Three Views on the End of Parking Minimums

By Robert Ferrin, CAPP

Minimum parking requirements date back to the 1920s—nearly as long as zoning codes—and most cities implemented them in the 1960s. They have shaped our cities and helped personal vehicles dominate Americans’ transportation.

More than 50 years later, 2017 ushered in a new era when Buffalo, New York, became the first major U.S. city to abolish parking minimums. Minneapolis, Raleigh, San Jose, and others followed. At the beginning of 2023, California became the first state to abolish parking minimums for developments located near public transportation routes.

Affordable housing, transit, and environmental advocates celebrate these policy changes. They point to decreased development costs, improved walkability, and increased multi-modal transportation, lowering carbon emissions and vehicle congestion. Together, they help meet municipalities’ climate action goals.

But what does this mean for urban development? What should policymakers consider as they contemplate parking reforms? And what tools can cities introduce to manage parking demand and support new policies?  Click here to learn more.

Robert Ferrin, CAPP, is a Senior Project Manager with Kimley-Horn,  a member of the IPMI Board of Directors, and Co-Chair of the IPMI EV Readiness Cohort. He can be reached at robert.ferrin@kimley-horn.com.