Beleidsregel parkeernormen 2024 – Groningen Parking Standards Policy
The Beleidsregel parkeernormen 2024 is a regulatory instrument established by the College van Burgemeester en Wethouders van de Gemeente Groningen. Valid from December 23, 2025, this policy dictates the requirements for car and bicycle parking capacity associated with new construction, renovations, and land-use changes. It operates under the legal framework of the Omgevingswet (Environment Act) and the Omgevingsplan, specifically referencing articles 5.1, 22.26, and 22.286 regarding environmental permits for building activities and deviations from usage rules.
The document defines a framework to ensure that parking needs—defined as Parkeerbehoefte—are primarily met on Eigen terrein (private property) to prevent increased pressure on public spaces. It categorizes the municipality into three distinct zones: Zone A (city center and high-urban areas), Zone B (paid parking areas), and Zone C (non-paid parking neighborhoods and rural areas). The policy includes detailed calculation tables for various functions including residential, retail, office, education, and healthcare, alongside technical specifications for parking space dimensions and shared mobility substitution rules.
Professional users can refer to the structured sections below for specific regulations on zoning, calculation methods, and technical requirements for residential and commercial developments within the Gemeente Groningen jurisdiction.
Zoning and Quantitative Standards
The municipality is divided into specific zones that determine whether parking is required or capped. These zones are defined in Artikel 1 and further detailed in Artikel 4 and Artikel 5:
- Zone A: Includes the inner city and station areas. New building initiatives generally do not require car parking; instead, the values in the tables represent a maximum allowed capacity.
- Zone B: Areas with paid parking regimes. If the calculated car parking requirement is three or fewer spaces, no parking needs to be realized.
- Zone C: Neighborhoods without paid parking and rural areas. For non-residential initiatives, a requirement of one single space does not need to be realized.
- Ontwikkelzones: Specific development areas such as Stadshavens, Suikerzijde, and Europapark where specific norms or the norms of Zone B apply.
Residential Parking and Technical Dimensions
Residential parking norms are calculated per dwelling unit and include a visitor portion. Artikel 14 defines different categories of housing, while Artikel 1 establishes the minimum dimensions for valid parking spaces:
- Perpendicular parking (haaksparkeren): Minimum dimensions of 2.50 meters wide by 5 meters long.
- Parallel parking (langsparkeren): Minimum 2 meters wide by 5.50 meters (middle bay) or 6.00 meters (end bay) long.
- Social housing: Norms vary between 0.7 and 1.1 per dwelling depending on the zone and floor area (m2).
- Parking 'behind the hedge': Parking in front yards is discouraged in zones without paid parking. If a second parking space is realized on own ground, it must maintain a 0.75-meter clearance from the house entrance.
Substitution and Shared Mobility
To reduce the number of physical parking spaces required on-site, developers can utilize shared mobility options under Artikel 6 and Artikel 7:
- Deelmobiliteit (Shared Cars): Realizing one shared car space can reduce the total parking requirement by four spaces.
- Substitution limit: For residential projects, shared mobility can substitute a maximum of 20% of the total car parking requirement.
- Mobiliteitsplan: Developers failing to meet the standards must submit a mobility plan proving heavy interest and proposing measures like public transport stimulation or bicycle sharing.
Bicycle Parking and Electrical Prep
Specific requirements for bicycle storage and electrical infrastructure are mandated for all new developments under Artikel 12 and Artikel 22:
- Electrical Vehicles: Parking spaces in new buildings must be prepared for charging stations according to Bouwbesluit 2012 (articles 5.14 to 5.16).
- Bicycle norms: Norms are set per 100 m2 BVO or per student/employee. For example, offices in Zone A require 3.5 spaces per 100 m2 BVO for personnel.
- Collective storage: For apartments, collective bicycle storage is preferred over individual storage units to ensure better usability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the parking requirement rounded if the calculation results in a decimal?
According to Article 3, if the parking requirement does not result in a whole number, the value must always be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
What is the acceptable walking distance for residential parking in Zone B?
The acceptable walking distance for residents in Zone B is set at 250 meters from the property, as specified in Table I.
Are there specific requirements for disabled parking spaces?
Yes, Article 13 requires at least 1 in every 50 realized parking spaces for visitors to be designed and maintained as a disabled parking space.
What happens if a development function changes (Functiewijziging)?
The parking requirement for the previous function cannot be subtracted from the new requirement; the new function's requirement must be solved entirely on private property, per Article 10 and its commentary.
Can existing parking spaces on the terrain be counted toward a new project?
Yes, existing spaces on the property may be included, provided they do not compromise the parking needs of already existing functions on the same terrain.
What is the rule for 'double use' (dubbelgebruik) of parking spaces?
If a project has multiple functions using the same spaces at different times, Table II provides presence percentages (e.g., 100% for homes at night, 0% for offices) to determine the maximum required capacity.
