Parking requirements can often play a significant role in determining both the cost and form of a project. In many areas, particularly those with good access to transit, parking requirements can be reduced or even eliminated, leaving it up to the developer to determine the optimal amount of parking for their project. Cities may want to consider reviewing parking requirements in certain areas, such as transit station walksheds, and for certain types of housing, like affordable housing and senior housing, where residents are less likely to own cars. As outlined in Right Size Parking’s publications linked below, there are also other options to consider for code, including allowing shared parking.
Assessing Needs and Measuring Performance
- Parking demand studies (MRSC has several local examples here)
More Information
- HousingPolicy.org: Reduce Parking Requirements
- MRSC: Parking Demand and Pricing
- PSRC: Parking Management
- PSRC: Parking Reductions
- Right Size Parking: King County Multifamily Residential Parking Calculator
- Right Size Parking: Model Code
- Right Size Parking: Multifamily Parking Strategies Toolkit
Areas for Future Research
- Developing a residential parking calculator for Snohomish County