How to Manage Parking in Commercial Properties
Written on March 2nd, 2026 | Updated on March 2nd, 2026
Parking is a routine task, so managing lots and garages may seem like a low-priority task. However, when inefficiencies arise, they’re likely to get noticed quickly and can have a significant impact on tenant retention.
You can use parking management techniques to analyze driver behavior and develop better solutions based on those insights. This guide can help you understand how to make the most of your available space so drivers find space safely and easily.
Why Parking Management Matters
Parking isn’t just about finding places to put vehicles. The state of your lot reflects how you value your employees’ and visitors’ comfort and your commitment to quality. A poorly planned lot or garage suggests a lack of attention to detail, which is why it’s important to devote time and resources to proper management. Parking is also an important part of commercial real estate investment because it affects who can access your property. Aside from spacing and layout, you must also consider factors like lighting, security and policy enforcement.
Common Parking Issues on Commercial Properties
Limited parking: You may face parking issues if you have an older lot that was developed with a lower capacity. Addressing that issue may require re-striping to optimize the layout or entering into shared parking agreements with neighbors.
Parking spot size constraints: Parking spaces on commercial properties are restricted by zoning regulations and lot coverage limits. Implementing staggered parking offers a solution.
Unauthorized parking: If your commercial property is in a prime location near other businesses, you may encounter unwanted parking guests. Install clear signage or use gates to control access.
Tenant conflicts: Overlapping employee and visitor usage and ambiguous lease language can result in inefficient parking allocation. Designating employee and guest sections supports operational capacity.
Poor lot conditions: Older facilities, costly repairs and high vehicle loads can make it difficult to update your parking facility. Preventive maintenance, like sealcoating and crack sealing are crucial for parking management.
How to Resolve Commercial Property Parking Issues
Establish Clear Parking Policies
Enforcing your commercial building parking rules allows you to promote a positive experience for those who visit your property. Outline parking regulations in lease agreements to avoid tenant frustration and violations. Displaying policies by entrances, exits and other high-traffic areas promotes transparency, too. Assign staff to manage parking regulations to maintain compliance and assist drivers.
Improve Parking Efficiency
Making the most of your commercial parking facilities requires assessment and planning. Document vehicle volume by day, time and season to determine how to optimize available space. Reduce congestion by separating entry and exit points and ensuring they’re wide enough to accommodate larger vehicles.
Establishing a traffic pattern will also eliminate confusion. You can use directional arrows or implement one-way lanes to support smooth movement. Be mindful of industry standards when painting parking spots for standard and compact vehicles, as that directly impacts your compliance with ADA standards. Include accessible parking spaces to accommodate drivers and protect yourself from fines.
Monitor Parking
Creating a structured parking system helps maintain fair access and reduce liability. Provide clear policies regarding parking authorization, towing regulations and violation consequences. It’s also important to give reasonable notice and warning systems so tenants and guests understand the start dates and local legal standards.
When implementing parking monitoring, consider the following options:
- On-site monitoring: Routine inspections, visual verification and documentation allow you to actively deter misuse.
- Credential systems: You can issue parking permits and decals to maintain vehicle registration and track distribution.
- Technology-based control: There are a variety of technologically advanced solutions, including license plate recognition monitoring that’s useful for managing larger parking lots and garages.
Utilize Technology
You can track usage patterns and enforce parking regulations with ease with technology-based solutions. Parking management software gives you access to a control system that functions as a monitoring and reporting tool.
You can track:
- Real-time occupancy rates
- License plate databases
- Space allocation
- Violation history
- Dispute documentation
Digital permits are another option that simplifies control and accessibility. Tenants and guests can use an online portal to register their vehicle, preventing others from duplicating or stealing their credentials. That’s helpful for mixed-use and multi-family properties.
Commercial Property Management in Columbus, Ohio
Outsourcing property management, including parking oversight, gives you the freedom to optimize and grow your investment portfolio. DRK and Company employs a team of experts who know the Columbus real estate market like the back of their hands. Contact us to learn about our services and discover how we can help you improve your assets’ financial and functional performance.
The unexpected can have major implications for commercial real estate leases and transactions. A force majeure clause can help you and your tenants protect yourselves from unforeseeable events that impact income and operations. This policy must be outlined with specific language to avoid legal disputes and interpretation issues.
Recent events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the importance of having this “disaster plan” in place to address operational disruptions and safeguard parties involved in a commercial lease.
What is Force Majeure?
It’s a French term that means “superior force.” A force majeure clause is a legal provision that alleviates the contractual parties of certain obligations in the event of extraordinary circumstances. That could include natural disasters, government shutdowns, war, public health crises, terrorism and labor strikes. However, depending on the type of commercial property and geographic location, some of those provisions may not qualify. For example, if your property is in an earthquake-prone area, you may be unable to include that natural disaster in a force majeure clause unless it’s particularly severe.
Qualifications for Force Majeure
Unavoidable: An event cannot be prevented or overcome, even if efforts are made to resolve disruptions. For example, a lack of product accessibility prevents tenants from acquiring merchandise even after seeking alternative suppliers.
Unforeseeable: This component of force majeure is defined as a situation that couldn’t be anticipated during contracting. That could include seasonal weather or states of emergency.
External: A situation must be outside the affected party’s control. If an event is caused by internal failure or poor management, it will not qualify. Government actions and utility failures are common examples of external issues.
Force Majeure in Commercial Real Estate
You can write a force majeure clause into leases, purchase agreements, vendor contracts and financing documents. Using specific terms allows for clarity, while general phrases could leave room for interpretation during mediation or litigation.
Impact on Leases
Force majeure allows you to temporarily suspend your lease obligations within a set period, whether that’s the duration of the circumstances or a specific number of days. Lease term extensions and amended operating requirements can help allocate risk accrued during those extenuating events.
Most force majeure clauses don’t allow you to defer base rent payments. Depending on the specifics, a landlord or property owner may mandate tenants to pay normal maintenance costs, taxes, insurance and other expenses outlined in the lease agreement.
This type of policy is more often applied to non-monetary obligations, such as daily operations, construction, inspections and repairs.
Examples include:
- Production delays due to natural disasters
- Construction issues caused by material shortages
- Permitting trouble because of government shutdowns
Effect on Property Sales
Unforeseen circumstances can delay the closing of purchase or sales agreements. Force majeure clauses for those types of contracts are typically more defined than the verbiage in leases. Government shutdowns and court closures can disrupt title procurement and permitting, while natural disasters could prevent site inspections. You can outline a force majeure extension cap with a termination contingency if negotiations exceed a deadline.
What to Include in Force Majeure Clauses
Set parameters: Be explicit when it comes to defining the events you consider force majeure in your contract. Catchalls can leave terms open to interpretation, which may require litigation if the clause is invoked. For example, define “acts of God” more clearly as severe weather, fire or floods.
Provide prompt notification: A specific type of notice (written, digital, etc.) should be provided within a given timeline. You may create a template that includes the date, affected contractual obligations and anticipated duration.
Collect documentation: Evidence is crucial when using force majeure. Government orders, weather advisories, photos, videos, correspondence and mitigation efforts allow you to prove whether the provisions for that clause are met.
Define the duration: Open-ended or vague timelines can leave you stuck in negotiation purgatory. Setting a duration cap allows you to conclude if a solution can’t be procured. That may include contract termination or extensions if either party exceeds the designated deadline.
Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Services in Columbus, Ohio
Force majeure is an important part of contract negotiation, so it’s crucial to understand the breadth of its implications. DRK and Company offers brokerage services to help you navigate commercial lease discussions and protect your investment. Our expert team has the knowledge and experience to get you deals that optimize your portfolio. Contact us to learn more about our CRE services.
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