Off-Street Parking Standards for the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban District in Reno
In the City of Reno, the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district is governed by the Level 2 Parking District standards, which establish minimum requirements based on the specific type of land use and square footage. Residential projects in the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district generally require one parking space per 1,250 square feet of floor area, while commercial uses like restaurants and retail stores require more intensive ratios of one space per 200 to 250 square feet [Section 18.04.705].
General Parking District Classification for MS
The City of Reno categorizes the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district as a "Level 2 Parking District." According to the Land Development Code, Level 1 requirements apply specifically to the Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial (MU-MC) districts, while the Downtown district standards apply to all MD- districts. Because the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district is not explicitly part of the Level 1 or Downtown categories, it must adhere to the Level 2 minimum standards [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)].
Residential Off-Street Parking Requirements
For residential developments within the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district, the City of Reno requires parking to be provided in proportion to the size of the dwelling units. These requirements are capped to prevent over-parking on small lots.
Residential Parking Ratios (Level 2 District)
| Use Type | Minimum Requirement (Level 2) |
|---|---|
| Dwelling, Duplex | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 2 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Fourplex | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 2 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Multi-family | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 2 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Single-Family Detached | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| Dwelling, Live/Work | 1 per 1,250 sq. ft. per unit (not to exceed 3 per unit) |
| Group Home | 1 per 2 resident beds |
| Assisted Living Facility | 1 per 1.5 resident beds |
[Table 4-6]
Commercial and Nonresidential Off-Street Parking Requirements
Commercial projects in the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district are calculated based on the gross floor area (GFA) of the use. Structured parking within a building is not included in the GFA calculation [Section 18.04.704(a)].
Commercial/Nonresidential Parking Ratios (Level 2 District)
| Use Type | Minimum Requirement (Level 2) |
|---|---|
| General Retail (< 10,000 sq. ft.) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| General Retail (10,000+ sq. ft.) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Restaurant with Alcohol Service | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Bakery, Retail | 1 per 200 sq. ft. |
| Office, General | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Financial Institution | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
| Personal Service, General | 1 per 300 sq. ft. |
| Medical Facility, Day Use | 1 per 400 sq. ft. |
[Table 4-6]
Accessible and Bicycle Parking Requirements
In addition to standard vehicle stalls, the City of Reno mandates specific provisions for accessible parking and bicycle storage within the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district.
Accessible Parking
Accessible spaces are required for all nonresidential uses in the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district based on the total number of parking spaces provided.
| Total Parking Provided | Number of Accessible Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
[Table 4-7]
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle parking requirements in the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district (Level 2) are as follows:
| Use | Level 2 District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Household Living (Multi-family) | 1 per unit |
| Group Living | 1 per 2 bedrooms |
| Commercial Uses | 1 per 1,000 sf (up to 6,000 sf), plus 1 per 10,000 sf of additional area |
| Industrial Uses | 1 per 20,000 sf (up to 120,000 sf), plus 1 per 120,000 sf of additional area |
[Table 4-8]
Parking Layout and Design Standards
In the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district, the City of Reno imposes specific design standards to ensure safety and aesthetic integration:
- Dimensions: Standard parking stalls must follow the geometric configurations set forth in the code, typically requiring a 9'0" width for 90-degree stalls [Section 18.04.707(c)].
- Frontage Limits: To support the pedestrian environment of the MS: Mixed-Use Suburban district, no more than 30 percent of the primary street frontage may be comprised of surface parking [Section 18.04.1003(a)(7)].
- Shared Parking: The City of Reno encourages shared parking between different uses to maximize efficiency. Parking requirements may be reduced if a parking and loading demand study is approved by the Administrator [Section 18.04.706(c)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.04.704 Calculation of Parking and Loading Requirements
- Section 18.04.705 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Section 18.04.706 Parking Alternatives, Credits, and Adjustments
- Section 18.04.707 Off-Street Parking Layout and Design
- Section 18.04.1003 General Standards for Urban Districts
- Table 4-6 Off-Street Parking Requirements
- Table 4-7 Required Accessible Parking
- Table 4-8 Bicycle Parking Requirements