DALLAS – Finding a parking spot in Dallas may become more challenging after the city passed its first significant change to the parking code since 1965. 

Developers say the change will help make room for more housing in the city. 

The idea behind the city’s new parking code is to let the market decide how much parking is needed for a development, instead of the city.

But some residents are skeptical that developers will have their best interests in mind. 

New parking code

The new code adopted by the city council on Wednesday will: 

• Eliminates parking requirements downtown and by DART stations.
• Removes mandates for office, retail, and bars and restaurants under 2,500 square feet.
• Parking requirements will be reduced for large apartments to one space per unit, down from one space per bedroom.

What they’re saying:

Dallas city councilman Chad West has been working to reform the city’s parking code for nearly six years.

He argues the current parking code mandates hinder new housing and business developments.

“Our city’s parking code is wildly out of date, written in 1965, with minor changes since,” said West.

At city hall on Wednesday, advocates in favor of parking reform, such as Brenda Gurumoorthy, argued that once parking becomes more challenging, public transportation will improve.

“More people would take transit to see friends and go out if activities were close to DART,” said Gurumoorthy. 

The other side:

Oak Cliff homeowner Laura Palmer says her neighborhood has learned it doesn’t always work that way.

“People will find a place to park. They will park on sidewalks, empty lots, even if you don’t require it. That puts the burden on us, the neighbors. We have to do the policing,” said Palmer.

Ronnie Mestas lives in the Los Altos area of West Dallas. The former Chicago resident says he’s concerned Dallas is using a Chicago-like parking code but without the Chicago-style vibrant public transportation system.

“If you have cars on both sides and try to get emergency vehicles through, you’re going to be playing bumper cars bouncing off the cars,” said Mestas. “As a senior I don’t want to carry my groceries more than 5-6 car links to get to my house.”

Dig deeper:

Dallas city councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn was the lone vote against the new parking code. 

She called it overly ‘urbanistic’ and said it did not fit the needs of far North Dallas. 

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of talent at defensive back, but injuries have plagued to position in recent years. All-Pro cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have struggled to stay on the field at the same time, and Diggs will likely miss the start of the 2025 NFL season after suffering a season-ending knee injury for the second straight year.

Dallas drafted East Carolina star Shavon Revel in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft, but he is also coming off a torn ACL that prematurely ended his college career.

Last season, ball-hawking cornerback Amani Oruwariye got the opportunity to start in six games for the Cowboys because of injuries, and he made the most of it.

MORE: 6 Cowboys players in contract years entering 2025 NFL season

Oruwariye recorded 29 tackles, one interception, and three passes defensed. Unfortunately, he will not be back with Dallas this season.

According to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Oruwariye has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee also added linebacker Amari Burney off waivers this week, so it is clear the Titans are revamping the defensive roster.

MORE: Dak Prescott disrespect continues, named ‘most tradeable’ NFL QB

Dallas, meanwhile, has had plenty of roster shakeups of their own this offseason, so it is going to be interesting to see how everything plays out throughout the year.

And, in case you were wondering, the Cowboys do not face the Titans in 2025, so there will be no “Oruwariye revenge game.”

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