§ 134-272. Traffic and parking.

Each use shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

Street access generally. Each building shall be located on a lot or parcel which abuts a public street for at least 50 feet. Access to a public street by means of a recorded access easement may be permitted if approved by the county department of transportation.

(2)

Curb cuts in districts other than R districts. Curb cuts for service drives, entrances, exits and other similar facilities on public streets in other than R districts shall not be located within 50 feet of any intersection or within 40 feet of another curb cut. A curb cut shall be no greater than 40 feet in width and no closer than 20 feet to any property line.

(3)

Approval of entrances and exits on state highways. All entrances or exits of any street or drive, public or private, from or to any state highway shall be approved by the state highway department prior to the construction of such street or drive, or the issuance of any development permit for any improvement to be served by such street or drive, but permit approval shall not be withheld longer than 30 days.

(4)

Corner visibility clearance. In any district, no fence, structure, sign, planting or other obstruction above a height of three feet shall be maintained within 15 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines extended of two streets, or of a street intersection with a railroad right-of-way.

(5)

Off-street vehicle parking. Off-street automobile parking shall be provided in accordance with all applicable provisions of this section.

a.

Design standards. All parking facilities, including entrances, exits and maneuvering areas, shall comply with the following provisions:

1.

Such facilities shall have access to a public street.

2.

Such facilities, including access drives, shall be graded and paved, and be curbed when needed for effective drainage control.

3.

Such facilities shall have all spaces marked with paint lines, curbstones or other similar designations.

4.

Spaces and drives shall conform to the following standards:

i.

Each space set at a 90-degree angle shall be not less than 162 square feet in size and shall not be less than eight feet six inches wide and 19 feet deep, exclusive of passageways, which shall be not less than 24 feet wide.

ii.

Each space set at a 60-degree angle shall be not less than 176 square feet in size and shall be not less than eight feet six inches wide and 20 feet eight inches deep, exclusive of passageways, which shall be not less than 18 feet six inches wide.

iii.

Each space set at a 45-degree angle shall be not less than 165 square feet in size and shall be not less than eight feet six inches wide and 19 feet five inches deep, exclusive of passageways, which shall be not less than 13 feet six inches wide.

iv.

There shall be adequate interior drives to connect each space with a public street.

5.

Such facilities shall be drained so as to prevent damage to abutting properties or public streets.

6.

Adequate lighting shall be provided if the facilities are to be used at night. Such lighting shall be arranged and installed so as not to reflect or cause glare on abutting properties and shall be subject to the lighting requirements in section 134-269.

7.

Any parking areas within the required front yard of any RM or office district shall not be closer than ten feet to any public right-of-way.

8.

No parking or loading area shall be established in the required front yard of any R district except for a single-family residential use; no more than 35 percent of the required front yard may be used for parking in such case.

The provisions of subsections (5)a.2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of this section shall not apply to single-family residential uses where three or less spaces are required.

9.

Where a fractional space results during the calculation of required parking, the required number of parking spaces shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.

b.

Location. All parking facilities shall be located in accordance with the following provisions:

1.

The required space shall be provided on the same plot with the use it serves, except as provided in this section.

2.

If vehicular parking or storage space required cannot be reasonably provided on the same lot on which the principal use is conducted, the board of zoning appeals may permit such space to be provided on other off-street property provided such space lies within 400 feet of the main entrance to such principal use. Such vehicular parking space shall be associated with the permitted use and shall not thereafter be reduced or encroached upon in any manner.

3.

The required parking space for any number of separate uses may be combined in one lot, but the required space assigned to one use may not be assigned to another use at the same time, except that one-half of the parking space required for churches, theaters or assembly halls whose peak attendance will be at night or on Sunday may be assigned to a use which will be closed at nights or on Sundays.

4.

The required number of parking spaces for non-residential uses may be reduced if a property owner or developer provides a shared parking study that is prepared by a professional engineer to industry standards that demonstrates the proposed shared parking facility will not cause a burden, nuisance or safety concern to the subject property, adjacent properties or the right-of-way. The shared parking study must be approved by the Cobb County Department of Transportation, the Cobb County Stormwater Management Division and the Cobb County Zoning Division to be implemented or constructed. Cobb County reserves the right, at any time, to require additional parking spaces if the shared parking study turns out to be erroneous, or if uses change that revise the merits of the shared parking study or if problems arise relating to the reduced number of parking spaces that are causing harm to the subject property, adjacent property or the right-of-way.

5.

In the R-30, R-20, R-15, R-12, RD, RA-4, RA-5 and RA-6 districts, only one vehicle, one boat and one recreational vehicle (or any combination of such totaling three) may be parked in the rear and side yard areas on a hardened surface.

6.

In the R-40, R-80 and RR districts, any combination of boats and recreational vehicles exceeding three must be screened from public roadways via a buffer (approved by Cobb County Landscape Architect) or fencing.

c.

Surfacing. The parking of any vehicle on any lot in any district other than a surface treated and hardened with concrete, asphalt, tar and gravel mix, or the like, to accommodate such vehicle, is prohibited except as provided in this section. (All tires of vehicle must be on hardened surface.) The required number of surface treated and hardened parking spaces for any use or number of separate uses may be reduced via an administrative variance per [section] 134-35, if: a) the reduced number of spaces is provided on pervious surface; or: b) documentation is submitted and approved by community development staff that indicates a reduced number of spaces is sufficient for the use or combination of uses provided that the area remains in a natural state or is landscaped. This reduction shall not allow for any increase in square footage of any use or number of separate uses. In addition, parking of vehicles within the front yard setback or in front of the principal building line in an R district shall be prohibited except on a hardened surface with concrete, asphalt, tar and gravel mix, or the like, driveway or in a carport or garage. (For the purpose of this section only, the use of concrete blocks, pavers, runners or the like, used as a treated and hardened surface, must be installed flush with the ground and capable of supporting all vehicle/equipment tires without driving onto or over an unapproved parking surface.) In heavy industrial (HI) zoning districts, parking may be provided on gravel for heavy equipment (such as but not limited to dozers, loaders, compactors, cranes and the like in excess of 12,500 pounds) or semi tractor trailers as long as there is a paved apron from the right-of-way 75 feet into the property that is at least 20 feet wide; said parking must be screened with a combination of landscaping and/or fencing subject to county approval when visible from an adjacent property zoned in a more restrictive category or a local or minor collector roadway as defined on the Cobb County Major Thoroughfare Plan, as may be amended from time to time. In certain HI zoning districts, those properties with sole access to a major collector or arterial roadway as defined on the Cobb County Major Thoroughfare Plan, may request that this screening may be waived by the zoning division manager or his/her designee upon presentation of a written petition signed by all adjacent property owners. Any required parking based on building size or use for vehicles under 12,500 pounds shall be paved and striped to county standards.

_____

d.

Required spaces. The number of parking spaces or area required for a particular use shall be as follows:

Type of Use	Parking Requirements
Accessory retail sales and services	Number required for office or institutional, motel, hotel or high-rise apartment use to which it is accessory. If it is a permitted secondary use in a structure other than the primary use, 1 space shall be provided per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Adult entertainment establishments	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Agricultural produce stands	3 spaces per stand.
Ambulance services	1 space per employee, 1 space per ambulance parked on-site.
Ambulance services, if accessory to hospitals or funeral homes	1 space per ambulance parked on-site.
Amphitheaters	1 space per 4 seats in amphitheater.
Amusement centers	1 space per 2,000 square feet (gross) of site area, with a minimum of 25 spaces required and a maximum of 100 spaces.
Ancillary retail sales	Number of spaces required for the primary use.
Animal hospitals	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Appliance repair (major)	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Arcades
Asphalt plants	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Assembly halls	1 space per 3 seats for every person lawfully permitted within the assembly hall at 1 time.
Assisted living facilities	1 space per 1.5 units.
Athletic and health clubs	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Automobile truck and trailer lease and rental facilities (accessory use)	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Automobile, truck and trailer lease and rental facilities (principal use)	1 space per employee, 1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Automotive and truck sales and service facilities	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Automotive paint and body repair shops	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Automotive parking lots or garages	As may be required to serve the principal use (see specific principal use for requirement); for freestanding parking garage, not applicable.
Automotive salvage and wrecking yards	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, with a minimum of 5 spaces.
Automotive storage yards and wrecker services	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, with a minimum of 5 spaces.
Automotive upholstery shops	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Aviation airports (private)	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per hanger or tiedown pad.
Bank/financial institutions with drive-in establishments or automated transfer machines	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace, 3 additional spaces per automated transfer machine, 5 queue spaces per drive-in teller.
Billiards and pool halls	2 spaces per pool table.
Biomedical waste transfer and disposal facilities	1 space per employee.
Boat sales and service facilities	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, 1 space per boat parked on-site.
Breeding and boarding kennels	1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Building materials stores	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site, 1 space per loading dock.
Bus stations	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Bus stations for freight	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Carwashes	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 5 queue spaces per service line.
Cemeteries	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Chemical plants or storage facilities	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Churches, chapels, temples, synagogues, and other places of worship	1 space per 4 seats in the principal place of worship, provided that the number of spaces thus required may be reduced by not more than 50 percent if the place of worship is located within 500 feet of any public parking lot or any commercial parking lot where sufficient spaces are available by permission of the owner without charge, during the time of services, to make up the additional spaces required.
Clinics	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Clubs or lodges (noncommercial)	1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Coliseums, stadiums and convention centers (privately owned)	1 space per 3 seats for every person lawfully permitted within the coliseum or stadium at 1 time, plus 1 space per employee.
Colleges and universities (private), including but not limited to research or training facilities	1 space per 2,000 square feet of site area.
Commercial greenhouses and plant nurseries	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Commercial indoor recreation uses	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Commercial outdoor recreation uses	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Commercial recreation restaurants
Community fairs	1 space per 2,000 square feet of site area.
Community retail uses	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Composting plants	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Concrete plants	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Condominiums	2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Contractors (general, heavy or special)	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Convenience food stores with self-service fuel sales	Minimum of 5 spaces, 1 space per employee.
Corporate or administrative offices for any permitted uses	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Crematories	1 space per employee.
Cultural facilities	1 space per 400 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Customary home occupations	N/A
Dairies	1 space per employee.
Designated recycling collection locations	Minimum of 10 spaces.
Drive-in theaters	N/A
Dry cleaning plants	1 space per employee.
Eating and drinking establishments (including drive-in fast food restaurants)	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace (to include any patio area that houses tables and/or chairs).
Electrical supply stores	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Emissions and inspection stations (for a period not to exceed 5 months)	Minimum of 2 spaces, 5 queue spaces per bay, 1 space per employee.
Executive golf courses	5 spaces per hole, 1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Exterminating facilities (insect or rodent)	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Farm and garden supply stores	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Farm equipment stores and repair establishments	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Farmers' markets (fully enclosed)	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Field crops	N/A
Film developing and printing establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Flea markets	1 space per 500 square feet of site area.
Fraternity and sorority houses and residence halls	1.5 spaces per bedroom, 1 space per employee.
Freight terminals	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Fruit trees, nuts and vegetables	N/A
Fuel and ice dealers	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Full service gasoline stations	3 spaces per bay, 1 space per employee.
Funeral homes	1 space per 4 seats in assembly room, 1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Golf courses (18-hole regulation, public and private)	5 spaces per hole, 1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Golf courses (par 3)	5 spaces per hole, 1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Group homes	1 space per 2 residents.
Halfway houses	1 space per 1.5 residents.
Hazardous waste sites	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Heavy automotive repair establishments	3 spaces per bay, 1 space per employee.
Heavy manufacturing establishments	1 space per employee, 1 space per loading dock.
Heavy repair services and trade stores	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Helicopter landing areas	N/A
High-rise apartments	1.75 spaces per dwelling unit.
Hospitals	1 space per 2 beds.
Hotels	1.25 spaces per unit. 1.0 spaces per unit with no restaurants, conference, banquet or meeting facilities.
Independent living facilities	1.5 spaces per unit.
In-home day care
Landfills (private)	1 space per employee, with a minimum of 5 spaces.
Laundry and dry cleaning pickup establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 2 queue spaces for each drive-in window.
Light automotive repair establishments	3 spaces per bay, 1 per employee, additionally every vehicle onsite shall be parked in a parking space that meets the county design standards.
Light manufacturing establishments	1 space per employee, 1 space per loading dock.
Linen and diaper services	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Livestock, nondomestic and wild animals, and poultry	N/A
Livestock sales pavilions	1 space per 2,000 square feet of site area.
Machine shops	1 space per employee.
Mausoleums	1 space per employee.
Medical and dental laboratories, provided that no chemicals are manufactured on-site	1 space per employee.
Mining operations	1 space per employee.
Motels	1.25 spaces per unit. 1.0 spaces per unit with no restaurants, conference, banquet or meeting facilities.
Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and 3-wheel vehicle sales and service facilities	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Multifamily dwelling units	1.75 spaces per dwelling unit, unless the multifamily dwelling units are purpose built student housing which shall require 1.5 parking space per bedroom.
Neighborhood retail uses	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Newspaper publishing facilities	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site, 1 space per loading dock.
Nightclubs	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Nonautomotive repair service establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Nonprofit riding stables	1 space per employee, 1 space per stable.
Nonprofit (seasonal use) fishing lakes	N/A
Nursery schools and child day care centers	Minimum of 20 spaces.
Office service and supply establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Offices not elsewhere classified	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Other consumer goods and services	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Other facilities for disposal of the deceased	1 space per employee.
Other service establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Outdoor commercial racing (motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, tractors and motorized vehicles)
Outdoor golf driving ranges	1.5 spaces per tee, 1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace for pro shop or clubhouse.
Overnight travel trailer parks	N/A
Parking for vehicles	N/A
Pawnshops	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Petroleum or bulk storage stations	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Photography studios	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Plumbing or heating equipment dealers	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Poultry hatcheries	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Printing, publishing and lithography establishments	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Private community centers	1 space per every person lawfully permitted within the assembly area at 1 time, plus 1 space per employee. In the absence of a designated assembly area, 1 space shall be provided per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Private parks	1 space per 3,000 square feet of site area.
Private schools of general and special education	2 spaces per classroom, 1 space per employee.
Pro shops (accessory to driving ranges or golf courses)	1 space per 100 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Professional offices	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Radio and television stations	1 space per 285 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Radio, television and other communication towers and antennas	N/A
Rail stations	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Railroad car classification yards	1 space per employee.
Railroad stations for freight	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Recreational grounds other than tennis courts and golf courses	1 space per 10,000 square feet of site area.
Recycling dropoff centers	Minimum of 10 spaces.
Research and development centers	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Research and testing laboratories	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Rest homes, personal care homes and convalescent homes	1 space per 4 beds.
Reupholstery and furniture repair establishments	1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Roominghouses and boardinghouses	1 space per 2 residents.
Sawmills (temporary)	N/A
Self-service laundry facilities	1 space per 200 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Self-service storage facilities	Minimum of 5 spaces.
Shelters (homeless)	1 space per employee.
Signs and outdoor advertising facilities	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Single-family dwelling units (attached)	2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Single-family dwelling units (detached)	2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Studios and supplies	1 space per 250 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Taxistands and taxi dispatching agencies	N/A
Telephone business offices	N/A
Temporary uses	N/A
Theaters	1 space per 3 seats per person lawfully permitted at one time.
Tire retreading and recapping facilities	1 space per employee, 1 space per vehicle parked on-site.
Townhouse dwelling units (attached)	2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Trailer salesrooms and sales lots	1 space per 500 square feet of site area.
Transportation equipment storage and maintenance facilities	1 space per employee.
Truck terminals	1 space per employee.
Two-family dwelling units	4 spaces per dwelling unit (duplex).
Utility facilities (private)	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per employee.
Vending machine sales, service, rental or repair establishments	1 space per 500 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Vocational schools (commercial)	1 space per 2,000 square feet of site area.
Warehouse and storage facilities	1 space per 2,000 square feet (net) of storage space, with a minimum of 5 spaces.
Wholesale sales offices	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace.
Wholesale trade and distribution facilities	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Wholesale trade offices in conjunction with office showrooms	1 space per 300 square feet (net) of floorspace, 1 space per loading dock.
Zoos

 

The board of commissioners may, at its discretion, reduce the required parking spaces to such number as it deems adequate in instances where applicant reduces the impact on roads and traffic, and the impact associated with runoff by grading and creation of impervious surfaces, by incorporating and utilizing an active ride-sharing program through the state department of transportation.

(Ord. of 12-26-72; Ord. of 2-7-79, § 2; Ord. of 8-5-81, § 4; Ord. of 8-13-85, § V; Ord. of 12-11-90, § 3-28-16.6; Ord. of 6-24-97 (eff. 7-1-97); Ord. of 3-9-99; Ord. of 11-23-99; Ord. of 2-8-00; Ord. of 7-10-01; Ord. of 9-10-02; Ord. of 12-9-03; Ord. of 7-27-04; Ord. of 1-24-06; Ord. of 7-25-06; Ord. of 3-25-08; Amd. of 2-22-11; Ord. of 2-28-12; Ord. of 7-24-12; Amd. of 2-25-14; Amd. of 8-12-14; Amd. of 2-24-15; Amd. of 2-27-18)