Parking Reform
for flexible Parking Regulations

The City is considering updates to off-street parking and loading regulations in Chapters 51 and 51A of the Dallas City Code.

DCA No. 190-002

Parking Reform passed by Dallas City Council on May 14, 2025.

 

SUMMARY

On May 14, 2025, Dallas City Council voted 14-1 to adopt Parking Reform for flexible parking for Dallas.  With the approval of the Parking Reform Development Code Amendment on May 14, 2025,  the new parking ratios and regulations will apply to the entire Development Code contained in Chapters 51, 51A, 51P, Article XIII: form-based code, and planned development
districts where applicable. 
View Summary h​ere or on table below.  
View Parking Reform Ordin​ance 


BACKGROUND

Chapters 51 and 51A of the Dallas City Code determine parking areas’ location, design, and how much off-street parking must exist per land use. These regulations impact housing affordability, economic development potential, environmental resiliency, safety, and walkability in Dallas. Amendments were considered and adopted which would shift the approach from one-size-fits-all numerical requirements to a framework prioritizing context-sensitive travel demand management, multi-modal transportation options, and well-designed parking facilities. Parking Reform does not include on-street parking and loading, which is addressed in the Department of Transportation & Public Work's recently-adopted On-Street Parking & Curb Management Policy.



PARKING REFORM HIGHLIGHTS

Land Use, Building, or Geography
​​Action
 New Parking Ratio Regulations
​Transit-Oriented Development and Downtown
 ​Requirem​ents Remove​​​d​​
 ​No minimums for any use within:

  • 1/2-mile of light rail and streetcar stations
  • CA-1 and CA-2 districts (downtown)​
​Any Local, State, or Federal Designated Historic Buildings and Sites
 ​Requirements Removed
 ​​No minimums for any use
​Single-family & Duplex homes
 ​Requirements Reduced and Standardized
 ​​Minimum 1 space per dwelling unit in R, D, and TH zoning districts.

No minimum parking for single-family or duplex homes anywhere else.
​Multifamily 
(parking)		 ​Requirements Reduced and Standardized

Developments with:

  • 0-20 dwelling unit: no minimum
  • 21-199 dwelling units: 1/2-space per dwelling unit​
  • 200 dwelling units or more: 1 space per dwelling unit
​Multifamily 
(loading an​d short-term parking)
 Requirements simplified and expanded​ ​Every multifamily development must identify areas for anticipated loading and short-term drop-off and pick-up, as well as relevant building components such as freight elevators, at permitting.

Developments with 150 dwelling units or more must have at least 1 loading space of adequate size for the planned use.
​​Mixed Income Housing Density Bonus
(For qualifying developments)
 ​Requirements removed
 No minimum parking required for MIHDB development.​
​Office, Retail, and Personal Service Uses
(Not including bars and alcohol establishments, restaurants, or commercial amuement inside or outside (bowling alleys, dance halls, etc.)
 ​Requirements removed
 ​​No minimums.
​Bars and Alcohol Establishments
 ​Requirements Reduced and Removed
 ​For buildings 2,500 square feet or less, no minimums.

For buildings over 2,500 square feet, minimum 1 space per 200 square feet. (The entire land use must be parked.)​
​Restaurants

 ​​Requirements Reduced and Removed
 For the first 2,500 square feet of restaurant space, no minimums.

For restaurant space above 2,500 square feet, minimum 1 space per 200 square feet.
​Commercial Amusement Inside and Outside
(Bowling alleys, dance halls, etc.) 
 ​Requirements Reduced and Standardized
 ​Minimum 1 space per 200 square feet.
​Commercial Service and Business
 ​Requirements Mostly Removed, Geographically Limited, and Standardized
 When contiguous with single-family uses in R zoning:

  • 1 space per 500 square feet for all uses except:
  • 1 space per 600 square feet for job or lithographic printing, and
  • 1 space per 1,000 square feet for machinery, heavy equipment, or truck sales and service.
No minimums anywhere else. 
​Industrial
 ​Requirements Mostly Removed and Geographically Limited
 ​No minimums except when contiguous with single-family uses in R zoning (no change).​
​Places of Worship
 Requirements ​Removed and Size-Limited
 ​No minimums for places of worship of 20,000 square feet or less. (No change for place of worship greater than 20,000 square feet.) 
​Schools
(All types)
 ​Requirements Partially Removed
 ​No minimums for any schools except senior high school (no change). ​
​Existing MD-1 Overlay
(Greenville Avenue area)
 ​Requirements Geographically Limited
 ​Properties subject to the MD-1 Modified Delta Overlay will keep minimums for 29 currently allowed uses. (See the amendment summary or ordinance for spaecific list.)​
​Citywide design standards
  • Require pedestrian paths through parking lots
  • Requiring tree protection for parking lots
  • Prohibiting surface water drainage across sidewalk surfaces
  • Simplified loading standards and allowing shared loading
  • Allowing parking lot entrances on any alley for any use
  • For residential uses, no additional setback for parking garage when accessed from alley
  • Bike parking changed: bigger ratio and new design and location standards​​​




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Watch this video to learn more about Parking Reform in the City of Dallas. 

 

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    PLANNING CONTACT
    Andreea Udrea - Deputy Director
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