Institutional District Off-Street Parking Standards in Long Beach
In the I: Institutional District of the City of Long Beach, off-street parking must be provided for all new construction and additions in accordance with the specific ratios defined in Chapter 21.41. For projects within the Institutional District, parking facilities are permitted on any portion of a lot except within the ten-foot (10') front yard area abutting a street [Section 21.34.255]. Residential developments within the Institutional District are specifically required to conform to the standards of the R-1-N (Single-family Residential) zone [Section 21.34.245].
General Location and Setback Requirements
The City of Long Beach mandates that all required parking in the Institutional District be provided as off-street spaces. While parking can be located on most parts of a lot, the Institutional District has specific setback requirements to maintain the streetscape.
| Parking Location Requirement | Minimum Setback / Standard |
|---|---|
| Area abutting a front street | 10 feet [Section 21.34.255] |
| Distance from property line (Residential) | 5 feet [Table 34-3] |
| Distance from property line (Nonresidential) | 5 feet [Table 34-3] |
| Distance from alley | 14 feet [Table 34-2] |
Additionally, for institutional uses, required parking may be provided off-site if the parking facility is located within six hundred feet (600') of the primary entrance of the use it serves [Section 21.41.222].
Residential Parking Requirements
Residential projects allowed within the I: Institutional District of the City of Long Beach must follow the parking ratios applicable to the R-1-N zone. These requirements vary based on the number of bedrooms and whether the project is located within the Coastal Zone.
Standard Residential Ratios
The following table outlines the required spaces per unit for residential projects in the Institutional District:
| Unit Type/Size | Spaces Per Unit (Outside Coastal Zone) | Spaces Per Unit (Coastal Zone Only) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (up to 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 BR > 451 sq. ft.) | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 2 or more Bedrooms | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units | 1 space per 4 units |
[Table 41-1A]
Special Residential Uses
For projects involving senior or disabled housing within the Institutional District, the City of Long Beach permits different ratios:
| Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Senior Citizen (Low rent) | 1 space per 2 bedrooms |
| Senior Citizen (Market rent) | 1 space per 1 bedroom |
| Handicapped (Low rent) | 1 space per 2 bedrooms |
| Residential Care Facility | 1 space per bed |
[Table 41-1B]
Institutional and Commercial Parking Requirements
The I: Institutional District primarily hosts public and semi-public facilities. While pure commercial uses are generally restricted as principal uses, many institutional functions (such as hospitals or medical offices) have commercial-style parking demands. The City of Long Beach uses Gross Floor Area (GFA) to determine these requirements.
| Institutional/Commercial Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Medical Offices / Clinics | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Hospitals | 2 spaces per bed |
| Convalescent Hospitals | 1 space per 3 beds |
| Elementary/Secondary Schools | 2 per classroom + loading/unloading spaces |
| Trade or Vocational Schools | 20 per 1,000 GFA (or 1 per 3.3 fixed seats) |
| Professional Offices | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Library or Museum | 4 per 1,000 GFA + 1 bus stall per 5,000 sq. ft. |
| Daycare Center | 1 space per every 10 children |
[Table 41-1C]
Design and Maintenance Standards
The City of Long Beach requires all parking areas in the Institutional District to be improved with a paved surface of at least three and one-half inches (3½") of asphaltic or concrete paving [Section 21.41.263].
- Screening: Any parking lot in the Institutional District that contains storage must be screened by a solid wall at least six feet (6') in height [Section 21.34.240].
- Lighting: All light standards must be shielded to prevent light and glare from intruding onto adjacent residential sites [Section 21.41.259].
- Wheel Stops: Each parking stall must be provided with a concrete or similar wheel stop [Section 21.41.269].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.30.040 - District boundary determination
- Section 21.34.240 - Screening required
- Section 21.34.245 - Residential development
- Section 21.34.255 - Off-street parking and loading
- Section 21.41.110 - Purpose (Parking)
- Section 21.41.222 - Off-site parking
- Section 21.41.259 - Parking areas—Lighting
- Section 21.41.263 - Parking areas—Paving
- Section 21.41.269 - Parking areas—Wheel stops
- Table 34-2 - Development Standards (Institutional)
- Table 34-3 - Yard Requirements (Institutional)
- Table 41-1A - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Residential Uses
- Table 41-1B - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Special Residential Uses
- Table 41-1C - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Commercial, Industrial/Manufacturing and All Other Uses