On November 28, 2007, the New York City Council adopted a zoning text amendment that applies design regulations to all commercial and community facility parking lots. The new requirements will visually enhance parking lots and achieve important sustainability goals, including reduction of the urban heat island effect, air quality improvement, and efficient management of storm water runoff.

All new parking areas are now required to plant shade trees at intervals throughout the parking area, as well as perimeter landscaping to screen the lots from the street. The required number of plantings is based on the size of the lot. Bicycle parking is also required.

These new landscaped areas must be designed as bioswales, which capture rainwater for irrigation and naturally filter oil and heavy metal pollutants from vehicles. Bioswales minimize flooding and reduce strain on city sewers by absorbing storm water, and ensure landscape irrigation needs are satisfied by on site rainfall. New York is the first major city in the U.S. to require private parking lots to install bioswale landscaping.