Off-Street Parking Requirements for the IC: Industrial Commercial District in Reno
In the IC: Industrial Commercial district within the City of Reno, off-street parking is governed by "Level 2" standards, which generally require one parking space per 1,000 square feet for industrial manufacturing and one space per 250 to 400 square feet for professional offices and retail. While primary residential dwellings are prohibited in the IC: Industrial Commercial district, allowed accessory residential uses like caretaker quarters require one space per unit, while commercial lodging such as hotels requires 0.72 spaces per guest room plus parking for ancillary uses. All IC: Industrial Commercial district developments must also accommodate all truck maneuvering and staging entirely on-site to prevent the use of public streets for industrial operations.
General Parking Framework for the IC District
The IC: Industrial Commercial district is categorized as an "Employment District" and follows the requirements of the Level 2 Parking District [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)(c)]. The City of Reno does not impose a maximum limit on the amount of parking provided, but developers must meet the minimum ratios established for specific land uses [Section 18.04.705(a)(2)].
Specific Parking Ratios for Allowed Uses
Because the IC: Industrial Commercial district primarily serves industrial, research, and commercial functions, the City of Reno defines parking requirements based on the intensity of the specific operation.
Industrial and Manufacturing Ratios
| Use Type | Level 2 Parking Requirement (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| Indoor Manufacturing, Processing, or Fabrication | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of processing area |
| Storage, Distribution, and Warehousing | 1 per 3,300 sq. ft. |
| Custom and Craft Manufacturing | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of processing area |
| Wholesale | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Maintenance, Repair, or Renovation Business | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Data Center | 1 per 3,300 sq. ft. |
Commercial and Office Ratios
| Use Type | Level 2 Parking Requirement (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| Office, General | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Financial Institution | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Laboratory | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| General Retail (all sizes) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant or Bakery, Retail | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Commercial Kitchen | 1 per 300 sq. ft. |
| Auto Service and Repair | 1 per 350 sq. ft. |
Residential-Style and Lodging Ratios
Primary residential household living (such as detached houses or apartments) is not a permitted use in the IC: Industrial Commercial district. However, certain lodging and accessory residential uses are allowed [Section 18.03.206].
| Use Type | Level 2 Parking Requirement (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| Caretaker Quarters (Accessory) | 1 per unit |
| Hotel or Hotel-Condominium | 0.72 per guest room, plus parking for other uses (e.g., retail/restaurant) |
| Motel | 0.72 per guest room, plus parking for other uses |
Accessible and Bicycle Parking
The City of Reno requires that a portion of the total parking provided in the IC: Industrial Commercial district be dedicated to accessible spaces and bicycle storage.
Accessible Parking Ratios
Accessible spaces count toward the total off-street parking requirement [Section 18.04.705(b)(1)].
| Total Parking Provided | Number of Accessible Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
Bicycle Parking Ratios
| Use Category | Level 2 Requirement (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| Industrial | 1 per 20,000 sf (up to 120,000 sf); 1 per 120,000 sf thereafter |
| All Other Commercial Uses | 1 per 1,000 sf (up to 6,000 sf); 1 per 10,000 sf thereafter |
| Public and Quasi-Public | Minimum of 10 spaces |
Design and Layout Standards for the IC District
The City of Reno mandates specific operational and design standards for parking in the IC: Industrial Commercial district to ensure safety and neighborhood compatibility:
- Truck Staging and Maneuvering: Industrial and commercial sites must be designed so that the loading and unloading of materials and all truck maneuvers (including backing) are conducted entirely within the property lines. Using public streets for parking or staging trucks awaiting loading is strictly prohibited [Section 18.04.1103(b)(1)].
- Pedestrian Access: At least one direct pedestrian entrance must be provided from the public street and sidewalk to the building, featuring a minimum five-foot wide walkway separated by a curb or landscaping [Section 18.04.1103(b)(2)].
- Surfacing: All off-street parking areas must be paved with a minimum of two inches of asphaltic concrete over six inches of crushed aggregate base [Section 18.04.707(f)(1)].
- Screening: If an IC: Industrial Commercial district parking lot is located immediately adjacent to a residentially zoned property, a minimum setback of 10 feet and specific residential adjacency screening are required [Section 18.04.1103(d)(2)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.402, IC: Industrial Commercial
- Section 18.03.206, Table of Allowed Uses
- Section 18.04.705, Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.707, Off-Street Parking Layout and Design
- Section 18.04.1103, General Standards for Employment Districts (I, IC, ME & MA)
- Section 18.09.302, Accessory Uses