Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-2 General Commercial District in Bentonville
In the City of Bentonville’s C-2: General Commercial district, residential projects must provide two parking spaces per dwelling unit for single-family homes and three spaces for every two multi-family units. Commercial retail developments in the C-2: General Commercial district are required to provide one space per 250 square feet of net floor area, with graduated reductions available for structures exceeding 10,000 square feet. All parking facilities must be paved with a sealed surface and located within 200 feet of the primary building they serve [Sec 501.03, Sec 501.06, Sec 501.07].
General Applicability and Design
The off-street parking and loading requirements apply to all land uses within the corporate limits of the City of Bentonville. Any new construction, expansion of an existing building's capacity, or establishment of a new use within the C-2: General Commercial district triggers the requirement to provide adequate parking [Sec 501.01].
Standard Parking Space Dimensions
The City of Bentonville defines a standard 90-degree parking space as a rectangle measuring 9 feet by 19 feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles. Access drives leading from a street to the parking area must be at least 15 feet wide for commercial uses [Sec 501.02].
| Parking Angle | Width (ft.) | Depth (ft.) | Maneuvering Area (ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90° (Standard) | 9 | 19 | 24 |
| 60° | 10.4 | 21 | 18 |
| 45° | 12.7 | 19.8 | 13 |
| 30° | 18 | 17.3 | 11 |
| Parallel | 9 | 22 | 11 |
Parking Ratios for the C-2: General Commercial District
The number of required spaces is determined by the specific use of the property. For all uses not explicitly listed in the City of Bentonville's schedule, the Planning Commission makes a final determination of parking demand [Sec 501.06].
Residential Ratios
While the C-2: General Commercial district is primarily commercial, residential components are subject to the following ratios:
| Residential Use Type | Parking Ratio Requirement |
|---|---|
| Single-Family / Two-Family / Duplex | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Multi-Family Dwelling | 3 spaces for each two dwelling units |
| Bed and Breakfast | 1 space per rental unit + 1 space for owner |
| Manufactured Home Subdivision | 2 spaces per manufactured home |
Commercial and Institutional Ratios
Standard commercial and institutional operations within the C-2: General Commercial district must adhere to these minimums:
| Land Use Type | Parking Ratio Requirement |
|---|---|
| General Business and Retail Sales | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of net floor area* |
| Business and Professional Office | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor area* |
| Restaurants / Food & Beverage | 1 space per 4 occupants (max capacity) + 1 space per employee on largest shift |
| Medical Clinics | 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of net floor space |
| Hotels and Motels | 1 space per guest room (additional for meeting rooms/restaurants) |
| Fueling Station & Convenience Store | 1 space per employee at max shift + 1 space per 250 sq. ft. net floor area |
| Personal Service (Barber/Beauty) | 1 space per employee + 1 space per each station |
| Automotive Services (Garages) | 5 spaces + 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of net building area |
| Manufacturing and Wholesaling | 1 space per 600 sq. ft. of net floor area |
*Note: Base requirements for retail and office uses apply to the first 10,000 square feet. For larger structures, a sliding scale reduction is applied [Sec 501.06(f)].
Reductions for Large Structures
For large-scale commercial or office projects in the C-2: General Commercial district, the City of Bentonville allows the following reductions for the square footage exceeding 10,000 square feet:
| Total Net Floor Area Tier | Percentage of Base Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| 10,001—20,000 sq. ft. | 95% of requirement |
| 20,001—30,000 sq. ft. | 90% of requirement |
| 30,001—40,000 sq. ft. | 85% of requirement |
| Over 40,000 sq. ft. | 80% of requirement |
Location and Surfacing Requirements
In the C-2: General Commercial district, all required off-street parking must be located within 200 feet of the structure it is intended to serve [Sec 501.03]. The owner must maintain legal ownership of the land where the parking is located, though the Planning Commission may approve a conditional use permit for shared or off-site parking on separate lots [Sec 501.04].
All parking areas in the C-2: General Commercial district must be paved with a sealed surface pavement. An exception may be granted by the City Engineer if the area is constructed as part of an approved low-impact development [Sec 501.07].
Off-Street Loading Requirements
Commercial buildings in the C-2: General Commercial district that receive or distribute materials by vehicle must provide dedicated loading spaces. Each space must be at least 10 feet wide, 35 feet long, and 14 feet high. If the loading space faces a public street, it must be at least 70 feet long [Sec 501.10].
| Floor Area (sq. ft.) | Loading Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| 5,000—25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000—40,000 | 2 |
| 40,000—100,000 | 3 |
| 100,000—160,000 | 4 |
| 160,000—240,000 | 5 |
| 240,000—320,000 | 6 |
| For each additional 90,000 | 1 additional space |
ADA Accessibility Requirements
The City of Bentonville requires all parking lots in the C-2: General Commercial district to provide a minimum number of accessible spaces for persons with disabilities [Sec 501.05].
| Total Parking Spaces | Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
| 1—25 | 1 |
| 26—50 | 2 |
| 51—75 | 3 |
| 76—100 | 4 |
| 101—150 | 5 |
| 501—1,000 | 2% of all spaces |
Sections Cited
- Sec 501.01 Applicability
- Sec 501.02 Parking Dimensions
- Sec 501.03 Location Of Off-Street Parking
- Sec 501.04 Ownership
- Sec 501.05 Accessibility
- Sec 501.06 Number Of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
- Sec 501.07 Surfacing Of Parking Lots
- Sec 501.10 Off-Street Loading