Damaged parking surfaces
    • Potholes
    • Damaged/broken curb stop
    • Cracks in parking surface allowing grass/vegetation growth
    • Areas of the parking surface with multiple patches compromising the integrity of the parking surface
  • Missing/faded fire lane and/or parking striping
  • Burned out/improperly timed illumination

Read the Ordinance

Dimensions

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4.9.A.1-3 (pg. 171)

Parking Space Dimensions

  1. No parking space shall be less than 18 feet in length and nine feet in width, except as provided below.
  2. Parking spaces may be reduced in length when a tire-stop curb is installed 16 feet from the maneuvering lane and a clear space of two feet is provided for a vehicle to overhang. The overhang is not permitted over public property, sidewalks, or a setback in which parking is not permitted. Such reduction is permitted only when the width of the maneuvering lane is maintained at 26 feet.
  3. A maximum of 20 percent of the required parking spaces may be designed and reserved for compact cars. Compact car parking spaces will be a minimum of eight feet by 16 feet and shall be clearly identified with either a sign or pavement marking limiting the spaces to compact cars. The minimum parking aisle width is 24 feet.

Lighting

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4.9.F.1-3 (pg. 175)

Lighting

  1. Parking lots shall have exterior lighting in all publicly accessible areas. all parking lot lighting shall be cut off lighting and be placed on a house meter.
  2. Light sources must be indirect, diffused, or covered by shielded type fixtures, and be installed to reduce glare and interference with adjacent properties or streets.
  3. Parking lot lighting fixtures must be attached to buildings or mounted on metal poles. Any fixture located within 100 feet of a property zoned or used for residential purposes shall not exceed 20 feet in height.

Striping

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4.9.G (pg. 175)

Striping

For all multi-family and non-residential uses, parking spaces shall be striped or otherwise clearly designated on the parking facility surface.

Materials

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4.9.H. (pg. 175)

Materials

  1. All permanent parking areas and loading berths, whether required or provided in addition to the requirements of this section, shall have an all-weather surface, and shall be connected by an all-weather surfaced driveway to a street or alley.
  2. An all-weather surface parking facility shall be constructed of asphalt or concrete. The Zoning Administrator may approve the use of a porous paving system or other pervious surface.

Pot Holes

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4.9.B.4 (pg. 173)

Maintenance

Parking facilities and loading berths shall be maintained and kept in a state of good repair at all times by the owner or the person in control of the premises.

Fire Lanes

Fire Prevention Chapter Article 1.03, Section 503.1.5 (pg. 27)

Maintenance

All designated fire lanes shall be maintained and kept in a state of good repair at all times by the owner or person in control of the premises. If permitted, growth shall not be more than two inches (2") in height and shall not cover up any markings identifying the fire lane. The City shall not be responsible for the maintenance thereof.

Off-Street Parking and Loading

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.4 (pg. 159)

5.4.2 Applicability (pg. 159)

A. Generally

The off-street parking and loading standards of this section shall apply to all parking lots and parking structures accessory to any building constructed and to any use established in every district. Except when specifically exempted, the requirements of this section shall apply to all temporary parking lots that are the principal use on a site.

5.4.3. Off-Street Parking Standards (pg. 160)

A. Off-Street Parking Schedule A

The off-street parking requirements for uses allowed by this Code are listed in Table 5.4-1 (pg. 160). the vehicle stacking requirements of Section 5.4.6, Drive-Through Vehicle Stacking and Noise Reduction Standards (pg. 168), may also be applicable to certain uses.

B. Off-Street Parking Schedule B

Uses that reference Schedule B in Table 5.4-1: Off-Street Parking Schedule A (pg. 160), shall provide the minimum number of spaces identified in Table 5.4-2, Off-Street Parking Schedule B (pg. 165).

Parking Lot Screening

Unified Development Code (UDC) Article 5, Section 5.2.2.E.3 (pg. 132)

Parking Lot Screening

a. Applicability

All parking, maneuvering, customer loading areas, vehicular display and storage, and/or boat storage areas that are not screened by on-site buildings shall be screened from view of public streets pursuant to the standards of this section.

b. Design

(i) The screening shall be a minimum height of three feet.

(ii) Screening shall be opaque and consist of a combination of screening shrubs and a berm that is 24 inches high with a 3:1 slope. The Zoning Administrator may waive the requirement for the berm due to changes in grade or existing vegetation.

(iii) Masonry fences three feet in height may also be used. The fences shall be designed with a running base and fence cap of complementary material. If such fences are used, plantings of dense evergreen hedge material, designed to provide a minimum 30-inch high shrub at installation, shall be required between the fence and sidewalk. The fence shall be designed to allow articulated and pedestrian entrance features at the corners of the block, or no less than 500 feet apart. The fence shall be constructed along the rear line of the perimeter setback.

(iv) No single application of shrubs, berms, or masonry fences shall be used to screen an entire development. A single application of one screening device may be used for a maximum of 200 feet before alternating to another screening device. Openings in the screen for tree islands, decorative plantings, or other features may be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

c. Requirements Specific to the DB and DNO Districts

(i) Parking lots in the DB and DNO districts that are not screened by on-site buildings shall be screened from view of public streets by a three-foot high masonry fence within a five-foot wide landscaping bed.

(ii) All surface parking lots in the DB and DNO districts shall provide an additional five-foot setback from the front building line.

d. Plant Specifications

Screening shrubs shall be spaced a maximum of three feet on center, shall be a minimum of 30 inches in height at installation, and shall be capable of reaching a minimum height of three feet within 18 months of planting. At least 30 percent of the shrubs planted shall be flowering shrubs or perennial plants. All plants shall be species identified on the plant list approved by the Zoning Administrator.

Unified Development Code Information Bulletin with Approved Plant Lists(PDF, 150KB)

e. Maximum Grade

The maximum acceptable grades for screening areas, such as sodded berms and planting beds, shall be 3:1 (i.e., for every three feet in width, the berm shall be one foot in height).

f. Wheel Stops

Wheel stops shall be provided for parking spaces adjacent to a landscape setback where no curb is provided to prohibit any car overhang over the planting area. Wheel stops shall be located two feet from the landscape setback.

Handicap Parking

Visit the National Network Information, Guidance and Training on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)(PDF, 393KB) for information on the required minimum number of accessible and van accessible parking spaces.

Questions/Concerns

Please contact Luis Morales at 817-459-5343, or email commercial@arlingtontx.gov.

Parking lot striping - No violation

Close-up image of painted fire lane markings in a commercial parking lot.

Parking lot striping - Violation

Close-up image of poorly marked/painted parking and fire lane in a parking lot.

Parking lot violation - Nuisance Landscape

Close-up image of a parking space with vegetation/growth in the space.

Parking lot violation - Fire Lane Maintenance and pothole

Close-up image of a parking lot with a poorly marked/faded fire lane and a pothole.

Parking lot violation - Fire Lane Maintenance

Image of a parking lot with a poorly marked/faded fire lane.

Parking lot violation - Nuisance Vehicle

Image of a business with a car in disrepair/undriveable, without tires/wheels.