A compact stall is a parking space sized for small cars, narrower and shorter than a standard stall. Many zoning codes allow a percentage of required spaces to be compact, which lets more spaces fit on a site.
Compact stalls became common when small cars made up a large share of the fleet. Today, with SUVs and pickups dominating sales, drivers of larger vehicles often park in compact stalls anyway, crowding neighbors and causing door dings and complaints.
Design considerations
- Dimensions. Local codes set compact stall sizes, often around 7.5 to 8 feet wide and 15 to 16 feet long, compared with roughly 8.5 to 9 feet by 18 feet for standard stalls.
- Percentage limits. Codes usually cap the share of compact stalls; some have eliminated them.
- Grouping. Compact stalls work better grouped in one area with clear signs than scattered among standard stalls.
- Alternatives. Many designers prefer a single, slightly smaller “one-size” stall for all vehicles. See parking geometry and design vehicle.
The Parkonomics view
Compact stalls count well on a plan and park poorly in practice. Design for the vehicles drivers actually buy.
Related terms: Parking Geometry, Design Vehicle, Parking Module, SUV, Level of Service