Parking is allowed only on the driveway, the space between the driveway and nearest property line, and the additional two-foot strip adjacent to the driveway, as explained below.
Parking is not allowed on any other paved area in the front yard.
Front yard parking restrictions have always been in effect, per Lakewood Municipal Code (LMC 9373.7).
On December 8, 2020, the City Council adopted an Ordinance(PDF, 259KB) pertaining to front yard standards for landscaping, permeable and impermeable hardscape surfaces to clarify driveway widths where vehicles are allowed to park, as follows:
- The driveway width shall be no wider than ten (10) feet for each offsite parking space to which it leads (e.g. 20-feet wide drive for a two-car garage or carport).
- The property owner may pave the area between the driveway and nearest property line.
- The property owner may install an additional two-foot wide paved strip adjacent to the allowed driveway for the purpose of passengers safely exiting from a vehicle.
These two additional paving elements are in excess of the specified standards for driveway widths, and would allow for vehicle parking.
Why the ordinance?
The purpose of this Ordinance was to modify and clarify the existing development standards pertaining to the ground covering material allowed in the front yards of single-family residences.
Lakewood's goal is to maintain the character of the city, because the prior regulation lacked restrictions on how much paving was allowed in the front yard, and there were no minimum requirements for landscaping. This resulted in some property owners paving all of the front yard area, which was frequently used for parking. The City Council wanted to come up with a fair way to set standards for all property owners to suit the many different configurations, so this new Ordinance was enacted.
What does the Ordinance do?
It established for the first time minimum landscape standards and clarified the allowed installation and use of permeable and impermeable hardscape surfaces in the front yard for driveways, walkways and other landscaping purposes. While the Ordinance did not change the existing restrictions on front yard parking (LMC 9373.7), it did clarify the standards for driveway widths and expanded the use of the driveways to allow tandem uncovered parking, as one means of satisfying parking requirements.
What are the new standards?
- Most significantly, the Ordinance established standards for the maximum amount of impermeable hardscape in the front yard area, based on lot frontage widths (60% on lots of 45 feet or more).
- The remaining portion of the front yard is now designated as front yard landscape area, 50% of which is required to be planted with organic material.
- In addition, the Ordinance established standards for acceptable ground cover, front yard walkways and clarified allowed driveway widths and standards.