As communities reevaluate their parking regulations, the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s recent parking code update offers valuable insights into what makes an update successful. Wilson & Company partnered with the City to develop a data-driven, community-informed approach that balanced local development realities with broader land use and transportation goals.
The resulting code amendments eliminated minimum parking requirements within a newly established Urban Core area, reduced parking minimums elsewhere in the city, established parking maximums, and linked oversized parking areas to the provision of public amenities. Together, these changes demonstrate how parking reform can support redevelopment, improve land-use efficiency, and better align growth with community priorities.
So, what should cities consider when updating their parking regulations?
Start with existing conditions
A successful parking code update begins with understanding how current regulations are performing. Many parking requirements have accumulated over time, creating layers of standards, exemptions, and special rules that can be difficult for staff, developers, and property owners to navigate.
Kansas City’s process included an assessment of current parking requirements, staff workshops, developer meetings, peer city research, and an evaluation of parking exemption areas. The effort identified overlapping regulations that created confusion and administrative complexity, underscoring the importance of understanding how existing standards function before proposing new ones.
Use data to inform decisions
Updating a parking code provides an opportunity to determine whether existing standards align with current travel patterns and parking demand. Rather than relying solely on traditional land use categories, communities can evaluate development trends, transit availability, urban form, and local parking utilization. Variance requests and parking reduction approvals can also provide valuable insight into where existing regulations may be creating challenges. Data-driven decision making helps communities move beyond one-size-fits-all requirements and adopt standards that better reflect local realities.
Parking needs vary by context
Parking demand varies significantly across a city. Downtown districts, mixed-use neighborhoods, suburban commercial areas, and industrial corridors often have very different parking characteristics. Applying the same requirements everywhere can result in excess parking in some locations and development constraints in others.
Kansas City addressed this reality by establishing an Urban Core area where minimum parking requirements were eliminated. The approach recognizes that areas with higher densities, walkability, transit access, and a mix of land uses function differently from more auto-oriented parts of a community. Cities should evaluate where flexibility is appropriate and consider tailoring parking regulations to neighborhood context rather than applying uniform standards citywide.
Balance parking with community goals
Excessive parking standards can consume land that could otherwise support housing, commercial activity, public spaces, landscaping, or stormwater infrastructure. Large surface parking lots can also contribute to urban heat island effects and create environments that are less supportive of walking and biking.
Kansas City’s update included maximum parking thresholds in addition to reduced minimums. Developments that exceed those thresholds must provide public amenities such as sidewalks, crosswalks, or landscaping improvements. This approach demonstrates how parking regulations can advance broader community goals while still accommodating parking demand.
Leverage existing parking
Communities often have parking resources that are not fully recognized within their regulations. On-street parking, shared parking arrangements, and nearby public parking facilities can often meet a portion of parking demand without requiring additional off-street construction.
As part of its update, Kansas City began allowing qualifying on-street parking spaces to count toward parking requirements. Recognizing existing parking assets can help reduce development costs, minimize unnecessary parking construction, and make more efficient use of available infrastructure.
Focus on implementation and administration
While policy changes often receive the most attention, the usability of the code can have an equally significant impact on implementation. Complex regulations can slow development review, create inconsistent interpretations, and frustrate both applicants and staff.
Kansas City’s update included a substantial reorganization of the parking chapter, making the regulations easier to navigate and administer. Communities should view parking updates not only as policy reforms but also as opportunities to make regulations more user-friendly and efficient to administer.
Engage stakeholders early and often
Parking affects a wide range of interests, making community engagement a critical component of any update process. Residents, developers, business owners, neighborhood groups, transportation advocates, and city staff often bring unique perspectives about how parking works and where challenges exist.
Kansas City’s process included staff workshops, developer roundtables, neighborhood discussions, public open houses, and stakeholder meetings. These conversations helped identify priorities and shape recommendations that reflected local needs. Meaningful engagement helps communities move beyond assumptions and build regulations that are both practical and broadly supported.
Looking ahead
Modern parking codes influence far more than parking supply. They shape development patterns, transportation options, economic vitality, and community character.
Kansas City’s experience demonstrates how data-driven analysis, stakeholder engagement, and context-sensitive regulations can create a more flexible and effective approach to parking. While every community has unique needs, successful parking updates are grounded in the same principles: understanding existing conditions, using data to inform decisions, recognizing context, and aligning regulations with broader community goals.
As communities continue to grow and evolve, parking regulations should evolve with them. A thoughtful parking code update can help reduce barriers to investment, make more efficient use of land, and create places that better reflect local priorities and future development goals.
Plan what’s next with Wilson & Company
This National Planning Month, take a fresh look at whether your community’s regulations are working toward its goals. Wilson & Company’s planners help communities turn data and community input into practical policies and codes, from parking and development code updates to land use and transportation planning. Whether you’re starting to question if your parking code still fits or you’re ready to launch a full update, our team can help you build a clear, context-sensitive approach. Learn more about our planning services and connect with our team.