Mesa, AZ Off-Street Parking Requirements for GC: General Commercial District
Residential and commercial projects in the City of Mesa GC district must provide off-street parking based on specific use types, typically requiring 2.1 spaces per unit for multiple-residence developments and 1 space per 375 square feet for general retail or office uses. Significant reductions are available for residential projects located within one-quarter mile of high-capacity transit, while total parking supply is generally capped at 125% of the minimum required amount.
General Calculation and Design Rules
In the City of Mesa, off-street parking requirements are calculated based on the gross Floor Area (GFA) of the building unless a different metric is specified [Section 11-32-3(B)]. When a calculation results in a fraction, amounts of 0.5 or greater are rounded up to the nearest whole number, while amounts less than 0.5 are rounded down [Section 11-2-3(B)].
Parking for the GC: General Commercial district must be located on the same lot as the use it serves or on an adjacent lot incorporated into the development site [Section 11-32-2(A)]. For sites with 10 or more required spaces, up to 20% of the total may be dedicated to "compact" spaces, which must measure 8 feet by 16 feet [Section 11-32-2(D)]. Standard parking spaces must measure 9 feet by 18 feet [Section 11-32-2(H)].
Residential Parking Requirements in GC
Residential uses in the GC: General Commercial district, such as attached single residences or multiple-family projects, have specific density and parking requirements. Multiple-family residential projects are permitted at a minimum density of 20 units per acre when part of an exclusive residential project, but have no minimum density when part of a mixed-use project [Table 11-6-2, Note 1].
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Standard |
|---|---|
| Single Residence (Attached or Detached) | 2 spaces per dwelling (tandem allowed with approval) |
| Multiple Residence (Typical) | 2.1 spaces per Dwelling Unit |
| Multiple Residence (within 1/4 mile of BRT/Light Rail) | 1.4 spaces (≤9 units); 1.3 spaces (10-25 units); 1.2 spaces (26+ units) |
| Live-Work Units | 2.1 spaces per unit |
| Boarding House | 1.2 spaces per unit |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | No parking space required |
Source: [Table 11-32-3.A]
Commercial Parking Requirements in GC
The GC: General Commercial district supports a wide variety of retail, service, and office uses. The City of Mesa requires these uses to meet the following specific ratios:
| Commercial Use Type | Minimum Parking Standard |
|---|---|
| General Offices, Retail, and Services | 1 space per 375 sq. ft. of GFA |
| Bank and Financial Institutions | 1 space per 375 sq. ft. of GFA |
| Medical and Dental Offices | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of GFA |
| Restaurant (Full or Limited Service, no drive-thru) | 1 space per 75 sq. ft. indoor; 1 space per 200 sq. ft. outdoor |
| Restaurant (with associated queuing drive-thru) | 1 space per 100 sq. ft. indoor; 1 space per 200 sq. ft. outdoor |
| Hotel or Motel | 1 space per room/suite plus ancillary use requirements |
| Automobile Repair (Major or Minor) | 1 space per 375 sq. ft. (includes bays and retail areas) |
| Hospital | 1 space per 400 sq. ft. |
| Data Center | 1 space per 5,000 sq. ft. (first 200k); 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. thereafter |
Source: [Table 11-32-3.A]
Parking Reductions and Credits
The City of Mesa provides several methods for reducing the total number of off-street parking spaces required for a project in the GC: General Commercial district:
Transit Proximity Reduction
For non-residential uses, the minimum number of parking spaces may be reduced by up to 10% for sites where the closest portion of the parcel is within a 1,320-foot (1/4 mile) radius of a bus rapid transit (BRT) or light rail station. A 5% reduction is available for sites within a 2,640-foot (1/2 mile) radius [Section 11-32-6(C)].
On-Street Parking Credit
In GC districts that utilize the "-U" (Urban) character designator, on-street parking spaces located immediately adjacent to the property frontage may be counted toward the required off-street parking for non-residential uses on a one-for-one basis [Section 11-32-3(F)].
Shared Parking
An Administrative Use Permit may be approved to allow shared parking between two or more non-residential uses or a mixed-use project if their peak parking demands occur at different times [Section 11-32-5].
Maximum Parking Limitation
To prevent excessive amounts of paved surface area, the City of Mesa limits the number of parking spaces provided by any development to 125% of the minimum required spaces. Exceptions to this maximum may be granted for office developments with specific employee-to-GFA ratios or for surface parking provided via an Administrative Use Permit [Section 11-32-3(C)].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-2-3: Rules for Measurement
- Table 11-6-2: Commercial Districts Land Use
- Section 11-32-1: Purpose and Applicability (Parking)
- Section 11-32-2: General Regulations and Standards (Parking)
- Table 11-32-2-H-1: Standard Parking Space and Aisle Dimensions
- Section 11-32-3: Parking Spaces Required
- Table 11-32-3.A: Required Parking Spaces By Use
- Section 11-32-5: Shared Parking
- Section 11-32-6: Parking Reductions