Kansas City Parking Garage Law Affects Parking Structure Owners

Find Out How This New Law Affects You

An ongoing regulation, Section 18-21(g)(4) of the Kansas City, Missouri Code of Ordinances, mandates inspection and reporting requirements that every parking structure owner needs to follow to stay compliant.

Below we will talk about details regarding the Kansas City Law:

• Responsibilities of Parking Structure Owners
• Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements
• Cities Near Kansas City
• Next Steps

Responsibilities of Parking Structure Owners

Parking structure owners need to pay attention to the three key details to know when they need to act on their parking structure.

1. Determine if your parking structure falls under the requirements of the code.
        a. Per the Kansas City, Missouri Zoning and Development Code, Section 88-810-1107:
             i. “PARKING FACILITY: A structure… used in whole or in part for providing parking space for or storing of motor vehicles …The term "parking facility" includes what are commonly known as parking garages (including multilevel parking station facilities), parking lots or parking spaces, and does not include on-street parking spaces or residential spaces as defined herein.”
2. Retain an engineer to inspect your parking structure and write a structure periodic inspection report based on the code's requirements.
        a. Per Section 18-21(g)(4)a, Parking Station Structures:
             i. “Each owner of a structure that contains a parking station with occupiable spaces above them, including multilevel parking station structures and single level parking station structures with occupiable space above, in its fifteenth year of age and every five years thereafter shall cause it to be inspected for structural adequacy by a registered professional engineer licensed in the State of Missouri.”
        b. Per Section 18-21(g)(2)a, Underground Space:
             i. “All new and existing underground spaces shall be inspected for structural adequacy at least once every five years… by a professional engineer registered to practice in the state.”
3. Submit the parking structure periodic inspection report to the city:
        a. Per Section 18-21(g)(4)a, Parking Station Structures:
             i. “…A form known as the parking structure periodic inspection report shall be completed, sealed by the professional engineer who performed the inspection, and submitted to the city planning and development director to verify the conditions found.”
        b. Per Section 18-21(g)(2)a, Underground Space:
             i. “A report of the findings of such inspection shall be submitted to the building official to verify the conditions found on each occasion.”
   

Repercussions of Not Meeting Code Requirements

Staying compliant is not only about avoiding penalties, but also about ensuring the safety of every user and the long-term viability of your property.

Asset Implications

Parking structures, particularly in climates like Kansas City, are susceptible to many different types of deterioration.

Left uninspected, these deterioration mechanisms could pose risks to people and property  - examples include: falling concrete, tripping hazards, and even partial collapses.

Financial Implications

Additional action may be required, depending on the findings of the engineer’s inspection:

Per Section 18-21(g)(2)a, Underground Space:

“…The report shall state that, in the opinion of the professional engineer, the underground space is safe and in such condition that it is capable of carrying the loads for which it was originally designed without any repairs or modifications, or what areas require repair before such certification can be given.”

Per Section 18-21(g)(4)c, Revocation of Certificate of Inspection:

“If the parking structure periodic inspection report indicates that the parking structure or part of the structure is unsafe or incapable of carrying the loads for which it was designed without repairs or modifications, the city planning and development director may require the owner to immediately vacate the entire structure or that part of the structure which is deemed unsafe. The structure or that part of the structure that is ordered vacated shall remain unused and unoccupied by either persons or vehicles until proper repairs or modifications render the structure safe…”

Cities Near Kansas City

The codified ordinance only applies to parking structures in Kansas City proper. If your asset is not in Kansas City, it is not subject to the specific requirements outlined above.

If not located in Kansas City, determine if the jurisdiction in which your asset is located requires inspection.

Next Steps

Whether required by law or not, preventative inspection and maintenance of parking structures is always a good idea.

As leaders in parking structure management and safety compliance, StructureCare is here to guide you through the complexities of the Inspection and Reporting Requirements for Parking Structures in Kansas City, Missouri.

We offer comprehensive inspection and reporting services to ensure your parking facilities meet all legal requirements and maintain the highest safety standards.

Nick Heim, PE 
Innovation Engineer, Ohio