Off-Street Parking Requirements for the Light Industrial (LI) District in Arlington, Texas
In the City of Arlington’s LI: Light Industrial district, residential uses such as multi-family dwellings require a primary ratio of one parking space per unit plus additional visitor and staff parking, while independent senior living facilities require 1.3 spaces per unit. Commercial and industrial projects in the LI: Light Industrial district follow specific square-footage ratios, with general offices requiring 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet and manufacturing or storage facilities adhering to a sliding scale based on the total area of the facility. All non-residential and multi-family developments within the City of Arlington must also provide bicycle parking, typically calculated as a percentage of the required automobile spaces [Section 5.4.3].
Residential Parking Requirements in the LI District
While the LI: Light Industrial district is primarily intended for research and processing uses, certain residential uses are permitted, often subject to supplemental standards [Section 2.3.10]. For residential developments located within the LI: Light Industrial district, the City of Arlington mandates the following parking ratios:
| Use Type | Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dwelling, Multi-family (in non-residential zones) | 1 space per unit (primary); plus 5 spaces for staff and 1 space per 10,000 sq. ft. for visitors |
| Independent Senior Living Facility | 1.3 spaces per dwelling unit |
| Lodging House / Private Dorm | 1 space per bed |
| Nursing Home | 1.0 space per 4 beds |
Residential projects in the LI: Light Industrial district are generally required to provide at least 80 percent of their parking in covered spaces, with at least 50 percent located within an enclosed garage [Section 5.12.4].
Commercial and Industrial Parking Requirements in the LI District
Most standard commercial and service uses in the LI: Light Industrial district follow Schedule A, which establishes a fixed ratio per 1,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA). However, core industrial uses like manufacturing and warehousing follow Schedule B, which reduces the required number of spaces as the building size increases [Section 5.4.3].
Commercial Use Ratios (Schedule A)
| Commercial Use Type | Spaces Required per 1,000 sq. ft. of GFA |
|---|---|
| Medical or Dental Office / Clinic | 4.0 spaces |
| Bank or Financial Institution | 2.5 spaces |
| Office, Business or Professional | 2.5 spaces |
| General Retail Store | 3.0 spaces |
| Auto Service Center / Major Repair | 2.0 spaces |
| Veterinary Clinic | 2.0 spaces |
Industrial and Warehouse Ratios (Schedule B)
For industrial activities in the City of Arlington LI: Light Industrial district, the requirement is cumulative based on the functions present in the building [Section 5.4.3].
| Industrial Activity | Area of Activity | Required Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Office or Administrative | All areas | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Indoor Sales Area | All areas | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Storage, Warehousing, Assembly | 1 – 3,000 sq. ft. | 3 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Storage, Warehousing, Assembly | 3,001 – 5,000 sq. ft. | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Storage, Warehousing, Assembly | 5,001 – 10,000 sq. ft. | 1.25 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Storage, Warehousing, Assembly | 10,001+ sq. ft. | 0.8 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
Bicycle Parking Requirements
The City of Arlington requires all developments within the LI: Light Industrial district to provide off-street bicycle parking to support multi-modal transportation [Section 5.4.11].
| Land Use in LI District | Required Number of Bicycle Spaces |
|---|---|
| Multi-family Residential | 20% of the total number of units |
| Industrial Uses | 5% of required automobile spaces (minimum 2) |
| Commercial and Retail | 5% of required automobile spaces (minimum 2) |
| Office, Business or Professional | 5% of required automobile spaces (minimum 2) |
Location and Design Standards
In the LI: Light Industrial district, the City of Arlington establishes specific rules for where parking can be placed and how it must be designed:
- Parking Location: For non-residential districts like LI, buildings should be situated at the street frontage with parking located to the side or rear to avoid "seas of parking" visible from public rights-of-way [Section 5.4.9].
- Parking Lot Layout: Large surface parking areas must be divided into sub-areas of no more than 250 vehicles, separated by a 15-foot wide landscaped feature [Section 5.4.9].
- Surfacing: All permanent parking areas in the LI: Light Industrial district must have an all-weather surface, typically constructed of asphalt or concrete [Section 5.4.9].
- Lighting: Parking lot lighting fixtures must be attached to buildings or poles. If located within 100 feet of a residential property, the fixture height cannot exceed 20 feet [Section 5.4.9].
Sections Cited
- Section 2.3.10: Light Industrial | LI
- Section 5.4.1: Purpose (Off-Street Parking)
- Section 5.4.3: Off-Street Parking Standards (Schedules A and B)
- Section 5.4.9: Parking Facility Location and Design
- Section 5.4.11: Bicycle Parking
- Section 5.12.4: Site Design and Building Organization (Multi-family in Non-Residential)