The City of El Paso has a very strict code when it comes to parking spaces in commercial lots. The code includes regulation for the size of spaces and signage to designate spaces specifically reserved for compact cars.

"The minimum size for a parking space is 9feet in width and 18 feet in length," said Rudy Pino, a traffic engineer for the city. "Compact spaces can be smaller; 8feet in width and 16 feet in length."

KFOX-14 decided to explore various lots across the city to see if the spaces are compliant with the city code.

Parking lots in front of popular stores, including Walmart, Home Depot, and Stein Mart meet the required 9feet in width. An Albertsons at Mesa and Resler in West El Paso even had spaces that were 5inches wider than the required width.

Parking lots in front of Hobby Lobby Lowesand Sunland Park Mall all fell short of the required 9feet. They were wide enoughto qualify as Compact Spaces. However, they still were not compliant with city code.

"The compact spaces, according to city code, have to designated as a compact space," said Bill Stern, head of code compliance for The City of El Paso.

KFOX-14 looked up the code. It states:

"Spaces reserved for compact vehicles shall be so indicated by appropriate signage with a minimum of six-inch high letters provided by the owner or operator."

City code says it is also up to the operator of that lot to make sure the spaces are only being used by compact cars. Also, no more than 20 percent of spaces can be reserved just for compacts.

Only at the Super Target in Far East El Paso did we see parking spaces specifically marked for compact cars.

The lot in front of Coronado Tower in West El Paso was found to have spaces that weren't even 8feet wide.

That is a blatant violation of city code. It should be noted that Coronado Tower is home to KFOX-14. The cramped spaces are what inspired this story.

We spoke to our property manager,  who assured us they would make any changes necessary, if requested, to meet city code.

If someone reports a space they believe to be too small it will be up to Code Compliance for the City of El Paso to check on it. Complaints can be made by calling 3-1-1.

Even if in violation, Stern says the city will work with the owner of the lot to bring it up to code in a timely fashion.