Marion, OH Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Marion's off-street parking standards sit in Chapter 1153 of the zoning code. Section 1153.034(B) lets parking areas occupy any required yard except as listed, and division (B)(1) is the residential driveway rule: in the required front yard in a Residential District, residences may have parking on a driveway in a front yard. Driveways may not exceed 30% of the area of a front yard. The exception is a straight drive not exceeding 16 feet in width, which is permitted even if the area of the drive would exceed 30% of the front yard area.

Section 1153.034(D) covers access. There must be adequate provision for ingress to and egress from parking spaces. Where a parking area does not abut a public street or alley, the owner must provide an access drive not less than eight feet in width in the case of a dwelling and not less than 18 feet in width in all other cases. Except for a use permitted in a residential district, that access drive cannot be located in any residential district.

Space dimensions come from the § 1153.034(C) schedule. A 9 foot wide space is 20 feet long with 24 feet of unobstructed backing distance, a 10 foot wide space is 20 feet long with 22 feet of backing distance, and an 11 foot or wider space is 20 feet long with 20 feet of backing distance. Section 1153.032(B) requires 2 spaces for each dwelling unit in a one and two family dwelling.

The only surfacing and drainage language in § 1153.034 is in division (F): for every parking area with more than five spaces, a plan must be submitted to the Safety/Service Director showing that the area complies with the section and with the municipality's requirements as to surfacing and drainage. Under division (E), parking areas for more than five vehicles must be screened on each side facing a residential district by a solid fence, wall or hedge approximately five feet in height, or approximately 3½ feet in a required front yard.

A new or widened driveway is a structure change that goes through the zoning permit process in Chapter 1177, with the Safety/Service Director enforcing the zoning code under § 1175.01.