Off-Street Parking Requirements for the OC: Office Commercial District in Mesa, AZ
In the City of Mesa, the OC: Office Commercial district requires non-residential projects such as general offices to provide one off-street parking space per 375 square feet of gross floor area, while medical and dental offices must provide a higher ratio of one space per 200 square feet. Residential developments within the OC: Office Commercial district typically require 2.1 parking spaces per dwelling unit, though significant reductions are available for projects located within one-quarter mile of a bus rapid transit or light rail station.
Commercial and Office Parking Ratios
For commercial developments in the OC: Office Commercial district, the City of Mesa calculates parking requirements based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the building. Most professional and business services fall under a standard ratio, while medical uses require more intensive parking [Section 11-32-3].
| Use Classification | Minimum Parking Standard |
|---|---|
| General Offices, Retail, and Services | 1 space per 375 square feet GFA |
| Medical/Dental Offices and Outpatient Clinics | 1 space per 200 square feet GFA |
| Banks and Financial Institutions | 1 space per 375 square feet GFA |
| Data Centers | 1 space per 5,000 sq. ft. (first 200,000 sq. ft.); 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. thereafter |
| Day Care Centers | 1 space per 375 square feet GFA |
Residential Parking Ratios
While primarily an office-oriented zone, residential uses (typically allowed via adaptive reuse or mixed-use) in the OC: Office Commercial district must adhere to specific standards based on the number of units and proximity to City of Mesa transit infrastructure [Section 11-32-3.A].
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Standard |
|---|---|
| Multiple Residence (Typical) | 2.1 spaces per Dwelling Unit |
| Multiple Residence (within 1/4 mile of transit station) | 1.2 to 1.4 spaces per unit (based on total unit count) |
| Assisted Living Home (5 to 10 residents) | 1.2 spaces per unit |
| Assisted Living Center (>10 residents) | 1.0 space per room plus 2 additional spaces |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | No parking space required |
Parking Design and Dimensions
The City of Mesa mandates that all off-street parking areas in the OC: Office Commercial district be designed for safe and efficient movement. Standard parking spaces must generally measure 9 feet in width by 18 feet in depth for 90-degree configurations [Section 11-32-2-H-1].
| Angle of Parking | Stall Width | Stall Depth | Two-Way Aisle Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90° (Standard) | 9'0" | 18'0" | 24' |
| 60° | 9'0" | 21'0" | 24' |
| 45° | 9'0" | 19'10" | 24' |
| Parallel | 9'0" | 9'0" (Stall length 22') | 20' |
Parking Credits and Reductions
The City of Mesa provides several opportunities to reduce the total number of required off-street parking spaces in the OC: Office Commercial district to encourage transit use and urban density.
Transit-Oriented Reductions
Non-residential uses in the OC: Office Commercial district may reduce their required parking count by 10% if the site is within one-quarter mile (1,320 feet) of a light rail or bus rapid transit stop. A 5% reduction is available for sites within one-half mile (2,640 feet) of such facilities [Section 11-32-6.C].
On-Street Parking Credit
In the OC: Office Commercial district, the City of Mesa allows property owners to count on-street parking spaces located immediately adjacent to the property frontage toward their total off-street parking requirement for non-residential uses [Section 11-32-3.F].
Shared Parking
If a project in the OC: Office Commercial district features multiple uses with different peak hours (e.g., an office and an evening entertainment venue), the Zoning Administrator may approve an Administrative Use Permit for shared parking, potentially reducing the total number of required spaces by up to 100% of one use's requirement if timing conflicts are avoided [Section 11-32-5].
Sections Cited
- Section 11-32-2: General Regulations and Standards
- Section 11-32-3: Parking Spaces Required
- Section 11-32-5: Shared Parking
- Section 11-32-6: Parking Reductions
- Section 11-64-4: Definitions of Land Uses
- Table 11-32-2-H-1: Standard Parking Space and Aisle Dimensions
- Table 11-32-3.A: Required Parking Spaces By Use