Parking Space Dimensions: Two Assigned Spaces at Palm Cay
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Standard parking space dimensions in much of Miami-Dade County start at 8.5 feet wide by 18 feet long. That is the minimum in the county's zoning code for unincorporated areas. Cities like Florida City keep their own codes, so the exact size can differ. At Palm Cay, D.R. Horton's townhome community in Florida City, there is no garage. Instead, D.R. Horton says each home comes with two assigned and owned parking spaces directly in front of the residence. This guide explains what those numbers mean and what to check before you buy.
What Are Standard Parking Space Dimensions?
There is no single national size. Each county or city sets its own minimum in its zoning code.
Miami-Dade County's code, Section 33-122, says each parking space shall be a minimum of 8.5 by 18 feet, with some exceptions. The same section lists 8 by 23 feet for a parallel space along a curb. Chapter 33 is the zoning code for unincorporated Miami-Dade.
Florida City is its own city with its own code. We have not verified its exact minimum, so we do not quote one here. The point for a buyer is simple: a standard space is roughly 8 to 9 feet wide and about 18 feet long.
What Do the Two Numbers Mean?
Parking space sizes are written width first, then length.
Width is side to side. It decides how far you can open your car door when another car is parked next to you.
Length is front to back. It decides how long a vehicle fits without sticking out.
An 8.5-foot width is 102 inches. An 18-foot length is 216 inches.
Accessible Parking Space Sizes
Accessible spaces are wider. The U.S. Department of Justice explains the rules on ADA.gov:
Accessible car space: at least 96 inches wide, next to an access aisle at least 60 inches wide
Van-accessible space: at least 132 inches wide with a 60-inch aisle, or 96 inches wide with a 96-inch aisle
Those rules cover parking lots that serve the public. If you or someone in your home needs an accessible space, ask the sales team how that works at Palm Cay before you choose a homesite.
How Parking Works at Palm Cay
None of the five Palm Cay floor plans has a garage. The builder's plan list shows 0 garage spaces for the Angelo, Archer, Harris, Roby and Wittkop.
D.R. Horton's community description says each home includes two assigned and owned parking spaces conveniently located directly in front of each residence. So you get two spaces for your household, close to your front door.
The builder has not published the size of those spaces. Measure them yourself on a tour, or at your walk-through before closing.
Assigned vs. Owned: What Is the Difference?
People use a few words for parking in townhome communities. Here is what they usually mean:
Assigned means the space is set aside for one home. Other residents are not supposed to park there.
Owned or deeded means the space is part of what you buy, not just a spot you are allowed to use.
D.R. Horton describes the Palm Cay spaces as both assigned and owned. Ask the sales team and your title company how the two spaces show up in your purchase and closing papers. That is the place to confirm it, not a brochure.
Will My Vehicle Fit?
Most cars fit a standard space with room to spare. Large pickup trucks and full-size vans are the ones to check.
Look up your vehicle's length and width in the owner's manual or on the maker's website. Width is often listed without the mirrors.
Compare the length with about 18 feet, or 216 inches.
Leave room on the driver's side to open the door.
Bring a tape measure to Palm Cay and measure the actual spaces.
If you drive a long truck, ask the sales team which homesites leave the most room.
Two Spaces vs. a One-Car Garage
This is the real trade-off between these two Florida City townhome communities.
Palm Cay gives you two outdoor spaces and no garage. That works well for a household with two cars.
Hadley Place, another D.R. Horton townhome community in Florida City, gives you a one-car garage. The builder's drawings show it at 12'0" x 21'0". A garage adds covered parking and a lockable storage room, but it holds one car.
Neither choice is wrong. If you have two cars and value two spots by the door, Palm Cay fits. If you want storage and a covered spot, see Hadley Place too.
Where Do You Store Things Without a Garage?
In many townhomes, the garage is the storage room. At Palm Cay, you plan storage inside instead. The floor plans show a few spots:
The Angelo and the Archer each have a storage closet on the first floor.
Every plan shows at least one walk-in closet upstairs, and the Roby, Archer and Wittkop each show two.
Every plan has a pantry in the kitchen.
Every plan has a small back patio, drawn at 3'0" x 10'0".
One more South Florida detail: the Palm Cay features list includes hurricane storm panels. Panels need a place to live when they are down. Ask how the panels for your home are handed over and where owners usually keep them.
See every plan side by side in Palm Cay floor plans compared.
Parking Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Which two spaces go with the home I am buying?
How are the spaces shown in my purchase and closing documents?
Where can guests park?
Are there rules on trucks, trailers, boats or work vans? Ask for the community documents and read them.
How are the spaces lit at night?
These questions have real answers in writing. Get them in writing.
Palm Cay in Short
Palm Cay is a D.R. Horton Express Series townhome community in Florida City. It has five two-story plans from 1,382 to 1,582 square feet, with 3 or 4 bedrooms. Homes have recently started in the low $370,000s. Prices and incentives change, so call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers.
Laundry location differs by plan, which matters in a two-story home. See the washer and dryer hookup guide. For bedroom sizes, read 10x10 bedroom: what fits. And if you plan weekend trips, Palm Cay's north edge is on the same street as the mainland visitor center for Biscayne National Park.
Common Questions
What are standard parking space dimensions?
There is no single national size. Miami-Dade County's zoning code for unincorporated areas sets a minimum of 8.5 by 18 feet for a standard space. Cities like Florida City keep their own codes, so the exact size can differ.
How wide is an accessible parking space?
Under the ADA rules explained on ADA.gov, an accessible car space is at least 96 inches wide with a 60-inch access aisle. A van space is 132 inches wide with a 60-inch aisle, or 96 inches with a 96-inch aisle.
Do Palm Cay townhomes have a garage?
No. All five Palm Cay plans list 0 garage spaces. D.R. Horton says each home has two assigned and owned parking spaces directly in front of the residence.
How big are the parking spaces at Palm Cay?
The builder has not published the size of the Palm Cay spaces. Measure them on your tour or at your walk-through, especially if you drive a large truck or a van.
What does an owned parking space mean?
Owned, or deeded, usually means the space is part of what you buy, not just a spot you may use. Ask the sales team and your title company how the two spaces appear in your closing documents.
Which Florida City townhomes have a garage?
D.R. Horton's Hadley Place in Florida City has a one-car garage on both plans, shown at 12'0" x 21'0" on the builder's drawings. Palm Cay has two outdoor spaces instead. Walk both to decide.
Call 561-704-0091 or See the Palm Cay Parking in Person to measure the spaces and walk the homes with Simon.
Related reading: Palm Cay Floor Plans: All Five Townhomes Compared, Washer and Dryer Hookup: Where Laundry Goes in Each Palm Cay Plan, 10x10 Bedroom: What Fits in the Palm Cay Bedrooms, What Is an Air Handler?, Biscayne National Park: A Guide From Palm Cay, and the Palm Cay community page.