Off-Street Parking Standards for the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District
In the City of Reno, the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District has no minimum off-street vehicle parking requirements for residential or commercial development. While vehicle parking is not required, the City of Reno mandates specific bicycle parking ratios, off-street loading area requirements, and strict design standards for projects that choose to include large parking areas [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)a].
Minimum Vehicle Parking Requirements
The City of Reno has designated the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District as part of the "Downtown Parking District." This designation eliminates the standard minimum parking requirements found in other areas of the municipality.
| Use Category | Minimum Requirement | Maximum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| All Residential Uses | None | No Limit |
| All Commercial Uses | None | No Limit |
While there is no maximum limit on the number of spaces provided, the City of Reno requires that any development providing 600 or more parking spaces must place at least 70 percent of the spaces exceeding 600 within a parking garage or provide enhanced perimeter landscaping [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)a and Section 18.04.707(d)(2)].
Bicycle Parking Requirements
Even though vehicle parking is not required, the City of Reno imposes mandatory bicycle parking for all new construction and significant renovations within the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District.
| Type of Use | Minimum Bicycle Parking Ratio |
|---|---|
| Household Living (e.g., Multi-Family) | 1 space per unit |
| Group Living (e.g., Dorms, SROs) | 1 space per 2 bedrooms |
| Community and Cultural Facilities | 1 space per 300 square feet |
| Education and Healthcare Facilities | 1 space per 500 square feet |
| Lodging (Hotels/Motels) | 1 space per 4 guest rooms |
| All Other Commercial Uses | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. (up to 3,000 sq. ft.), plus 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of additional area |
| Public and Quasi-Public Uses | Minimum of 10 spaces |
| Industrial Uses | 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. (up to 60,000 sq. ft.), plus 1 per 60,000 sq. ft. of additional area |
Note: Except for residential uses, a minimum of two bicycle spaces is required, and no single use is required to exceed 30 bicycle spaces [Section 18.04.705(c)].
Off-Street Loading and Stacking Standards
Nonresidential developments in the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District must provide off-street loading areas once a certain size threshold is reached to prevent traffic interference in the City of Reno's urban core.
| Gross Floor Area | Number of Loading Areas Required | Minimum Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 30,000 sq. ft. | None | N/A |
| More than 30,000 sq. ft. | 1 space, plus 1 additional for every 30,000 sq. ft. beyond the first 30,000 | 10 ft. wide x 45 ft. long x 14 ft. high |
Additionally, for commercial uses with drive-through facilities, the City of Reno requires specific vehicle stacking lengths. For example, food service drive-throughs must provide a minimum of 140 feet of stacking space behind the payment window [Section 18.04.708].
Layout and Design Restrictions
To maintain the pedestrian-oriented character of the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District, the City of Reno limits the placement of parking and loading infrastructure:
- Street Frontage: A minimum of 60 percent of the primary street frontage in the MD-NWQ: Mixed-Use Downtown Northwest Quadrant District must be occupied by building walls or pedestrian amenities, rather than parking lots [Section 18.04.1003(a)(7)].
- Loading and Service Areas: These must be centralized and screened from public view. On sites along the Truckee River, the City of Reno prohibits the placement of trash or loading facilities on the river side of the property [Section 18.04.1003(a)(8)].
- Parking Blocks: Surface parking lots must be broken into smaller blocks containing no more than 40 spaces each, separated by a minimum five-foot-wide landscaping strip [Section 18.04.1006(f)(4)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.02.303 (MD-NWQ: Downtown - Northwest Quadrant)
- Section 18.04.705 (Off-Street Parking Requirements)
- Section 18.04.707 (Off-Street Parking Layout and Design)
- Section 18.04.708 (Off-Street Loading and Stacking)
- Section 18.04.1003 (General Standards for Urban Districts)
- Section 18.04.1006 (Supplemental Standards for Large Retail Establishments)
- Table 4-6 (Off-Street Parking Requirements)
- Table 4-8 (Bicycle Parking Requirements)
- Table 4-11 (Required Off-Street Loading)