It is the intent of this chapter to:
A. 
Assure that space is provided for the parking, loading and unloading of motor vehicles and bicycles on the site of premises or uses which attract said motor vehicles and bicycles;
B. 
Provide minimum standards of space and parking arrangements, and for the movement of motor vehicles and bicycles into and out of such spaces;
C. 
Avoid or reduce traffic congestion on public streets by:
1. 
Keeping the need for on-street parking to a minimum, and
2. 
Controlling access to sites;
D. 
Enhance safety for pedestrians and motor vehicle operators; and
E. 
Encourage the creation of an aesthetically pleasing and functionally adequate system of off-street parking and loading facilities.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
A. 
Off-street parking spaces and driveways shall not be used at any time for purposes other than their intended use, i.e., the temporary storage of motor vehicles used by persons visiting or having business to conduct on the premises for which the parking is provided.
B. 
Minimum parking space required and intended for use by occupants or users of specific premises shall not be leased or rented to others, nor shall such space be made unavailable through other means to the users for whom the parking spaces are intended. This, however, does not preclude shared parking arrangements.
C. 
Whenever a building or a piece of land is put to a use different from the immediately preceding use, or when a building is remodeled, reconstructed or expanded, adequate off-street parking shall be provided consistent with the new use, reconstruction or expansion of the premises.
D. 
Consideration from the site plan review committee should be given as to the requirements and standards for off-street parking as they pertain to the central business district.
E. 
Off-street parking facilities shall be located as hereinafter specified; where a distance is specified, such distance shall be the walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking facilities to the nearest point of the building that such facility is required to serve.
F. 
For a single-family dwelling or multifamily dwellings, the parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or building site as the building they are required to serve.
G. 
For churches located in any zones, parking facilities shall be located on the site; consideration may be given to parking facilities located not farther than 150 feet from the building.
H. 
For hospitals, sanitariums, homes for the aged, asylums, orphanages, rooming houses, lodging houses, nursing and convalescent homes, community clubs and club rooms, parking facilities shall be located not farther than 150 feet from the facility.
I. 
For uses other than those specified, parking facilities shall be located not farther than 300 feet from the facility.
J. 
Handicapped parking shall meet the guidelines of the International Building Code as adopted in Chapter 18.23 YMC.
K. 
Exceptions or modifications to the provisions of this chapter shall be processed as a variance application.
L. 
The owner of property used for parking and/or loading shall maintain such area in good condition without holes and free of all dust, trash and other debris. Failure to perform such maintenance will be declared a nuisance as adopted in YMC Title 8, Health and Safety.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
The requirements for off-street parking and loading facilities and their design shall be regarded as the minimum; however, the owner, developer or operator of the premises for which the parking facilities are intended shall be responsible for providing adequate amounts and arrangement of space for the particular premises even though such space or its arrangement is in excess of the minimum set forth in this chapter.
For special uses, the parking requirement shall be as provided in that chapter or as determined by the site plan review committee.
A. 
Residential Uses.
Type of Use
Minimum Vehicle Parking Requirements
Single family
Two per dwelling unit
Accessory dwelling unit
One per dwelling unit
Duplexes and multifamily units up to 4 units
Two per dwelling unit
Multifamily over four units
One space for studio apartments
One and one-half spaces per 1 – 2 bedroom dwelling unit
Two spaces per 3+ bedroom dwelling units
Plus one guest space for every 10 units
Multifamily constructed along major transit routes
One space for studio and 1 bedroom apartments
One and one-half spaces per 2+ bedroom dwelling units
Housing intended for exclusive use of, and occupied by, senior citizens shall provide one space for every three dwelling units plus two-tenths space per dwelling unit in buildings containing five or more dwelling units. Housing in which the dwelling units are characterized by one room enclosing all activities (sometimes referred to as "bachelor" or "efficiency" units) shall provide one and one-half parking spaces for each dwelling unit, plus two-tenths space per dwelling unit in buildings containing five or more dwelling units.
B. 
Commercial Uses. In the several commercial districts, off-street parking requirements shall be as shown herein; provided, that all of the property is controlled by a single person or corporation, or written agreements for shared parking, acceptable to the city, are filed with the community development department. Shared parking agreements are acceptable only if the physical relationship between the premises makes such sharing possible and results in superior design in terms of layout, access, reduced curb cuts and the like.
In the following list, the parking requirements for specific uses listed shall be determined through a formula of one stall per number of gross floor area (GFA), or as specified.
Type of Use
Minimum Vehicle Parking Requirements
Banks, saving and loan associations, business and professional offices
One per 300 sq. ft. of GFA.
Grocery stores
One per 250 sq. ft. of GFA.
Retail stores
One per 250 sq. ft. of GFA.
Establishments for the sale and consumption of food and beverages, including fraternal and social clubs
One per 200 sq. ft. of GFA.
Boarding, lodging or rooming houses
One and one-half for each sleeping room.
Institutions, sanitariums and long-term facilities
One for each two beds, plus one per employee based on the greatest number of care employees on a single shift.
Churches, mortuaries or funeral homes
One for six seats in the principal place of assembly or worship, including balconies and choir loft.
Hospitals
One for each bed, plus one per employee based on the greatest number of employees on a single shift.
Libraries and museums
One for each eight occupants, based on maximum occupants per the International Building Code.
Medical or dental clinics
One and one-half per patient treatment room/area, plus one space per employee based on the greatest number of employees on a single shift.
Motels, hotels
One for each unit, plus one per employee based on the greatest number of employees on a single shift.
Motor vehicle or machinery sales, wholesale stores, furniture stores
One for each 400 sq. ft. of GFA.
Schools:
High schools
One for each four students that enrolled and are of legal driving age, plus one per classroom and office. Public assembly areas, such as auditoriums, stadiums, etc., which are primary uses, shall be considered a separate use in determining parking.
Elementary and junior high schools
One for each 10 students of design capacity.
Places of assembly without fixed seats, e.g., stadiums, auditoriums, and churches
One for each 10 occupants, based on the maximum occupant load per the International Building Code.
Assembly areas, less-concentrated use, e.g., conference rooms and gymnasiums
One for each 10 occupants, based on the maximum occupant load per the International Building Code.
Theaters
One for each six seats.
C. 
General Industrial Uses.
1. 
One vehicle space per employee based on the greatest number of employees on a single shift, plus
2. 
One square foot parking per square foot of display or retail area, plus
3. 
One space for each vehicle owned, leased or operated by the company.
D. 
Specific Industrial Uses. Warehouses require one space per 1,000 square feet GFA, plus one space per 400 square feet of GFA used for office or display.
E. 
Minimum off-street parking requirements may be waived where on-site parking is unachievable, and on-street parking is available. Angled parking is allowed on local access and collector streets within the central business district.
Off-street parking requirements for uses similar or related to, or any use not specifically listed above, shall be determined by the site plan review committee on the basis of the requirement for similar uses, and on the basis of evidence of actual demand created for similar or related uses in Yelm, and such other traffic engineering or planning data as may be available and appropriate for the establishment of minimum and maximum parking requirements.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1057 § 8, 2019; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
In the case of two or more uses in the same building, the total requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be the sum of the requirements for the several uses computed separately. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing required parking facilities for any other use, except as hereafter specified in Incentives for reducing the number of parking stalls, YMC § 18.54.060.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
Off-street loading shall be required for all commercial establishments which are engaged in the retailing or wholesaling of merchandise requiring regular delivery such as food retailers, lumber yards, hardware stores, department stores and the like.
Total Gross Floor Area of Building(s)
Space Required
Less than 5,000 sq. ft.
One
5,000 sq. ft. to 25,000 sq. ft.
Two
25,000 sq. ft. to 50,000 sq. ft.
Three
Each additional 50,000 sq. ft. or fraction thereof in excess of 25,000 sq. ft.
One additional
All off-street loading and unloading spaces shall be of adequate size and with adequate access thereto to accommodate a vehicle 45 feet in length, 12 feet in width and 14 feet in height. Each loading space shall be surfaced with an asphalt, concrete or similar pavement so as to provide a surface that is durable and dust-free and shall be so graded and drained as to properly dispose of all surface water, and shall, moreover, comply with Yelm Engineering Specifications and Standard Details.
Any floor area provided by additions to or structural alterations to a building shall be provided with loading space or spaces as set forth herein whether or not loading spaces have been provided for the original floor space.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
The city may allow the overall parking ratio (stalls/floor area, people or employees) to be reduced for buildings of 5,000 square feet or more, provided such reductions are consistent with the intent of this chapter. Reduction in parking areas may include any combination of incentives; provided, that the overall reduction does not exceed 25 percent of the minimum area required by YMC § 18.54.030. Reductions in parking requirements may occur pursuant to, but are not limited to, the following guidelines:
A. 
A reduction of the required parking is possible with coordinated design and shared access to consolidated parking areas linked by pedestrian walkways.
B. 
Multiple parcels, under separate ownership, shall be treated as a single development site if all owners agree. Where adjoining parking facilities of two or more ownerships are developed and designed as one parking facility, a reduction of up to 15 percent of the total combined required parking spaces may be permitted.
C. 
In a mixed use development a reduction of the required parking is possible if, through a quantified parking demand analysis, it can be demonstrated that parking requirements for the highest and best uses occur at offsetting peak times.
D. 
Primary night-time uses such as theaters and bowling alleys may receive up to a 50 percent reduction in providing the required number of parking stalls if:
1. 
A lease for the equivalent parking stall reduction is obtained from a primary day-time user such as a bank, office or retail store;
2. 
Leased parking is within 300 feet of the associated use, as long as a pedestrian walkway exists or is provided between parking area and use.
E. 
Two or more uses may share a parking area or garage if:
1. 
The continuation of joint or shared facilities shall be assured by a sufficient legal document such as a covenant or reciprocal easement agreement or recorded covenant on the approved site plan or by participation in a local improvement district.
2. 
Off-site leasing of parking areas may be utilized to meet the required ratio of parking for the proposed use; provided, that the leased parking is within 300 feet of the proposed use, as long as a pedestrian walkway exists or is provided between parking area and use.
F. 
Alternative programs that may be considered by the site plan review committee under this section include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. 
Private vanpool operation;
2. 
Transit/vanpool fare subsidy;
3. 
Imposition and maintenance of a charge for parking;
4. 
Provision of subscription bus services;
5. 
Flexible work hour schedule;
6. 
Capital improvements for transit services;
7. 
Preferential parking for carpools/vanpools;
8. 
Participation in the ride-matching program;
9. 
Reduction of parking fees for carpools and vanpools;
10. 
Establishment of a transportation coordinator position to implement carpool, vanpool and transit programs;
11. 
Bicycle parking facilities.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
Parking area design shall include:
A. 
Internal circulation of the lot shall be so designed as to minimize in-and-out driving time, idling time, time spent looking for a parking space without reentering adjoining public streets.
B. 
Off-street parking areas shall be designed to provide for the safe and convenient circulation of pedestrians and vehicle traffic within the parking area and between the parking area and adjacent streets.
C. 
Provide access roads through large lots with more than one street frontage.
D. 
Provide shared parking facilities between adjacent compatible land uses.
E. 
Convenient, marked pedestrian access shall be provided from parking areas to pedestrian linkage systems and from parking areas to principal uses.
F. 
Except as approved by the site plan review committee in specified locations within the central business district, in all commercial and industrial developments, and in all residential buildings containing five or more dwelling units, parking areas shall be so arranged as to make it unnecessary for a vehicle to back out into any street or public right-of-way.
G. 
Adequate provision shall be made for individual ingress and egress by vehicles to all parking stalls at all times by means of unobstructed maneuvering aisles. Maneuvering aisles, parking stall dimensions and requirements shall be as shown in the Yelm Engineering Specifications and Standard Details.
H. 
In all parking facilities containing 25 or more parking spaces, a maximum of 25 percent of the required parking spaces may be reduced in size for the use of small cars, provided these spaces shall be clearly identified with a sign permanently affixed immediately in front of each space containing the notation "Compacts Only." Spaces designed for small cars may be reduced in size as listed in the Yelm Engineering Specifications and Standard Details for minimum parking dimensions. Where feasible, all small car spaces shall be located in one or more contiguous areas and/or adjacent to ingress/egress points within parking facilities. Location of compact car parking spaces shall not create traffic congestion or impede traffic flows.
I. 
When off-street parking is provided in the rear of a building and a driveway or lane alongside the building provides access to the rear parking area, such driveway or lane shall be a minimum width of 20 feet with a sidewalk meeting ADA requirements adjoining the building and curbed or raised six inches above the driveway surface.
J. 
An owner/developer may install the required parking spaces in phases if a phased schedule has been approved by the site plan review committee. This schedule must specifically indicate when the minimum parking requirements of YMC § 18.54.030 will be provided. The site plan review committee may permit the use of temporary parking areas with appropriate screening as part of a phasing schedule. In addition, the site plan review committee may require a performance assurance device to ensure conformance with the requirements and intent of this chapter.
K. 
Parking angles may be varied on different aisles within a single parking area to permit more efficient space utilization.
L. 
Dead-end aisles shall be considered as two-way aisles.
M. 
Turnaround areas will be required when necessary.
N. 
All parking areas and driveways must be surrounded by a six-inch-high vertical concrete curb if the lot is visible from the street.
O. 
All landscaped and pedestrian areas shall be protected from encroachment by parked cars.
(Ord. 995 § 12 (Exh. A), 2015; Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)
These standards ensure that there are adequate on-site maneuvering and circulation areas, and ensure that stacking vehicles do not impede traffic on abutting streets.
A. 
The design of drive-through facilities shall provide safe and efficient pedestrian and vehicular access through the site.
B. 
Stacking lanes shall not interfere with parking spaces, parking aisles, loading spaces, internal site circulation, or points of ingress and egress for vehicles or pedestrians, and shall not stack into any right-of-way or adjacent streets.
C. 
Each stacking space shall be a minimum of 20 feet long and 10 feet wide on straight segments and a minimum of 12 feet wide on curved segments.
Type
Minimum Stacking Space Requirements
Fast Food Restaurant and Coffee Shops
12 with a minimum of 3 spaces before the ordering board or window
Financial Institution
4
Pharmacy
6
Automatic Car Wash
6
(Ord. 1124 § 2 (Att.), 2025)