What are the commercial parking requirements in Birmingham?

Birmingham sets commercial parking by use, measured against floor area (§ 4.46 PK-02):

• Retail: 1 space per 300 sq ft
• Office: 1 space per 300 sq ft
• Medical office: 1 space per 150 sq ft
• Restaurant: 1 space per 75 sq ft of indoor floor area, and 1 per 50 sq ft of outdoor dining
• Hotel: 1 space per room, plus 1 per 25 rooms
• Theater: 1 space per 3 seats

Restaurants carry the heaviest load. A 3,000 sq ft restaurant needs 40 spaces, while the same floor area as retail needs 10. That gap matters when a tenant changes use in an existing building.

If the math does not work on your lot, the Planning Board may approve a shared parking arrangement that reduces the requirement by up to 50 percent (§ 4.45). Confirm your use category with the Planning Division at 248-530-1850.