Jena wants to make building easier by amending its parking space regulations

The city of Jena has revised its parking space regulations in order to facilitate construction projects and promote sustainable mobility more strongly. This was made possible by the Thuringian Building Code, which was amended last year. The aim is to meet the requirements of modern, sustainable urban development and at the same time create clear rules for construction projects. The city administration will submit the amended statutes to the Urban Development and Environment Committee on 23/01/2025 and to the City Council on 29/01/2025 for confirmation.

Fewer car parking spaces required in areas with good public transport links

In areas of Jena with very good to excellent public transport connections, fewer parking spaces will be required in future. These areas are characterized by a minimum service of four or six trips per hour and direction during peak hours, provided that the public transport stops are less than 400 or 300 m away as the crow flies. The regulation is intended to facilitate high-density construction in areas with above-average public transport services.

"The number of parking spaces required for construction projects is a controversial topic throughout Germany - especially in view of the massive rise in construction costs. Underground parking spaces in particular are expensive and make it difficult to build urgently needed housing in Jena. This is precisely why we need to determine the actual demand as accurately as possible and thus promote construction in areas of Jena with particularly good public transport," explains Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of Urban Development and Environment.

Car sharing as an alternative to parking spaces

The statute also provides clear guidelines on how car sharing services can replace parking spaces. Even if car sharing cannot of course replace all private cars, it does help to optimize the need for parking spaces.

More and better designed bicycle parking spaces

The high importance of cycling in Jena is also taken into account for the first time, with a share of 15 percent, well above the Thuringian average. The requirement figures for bicycle parking spaces have been adjusted and adapted to the city's specific traffic conditions. The statutes also stipulate that bicycle parking facilities must be accessible and functional, among other things.

"Jena is investing heavily in the expansion of cycle path infrastructure and subsidizes Jena's public transport system with over 15 million euros annually to enable as many Jena residents as possible to enjoy everyday mobility on foot, by bike and by bus and train. We would also like to use this to give a new boost to housing construction in Jena in particular," concludes Mayor Gerlitz.