CHAPTER.23Chapter 23
PARKING LOTS
Art. i. In General
Art. ii. Required Improvements
Art. iii. Prohibited Activities
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Sec. 1. Purpose and objectives.
A. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a
set of regulations to govern the design construction
and maintenance of parking lots within the City of
Boynton Beach. It is intended that these regulations
provide a minimum set of standards to be followed
when parking lots are constructed in order to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Furthermore, the City of Boynton Beach recognizes
the relationship of these regulations to the goals and
objectives of the comprehensive plan.
B. Objectives.
The objectives of these regulations include,
but are not limited to, the following:
1. To provide a maximum degree of safety
and protection for the public through the orderly
design of parking lots;
2. To provide for a standard for
construction which results in a relatively durable and
nuisance free parking lot;
3. To reduce the negative environmental
impacts which may result from parking lot
construction;
site;
4. To provide for storm water retention on
5. To provide for parking lots which are
constructed in such a manner that the physically
handicapped are not discriminated against; and
6. To permit the land owner to benefit
from his ownership by providing for orderly parking
lot design and construction consistent with the public
health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. No. 96-63, § 1, 1-21-97)
Sec. 2. Scope.
Except within the Community Redevelopment
Area boundaries, these regulations shall be applicable
to all permanent parking lots constructed or
reconstructed in the city. In order to clarify the
applicability of these regulations, compliance is
required under any of the following conditions:
A. When a parking lot serves an existing
building(s) where said building(s) is proposed to be
enlarged or when an additional building(s) is
proposed to be constructed;
B. When a change in building occupancy
occurs as defined in the Standard Building Code;
C. When a change in use occurs which results
in additional parking being required as noted in
Chapter 2, Section 11.H. 16 of these Land
Development Regulations;
D. When compliance with the landscaping
code is required;
E. Reserved;
F. When an existing parking lot is expanded
by twenty-five (25) per cent or more in parking stalls
beyond what was originally approved; and
G. When any new parking stalls, driveways,
access aisles or parking lots are proposed, these
newly constructed areas must comply with the
requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 01-47, § 2, 8-7-01)
2001 S-16
2 Boynton Beach Code
Sec. 3. Exemptions.
A. Exemptions.
These regulations shall not be applicable
under the following conditions:
1. When temporary office trailers are
proposed where the public is not invited; or
2. When temporary construction or
storage trailers are proposed where the public is not
invited; or
3. When the parking of equipment or work
vehicles or the storage of materials is proposed; or
4. When the number of parking stalls in an
existing parking lot is expanded by less than twenty-
five (25) per cent beyond what was originally
approved and no building(s) is proposed to be
enlarged or constructed, the existing portion of the
parking lot need not comply with the requirements of
this chapter. However, any newly constructed areas
must comply with the requirements of this chapter; or
5. When a multi-family residential project
is proposed and is designed to include units containing
garages served by driveways, then these units shall be
exempt from the requirements of this chapter. This
exemption shall not apply to multi-family units that do
not contain garages; or
6. When proposed modifications or
renovations would not increase the number of
dwelling units in an existing residential project; or
7. When the proposed improvements are
of a maintenance nature such as repairs to existing
lot(s), re-striping, overlays, drainage improvements,
etc.; or
8. When the proposed improvements are
upgrades to existing lot(s) such as lighting, curbs,
landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks, and drainage.
9. When an improvement or property in
the Central Business District or which fronts on that
segment of Ocean Avenue extending west from the
Central Business District to Seacrest Boulevard
involves either a change in use and/or a minor
improvement. For the purpose of this subsection,
minor improvement means minor building expansions
which would otherwise generate the need for two or
less parking spaces or improvements which would
generate more than two additional parking spaces, but
which are less than five (5%) percent of the total area
of existing improvements.
(Ord. No. 96-63, § 2, 1-21-97; Ord. No. 00-64, § 3,
12-5-00; Ord. No. 01-33, § 2, 7-17-01)
Sec. 4. Minimum standards.
All areas proposed for parking or storage
including those instances exempted in Section 3
hereinbefore shall be improved to provide a hard,
dust-free surface in accordance with city standards.
(Ord. No. 96-63, § 3, 1-21-97; Ord. No. 02-033, § 4,
8-20-02)
Sec. 5. Permitting.
A. When required.
A permit shall be secured from the director
of development, following consultation with the city
engineer, prior to the construction of any parking lot.
The issuance of a permit shall not relieve any party
from obtaining the necessary permits which may be
required by the various state, federal or local
government agencies which have jurisdiction over the
proposed construction, including, but not limited to,
permits for paving and drainage, lighting and
irrigation. Final inspections of the parking lot for
compliance with this chapter and other city code
requirements and standards are required prior to the
issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
B. Permit application.
In connection with a request for a permit to
construct a parking lot, the owner, or his authorized
2002 S-18
Parking Lots 3
agent, shall submit an application which shall include,
but not be limited to, information and materials as
follows:
1. Permit fee;
2. A sealed survey, not older than six (6)
months which shows existing elevations and/or
contours; existing easements or other encumbrances;
existing structures and trees; and other topographical
features. In addition, the survey must show elevations
of adjacent properties and rights-of-way; right-of-way
widths of adjacent roadways; paving; sidewalks;
elevations; utility lines; and other features;
3. Location of parking and loading
facilities including calculations for the number of
parking stalls required and the number of parking
stalls provided, and the location of handicap parking
stalls, signs and access ramps;
4. A cross-section of the materials to be
used in the construction of the parking lot;
5. A parking lot layout including striping;
6. Proposed site plan;
7. Parking lot lighting plan, including the
location of lighting standards, pole types, luminaire
types, illumination levels, direction of lighting and
type of activating mechanism;
8. Certified statement of conformance
with Chapter 22, Streets and Sidewalks, of the City of
Boynton Beach Land Development Regulations;
9. Location of existing and proposed
streets to include ultimate rights-of-way. Dedication
or right-of-way is required in conformance with the
city and county comprehensive plans;
10. On-site traffic plan including arrows
and traffic signs;
11. Landscaping plan and tree preservation
plan consistent with current city codes;
12. Outline of all buildings on site to be
served by the parking lot and existing and/or
proposed use of same;
13. Paving and drainage plans with
elevations, including calculations and details of the
drainage system;
14. Parking lots serving uses which
generate three thousand (3,000) vehicles, single-
directional trips per day or two hundred fifty (250)
vehicle, single-directional trips in a one-hour period
shall submit a traffic impact analysis.
15. Any other engineering or technical
data necessary to determine compliance with the
provisions of this chapter and the standards referred
to herein.
The above-mentioned information shall be
included in subdivision construction plans when
applicable, and with plans submitted for site plan
approval or building permit.
(Ord. No. 02-033, §§ 3, 4, 8-20-02)
Sec. 6. Non-compliance.
A. Stoppage of work. Failure to comply with
the plans of record or other city ordinances shall
result in an order to stop work from the development
director or his or her designee. Damage to public
property resulting from work performed may result in
a stop work order if a threat exists to the health and
safety of the public.
B. Fines and penalties. In addition to the
remedies afforded in Section 6 above, the city may
enforce the provisions of this chapter as follows:
1. Violation of the provisions of this
chapter shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree,
punishable by up to sixty (60) days in jail and/or a
five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine, and the city may
prosecute violations of this chapter as such.
2002 S-18
4 Boynton Beach Code
2. The city may seek a mandatory
injunction with the circuit court of the Fifteenth
Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County to
enjoin violations of this chapter. Any violation of this
chapter shall result in the authority to enjoin said
nuisance by injunction, and may require that the land
upon which the violation has been committed be
returned to its condition, prior to the violation, or as
close thereto as reasonably possible. Further, any
party creating a violation of this chapter or nuisance
resulting from a violation of this chapter shall be
responsible for all of the city's costs, including
attorney's fees, for bringing any injunctive action
pursuant to this section.
3. The city may prosecute violations of
this chapter through the city's code compliance board.
4. None of the above-listed remedies shall
be considered to be mutually exclusive, and the city
may pursue any or all of the above-listed remedies in
conjunction with each other.
(Am. Ord. No. 97-51, § 2, 11-18-97; Ord. No. 02-033,
§ 4, 8-20-02)
Sec. 7. Administration.
For the purpose of coordinating, enforcing and
administering this chapter, the director of development
shall be the administrative officer.
(Ord. No. 96-63, § 3, 1-21-97)
ARTICLE II. REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS.
Each parking lot constructed or reconstructed
shall include improvements as follows:
A. Illumination
1. General
a. Lighting design. A minimum
average light level of one (1) foot candle shall be
provided, with no more than ten (10) per cent of the
spot readings below one (1) foot candle and none
below one-half (½) foot candle. Fixtures shall be an
energy efficient type automatically controlled by
photoelectric switch or other device acceptable to the
director of development and are to remain on from
dusk to one (1) hour after closing or 2 A.M.,
whichever is later. Submit documents showing, at a
minimum, pole locations and details; fixture types
and sizes; light contours depicting anticipated
levels of illumination (in foot candles) at roadway
surface; certification of compliance with the latest
edition of the Florida Building Code and capacity to
withstand a 140 mph wind load; and proposed conduit
routing.
b. Pedestrian lighting. Walkways
connecting parking lots to buildings or walkways
between buildings shall be lit in such a manner as to
provide a safe environment.
c. Glare. Lighting shall be designed
and installed in compliance with LDR Chapter 2,
Section 4, Paragraph N7.
B. Traffic control
1. Plan. Each parking lot traffic plan
shall provide for stop signs at exits, directional
arrows, internal traffic signs and information signs
where appropriate. It is intended by these regulations
that the applicant retains the responsibility for the
proper and efficient movement of traffic onto and/or
through the site and that additional signing may be
required to accomplish the safe movement of traffic.
The location and type of traffic control devices shall
comply with city standards.
2. Signing and marking. All traffic
signing and pavement marking shall comply with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway
Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices. Particular attention is directed toward
Section 2A, which contains sign design, shape, color,
mounting height and other conditions. Fire lane signs
shall be maximum fifty (50) feet apart; fire lane
curbing shall be painted reflective yellow; the words
Fire Lane shall be painted in three (3) foot high letters
{four (4) inch brush stroke} every fifty (50) feet using
white traffic paint; and No Stopping or Standing signs
shall be posted.
2002 S-18
Parking Lots 5
C. Landscaping. Each parking lot shall be
landscaped consistent with Chapter 7.5, Article II,
Landscape Code, or in the instance of the central
business district, Chapter 7.5, Article lll, Landscape
Code.
D. Irrigation. All landscaped areas within
parking lots shall have an automatic irrigation system,
approved and permitted through the development
department.
E. Curbs and car stops. No more than two (2)
aisles may be traversed without interruption, which
shall be accomplished by the installation of wheel
stops or a raised, continuous curb. Landscaped areas
in parking lots shall be protected from the
encroachment of vehicles by a continuous, raised curb,
or in the instance of a parking stall, by a wheel stop or
a raised continuous curb. Areas to be protected
include all landscaped islands, landscaping adjacent to
parking stalls and landscaping adjacent to curvilinear
drive-ways where encroachment is likely to occur.
Curb shall extend six (6) inches above pavement and
shall comply with city standards utilizing a minimum
of twenty-five hundred (2500) psi concrete.
F. Drainage. Stormwater shall be contained on
site. Containment capacity shall be designed for a
minimum of two and one-half (2.5) inches of rain-fall
in one (1) hour. Drainage structures and exfiltration
trenches shall comply with minimum city standards or
standards of the South Florida Water Management
District. Catch basins shall be located in grassy areas
unless otherwise approved by the city engineer.
Where appropriate, all drainage structures shall have
sediment-settling basins that can be cleaned regularly
of deposits by typical means. For impervious areas
exceeding twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet,
the parking lot and facilities shall be designed and
certified by a Florida-registered engineer. Maximum
storage capacity of soil shall be considered at the rate
of one (1) inch of water for each six (6) inches of soil
above the water table. Drainage calculations are
required in all instances. The hydraulic conductivity
of soil shall be determined with tests made at the site
using test procedures recommended by the South
Florida Water Management District or other
procedures which have been approved by the city
engineer.
G. Reserved.
H. Driveway.
1. Width. Parking lot driveways shall be
a minimum width of twelve (12) feet for one-way
drives and twenty-five (25) feet for two-way drives,
at the right-of-way line. Maximum width of any
drive at the right-of-way line shall be thirty-six (36)
feet, unless otherwise approved by the city engineer.
2. Drive radii. Each parking lot driveway
shall have a radius at the intersection of the vehicular
traffic lanes of twenty-five (25) feet or as otherwise
approved by the city engineer.
3. Distance from streets. Parking lot
driveways shall be constructed at least thirty (30) feet
from the intersection of the right-of-way lines along
local streets, fifty (50) feet along collector streets, and
one hundred twenty (120) feet along streets of a
higher classification.
4. Clearance at parking stalls. Provide a
safe and unobstructed space of eighteen (18) feet in
length between the side of a parking stall and each of
the following:
a. A public or private right-of-way
b. An access aisle
c. An interior driveway
This requirement does not apply at the
egress end of an access aisle or at a driveway, access
aisle or right-of-way where ninety (90) degree
parking is provided.
5. Clearance at major driveways. The
minimum distance from the street right-of-way line at
any major ingress or egress driveway to any parking
stall or to any interior access aisle having direct
access to such driveway shall be one hundred (100)
feet.
2003 S-20
6 Boynton Beach Code
6. Intersections with county and state
roads. Driveways which intersect streets owned and
maintained by a governing body other than Boynton
Beach must be permitted by the proper governing
agency, prior to issuance of a building permit.
7. Number of driveways. Except along
the west side of NE 6th Street, north of Ocean
Avenue, no more than two (2) driveways shall be
permitted from any property. Where properties abut
more than one (1) public or private right-of-way,
additional driveways may be permitted depending
upon traffic volumes, but in no instance shall the
number of driveways exceed two (2) on each street.
I. Parking lot layout.
1. Dimensions. Parking lots shall be
designed to meet or exceed the dimensional
requirements for stalls, driveways and access aisles as
provided for in city standards. Separate city standards
shall apply in the Community Re-development Area
boundaries and said Standards shall be in a separate
document and shall be known as "City Parking Lot
Standards for the Community Redevelopment Area"
as shown in Attachment "A" of Ordinance No. 01-47.
2. Access. Each parking lot or parking
stall shall have sufficient access from a street, alley or
other public or private way. Maneuvering and access
areas shall be of sufficient size to permit vehicles to
enter and exit the parking lot and parking stalls in a
safe and efficient manner. In no instance shall parking
lots be designed to allow vehicles to back out into any
public alley or road rights-of-way, or segments of
private streets which function as local or collector
streets. All angle parking shall have a minimum back-
up distance of twenty (20) feet between the parking
stall and the abutting aisleway in accordance with
current city standards.
J. Parking garages. Public or private parking
garages shall comply with this chapter, with the
Standard Building Code and with county-wide
amendments thereto. Where appropriate, security
systems may be required.
K. Handicap requirements. All parking lots
shall meet or exceed State Handicap Code
requirements, and comply with the Standard Building
Code and the county-wide amendments thereto.
L. Parking lot striping. Parking stalls shall be
delineated by double-line, painted stripes where
parking stalls abut each other, which shall comply
with city standards.
M. Fire lanes. All shopping centers, retail
office complexes and retail establishments, including
commercial establishments and industrial areas, in
which the gross floor area of all buildings if fifteen
thousand (15,000) square feet or greater shall have
fire lanes along the front of all buildings which shall
allow efficient access to the fronts of buildings by fire
protection vehicles. Fire lanes shall have a minimum
pavement width of twenty-two (22) feet. Fire lanes
shall not be encumbered by parked vehicles,
including commercial vehicles, and shall not be used
for the loading or unloading of commercial vehicles.
Additionally, fire lanes shall be clearly marked with
signs and striping or a combination of both, which
shall comply with Article II, Section B.2., of this
chapter.
N. Parcel pickup or customer dropoff lanes.
Parcel pickup or customer dropoff lanes are permitted
outside of the fire lane, if these lanes comply with
city standards.
O. Parking lot maintenance. Parking lots in the
city shall be maintained so as to not be a nuisance or
hazard to the public, including portions of driveways
which lie in the right-of-way.
P. Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be six (6)
inches thick through all driveways and shall meet
handicap code requirements where applicable.
Q. Parking lot pavement. Refer to city stan-
dards for specific requirements.
2002 S-18
Parking Lots 7
Other types of construction that may be utilized
are portland cement concrete, paving blocks, and
stabilized sod, subject to the approval of the city
engineer.
R. Stacking space at drive-up openings. Drive-
up openings through which food is passed shall be
served by a drive-through lane which provides a
minimum of seventy (70) feet of vehicular stacking
space which does not obstruct or restrict in any way
the free movement of emergency vehicles, service
vehicles or any other type of vehicles. See also
Chapter 9, Section 11, paragraph H.
S. Loading zone. All parking lots subject to the
requirements of Chapter 2, Section 11 .J, shall provide
a marked, twelve (12) foot by thirty-five (35) foot
loading space for the receipt and/or distribution of
materials.
(Ord. No. 96-63, §8 4, 5, 6, 7, 1-21-97; Ord. No. 97-
28, 88 1, 2, 7-1-97; Ord. No. 01-47, 8 2, 8-7-01; Ord.
No. 02-033, 88 3, 4, 8-20-02; Ord. No. 03-018, 88 1-3,
6-3-03)
ARTICLE iii. PROHIBITED ACTIVITY
Sec. 1. Prohibited activity.
Major and minor motor vehicle or boat repair,
including oil changes, adding of oil or lubricants, and
installation of new tires, is prohibited in public
parking lots or spaces, and commercial parking or
loading areas and is declared to be a public nuisance.
Commercial property owners engaged in the sale of
motor vehicle or boat parts, oils, or lubricants, shall
post notices within their premises in close proximity
to check out counters or exit doors notifying
customers of this prohibition. Violations of this
provision of the code is subject to enforcement
through code enforcement action, nuisance abatement
action, municipal ordinance violation, or action for
injunctive relief. Law enforcement officers are
authorized to issue notice to appear for violation of
this section.
(Ord. No. 99-01, 8 1, 1-5-99)
2003 S-20
8 Boynton Beach Code