Commercial Parking Amendments
Planning and Development Services has developed a set of changes to the Unified Development Code (UDC) that affects the minimum amount and type of parking spaces required at certain commercial locations.
These changes to parking regulations were proposed as part of the City's climate action response, ongoing support for local businesses, and goals for high-quality public outdoor spaces.
Review Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 438KB) on the Electric Vehicle Readiness Commercial Parking proposal.
Code amendments to speed up Electric Vehicle Infrastructure approved by Mayor and Council
On Aug. 23, Mayor and Council approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code to ensure that new commercial development in Tucson is Electric Vehicle (EV) ready. These new regulations would require all new commercial development, multi-family, office, and retail to include EV stations or outlets, as well as conduit to support future expansion of EV capacity.
These new requirements come after more than a year of stakeholder and public engagement, community input, and technical analysis to develop the proposal. The new regulations will go into effect on December 1, 2022.
On June 22, 2021, Mayor and Council voted 7-0 to direct Planning and Development Services (PDSD) staff to initiate the process of amending necessary codes to require EV outlets for multi-family residential and commercial development. The code amendment followed a change to the Building Code approved at the same date to require all new residential (one-and two-family) construction to be EV ready. The Building Code change was one of the first implementation items resulting from the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap adopted by Mayor and Council on April 20, 2021.
From July 2021 through May 2022, Planning and Development Services conducted research, consultation, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach to form amendments to commercial parking requirements.
On April 19, 2022, Mayor and Council held a public hearing to review the proposed Parking UDC Code Text Amendments, including both the Individual Parking Plan (IPP) and EV readiness. Mayor and Council continued the public hearing with direction to PDSD staff to conduct further stakeholder outreach.
A revised proposal was presented to Mayor and Council on July 12, 2022.
After the public hearing closed, Mayor and Council discussed the proposed components separately. The amendment related to IPP eligibility was adopted. Mayor and Council postponed a vote on EV readiness to allow for an additional round of stakeholder feedback.
Additional stakeholder feedback was collected through an online survey and a virtual meeting was held on Friday, August 12, 2022. The feedback was gathered, and a revised proposed ordinance was presented to Mayor and Council on Aug. 23, which was approved. You can review the agenda materials from the Aug. 23 meeting and watch the meeting on YouTube.
The code changes are tied to the City's climate emergency declaration. The adopted ordinance is scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1, 2022.
Mayor and Council approve expanded use of Individual Parking Plan, request additional engagement on Electric Vehicle Readiness Requirements
During a July 12 meeting, an updated proposal for changes to commercial parking requirements was presented to Mayor and Council for a public hearing continued from April 19.
The proposed changes included:
- Requiring new multifamily, commercial, and retail development to include electric vehicle (EV) readiness infrastructure; and
- Expanded eligibility for the Individual Parking Plan (IPP) to affordable housing developments, restaurants, and bars
After the public hearing was closed, Mayor & Council discussed the proposed components separately.
Mayor and Council voted 5-1 in favor of allowing restaurants, bars, and affordable housing to apply for an IPP. This will allow these kinds of establishments to request to provide less parking onsite than required by the City code, based on their expected parking demand. Approval of reduced parking will be based on a review of site-specific parking and transportation needs, a required neighborhood meeting, and compliance with certain criteria. This will allow restaurants and bars participating in the temporary program to allow expanded outdoor seating as a pandemic relief measure as an option to make their expanded outdoor seating permanent, should they choose.
Mayor and Council postponed a vote on EV readiness to allow for an additional round of stakeholder feedback. Planning and Development staff will return in late summer after incorporating input into a more refined proposal. More information will be available soon.
View and review the presentation from July 12. The Mayor and Council meeting can be viewed below.
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Continued Mayor and Council Public Hearing on Commercial Parking Code Amendments scheduled for July 12
An updated proposal for commercial parking requirements will be presented to Mayor and Council and the public hearing continued from April 19.
Following Mayor and Council direction, Planning and Development Services staff held two additional public meetings in May to further refine requirements for Electric Vehicle readiness in new development and eligibility for affordable housing, restaurants, and bars to apply for reduced parking through an Individual Parking Plan.
The item is scheduled for a Mayor and Council Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 12. The agenda and materials will be posted approximately one week in advance.
Community members given additional opportunity to provide input on Commercial Parking Amendments
On May 23, 2022, Planning and Development Services hosted a virtual public meeting regarding proposed changes to commercial parking regulations in the City of Tucson.
Community members were given an opportunity to discuss the two components of the proposed text amendment which include EV charging requirements and expanded eligibility for the Individual Parking Plan.
Watch a recording of the meeting:
Feedback on the proposal will be shared with Mayor & Council, and it is expected that the public hearing will continue after public notice later this summer.
Mayor and Council Public Hearing on Commercial Parking amendment continued, additional opportunity for community input
Mayor and Council held a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 19 at 5:30 pm on a proposed amendment to the Unified Development Code which would affect commercial parking requirements. This proposed code change would:
- Require new multifamily, commercial and retail development to have use-based levels of electric vehicle (EV)-readiness.
- Expand eligibility for the Individual Parking Plan to affordable housing developments, restaurants, and bars
The Mayor and Council Public Hearing was continued in order to allow for additional community dialogue and will be re-noticed at a future date.
On May 23, 2022, at 6 p.m., PDSD will host a virtual public meeting to receive additional feedback on proposed changes to commercial parking regulations in Tucson.
This meeting will be a chance to discuss the two components of the proposed text amendment - EV charging requirements and expanded eligibility for the Individual Parking Plan - and share your feedback.
Monday, May 23, 6 p.m.
Via Zoom - Register here
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Background
Mayor & Council directed City staff to develop amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC) to:
- Require new multifamily and commercial development to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure (initiated June 22, 2021)
- Allow for restaurant patio expansions as part of the permanent Expanded Restaurant Seating Program (initiated August 10, 2021)
See a workplan proposal for these items presented to Mayor and Council on September 28, 2021 here(PDF, 1MB) .
Jump to
Electric Vehicle Charging
Expanded Restaurant Patio Seating
Planning Commission Public Hearing on Commercial Parking amendment held on March 2, 2022
PDSD staff presented a proposed commercial parking code amendment at a Planning Commission public hearing on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend the Commercial Parking UDC code amendment to Mayor and Council, with the following additional considerations:
- Request that staff review results of amendment with a monitoring component
- Direct staff to study additional by-right reductions of parking requirements in affordable housing developments
The proposal is tentatively scheduled to go to Mayor and Council for a public hearing on April 19, 2022.
Planning Commission materials can be found here.
Watch a recording of the meeting:
Planning Commission Study Session on Commercial Parking amendment held on February 2
On February 2, 2022, the Planning Commission held a study session to discuss the proposed commercial parking text amendment to require new commercial and multifamily development to be EV-ready and expand eligibility for the Individual Parking Plan to affordable housing developments, restaurants and bars. The following are the materials and recording from that meeting:
Watch a recording of the meeting:
At the meeting, the Planning Commission voted 11-0 to set the Commercial Parking amendment item for a public hearing on March 2, 2022.
Public Meetings about Updating Parking Requirements
In November 2021, City of Tucson PDSD held two public meetings to discuss possible changes to the Unified Development Code (UDC) that will affect the minimum amount and type of parking spaces required at certain commercial locations related to Electric Vehicle Readiness and Restaurant Patio Expansions.
Watch a recording of the meeting:
Electric Vehicle Charging
In New Commercial and Multifamily Housing
Background
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Roadmap, adopted in April 2021 by Mayor and Council, is a series of strategies to reduce the use of fossil fuels in City operations and in Tucson communities by supporting a shift to Electric Vehicles.
Making it easier for people to charge Electric Vehicles in commercial areas and apartment buildings is the next policy step on the EV Roadmap.
Learn more about other EV Readiness policies guided by the EV Roadmap here
Expanded Restaurant Patio Seating
Background
The Temporary Restaurant Seating Expansion Program was adopted as one way to support businesses through the COVID 19 pandemic. Under a larger City-wide emergency order, restaurants, bars and cafes were allowed to provide outdoor seating on sidewalks, streets, or parking lots, in order to allow for CDC recommended social distancing.
Learn more about the Temporary Expanded Restaurant Seating Program here
Due to the successes of the temporary program, Mayor & Council have directed City staff to develop a permanent Restaurant Seating Expansion program. Guidelines for the permanent program will fall under two processes depending on the site-specific characteristics of the participating restaurant or bar.
Shared Spaces – Streateries
Expanded Seating in the Public Right of Way (ROW)
Restaurants or bars that would like to propose additional seating on the sidewalk or the street next to their business will refer to guidelines in the Shared Spaces Program that is managed by the Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM). DTM has manages the use and maintenance of the public Right of Way (ROW).
Learn more about the Shared Spaces Program here.
Patio Seating Expansions
Expanded Seating on Private Property
Restaurants or bars that would like to propose additional seating on their private site, in most cases their parking lot, will follow a process defined in the Unified Development Code (UDC).Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) is currently developing an amendment to the UDC that could allow restaurants and bars to reduce the number of parking spaces required on their site in order to expand the outdoor seating area.
Community Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement
PDSD is currently meeting with diverse groups of stakeholders to discuss trends, existing conditions, and research about electric vehicles and EV charging as well as the needs for expanded restaurant seating.
Stay tuned for more information about virtual and in-person public meetings to share this research and findings, and to gather more feedback about potential changes to the Unified Development Code related to commercial parking.