Off-Street Parking Standards for the WR: Walkable Urban Residential District
In the City of Dallas, the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district requires off-street parking for residential projects based on a sliding scale determined by bedroom count, ranging from 1.15 spaces for one-bedroom units to 2.0 spaces for units with three or more bedrooms. Non-residential and commercial uses within the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district follow specific ratios per square foot or seating capacity, though several cumulative reductions are available for projects located near transit stations or those incorporating affordable housing and tree preservation.
Required Parking Ratios in the WR District
According to the City of Dallas Development Code, the following parking ratios apply to all developments within the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district [Section 51A-13.402].
Residential Parking Requirements
| Use Category | Number of Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Single-family living | 1.50 per dwelling unit |
| One-bedroom or smaller multifamily unit | 1.15 per dwelling unit |
| Two-bedroom multifamily unit | 1.65 per dwelling unit |
| Three-bedroom or larger multifamily unit | 2.00 per dwelling unit |
| Retirement housing | 0.70 per dwelling unit |
| Group living | 0.25 per bed PLUS 1 per 200 SF of office (minimum 4) |
Non-Residential and Commercial Parking Requirements
| Use Category | Number of Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Medical | 1 per 222 SF |
| Office | 1 per 333 SF |
| Retail sales | 1 per 250 SF |
| Restaurant or Bar | 1 per 100 SF |
| Commercial amusement (inside) | 1 per 200 SF |
| Personal service | 1 per 250 SF |
| Overnight lodging | 1.25 per room PLUS 1 per 200 SF of meeting room |
| Light manufacturing | 1 per 600 SF |
| Research & development | 1 per 300 SF |
| Vehicle service | 1 per 500 SF (minimum 5) |
Available Parking Reductions
The City of Dallas allow for significant reductions to the standard requirements in the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district if specific criteria are met [Section 51A-13.403].
Transit Proximity Reductions
Projects within the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district may reduce required parking based on the walking distance to a rail transit station:
- 600 feet or less: 25 percent reduction.
- 601 to 1,320 feet: 15 percent reduction.
- 1,321 to 2,640 feet: 2 percent reduction.
- Bus/Trolley Transit: A 5 percent reduction may be approved for uses with a main entrance within 600 feet of an improved bus or trolley stop [Section 51A-13.403(c)].
Affordable Housing and Mixed-Income Bonuses
The City of Dallas may approve a reduction of up to 50 percent of the required spaces for standard affordable housing dwelling units [Section 51A-13.403(e)]. Additionally, in the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district, if an administrative parking reduction is requested, delta credits may not be used except for buildings certified as historic or on the Landmark Commission’s historic resources list [Section 51A-13.403(a)].
Environmental and Amenity Reductions
- Tree Preservation: The number of required spaces is reduced by one for each protected tree retained on the site, up to a maximum 10 percent reduction [Section 51A-13.403(i)].
- Bicycle Parking: Required off-street parking may be reduced by one space for every six short-term bicycle spaces provided, or for every four long-term spaces, capped at a 5 percent total reduction [Section 51A-4.314].
Design and Placement Standards
The City of Dallas enforces strict placement rules for parking within the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district to maintain the pedestrian-oriented character of the neighborhood [Section 51A-13.304].
- Parking Setbacks: Surface parking must be set back at least 30 feet from a primary street and 5 feet from a side or service street.
- Surface Parking Prohibition: In the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district, no on-site surface parking is permitted between the building and the street [Section 51A-13.304(a)(3)].
- Screening: Any parking lot abutting a public street (excluding alleys) must be screened by a hedge or low wall at least 30 inches in height at the time of installation [Section 51A-13.602].
- Materials: Permeable paving, such as pervious asphalt or concrete, is permitted in the WR: Walkable Urban Residential district [Section 51A-13.405(d)].
Sections Cited
- Section 51A-4.314
- Section 51A-13.304
- Section 51A-13.402
- Section 51A-13.403
- Section 51A-13.405
- Section 51A-13.601
- Section 51A-13.602