Parking Stall Obstructions Width

[ihavefaith]

Do all parking stalls next to curbs need to be increased by 10 inches according to this zoning code? If they are compact parking spaces, do those get increased to 8 feet 10 inches? Can not find anything on this.


801.3 Parking stall dimension.
Parking stall dimensions shall be in accordance with Sections 801.3.1 and 801.3.2.

801.3.1 Width.
A minimum width of 9 feet (2743 mm) shall be provided for each parking stall.

Exceptions:

1.Compact parking stalls shall be not less than 8 feet (2438 mm) wide.

2.Parallel parking stalls shall be not less than 8 feet (2438 mm) wide.

3.The width of a parking stall shall be increased 10 inches (254 mm) for obstructions located on either side of the stall within 14 feet (4267 mm) of the access aisle.

4.Accessible parking spaces shall be designed in accordance with ICC A117.1.

 

[ihavefaith]

Would a curb be considered an obstruction in this case?

 

[RLGA]

This is a poorly worded provision if "obstruction" is not defined. An obstruction to what? Parking the vehicle or getting out of the vehicle?

I am going to assume the latter because of the 14-foot dimension that is mentioned. Measuring from either direction of a standard vehicle, doors are typically within 14 feet when measured from the rear or the front of the vehicle. When someone opens a door of a car parked in a standard parking stall, the door will extend a few inches over the line and into the adjacent stall temporarily. If a wall is located exactly where a painted line would be placed, then people would always have difficulty getting in and out of a vehicle because they cannot open the vehicle's door fully. That extra 10-inch space provides them with the additional width they would have been given if it was just another parking stall on that side.

Curbs, in my opinion, are not obstacles and doors can easily swing over them unless they are abnormally tall curbs (which I have seen in some locations).

The provision should state that "...obstructions higher than 6 inches..." or "...obstructions of any height..." just to make it clear. I would call the jurisdiction's planning department to get a clarification just to be sure.

 

[ihavefaith]

This is a poorly worded provision if "obstruction" is not defined. An obstruction to what? Parking the vehicle or getting out of the vehicle?

I am going to assume the latter because of the 14-foot dimension that is mentioned. Measuring from either direction of a standard vehicle, doors are typically within 14 feet when measured from the rear or the front of the vehicle. When someone opens a door of a car parked in a standard parking stall, the door will extend a few inches over the line and into the adjacent stall temporarily. If a wall is located exactly where a painted line would be placed, then people would always have difficulty getting in and out of a vehicle because they cannot open the vehicle's door fully. That extra 10-inch space provides them with the additional width they would have been given if it was just another parking stall on that side.

Curbs, in my opinion, are not obstacles and doors can easily swing over them unless they are abnormally tall curbs (which I have seen in some locations).

The provision should state that "...obstructions higher than 6 inches..." or "...obstructions of any height..." just to make it clear. I would call the jurisdiction's planning department to get a clarification just to be sure.

That is exactly what I was just thinking. This is actually in the International Zoning Code. I searched city codes that had this in their city ordinances and came to the same conclusion, anything over 6 inches or curb height is probably considered an obstruction in this case. Obstructions should be defined in the section itself to avoid confusion.

"1. Each parking space adjoining a wall, column, or other obstruction higher than 0.5 foot shall be increased by two feet on each obstructed side; provided, that the increase may be reduced by 0.25 foot for each one foot of unobstructed distance from the edge of a required aisle, measured parallel to the depth of the parking space".