Off-Street Parking Standards for the C-1: Community Business District
In the City of Grass Valley C-1: Community Business District, commercial projects typically require one off-street parking space per 250 square feet of gross floor area, while residential components require between one and two spaces per unit depending on the bedroom count. Developers may reduce these requirements by up to 20% through shared parking agreements or the substitution of bicycle and motorcycle stalls, subject to a Minor Use Permit [Section 17.36.040, Section 17.36.080].
General Parking Ratios for the C-1 District
The City of Grass Valley establishes specific parking ratios for the C-1: Community Business District based on the primary use of the property. All required parking must be maintained permanently and remain available for the duration of the use it serves [Section 17.36.030]. If a single site in the C-1: Community Business District contains multiple tenants or a mix of residential and commercial uses, the total requirement is the sum of the requirements for each individual use [Section 17.36.040].
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential uses within the C-1: Community Business District must provide parking based on the following ratios:
| Residential Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Single Dwelling | 2 spaces (at least 1 must be covered) |
| Multi-unit (Studio & 1-Bedroom) | 1 covered space per unit, plus 1 guest space per 5 units |
| Multi-unit (2-Bedroom & Larger) | 2 covered spaces per unit, plus 1 guest space per 5 units |
| Live/Work Unit (Residential portion) | 2 spaces per unit |
| Residential Care Facility | 1 space per 2 residential units, plus 1 space per 4 units for guests/employees |
[Section 17.36.040, Table 3-3]
Commercial and Service Parking Requirements
Commercial activities in the City of Grass Valley C-1: Community Business District are governed by floor-area-based ratios. Unless otherwise stated, "sf" refers to square feet of gross interior leasable floor area [Section 17.36.040].
| Commercial Use Type | Minimum Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| General Retail / Retail Trade | 1 space per 250 sf of floor area, plus 1 per 300 sf of outdoor sales |
| Office (Professional / Administrative) | 1 space per 250 sf of floor area |
| Medical Services (Clinic/Doctor) | 1 space per 250 sf of floor area OR 4 spaces per doctor (whichever is greater) |
| Restaurant, Café, or Coffee Shop | 1 space per 60 sf of dining area |
| Bar, Tavern, or Night Club | 1 space per 4 seats OR 1 per 200 sf (whichever is greater) |
| Banks and Financial Services | 1 space per 200 sf, plus 4 tandem stacking spaces for drive-up tellers |
| Shopping Center | 1 space per 250 sf of floor area |
[Section 17.36.040, Table 3-3]
Parking Design and Dimensions
The City of Grass Valley requires all off-street parking areas in the C-1: Community Business District to meet standard dimension and surfacing requirements to ensure safety and functionality [Section 17.36.090].
Standard Space and Aisle Dimensions
Standard parking spaces must generally be 9 feet wide by 18 feet long.
| Parking Angle | Space Width | Space Depth | Aisle Width (One-Way) | Aisle Width (Two-Way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parallel | 9 ft. | 9 ft. | 12 ft. | 24 ft. |
| 30° | 9 ft. | 18 ft. | 12 ft. | N/A |
| 45° | 9 ft. | 20.5 ft. | 14 ft. | N/A |
| 60° | 9 ft. | 22 ft. | 18 ft. | N/A |
| Perpendicular (90°) | 9 ft. | 18 ft. | 24 ft. | 24 ft. |
[Section 17.36.090, Table 3-5]
Construction and Setbacks
In the C-1: Community Business District, nonresidential parking is prohibited within the required front setback of the parcel [Section 17.36.090.C]. Parking located in side or rear setbacks must be separated from the property line by a minimum five-foot-wide landscaped area [Section 17.36.090.C]. All parking surfaces must be paved with at least two inches of asphaltic concrete or three and one-half inches of Portland cement [Section 17.36.090.H].
Flexibility and Reductions
The Grass Valley Development Code provides several mechanisms for projects in the C-1: Community Business District to modify or reduce their required parking counts.
Shared and Off-Site Parking
The City of Grass Valley may approve a reduction of up to 20% of the total required parking if two or more uses have distinct and differing peak usage periods (e.g., a theater and a bank). This requires a Minor Use Permit and a recorded covenant ensuring the parking remains available for the duration of the uses. For reductions exceeding 20%, a standard Use Permit is required [Section 17.36.080].
Vehicle Space Substitutions
Developers in the C-1: Community Business District may substitute smaller stalls for standard stalls as follows:
- Bicycle Parking: Bicycle spaces may be substituted for vehicle spaces at a rate of 8 bicycle spaces for 1 vehicle space, up to 10% of the total requirement [Section 17.36.060].
- Motorcycle Parking: One motorcycle space may be provided for every 25 auto spaces, up to 10% of the total requirement [Section 17.36.070].
- Compact Spaces: Up to 20% of the required parking in the C-1: Community Business District may consist of compact spaces (8' x 16'), provided they are clearly labeled and grouped together [Section 17.36.090.D].
In-Lieu Fees
For nonresidential structures located within the City of Grass Valley's downtown area and environs, owners may pay an in-lieu fee for parking improvements instead of providing the spaces on-site. The initial fee is set at $2,000 per required parking space [Section 17.36.120].
Sections Cited
- Section 17.36.020 - Applicability
- Section 17.36.030 - General parking regulations
- Section 17.36.040 - Number of parking spaces required
- Section 17.36.060 - Bicycle parking
- Section 17.36.070 - Motorcycle parking
- Section 17.36.080 - Reduction of parking requirements
- Section 17.36.090 - Parking design and development standards
- Section 17.36.120 - Parking in-lieu fees