Incentives for Public Parking

Public parking can be incentivized at new developments through city code by methods such as increased allowable density, expedited permitting, or reducing minimum parking requirements. When parking spaces are made public, they can be used by more people at more times of the day, which optimizes their use.  Often reserved spaces may go unused most of the day, especially if a high ratio of parking to building area is required.

Key Benefits

Efficient Parking Use – Reduces underuse of parking by ensuring that all spaces can be used at different times of day

Reduces Cost – Use of on-street spaces counting towards total parking supply can reduce land and resources dedicated to off-street parking.

Implementation

City code that requires parking often needs to be modified to allow this.  Implementing it as an optional incentive can make it less challenging for developers to use.

Shared action (either public, private or third-party authority) 
  • Evaluate appropriate locations with context and area parking demand considered.
  • Conduct parking demand studies as needed to test reserved versus public parking use. 
  • Promote the availability and benefits of shared public parking to encourage community buy-in and higher usage rates.

Responsible Party

Action


P_PublicSectorPublic Sector

  • Revises codes to incentivize shared public parking.
  • Coordinates with property owners and developers to ensure that incentives are understood and implemented correctly.
  • Monitors implementation to ensure that credited parking is functioning as shared/public parking. 


P_PrivateSectorPrivate Sector

  • Builds shared public parking to more efficiently use land at new developments.  

Location

Often most applicable in mixed-use, commercial or entertainment districts, such as downtown and main streets where some level of density is allowed and public parking is beneficial.

Cost

Cities may incur cost to revise zoning standards. Developers may save funds if it results in less parking being constructed on-site. 

Timing

The strategy applies to new development or redevelopment and may often be part of the zoning approval process.

Technology

Information technologies such as those below can help drivers identify where public parking is available such as parking guidance systems, dynamic wayfinding and signage, static signage, parking availability platforms and mobile applications. For more information, refer to the Parking Technology Guide.

Case Studies

Chattanooga, TN

The City of Chattanooga permits on-street parking spaces located along the front or side lot lines to count toward off-street parking requirements for nonresidential uses within commercial and mixed-use zones. Additionally, newly created on-street parking spaces may also be credited, provided they remain accessible to the general public 24 hours a day and are not reserved for specific users or developments. This code incentive encourages the development of shared public parking in walkable, mixed-use areas—enhancing access and reducing the need for additional land or costly surface lots and parking structures.
Source

Garland, TX

Zoning for Garland’s Downtown District allows developers to count on-street parking that is immediately adjacent to their development toward meeting site parking requirements.  Their Downtown District also states: “Properties that provide at least eighty percent of on-site parking as publicly shared parking may use the reduced requirement for nonresidential uses by twenty-five percent on-site”. Their code specifies that on-street parking created by a development may not be reserved for private use. 
Source