Off-Street Parking Requirements for the Regional Retail (RR) District
In the City of Dallas, the Regional retail (RR) district generally establishes a base requirement of zero off-street parking spaces for residential dormitories, general offices, and standard retail stores, unless the project is located within a specialized overlay or is larger than 2,500 square feet. Commercial projects involving high-intensity uses, such as restaurants, bars, and catering services, must provide a minimum of one space for every 200 square feet of floor area [Section 51A-4.210, Section 51A-4.301]. Furthermore, if a commercial project in the Regional retail (RR) district is directly contiguous to a single-family residential district, specific minimum parking ratios are triggered to protect the residential boundary [Section 51A-4.301].
General Commercial Parking Ratios
The City of Dallas specifies that for most commercial uses within the Regional retail (RR) district, the requirements are dictated by the specific use regulations. If a conflict arises between the summary tables in the parking division and the specific use definitions, the ratios found in the use regulations (Division 51A-4.200) prevail [Section 51A-4.301].
| Commercial Use Category | Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirement | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Catering Service | 1 space per 200 square feet of floor area | [Section 51A-4.202] |
| Restaurant (with or without drive-in) | 1 space per 200 square feet of floor area | [Section 51A-4.210] |
| Alcoholic Beverage Establishments | 1 space per 200 square feet of floor area | [Section 51A-4.210] |
| Commercial Amusement (Inside or Outside) | 1 space per 200 square feet of floor area | [Section 51A-4.301] |
| Furniture Store | None (Base); 1 per 500 SF (MD-1 Overlay) | [Section 51A-4.210] |
| General Office / Professional Office | None (Base); 1 per 333 SF (MD-1 Overlay) | [Section 51A-4.207] |
| Medical Clinic / Ambulatory Surgical Center | None (Base); 1 per 200 SF (MD-1 Overlay) | [Section 51A-4.207] |
| Standard Retail Sales / Personal Service | None (Base); 1 per 200 SF (MD-1 Overlay) | [Section 51A-4.210] |
Residential Project Parking
The Regional retail (RR) district is primarily intended for nonresidential development. However, the City of Dallas permits "College dormitory, fraternity, or sorority house" uses within this district [Section 51A-4.122].
For these specific residential projects, the City of Dallas code mandates no minimum off-street parking [Section 51A-4.209]. This base requirement of zero spaces is intended to support high-density institutional housing, though developers may choose to provide parking voluntarily.
Special Exceptions and Overlays
The 2,500 Square Foot Exemption
For several commercial categories in the Regional retail (RR) district, including restaurants and alcoholic beverage establishments, the City of Dallas provides a specific exemption for small-scale operations. No parking is required for a building containing 2,500 square feet or less of floor area [Section 51A-4.210].
Proximity to Residential (R) Districts
When a commercial project in the Regional retail (RR) district is contiguous to a single-family residential district, the City of Dallas may apply minimum parking requirements that otherwise would not exist. This is a safeguard to prevent commercial "spillover" parking into residential neighborhoods [Section 51A-4.301].
| Use Contiguous to R District | Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirement |
|---|---|
| Building repair and maintenance shop | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Catering service | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Machinery or heavy equipment sales | 1 space per 1,000 square feet |
| Tool or equipment rental | 1 space per 500 square feet |
MD-1 Modified Delta Overlay
If a property in the Regional retail (RR) district falls within an MD-1 Modified Delta Overlay, the City of Dallas imposes much stricter parking minimums. For example, an office use that requires zero parking at its base in the Regional retail (RR) district would require one space per 333 square feet if located within the overlay [Section 51A-4.301, Table 1.2.1]. Similarly, most retail and personal service uses would be required to provide one space per 200 square feet [Section 51A-4.301, Table 1.2.2].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.101. New zoning districts established.
- Section 51A-4.122. Retail districts.
- Section 51A-4.202. Commercial and business service uses.
- Section 51A-4.207. Office uses.
- Section 51A-4.209. Residential uses.
- Section 51A-4.210. Retail and personal service uses.
- Section 51A-4.301. Off-street parking regulations.
- Section 51A-4.506. Modified delta overlay district.