Off-Street Parking Standards for the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial District

Developments within the City of Reno’s MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district are governed by "Level 1 Parking District" standards, which generally mandate one off-street parking space per residential unit. Most small-scale commercial uses, such as restaurants and retail stores under 10,000 square feet, have no minimum off-street parking requirement in this district. Required parking must be situated behind the building's front facade and may be reduced to 60% of the standard minimum if the site is located within one-quarter mile of a high-frequency transit corridor.

District Parking Classification

The MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district is specifically categorized under the Level 1 Parking District for the purpose of determining minimum off-street parking requirements [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)b.1].

Residential Parking Requirements

In the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, residential parking is calculated primarily by the number of dwelling units or beds, depending on the specific housing type.

Residential Use Type	Level 1 Minimum Requirement
Household Living (Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex, Multi-family, etc.)	1 per unit
Assisted Living Facility	1 per 2.5 resident beds
Boarding or Rooming House	1 per 5 resident beds
Convent or Monastery	1 per 5 resident beds
Fraternity or Sorority House	1 per 3 resident beds
Group Home	1 per 3 resident beds
Private Dorm	1 per 3 resident beds
Single-Room-Occupancy (SRO)	1 per every 4 units
Transitional Living Facility	1 per 5 resident beds

[Table 4-6]

Commercial and Mixed-Use Parking Requirements

For commercial projects in the City of Reno’s MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, many common pedestrian-oriented uses have a zero-minimum requirement to encourage the district's urban character.

Commercial Use Type	Level 1 Minimum Requirement
Bakery, Retail	None (--)
Bar, Lounge, or Tavern	None (--)
Restaurant (with or without Alcohol Service)	None (--)
Convenience Store	None (--)
General Retail, less than 10,000 Square Feet	None (--)
General Retail, 10,000 Square Feet or more	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Financial Institution	1 per 800 sq. ft.
Office, General	1 per 800 sq. ft.
Medical Facility, Day Use	1 per 600 sq. ft.
Laboratory	1 per 800 sq. ft.
Hotel or Motel	1 per 2 guest rooms (plus parking for other uses)
Personal Service, General	1 per 400 sq. ft.

[Table 4-6]

Location and Design Standards

The City of Reno applies specific design constraints to parking within the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district to preserve the pedestrian environment:

Placement: Parking must be accessed from an alley or the side of the primary structure and must be located behind the front facade of the building [Section 18.04.1005(d)(3)a].
Shared and Off-Site Parking: For nonresidential uses in the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district, shared or off-site parking is permitted if located within one-quarter mile of the subject property, measured along a legal pedestrian route [Section 18.04.706(c)(1)a].

Parking Reductions and Credits

Specific circumstances allow for the reduction of the minimum requirements listed in Table 4-6 for the MU-MC: Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial district:

Transit Proximity: Properties located entirely or partly within one-quarter mile of the centerline of the Virginia Street or Fourth Street bus rapid transit (BRT) routes may reduce their required parking to 60 percent of the Level 1 minimum [Section 18.04.705(a)(1)b.2].
Mixed-Use Exception: If a development contains more than one story and integrates both residential and nonresidential uses, the City of Reno does not require a minimum density or gross floor area ratio, though specific parking counts for the uses still apply unless otherwise modified [Section 18.04.1003(a)(3)b].
Solar Credit: Total required parking may be reduced by 5% if solar parking structures or solar panels are installed on the site or building [Section 18.04.706(e)(1)].

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