Philadelphia Law Would Raise Parking Minimums

Philadelphia Councilmember Jannie Blackwell has proposed legislation that would significantly parking minimums for multi-family developments around the city.

According to an article by Jake Blumgart, the proposed legislation resurrects a failed bill from 2016 by increasing the amount of required parking spaces for every unit of housing in multi-family residential zoned areas from three parking spots for every ten units to six parking spots for every ten units. Developers would also have to provide seven parking spaces for every ten housing units in industrial-residential mixed use areas, according to Blumgart.

As Blumgart explains, the city's current parking requirements were established when the city completed a zoning overhaul in 2012. Councilmember Blackwell is on the record saying the city should return to one parking spot for every one unit of housing because of the perceived difficulty in parking around the city. The city's Planning Commission disagrees, however, and have already voted unanimously against approval of the bill.

The current debate over parking requirements also emerges in a political moment focused on the creation of affordable housing in the city. Blumgart cites evidence from cities like Los Angeles and Oakland to suggest that raising parking minimums would increase the cost of housing in Philadelphia.