Off-Street Parking Requirements for the Clustered Housing (CH) District
In the Dallas Development Code, the Clustered Housing (CH) district requires that all off-street parking be provided at or below ground level. While the district generally does not require off-street parking for single-family or duplex uses, multifamily projects with more than 20 units must provide between 0.5 and 1 space per unit, plus additional guest parking. Because the Dallas Development Code prohibits commercial and retail business service uses within the Clustered Housing (CH) district, no specific parking ratios exist for commercial projects in this zone.
General Parking Standards for the CH District
Within the City of Dallas, the Clustered Housing (CH) district is primarily intended for residential use. The Dallas Development Code establishes specific rules regarding the physical placement of parking in this zone:
- Vertical Placement: All off-street parking must be provided at or below ground level [Section 51A-4.115(5)].
- Lot Coverage: When calculating the maximum lot coverage of 60 percent, aboveground parking structures must be included in the calculation; however, surface parking lots and underground parking structures are excluded from lot coverage totals [Section 51A-4.115(4)(F)].
Residential Parking Requirements
The off-street parking requirements for residential uses in the Clustered Housing (CH) district are determined by the specific sub-type of housing. According to the Dallas Development Code, the requirements are as follows:
| Residential Use Category | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Living | None required in the CH district [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Duplex | None required in the CH district [Section 51A-4.209(b)(2)(C)]. |
| Multifamily (≤ 20 units) | None [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Multifamily (21 to 199 units) | 0.5 space per dwelling unit [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Multifamily (≥ 200 units) | 1 space per dwelling unit [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Retirement Housing | 0.70 per retirement housing living unit [Section 51A-13.402(a)(2)]. |
Multifamily Guest Parking
For multifamily developments in the Clustered Housing (CH) district with 20 or more units, guest parking must be provided and clearly marked at the driveway entrance or walking gate:
- 20 to 99 units: 10 percent of the total required parking spaces.
- 100 or more units: 15 percent of the total required parking spaces [Table 1.0.1].
Shared Access Developments
If a project in the Clustered Housing (CH) district is platted as a shared access development, it must provide 0.25 unassigned guest parking spaces for every dwelling unit. These spaces must be situated so they do not block access to the shared access point [Section 51A-4.411(g)].
Institutional and Community Service Parking
Although the Clustered Housing (CH) district is residential in nature, certain institutional uses are permitted (often by Specific Use Permit). Their requirements under the Dallas Development Code include:
| Institutional Use Category | Minimum Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Church | 1 space per 4 fixed seats (18" of bench equals one seat) OR 1 space per 28 square feet of sanctuary/auditorium floor area [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Public or Private School | 9.5 spaces per classroom for 9th-12th grades; none required for other grades [Table 1.0.1]. |
| Child or Adult Care Facility | None [Section 51A-4.204(c)]. |
| Hospital | None [Section 51A-4.204(c)]. |
Commercial and Business Service Restrictions
The Dallas Development Code explicitly prohibits commercial and business service uses, as well as retail and personal service uses, within the Clustered Housing (CH) district [Section 51A-4.115(2)(B) and (J)]. Consequently, there are no off-street parking standards for commercial projects within this specific district as they are not a permitted use.
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.115. Clustered Housing (CH) District
- Section 51A-4.204. Institutional and Community Service Uses
- Section 51A-4.209. Residential Uses
- Section 51A-4.301. Off-Street Parking Regulations
- Section 51A-4.411. Shared Access Development
- Section 51A-13.402. Required Parking