Agoura Hills Parking and Loading Regulations
In Agoura Hills, single-family homes require 2 covered garage spaces. General retail requires 1 space per 250 sq. ft., and professional offices require 1 per 300 sq. ft. Standard 90-degree parking stalls must be 8'6" wide by 18' deep. Bicycle parking is required at a ratio of 1 space per 25 vehicle spaces. Tandem parking is generally prohibited except for ADUs.
Off-street parking and loading in Agoura Hills are governed by standards intended to ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety, maintain property values, and prevent traffic congestion. These regulations apply to all new constructions, expansions, and changes in occupancy.
General Standards and Calculations
Accessible off-street parking must be provided based on the anticipated occupancy of a building or land area.
- Fractional Spaces: If a calculation results in a fraction of a space, the space is only required if the fraction exceeds 50% [§ 9654.2].
- Mixed Uses: When a facility contains multiple principal uses, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for each individual use unless shared parking is specifically permitted [§ 9654.2].
- Seating Capacity: For uses based on seating, capacity is determined by actual seats, or one seat per 18 inches of bench/pew length, and one seat per 24 inches of booth length for dining. Non-fixed seating is determined by the Uniform Building Code [§ 9654.2.A].
- Nonconforming Facilities: Buildings with substandard parking may continue as nonconforming uses, but any enlargement or expansion requires the entire facility to meet current parking standards [§ 9654.2.F].
Parking Allocation by Use
The following table outlines the minimum number of off-street parking spaces required for common land uses [§ 9654.6.B]:
| Use Category | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Residential | |
| Single-family Dwelling | 2 covered spaces (within a garage) |
| Apartment (Studio) | 1 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit |
| Apartment (1 Bedroom) | 1.5 covered + 1.0 uncovered per unit |
| Apartment (2+ Bedrooms) | 2 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit |
| Condominium/Townhouse | 2 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit |
| Commercial | |
| General Office | 1 per 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area (GFA) |
| Medical/Dental Office | 1 per 200 sq. ft. GFA |
| General Retail | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurants (Sit-down/Fast Food) | 9.6 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Shopping Centers | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (standard) |
| Salons and Spas | 1 per 200 sq. ft. GFA (minimum 4 spaces) |
| Industrial | |
| Research & Development | 1 per 300 sq. ft. GFA |
| Light Industrial | 1 per 500 sq. ft. GFA |
| Warehouse | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. (first 5,000) then 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. |
Design and Dimensional Standards
All parking areas must be paved with asphalt, concrete, or approved alternative materials and provided with adequate drainage [§ 9654.3.E].
Standard Stall Dimensions
| Angle (Degrees) | Curb Length | Stall Depth |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (Parallel) | 24' 0" | 8' 6" |
| 45 | 11' 6" | 19' 0" |
| 60 | 10' 0" | 20' 0" |
| 90 | 8' 6" | 18' 0" |
Aisle Widths
- 90-degree parking: 26' 0"
- 60-degree (one-way): 20' 0"
- 45-degree (one-way): 14' 0"
- Two-way traffic (any angle): 26' 0" [§ 9654.3.F]
Compact and Tandem Parking
- Compact Spaces: Not permitted unless approved by the Planning Commission. If approved, they may not exceed 30% of the total required spaces and must be marked "Compact Cars Only" [§ 9654.3.A].
- Tandem Parking: Generally prohibited. Parking must be accomplished in a continuous forward movement without obstructions. An exception exists for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), where tandem parking on an existing driveway is permitted [§ 9654.2.I, § 9654.6.B].
Bicycle Parking
Stationary bicycle racks must be provided at a ratio of one bicycle space for every 25 vehicle parking spaces [§ 9654.3.L].
Reductions and Shared Parking
- Carpool/Vanpool: Requirements may be reduced by one vehicle space for every one reserved carpool space, up to a maximum 2% reduction [§ 9654.2.E.1].
- Senior Citizen Housing: The Planning Commission may reduce total parking by up to 25% if the project is within 500 feet of a shopping center or adequately served by transit [§ 9654.2.J.2].
- Shopping Centers: For centers 50,000 sq. ft. or larger, shared parking reductions are allowed (e.g., 20% reduction for a mix of Office, Retail, and Restaurant) [§ 9654.2.K.5].
Landscaping and Screening
- Planters: Landscaped areas must be surrounded by a six-inch-high curb and include irrigation and live landscaping [§ 9654.2.B].
- Walls: Parking areas abutting residential zones must be separated by a six-foot-high solid masonry wall (reduced to three feet in front yards) [§ 9654.3.G].
- Lighting: Light poles are limited to a maximum height of 16 feet and must be directed away from residential areas [§ 9654.3.I].
Off-Street Loading
Loading space requirements are based on the square footage of the use [§ 9654.3.M]:
- Retail/Industrial (5,000–30,000 sq. ft.): 1 space.
- Retail/Industrial (Over 30,000 sq. ft.): 2 spaces.
- General Office (30,001–50,000 sq. ft.): 1 space.
- Standard Loading Space Size: 12' wide x 50' deep x 14' vertical clearance (smaller spaces allowed for offices under 30,000 sq. ft.).