City of Bellingham Municipal Code

20.30.060 - PARKING

A. Applicability. This section provides the parking regulations for a single family dwelling unit only. For other uses refer to Chapter 20.12.

B. Number of Spaces Required. Two parking spaces shall be required for every single family dwelling unit with the following exception:

Single-family, attached homes (including duplexes taking the option of developing as two, single-family, attached units under Section 20.32.045) shall provide 1 additional parking space for each bedroom over 3. No more than 2 enclosed garage, parking spaces per unit may count toward meeting parking requirement.

C. Parking Design

1. The minimum size of a required parking space is 9 feet by 18 feet with 22 feete of maneuvering aisle depth behind each space.

2. All required spaces shall be located on-site.

3. No portion of any parking area shall be permitted within the front yard, side yard on a flanking street, vision clearance triangle or other front yard setback established on the recorded plat (e.g. a lot frontage such as a pipestem that does not meet minimum lot width and is not buildable.) Driveway crossings and tandem parking within a driveway, when allowed by other City codes, are not prohibited by this provision. Single family homes and duplexes that are required to provide on-site maneuvering due to driveway access onto an arterial street or location near an intersection under Section 20.12.010 D. (7) are not prohibited from providing a single back-up area within the front yard or side yard on a flanking street.

4. Open parking spaces may be located within required interior side and rear yards. (See also Accessory Buildings, Section 20.30.100.)

5. City rights of way may be utilized for maneuvering unless the right of way is a designated arterial or when the driveway enters the street within 50 feet of a street intersection; in which case the maneuvering area shall be provided on-site.

6 a. All required parking spaces shall be designed such that any vehicle parking in any space may enter and exit without interference or blocking any other vehicle parking in any other required space, except as allowed in 6.b.

7. A driveway for a single family attached unit shall not exceed 20 feet in width within the front yard or side yard on a flanking street.

8. Where required by Special Regulation in BMC 20.00 - Zoning Tables: When access is available from a city maintained alley, no vehicular access shall be taken from the street frontage except when the Planning Director determines that alley access is impractical or environmentally constrained.