In order to alleviate progressively or to prevent traffic congestion and shortage of curb spaces, off-street loading facilities shall be provided incidental to new uses and major alterations and enlargements of existing uses. The number of loading berths prescribed in this chapter or to be prescribed by the zoning administrator shall be in proportion to the need for such facilities created by the particular type of use. Off-street loading areas are to be laid out in a manner that will ensure their usefulness, protect the public safety, and where appropriate, insulate surrounding use from their impact.
(Prior code § 2-9.27)
A. 
At the time of initial occupancy, major alteration or enlargement of a site, or of completion of construction of a structure or of a major alteration or enlargement of a structure, there shall be provided off-street loading facilities for trucks in accord with the schedule of off-street loading berth requirements in Section 18.92.030 of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the terms "major alteration" or "enlargement" shall mean a change of use or an addition which would increase the number of loading berths required by not less than 10 percent of the total number required. The number of loading berths provided for a major alteration or enlargement of a site or structure shall be in addition to the number existing prior to the alteration or enlargement, unless the preexisting number is greater than the number prescribed in Section 18.92.030 of this chapter, in which instance the number in excess of the prescribed minimum shall be counted in calculating the number provided to serve the major alteration or enlargement.
B. 
Off-street loading berths in addition to those prescribed in the schedule of off-street loading berth requirements shall be provided if the zoning administrator finds that such additional berths are necessary to ensure that trucks will not be loaded, unloaded or stored on public streets. A finding shall be based on an investigation of the anticipated frequency of truck pick ups and deliveries and of the truck storage requirements of the use for which the off-street loading berths are required.
C. 
If, in the application of the requirements of this section, a fractional number is obtained, one loading berth shall be provided for a fraction of one-half or more, and no loading berth shall be required for a fraction of less than one-half.
(Prior code § 2-9.28)
A. 
Exemptions from loading berth requirements: banks, service stations, public and private offices, car washes, hotels and motels.
B. 
Food stores:
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0-3,999 sq. ft.
0
—
4,000—9,999 sq. ft.
1
10 x 30 or 12 x 45 as determined by zoning administrator.
10,000—69,999 sq. ft.
2
12 x 45
70,000—120,000 sq. ft.
3
12 x 45
One berth for each additional 100,000 sq. ft.
12 x 45
C. 
Retail stores, excluding food stores, but including restaurants, bars and soda fountains:
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0—3,999 sq. ft.
0
—
4,000—29,999 sq. ft.
1
10 x 30
30,000—69,999 sq. ft.
2
12 x 45
70,000—120,000 sq. ft.
3
12 x 45
One berth for each additional 100,000 sq. ft.
12 x 45
D. 
Commercial service enterprises (and wholesale uses):
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0—9,999 sq. ft.
0
—
10,000—29,999 sq. ft.
1
12 x 45
30,000—69,999 sq. ft.
2
12 x 45
70,000—120,000 sq. ft.
3
12 x 45
One berth for each additional 100,000 sq. ft.
12 x 45
E. 
Manufacturing plants, other industrial uses:
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0—3,999 sq. ft.
0
—
4,000—29,999 sq. ft.
1
12 x 45
30,000—69,999 sq. ft.
2
12 x 45
70,000—120,000 sq. ft.
3
12 x 45
One berth for each additional 100,000 sq. ft.
12 x 45
*Alternative off-street loading facilities requirements may be considered and granted on a case-by-case basis.
F. 
Institutional uses:
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0—9,999 sq. ft.
0
—
10,000—99,999 sq. ft.
1
12 x 45
100,000—200,000 sq. ft.
2
12 x 45
200,000 +
3
12 x 45
G. 
Mortuaries:
Gross Floor Area
Number of Berths
Dimension of Berth
0—500 sq. ft.
1
10 x 30
One berth for each additional 10,000 sq. ft.
10 x 30
H. 
Open uses: designated loading berths required as determined by the zoning administrator.
Other uses: designated loading berths required as determined by the zoning administrator.
(Prior code § 2-9.29; Ord. 2297, 9/16/2025)
All off-street loading facilities, whether provided in compliance with Section 18.92.030 or not, shall conform with the regulations prescribed in Sections 18.84.180 through 18.84.260 of this code and with the following standards:
A. 
Each loading berth shall be not less than 45 feet in length and twelve feet in width and shall have an overhead clearance of not less than 14 feet, except that for mortuaries, cemeteries, columbariums and crematories, a loading berth used exclusively for hearses shall be not less than 24 feet in length and 10 feet in width and shall have an overhead clearance of not less than eight feet.
B. 
Sufficient room for turning and maneuvering vehicles shall be provided on the site, except that not more than one loading space per site may be located so as to necessitate backing a vehicle across a property line abutting a street. Alleys may be used for maneuvering.
C. 
Each loading berth shall have unobstructed access from a street or alley or from an aisle or drive connecting with a street or alley without moving another vehicle.
D. 
Entrances from and exits to streets and alleys shall be provided at locations approved by the community development director.
E. 
The loading area, aisles and access drives shall be paved so as to provide a durable, dustless surface and shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of surface water without damage to private or public properties, streets or alleys.
F. 
Bumper rails shall be provided at locations prescribed by the zoning administrator where needed for safety or to protect property.
G. 
If the loading area is illuminated, lighting shall be deflected away from abutting residential sites so as to cause no annoying glare.
H. 
Loading areas shall be appropriately screened, as determined by the zoning administrator, from adjacent properties and from the street. No loading berth shall be allowed in a required front yard or a required side yard or the street side of a corner lot, or in a required rear or side yard adjacent to or across a street or alley from an R district.
I. 
No repair work or servicing of vehicles shall be conducted in a loading area.
(Prior code § 2-9.30; Ord. 2000 § 1, 2009)
Off-street loading facilities prescribed in Section 18.92.030 of this chapter shall be located on the same site with the use for which the berths are required or on an adjoining site in a district in which the use served by the off-street loading facilities is a permitted use.
(Prior code § 2-9.31)
If more than one use is located on a site, the number of loading berths provided shall be equal to the sum of the requirements prescribed in this chapter for each use. If more than one use is located on a site and the gross floor area of each use is less than the minimum for which loading berths are required but the aggregate gross floor area is greater than the minimum for which loading berths are required, off-street loading berths shall be provided as if the aggregate gross floor area were used for the use requiring the greatest number of loading berths.
(Prior code § 2-9.32(1))
No off-street loading facility shall be reduced in capacity or in area without sufficient additional capacity or additional area being provided to comply with the regulations of this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-9.32(3))
No existing use of land or structure shall be deemed to be nonconforming solely because of the lack of off-street loading facilities prescribed in this chapter, provided that facilities being used for off-street loading on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, shall not be reduced in a capacity to less than the number of berths prescribed in this chapter or reduced in area to less than the minimum standards prescribed in this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-9.33)
When off-street loading facilities are provided in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, on a site other than the site on which the use to be served by the loading facilities is located, an indenture shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder designating the off-street loading facility and the use to be served, with legal descriptions of all sites involved, and certifying that the off-street loading facility shall not be used for any other purpose unless the restriction is removed by resolution of the city planning commission. An attested copy of the recorded indenture shall be filed with the zoning administrator. Upon submission of satisfactory evidence that other off-street loading facilities have been provided in compliance with the requirements of this chapter or that the use has ceased or has been altered so as no longer to require the off-street loading facility, the commission shall by resolution remove the restriction.
(Prior code § 2-9.34)