The purpose of these regulations is to promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the city’s residents and motorists. These regulations are designed in accordance with the Transportation Criteria Manual (TCM) to promote safe access to city streets, to reduce road accidents, to protect public investment in streets, to establish a safe and reasonable balance between street access and traffic mobility, and to assure safe and convenient access to and circulation of emergency and service vehicles within developments. Further, it establishes minimum design standards for access and parking lots and minimum requirements for off-street parking. Some sections in the article have been adopted through local amendments.
(Ordinance CO41-07-07-12-3H adopted 7/12/07)
No person, firm or corporation shall construct, reconstruct, alter or repair, remove or replace any sidewalk, drive approach or any concrete work on any TxDOT right-of-way within the city without first obtaining an approved TxDOT permit. A copy of the approved TxDOT permit is required for any lot taking access to a state roadway before the site development permit is issued.
(Ordinance CO41-07-07-12-3H adopted 7/12/07)
(a) 
Compliance with ordinances, regulations and plans.
Any person seeking access to lands abutting the public street right-of-way shall comply with the regulations of this Chapter and:
(1) 
The City’s subdivision ordinance;
(2) 
The City’s transportation ordinance;
(3) 
The City’s zoning ordinance;
(4) 
Other applicable City regulations, codes or ordinances;
(5) 
Comprehensive plans or plan components;
(6) 
Transportation criteria manual;
(7) 
State manual of uniform traffic-control devices.
(b) 
Downtown district.
See the downtown district urban code for additional requirements.
(c) 
Sidewalk requirement.
Any site plan requiring a full review by the Development Services Committee will require the design and construction of typical concrete sidewalks in accordance with the Transportation Criteria Manual and the mobility master plan on all existing and proposed streets adjacent to or included in the proposed site plan.
(d) 
Major corridor sidewalk requirement.
(1) 
All development along roadways designated as major corridors shall dedicate a 25 foot wide landscape and pedestrian easement and have a six-foot concrete sidewalk installed parallel to the designated roadway (unless sidewalks already exist);
(2) 
Sidewalks shall be coordinated with landscape design to provide substantial landscaping on both sides of the sidewalk. Pedestrian connections shall be provided at street crossings as well as to businesses within the corridor development;
(3) 
Sidewalks shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from the right-of-way and from parking areas;
(4) 
Sidewalks shall meander within the twenty-five-foot front building setback and landscape buffer in a manner that will create a desirable pedestrian environment. Exceptions to this requirement are as follows:
(A) 
On roadways maintained by the state department of transportation, sidewalks may encroach into the right-of-way with written approval from TxDOT and the Director of Engineering; or
(B) 
On roadways maintained by the City, sidewalks may encroach into the right-of-way with approval from the Director of Engineering and the Director of Development Services, but shall be set back from the back of curb a minimum of five (5) feet and shall be required to enter into a license agreement with the City that shall require the landowner to maintain and pay for any landscaping, sidewalks, landscape lighting, irrigation and electric meters for irrigation within the right-of-way.
(Ordinance CO11-20-01-09-H1 adopted 1/9/20; Ordinance CO34.23.09.28.E1 adopted 9/28/2023)
(a) 
General principles.
In addition to the regulations below, development shall also comply with section 12.12.015(c)(1) of the Subdivision Chapter, as amended.
(1) 
Parking areas shall be designed in accordance with Chapter 16 Transportation Regulations.
(2) 
Access to TxDOT roadways shall also comply with all TxDOT standards. TxDOT standards may exceed City standards.
(3) 
A commercial site contiguous with another commercial site shall provide drive aisle connections to the boundary of the site for connection to such contiguous commercial site and shall provide an access easement to that site boundary from a public street unless such connection is inappropriate because of one or more of the following constraints: topographic constraints, environmental constraints, and/or adjacent uses that are incompatible for the purposes of mixing traffic, at which time the director of planning or his/her designee may, after considering all relevant factors, exempt the development from this requirement.
(4) 
Prior to the issuance of a building permit, any developer who proposes a street, driveway or pedestrian pathway that includes an at-grade rail crossing shall provide the City with written approval from Capital Metro stating that the at-grade rail crossing improvements were designed and installed with adequate supplemental safety measures as required by the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a quiet zone.
(5) 
Dead-end parking aisles/modules restricted.
(A) 
Circulation for each row of parking spaces within nonresidential parking lots shall provide at least two points of ingress or egress so as to prevent the creation of dead-end parking aisles or modules.
(B) 
The Director of Development Services or his/her designee may exempt the development from this requirement if the Director of Development Services or his/her designee finds that:
(i) 
There are special conditions unique to the property, such as lot size, shape, orientation, topography, or other physical features that are not generally characteristic of other properties in the area; and
(ii) 
The undue hardship is not self-induced or created by the applicant, nor is it strictly pecuniary/financial.
In granting the exemption, the Director of Development Services of his/her designee may impose such additional conditions if necessary and desirable in the public interest.
(b) 
Driveway types.
Development shall comply with section 12.12.015(c)(2) of the Subdivision Chapter.
(c) 
Driveway design.
Development shall comply with section 12.12.015(c)(3) of the Subdivision Chapter.
(Ordinance CO11-20-01-09-H1 adopted 1/9/20)
(a) 
General principles.
(1) 
In computing the parking requirements for any building or development, the total parking requirements shall be the sum of the specific parking space requirements for each class of use included in the building for development. The minimum parking requirements herein specified are considered minimum requirements and should be exceeded where usage, experience or design information makes such increase appropriate.
(2) 
Required off-street parking areas shall not be used for the commercial sale, repair, dismantling, servicing, storage or display of vehicles, equipment, materials, supplies or merchandise.
(3) 
Where open land is used for manufacturing, storage, or other operations in a manner similar to indoor operations, such open land shall be added to floor space in determining the number of parking spaces required.
(4) 
All off-street parking spaces shall be accompanied by adequate automobile maneuvering area permitting full and direct ingress and egress to such parking spaces. The maneuvering area thereto shall be located entirely upon private property.
(5) 
All off-street parking spaces, accompanying maneuvering areas and driveways specifically designed for licensed vehicles shall be asphalt or concrete. The asphalt or concrete surface shall be designed in accordance with the Transportation Criteria Manual.
(6) 
All off-street parking areas shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the area, and shall be so arranged and marked as to provide the orderly and safe loading or unloading, parking and storage of vehicles in accordance with stormwater, detention and water quality requirements.
(7) 
No requirement set forth in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent collective utilization of any off-street parking facility for two (2) or more buildings or uses, providing, however, that the total number of off-street parking spaces shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the particular individual uses computed separately in accordance with the applicable regulations for off-street parking spaces.
(8) 
All required off-street parking spaces shall be located entirely on the same lot as the principal structure.
(9) 
Compact spaces.
A maximum of ten (10) percent of the required number of parking spaces may be a compact size, measuring eight (8) feet in width and sixteen (16) feet in depth. Such compact parking spaces shall be located in groups of at least five (5) spaces per group, shall not be located adjacent to a designated fire lane, and shall be conspicuously identified by black painted curbs with white lettering labeling each space as “compact.” Compact parking spaces may only be proposed for sites requiring a minimum of 50 parking spaces.
(10) 
All parking spaces abutting a wall or vertical structure that obstructs vehicle overhang shall increase the length of those spaces by one and one-half feet (1.5') to accommodate the overhang area lost.
(11) 
Major corridor parking requirements.
The following standards apply to all roadways identified as major corridors.
(A) 
Parking locations.
Parking is prohibited within the required twenty-five-foot setback from the designated roadway.
(b) 
Parking area design.
All parking facilities shall be designed and constructed as prescribed in the TCM:
PARKING LOT CRITERIA
A
B
C
D
E
F
Angle of Parking
(Degrees)
Width of Stall
Depth of Stall 90° to Aisle
Width of Aisle
Width of Stall Parallel to Aisle
Module Width
One Way
Two Way
One Way
Two Way
Standard Parking Spaces
30
8.5
16.9
12.5
28
17.0
47
62
30
9.0
17.3
12.5
26
18.0
47
61
30
9.5
17.8
12.5
25
19.0
48
61
30
10.0
18.3
12.5
25
20.0
49
62
45
8.5
17.5
13.0
28
12.0
48
63
45
9.0
17.5
12.5
26
12.7
48
61
45
9.5
17.5
12.5
25
13.4
48
60
45
10.0
17.5
12.5
25
14.1
48
60
60
8.5
19.0
18.0
-
9.8
56
-
60
9.0
19.0
16.0
-
10.4
54
-
60
9.5
19.0
15.0
-
11.0
53
-
60
10.0
19.0
15.0
-
11.6
53
-
75
8.5
19.5
25.0
-
8.8
64
-
75
9.0
19.5
23.0
-
9.3
62
-
75
9.5
19.5
22.0
-
9.8
61
-
75
10.0
19.5
22.0
-
10.3
61
-
90
8.5
18.5
-
28
8.5
-
65
90
9.0
18.5
-
26
9.0
-
63
90
9.5
18.5
-
25
9.5
-
62
90
10.0
18.5
-
25
10.0
-
62
Compact Parking
30
7.5
14.0
12.5
18.0
15.0
41
46
45
7.5
15.9
13.0
18.0
10.6
45
50
60
7.5
16.7
18.0
-
8.7
52
-
75
7.5
16.4
18.0
-
7.8
51
-
90
8
16
-
18.0
8
-
48
Parallel Parking Spaces
0
8.5
8.5 (Width)
12.5
25
22.0 (Length)
30
42
(c) 
Queuing and vehicle stacking areas.
(1) 
Queue spaces or queuing areas may not interfere with required parking spaces, parking aisles, loading areas, internal circulation or driveway access.
(2) 
Each queue space shall consist of a rectangular area not less than ten (10) feet wide and eighteen-and-a-half (18-1/2) feet long. Queue spaces are not interchangeable with parking spaces unless specifically provided for in this chapter.
(3) 
A minimum twelve-foot bypass shall be required adjacent to queue lines to allow vehicles an opportunity to circumvent the drive-through activity and exit the site.
(4) 
Although drive-through activities are not required to be completely separated from other activities on site, the queuing areas should be designed to enable the driver to readily identify and distinguish queuing areas from other activities on site. It is strongly recommended to locate queue line and service areas towards remote areas of a site to avoid conflicts with parking and circulation areas. Queue areas and drive-through activities shall be clearly identified with appropriate signage and marking.
(5) 
Spaces within an automobile washing facility may be counted toward the queuing requirement.
(d) 
Off-street stacking spaces shall be provided as indicated in the following table.
Minimum Off-Street Stacking Spaces
Activity Type
Minimum Spaces
Measured From
Bank teller lane
3
Teller or window
Automated teller machine
3
Teller
Restaurant drive-through
10
Within a minimum 6 spaces from order box
Auto service facility stalls; vehicle repair and body shop stalls
1
Entrance to stall
Car wash tunnel
6
Entrance to wash tunnel
Car wash stall, self service
1
Entrance to wash bay
Gasoline pump island
1
Pump island
Other
Determined by the development services committee
(e) 
Striping and marking.
All striping for parking stalls shall be a minimum of four (4) inches wide of white safety traffic paint designated for such use. All other markings required to designate crosswalks, directional arrows, fire lanes, ADA accessible spaces, or service areas shall be in compliance with the state manual of uniform traffic-control devices and/or the International Fire Code.
(f) 
ADA accessible parking and access.
All ADA accessible parking spaces and access shall be in accordance with the state accessibility standards.
(g) 
End islands (terminal islands).
Raised end islands shall be required at the end of each parking row. See the TCM for design requirements. See also section 14.07.006(b)(5).
(h) 
Traffic-control signs.
All traffic-control signs required for the site shall meet the standards established in the state manual on uniform traffic-control devices.
(i) 
Off-site parking.
All parking spaces required by this chapter shall be located on the same property as the structure they serve, except where an enlargement or change in use increases the required number of spaces. In such cases, off-site parking may be allowed and must conform to the following standards:
(1) 
The off-site parking area must be on adjacent property to the property served or within one hundred (100) feet of the structure they serve if not located on the property adjacent to the site.
(2) 
Access to off-site parking shall not interfere with the normal movement of traffic along adjacent arterials or collectors, as specified in the mobility master plan, nor as to endanger pedestrians moving between the parking area and the structure served. Off-site parking is not allowed in any area that would require a pedestrian to cross an arterial or collector street.
(3) 
To discourage the use of thoroughfares by circulating vehicles, provisions for circulation between adjacent parcels should be provided through coordinated or joint parking systems.
(4) 
The off-site parking area shall remain in use as long as the parking requirement exists or until such time that adequate on-site parking is provided.
(5) 
In any case where required parking spaces are not located on the same property with the activity or establishment, or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a written agreement thereby assuring their retention for such purposes shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the city attorney, filed with Williamson and/or Travis County and submitted with the application for site plan approval.
(6) 
Not more than fifty (50) percent of the off-street parking spaces required for theaters, bowling alleys, night clubs, restaurants or similar uses may be provided and used jointly by uses not normally open, used or operated during the same hours; provided, however that a written agreement thereto is properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the city attorney, filed with Williamson and/or Travis County and submitted with the application for site plan approval.
(7) 
Not more than eighty (80) percent of the off-street parking spaces required for a church, school auditorium or similar uses may be provided and used jointly by uses not normally open, used or operated during the same hours; provided, however that a written agreement thereto is properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the City Attorney filed with Williamson and/or Travis County and submitted with the application for site plan approval.
(j) 
Amount of parking required.
(1) 
Rules for computing the parking requirement.
(A) 
Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be construed to be the next largest whole number.
(B) 
If a use not specifically listed in the off-street parking table, the development services committee shall have the authority to apply the off-street parking standard specified for the list use that is deemed most similar to the proposed use or require a parking study.
(C) 
A parking table shall be required for each development and shall be a part of the site development submittal. It shall include the number of employees, number of parking spaces provided, number of spaces required with proper calculations, square footage of each structure and the use of each structure
(2) 
Minimum parking requirements.
Residential
Dwelling, single-family
2 off-street per dwelling unit, having a width of no less than 10 ft. and a depth no less than 20 ft.
Apartments
1 per unit for efficiency 1.5 for the first bedroom plus .5 parking space for each additional bedroom
Townhome
2 off-street per dwelling unit, having a width of no less than 10 ft. and a depth no less than 20 ft., guest parking shall be provided at a ratio of 20 percent of the total number of units.
Amenity center
1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area including outdoor facilities (pool, seating areas, in addition sport courts area)
Community home
1 per 4 beds, plus 1 per each day staff member
Institutional and Special Uses
Place of public assembly
1 per 4 seats of capacity in the main assembly area or 1 per 100 sf. gfa
College, university or vocational school
1 per faculty and staff, plus 1 per every 5 students
Civic club
1 per 4 seats of capacity in the main assembly area or 1 per 100 sf. gfa
Daycare center (public or private)
1 per 6 pupils, plus 1 per 2 staff members
Hospital services
2 for each bed, plus 1 for each 2 employees on the largest shift at full design capacity.
Non-emergency transport service
2 for each ambulance vehicle
Assisted living, congregate or respite care
1 per 4 beds, plus 1 per each day staff member
School, elementary or middle
1 space per 300 sf. classroom and office
School, high
1 space per 200 sf. classroom and office
Hotel
1 per guest room, 1 for every 400 sf. of public meeting space
Food and Beverage Services
Restaurant, dine-in, drive-in, drive through or take out
1 per 100 sf. of gfa
Mobile food establishment court
3 per mobile food establishment plus 1 per 100 sf. of seating area
Office, Professional, or Financial Uses
Bank or savings and loan office
1 per 300 sf. of gfa
Medical clinic or doctor's office
1 per 200 sf. of gfa
General office
1 per 300 sf. of gfa
Personal Service and Retail Uses
Personal service
1 per 200 sf. of gfa
Retails stores
1 per 250 sf. of gfa
Recreation, Social, and Entertainment Uses
Indoor commercial amusements
1 per 100 sf. of enclosed gfa
Bowling alley
4 per lane
Indoor arena or theater
1 per 4 seats plus 1 per employee
Night club
1 per 100 sf. of gfa up to 2,000 sf., then 1 per 50 sf. of gfa.
Indoor sport courts, tennis/racquetball, volleyball, basketball or handball courts,
3 spaces per court +1 space per 4 persons at design capacity
Outdoor Uses
Driving ranges
1 space per tee
Golf course
4 spaces per green, + 1 per 150 sf. of indoor facilities
Court (tennis, racquetball, etc.)
2 per court
Amusement park
1 per 3 persons at design capacity
Mini-golf
1.5 space per hole + 1 per 200 sf of gfa
Archery range/paintball course
1 per 200 sf of gfa, + 1 space per tee/target
Outdoor commercial amusement
1 per 200 sf of gfa + 1 space per 4 persons design capacity of outdoor facilities; 9 spaces per sports field or court
Outdoor recreation (athletic fields/facilities)
1 per 4 seats of design capacity + 9 per field or court
Outdoor arenas, stadium or amphitheater
1 per 4 seats of design capacity
Motor Vehicle and Machinery Uses
Carwash
1 per 200 sf. of gfa
Automobile sales
1 per 400 sf. enclosed space, 1 per 2,000 sf. outside display area
Automobile repair major and minor
1 per 200 sf. of gfa
Machinery sales, repair - indoor
1 per 500 sf. of gfa
Machinery sales, repair - outdoor
1 per 2,000 sf. of gfa
Storage, Wholesale, and Manufacturing Uses
Lumberyard, wholesale
1 per 2,000 sf. of site area
Outdoor storage/sales or display (primary use)
1 per 2,000 sf. of site area
Manufacturing and fabrication
1 per 1,000 sf. of gfa + 1 per each 2 employees on the larger shift
Office/Showroom/Warehouse
1 per 400 sf. of gfa
Self-storage facility
1 per 50 storage units, + 5 spaces for customers, if renting trucks/trailers include + 1 space for each vehicle/trailer
Warehouse and distribution
1 per 2,000 sf. of gfa
(Ordinance CO11-20-01-09-H1 adopted 1/9/20; Ordinance CO34.23.09.28.E1 adopted 9/28/2023)
(a) 
Location.
(1) 
Loading and unloading areas shall be located so as not to restrict or interfere with the normal movement of pedestrians and vehicles along streets, sidewalks or in parking areas. Driveway placement should be such that loading and unloading activities will in no way hinder vehicle ingress or egress.
(2) 
Areas designated for the loading and unloading of people shall be physically separate from areas designated for loading and unloading of freight or goods not carried by people embarking/disembarking from a vehicle. Such physical separation will preclude use of a loading/unloading area by the other activity.
(b) 
Screening.
Loading zones shall be buffered from street view and from adjacent properties to the extent feasible as determined by the Development Services Committee. See section 14.07.006(b)(5)(A) and 11.03.154(B)(1)(g) for screening requirements.
(c) 
Off-street loading requirements.
(1) 
Any use that receives or distributes materials or merchandise by vehicle shall provide off-street loading spaces in accordance with the following requirements:
(A) 
Industrial districts.
Use one (1) loading space for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area.
(B) 
Office and commercial districts.
Use one (1) loading space for each five thousand (5,000) square feet of floor area for the first fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of floor area.
(2) 
The following rules shall apply when computing the number of off-street loading spaces:
(A) 
Floor area shall mean the gross floor area of the use.
(B) 
Fractional spaces shall be rounded to the next highest whole space.
(C) 
Whenever a building or use, existing on the effective date of this article, is enlarged by more than fifty (50) percent in floor area or area use, the entire building or use shall then and thereafter comply with the off-street loading requirements.
(3) 
The required off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the building or use reserved.
(4) 
Each off-street loading space shall consist of a rectangular area not less than twelve (12) feet wide and forty-five (45) feet long. All off-street loading spaces shall be paved.
(d) 
Public/private school and child-care facilities.
Child-care centers and other child-care facilities shall be required to provide on-site loading/unloading area, separate from the parking area and as close to the main entrance as possible. The loading/unloading area shall have one-way movement.
(e) 
Solid waste disposal.
See section 14.07.009 and section 11.03.154(B)(1)(g) for screening requirements.
(Ordinance CO11-20-01-09-H1 adopted 1/9/20)
(a) 
A minimum of one (1) bicycle rack shall be required for each development/building providing parking for at least three (3) bicycles. An additional rack is required if the project exceeds fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet for every additional fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of building area or fraction thereof. Each bicycle rack shall be anchored so that they cannot be easily removed.
(b) 
Bike racks shall be shown on the site plan.
(Ordinance CO41-07-12-3H adopted 7/12/07)
In the event a site undergoes a voluntary improvement, change of use, partial replacement, expansion, or abandonment, the Development Services Committee may require any or all sections of this Chapter to apply, dependent upon the circumstances of the site.
(Ordinance CO41-07-12-3H adopted 7/12/07)