There is an ongoing architecture/development joke that the way you design a building is by first starting with the parking. Once you’ve figured out how the parking will work, you can then move on to, you know, the secondary stuff, like figuring out how actual humans will occupy your development. I’m calling it a joke, but there’s obviously some truth to this. Parking is almost always a challenge, especially if you’re developing in a city that still has parking minimums.
Previously, I’ve talked about the benefits of “unwrapped” above-grade parking. This is generally counter to how most cities like to think about parking. But for a few reasons, it can make a lot of sense. However, to be clear, I’m not advocating for more parking. My point was simply that — if you absolutely have to build parking — then maybe you should look at spaces that give you some flexibility in the future.
At the same time, there’s another more nuanced thing to consider: how big are your actual parking spaces? Here in Toronto, a standard parking space is 2.6m wide x 5.6m deep (about ~157 sf). This is larger than some apartments. But these minimum dimensions can vary greatly by municipality. Oftentimes you’ll hear planners say, “well, people here like their big cars.” The problem with this is that these dimensions will dramatically change your parking design.
So today I thought it would be interesting to gather a few data points from all of you. What are the minimum parking space dimensions in your city? Please leave a comment below so that everyone can see. As far as I know, there isn’t a globally accepted set of dimensions for parking spaces. Perhaps because some places like big cars and other places don’t care. But maybe there should be.
BRANDON DONNELLY 
Calgary, Alberta:
The minimum width of a motor vehicle parking stall required for a Dwelling Unit is:
(a) 3.0 metres where both sides of a stall abut a physical barrier;
(b) 2.85 metres where one side of a stall abuts a physical barrier; and
(c) 2.5 metres in all other cases.
The minimum depth of a motor vehicle parking stall ranges from 5.4m – 5.9m depending on the situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! Calgary is narrower in the standard, unobstructed condition. I would have thought wider. Do you know the minimum length?
LikeLike
In a parkade situation, which i think you are mostly referring to, 2.6m x 5.4m are the minimum stall dimensions in Calgary. 2.5m would apply at grade for minimum, unimpeded width.
LikeLike
St. John’s, NL
2.54m x 5.70.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, interesting. Slightly narrower.
LikeLike
Building big spaces because we want to accommodate ever growing SUVs and trucks is a bit like saying “have another serving because you need to fatten up” to an obese person.
I think making them as small as is reasonably possible so that people with enormous emotional support vehicles (ESV) feel the pain of their decisions every day.
There should be a cost to making vehicular decisions.
There is a giant concrete pad in front of my house that is probably about 5 x 7 meters and I can comfortably park 2x Mazda3 sized cars there. Once I even did a f-150 and a compact car, but it was REALLY tight.
LikeLike
ESVs. lol
LikeLike
Hola. Here in Monterrey, MX we ussually start design with a 2.7 x 5.5 m parking space. Through the process it might get slightly adjusted. Love your blog. Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hola Jaime! Thanks for sharing. I’ve never been to Monterrey, but I’d love to visit.
LikeLike
Definitely. Whenever you find yourself down here we´ll give you the tour!
LikeLike
Where do you find a 157 sq ft apartment in Toronto?
eg with a kitchen and bathroom?
LikeLike
Link was to an apartment in Tokyo
LikeLike
Little Rock, AR. USA -A place where people like their big cars.
Parallel: 22′ wide x 9′ deep with 11′ of maneuvering area
Right Angle: 9′ wide x 20′ deep with 20′ of maneuvering area
60 Degree: 9′ wide x 18′ deep with 18′ of maneuvering area
45 Degree: 9′ wide x 18′ deep with 12′ maneuvering area
For purposes of compact-car space design, the width of spaces may be reduced to eight (8) feet, six (6) inches. This design dimension modification is permitted in those instances where a parking lot will consist of a minimum of twenty (20) parking spaces upon completion of the design whether located within a parking structure or an open parking surface. The maximum number of compact spaces permitted in any parking lot shall be limited to twenty (20) percent of the total spaces.
LikeLike