City Parking and Loading Requirements Guide
City Parking and Loading Requirements Guide
The city’s parking and loading regulations are designed to ensure adequate off-street parking for new and existing land uses, minimize the environmental impacts of large paved areas, and provide flexible options for transit-served or shared-use locations [§ SEC. 15-2401].
Parking Requirements by District
Parking requirements vary significantly depending on the zoning district in which a project is located.
Downtown Districts
In Downtown Districts, parking requirements are minimized to encourage density and pedestrian activity.
- Residential: 0.5 spaces per unit regardless of the number of bedrooms.
- Non-Residential: No parking is required for office, retail, restaurant, or other non-residential uses [§ SEC. 15-2407].
Mixed-Use and CMS Districts
These districts require a moderate amount of parking, and on-street parking along the lot's frontage may be counted toward the requirement for mixed-use projects.
- Residential:
- Studio and one-bedroom: 0.75 spaces per unit (must be covered).
- Two bedrooms: 1 space per unit.
- Three or more bedrooms: 1.5 spaces per unit.
- Guest Parking: One space per 4 units for projects with more than 4 units.
- Non-Residential: 1 space per 600 square feet for office, retail, restaurant, and other commercial uses [§ SEC. 15-2408].
Other Districts
For districts not classified as Downtown or Mixed-Use, parking is determined by specific use classifications. If a use is not listed, the Director determines the requirement based on the most similar comparable use [§ SEC. 15-2409].
| Use Classification | Requirement Highlights |
|---|---|
| Single-Unit Residential | 1 space per unit (must be in a garage). |
| Multi-Unit (Studio/1-2 BR) | 1 space per unit (covered) + guest parking (1 per 2 or 4 units). |
| Full-Service Restaurant | 1 space per 150 sq. ft. of floor area. |
| General Retail | 1 space per 450 sq. ft. of floor area. |
| Office (Professional) | 1 space per 400 sq. ft. (up to 100,000 sq. ft.). |
| Industrial/Manufacturing | 1 space per 1,500 sq. ft. + 1 per 300 sq. ft. of office. |
Calculation Rules
The following rules apply when determining the total number of required spaces:
- Fractions: If a calculation results in a fraction of 0.5 or higher, it is rounded up to the next whole number. Fractions less than 0.5 are rounded down [§ SEC. 15-2411.A].
- Floor Area: Ratios are based on "gross floor area" unless otherwise specified [§ SEC. 15-2411.B].
- Multiple Uses: If a site contains multiple uses, the requirement is the sum of the requirements for each individual use [§ SEC. 15-2411.G].
- Bedrooms: Any room capable of being converted into a bedroom (such as an office) is counted as a bedroom for parking purposes [§ SEC. 15-2411.D].
Development and Design Standards
Location of Parking
Required parking must generally be located on the same parcel as the use it serves. Parking is prohibited within required front and street-side setbacks [§ SEC. 15-2414]. Non-residential uses may provide off-site parking within 400 feet of the site if a Conditional Use Permit and a written covenant are obtained [§ SEC. 15-2414.D].
Specialized Parking Types
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking: Required per the California Building Code. For lots with 250+ spaces in commercial/office districts, at least one charging station per 250 spaces is required [§ SEC. 15-2416.B].
- Motorcycle Parking: May substitute for up to 5% of required automobile parking [§ SEC. 15-2416.C].
- Tandem Parking: Permitted for residential uses (if assigned to the same unit) and for up to 25% of non-residential employee parking [§ SEC. 15-2416.D].
Landscaping and Shading
- Shading: To reduce the "heat island" effect, 50% of the non-landscaped parking area must be shaded (by trees or structures) or paved with light-colored materials with a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of at least 29 [§ SEC. 15-2421.A].
- Perimeter Landscaping: A minimum of 10% of any parking lot area must be landscaped. This includes planting strips and perimeter buffers [§ SEC. 15-2421.C].
- Buffer Yards: Landscape buffers (Type 1 or Type 2) are required between differing land uses, such as an industrial site adjoining a residential district [§ SEC. 15-2305.C].
Surface Standards
All parking areas must be graded and paved. Permeable paving or turf grids may be used for overflow or emergency access areas with city approval [§ SEC. 15-2419]. Concrete wheel stops are required for all unenclosed parking spaces on sites with four or more spaces [§ SEC. 15-2419.B].