A. 
Requirement. In all districts adequate loading areas shall be provided so that all vehicles loading, maneuvering or unloading are completely off the public ways and so that all vehicles need not back onto any public way.
B. 
Size and location. Each loading space shall be not less than 10 feet in width and 25 feet in length and shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet and may occupy all or any part of any required yard.
C. 
Required number of off-street loading spaces. All department stores, retail stores, retail food markets, warehouses, supply houses, hotels, hospitals, day-care centers and other buildings where large amounts of goods are received or shipped shall provide loading and unloading space as follows: one permanently maintained truck loading and unloading space adjacent to the building to be erected. The minimum number of loading spaces shall be increased by the Plan Commission in accordance with the estimated volume and frequency of the loading and unloading requirements of the proposed use of the building.
[Amended 10-28-2025 by Ord. No. 25-04]
A. 
In all districts and in connection with every use there shall be provided at the time any use or building is erected, enlarged, extended or increased off-street parking stalls for all vehicles in accordance with this section.
B. 
Number of stalls. The number of off-street parking stalls shall be provided in the amounts herein specified in all zoning districts, except the Central Business District (CBD) and the Mixed Use District (MX):
Use
Minimum Parking Required
(number of parking spaces)
One- and two-family dwellings
2 for each dwelling unit
Authorized elderly housing (nonassisted, nonnursing)
1 1/2 for each dwelling unit
Multiple family dwellings
2 for each dwelling unit
Lodging and boarding houses
2 for each guest room or 1 for each adult occupant, whichever yields the greatest number of parking spaces
Hotels and motels
1 for each guest room without kitchen facilities and 1 1/2 for each guest room with kitchen facilities, plus 1 space per each 100 square feet of banquet, ballroom, assembly, meeting, restaurant, bar or nightclub seating area in the hotel or motel
Hospitals
1 for each 2 beds, plus 2 for each 3 employees, including nurses, doctors, medical technicians, and administrative, support, services and maintenance staff
Dormitories
1 per 3 persons housed
Sanitariums, institutions, rest homes, nursing homes and assisted-living
1 for each employee working the largest shift, plus 1 for each 4 residents
Medical and dental clinics
5 for each doctor or dentist
Auditoriums, community centers, and other places of public assembly
1 for each 4 seats, plus 1 for every 100 square feet of assembly area not having fixed seats
Museums and libraries
1 for each 1,000 square feet of floor area
Churches and other places of worship
1 for each 4 worship seats in the main assembly room
Junior and senior high schools and colleges
1 for each 5 students at maximum design enrollment, plus 1 for each staff member, or 1 for each 5 seats provided in the main auditorium or assembly room, whichever is greater
Elementary schools
1 for each staff member, or 1 for each 5 seats provided in the main auditorium or assembly room, whichever is greater
Government buildings, federal, state, county and city
1 for each 200 square feet of floor area
Banks and business and professional offices
1 for each 400 square feet of floor area for the first 20,000 square feet of total floor area, plus 1 additional parking space or each 1,000 square feet of floor area in excess of 20,000 square feet
Mortuaries or funeral homes
1 for each 5 seats in the main assembly room or each 100 square feet of floor area, whichever is greater
Dance halls, skating rinks, lodge halls, and exhibition halls
1 for each 5 fixed seats, plus 1 for each 100 square feet of floor area used for dancing or halls without fixed seats
Retail stores and supermarkets
1 for each 180 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof in any building with up to 20,000 square feet of floor area or 1 for each 250 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof in any building or group of buildings with over 20,000 square feet of floor area
Industrial, manufacturing and wholesale warehouses
1 for each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 for each 10 employees or a minimum of 3 for visitors, and 1 for each company-owned vehicle parked on-site
Restaurants and taverns
1 for each 4 seats
Stadiums, ballparks and outdoor sports arenas
1 for each 5 seats; such parking area shall be located no nearer than 80 feet to the nearest corner of the seating facility
Theaters and indoor sports auditoriums, other than those incidental to public or parochial schools or colleges
1 for each 5 persons allowed in capacity-rated buildings and arenas
General commercial (not listed above)
1 for each 180 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof in any building with up to 20,000 square feet of floor area or 1 for each 250 square feet of floor area or fraction thereof in any building or group of buildings with over 20,000 square feet of floor area
Day-care centers and nursery schools
1 for each 7 children authorized, plus 1 for each staff member, and 1 loading space
C. 
Uses not listed. In the case of structures or uses not mentioned, the provision for a use which is similar shall apply.
D. 
Combined uses. Combinations of any of the above uses shall provide the total of the number of stalls required for each individual use.
E. 
Change of use. When the type or intensity of use of a property changes the parking standards for the new use apply, even if there is no change in the zoning district.
F. 
Parking requirement adjustment for uses in proximity to transit routes, pedestrian-friendly uses and local serving businesses.
(1) 
The off-street parking requirements for any use located within 500 feet of a regular, established city transit route may be reduced by up to 10% by the Plan Commission.
(2) 
The off-street parking requirements for any use that is determined to receive significant pedestrian traffic or for uses determined to be local serving businesses may be reduced by up to 10% by the Plan Commission.
A. 
All new, reconstructed or expanded parking lots shall be hard surfaced with concrete or asphalt, except:
(1) 
Temporary waivers may be issued by the Community Development Department where it finds that short-term future development or change in use of the property would remove or change the parking area planned for paving. Temporary waivers shall be issued for one year and shall be reviewed annually.
(2) 
Waivers may be allowed by the Community Development Department where it finds that the limited use of the parking area does not warrant the need for a hard surface, the parking area is not required parking or is a storage yard area or other existing parking in the vicinity is not hard surfaced and requiring such a hard surface for the property in question would result in a hardship. Waivers will be reviewed annually.
B. 
Adequate provisions shall be made for the disposal of stormwater from the lot. The Community Development Department shall approve plans which show such water conveyance is minimized onto adjoining property or adjacent sidewalks and transfer of sediment from the lot is minimized.
C. 
A commercial/residential barrier that is an opaque fence, wall, berm or landscaping six feet in height and of a character necessary for adequate screening of the parking lot from adjacent residential property shall be provided.
D. 
The parking spaces and their locations and the locations and widths of entrances and exits to and from any parking lot or parking ramp shall be designed to provide appropriate circulation of traffic within the parking area and onto the street.
E. 
The location of each parking space and the location and direction of movement along the driveways providing access thereto shall be indicated by painting upon the surface, by raising directional signs or by markers or other similar measures placed in the surfacing of any parking lot which is greater than five stalls in size.
F. 
Driveway restrictions shall be provided for by lighted raised markers or similar measures placed in the surfacing or adjoining property. Lettering of restriction signs shall indicate the restriction in neat, legible-type lettering.
G. 
Any parking lot or ramp shall be adequately maintained, keeping it as free as possible from snow and ice. All signs, markers or painting or any other methods used to indicate direction of traffic movement and location of parking spaces shall be maintained in a neat and legible condition. Walls, trees and shrubbery, as well as the surface of the parking lot or ramp, shall be maintained in a good condition throughout their use for parking purposes.
H. 
Handicap parking stalls will be required and signed as required by law.
I. 
Alternative pervious pavement systems can be considered and approved by the Community Development Department and City Engineer on a case-by-case basis.
A. 
Residential. Parking lots, except driveways, are not allowed in setback areas in the RS and R Dstricts. In the RM Dstrict, side and rear yard areas may be used for parking lots if curbs, bumper guards and decorative fences are installed for safety and the protection of property.
B. 
Commercial and industrial. In commercial and industrial districts only where setback areas are required, the parking lot area may extend into the street setback area to within 15 feet of the street right-of-way line if curbs, bumper guards and decorative fences are installed for safety and the protection of property.
The following design standards shall apply for all off-street parking lots and unloading areas:
A. 
Nonresidential double or two-way drives. All driveways shall conform to the regulations of Chapter 110, City of Rice Lake Code.
Major Type of Usage
Maximum Width at Property and Setback Line
(feet)
Maximum Width at Curbline
(feet)
Autos and single-axle trucks
20
30
Semitrailers
25
35
B. 
One-way drives.
Major Type of Usage
Maximum Width at Property and Setback Line
(feet)
Maximum Width at Curbline
(feet)
All
15
25
C. 
Curb required. If it shall be necessary, in the opinion of the Street Superintendent, to place a curbing or safety island between driveways, between the property line and curbline or between the property line and the building, such shall be installed by the owner at his expense or it shall be installed by the city at the property owner's expense.
D. 
Corner lots. The driveway approaches, measured along the curbline, shall not be less than 25 feet from the intersection of the street right-of-way lines on a corner lot or 35 feet from the point of intersection of the face of the curbs, whichever is greater.
E. 
Residential districts, single or double drives. All driveways shall conform to the regulations of Chapter 110, City of Rice Lake Code.
Maximum Width at Property and Setback Line
(feet)
Maximum Width at Curbline
(feet)
24
30
F. 
Two-way driveways. Where the length of the center line of a proposed drive is greater than 200 feet, two two-way driveways shall be permitted.
G. 
Distances between curb openings.
(1) 
On the same parcel. The minimum distance between one-way driveways at the curbline shall be no less than 15 feet.
(2) 
On adjoining parcels. Where two adjoining driveways abut, the maximum opening shall be the maximum width at the curbline as shown in design standards.
H. 
Number of driveways. In all other cases, not more than one two-way driveway or two one-way driveways shall be permitted from each street right-of-way to which a lot or parcel has frontage, except that additional driveways shall be permitted if necessary for the public safety and convenience and with the written permission of the Plan Commission.
I. 
Traffic flow. Traffic in driveways may be restricted as to direction of flow.
(1) 
Every driveway approved for one-directional movement only shall be equipped with a sign indicating to motorists its direction. Such sign shall be installed by the owner prior to the use of the parking facility. If such directional sign is not installed by the owner, the city shall do so at the owner's expense.
(2) 
Signs for directional movement of traffic shall be constructed and installed as follows:
(a) 
Privately installed signs shall be placed upon private property as close to the public right-of-way and applicable driveway as practical. Such signs shall be no less than 400 square inches nor more than 750 square inches and shall be no less than three feet nor more than five feet above the ground. Such private signs shall contain only the lettering "In" or "Entrance Only," "Out" or "Exit Only" or "Do Not Enter," as appropriate, in letters at least three inches high and, if illuminated, shall be done so only indirectly.
(b) 
Signs required to be installed by the city shall be regulatory one-way signs with black arrow and lettering on white background, which shall be installed within the public right-of-way as near the applicable driveway as practical at the height prescribed in Subsection I(2)(a) above and shall be installed at the owner's expense.
A. 
Minimum requirement. This section shall not prevent provision of parking space in excess of those amounts specified. The specified amounts are minimum requirements.
B. 
Existing parking. Existing parking facilities shall not be eliminated or reduced to an amount less than that required for a new building associated therewith.
C. 
Parking not loading space. Required off-street parking space as provided herein shall not be considered as supplying loading space required herein.
D. 
Changing requirements. Whenever there is a change in the number of employees, in the lawful use of the premises or in any other unit of measurement specified in any of the provisions of this article and whenever such change creates a need for an increase or a decrease of more than 15% of the number of automobile parking spaces previously required in this article, off-street parking facilities shall be provided within a sixty-day period on the basis of the adjusted needs.
E. 
Mixed uses. In the case of mixed uses, the parking facilities required shall be the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses computed separately in accordance with this article and with the following provisions:
(1) 
Except on lots accommodating one-family dwellings only, each off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle of the width specified in the parking chart of this chapter.
(2) 
All off-street parking facilities, other than those serving one-family or two-family dwellings, shall be so designed to permit all traffic to enter and leave in a forward motion.
(3) 
Each required off-street parking space shall conform to the dimensions of Table 1, Parking Chart, of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 1, Parking Chart, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(4) 
Parking areas shall be hard-surfaced, shall have adequate drainage and shall be provided with bumper guards where required.
(5) 
Parking areas shall be used for parking purposes only. No sales, storage, repair work, dismantling or servicing of any kind shall be permitted.
F. 
Location.
(1) 
Where practicable, all parking spaces required to serve buildings or uses erected or established shall be located on the same property as the building served, except that parking spaces to serve retail buildings or uses may be located within 250 feet of a main entrance, and except that all parking spaces to serve industrial buildings or uses may be located within 500 feet if such spaces are located in an industrial district.
(2) 
Buildings or uses existing which are subsequently altered or enlarged and thereby require the provision of parking spaces under this article may be served by parking facilities located on land zoned to permit such use, provided that such facilities are within 500 feet walking distance of a main entrance to the use to be served. Owners of property nonconforming as to parking who elect to provide parking and become conforming may locate such parking on land zoned to permit such use other than the zoning lot on which the building or use is located, as permitted by this section.
G. 
Minimum size of parking stalls. The minimum dimensions of parking stalls for off-street parking within the City of Rice Lake may be nine feet by 18 feet. Parking stalls shall conform to the dimensions so documented within Table 1, Parking Chart, and Figure 1, Parking Diagram.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Table 1, Parking Chart, and Figure 1, Parking Diagram, are included as attachments to this chapter.