Long Beach Off-Street Parking Requirements for the IG: General Industrial District
In the City of Long Beach, the IG: General Industrial District primarily serves as an "industrial sanctuary" where residential uses are strictly limited to accessory roles like caretaker units or specific institutional shelters. Commercial projects within the IG: General Industrial District are generally required to provide 4 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area (GFA), while industrial manufacturing uses typically require 2 spaces per 1,000 square feet of GFA.
Permitted Uses and Residential Restrictions
The IG: General Industrial District is intended for heavy industrial and manufacturing uses that may not be compatible with other districts [Section 21.33.020.C]. Consequently, primary residential projects (such as single-family or multi-family dwellings) are prohibited ("N") in this district [Table 33-2]. However, certain accessory or institutional residential uses may be permitted with an Administrative Use Permit (AP) or as an accessory use (A).
Commercial uses in the IG: General Industrial District are permitted primarily to serve nearby industries and employees. While some retail uses are allowed by right, many others require a Conditional Use Permit (C) [Table 33-2].
Off-Street Parking Ratios
The Long Beach Municipal Code mandates specific parking ratios based on the type of use established within the IG: General Industrial District. These ratios are calculated per 1,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area (GFA) or Gross Land Area (GLA).
Commercial and Industrial Ratios
| Use Type | Required Number of Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade (Commercial Clusters) | 4 per 1,000 SF-GFA [Table 41-1C] |
| Ready to Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 GFA [Table 41-1C] |
| Professional Office | 4 per 1,000 GFA for first 20,000 SF; 2 per 1,000 GFA thereafter [Table 41-1C] |
| General Manufacturing/Assembly | 2 per 1,000 SF-GFA [Table 41-1C] |
| Warehouse/Equipment Buildings | 1 per 1,000 GFA [Table 41-1C] |
| Service Yards/Contractor Yards | 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of yard area, plus office area calculated separately (min. 2 spaces) [Table 41-1C] |
Residential and Institutional Ratios
For those specific residential uses permitted in the IG: General Industrial District (such as caretaker residences or emergency shelters), the following ratios apply:
| Unit Type | Required Spaces Per Unit |
|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (Studio) | 1.00 [Table 41-1A] |
| 1 Bedroom | 1.50 [Table 41-1A] |
| 2 or More Bedrooms | 2.00 [Table 41-1A] |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units [Table 41-1A] |
| Emergency Shelter | Office space at professional office rate; 1 loading space per 25 beds [Section 21.45.132.D] |
| Caretaker Residence | Accessory to a permitted use; follows residential unit ratios [Section 21.51.220] |
Special Standards for Industrial Projects
The Long Beach Municipal Code provides additional regulations for projects within industrial districts that impact parking calculations and layouts.
Accessory Office Parking
In the IG: General Industrial District, if a tenant space in an industrial building is less than 5,000 square feet, the occupant may use up to 45 percent of the GFA for office purposes. However, in such cases, an additional three (3) parking spaces must be provided over and above the requirement for the principal industrial use [Section 21.33.170.B].
Tandem Parking
Tandem parking is generally prohibited for residential uses. For industrial or manufacturing projects in the IG: General Industrial District, tandem parking may be permitted through site plan review, but it must be specifically designated for long-term employee parking only [Section 21.41.235].
Off-Site Parking
For commercial and industrial uses, required parking may be provided on an off-site lot if it is located within six hundred feet (600') of the use it serves [Section 21.41.222.A]. This requires a deed restriction to guarantee the permanence of the parking area [Section 21.41.222.B].
Parking Lot Setbacks
In the IG: General Industrial District, parking lots must adhere to specific setbacks to ensure proper screening and safety.
- Front/Side Street: 5-foot setback from the property line [Table 33-4].
- Adjacent to Residential: 20-foot setback if the industrial lot abuts a residential district [Table 33-4].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.33.020 - Districts established
- Section 21.33.170 - Accessory office space in industrial buildings
- Section 21.41.110 - Purpose
- Section 21.41.216 - Parking—Required number of spaces
- Section 21.41.222 - Off-site parking
- Section 21.41.233 - Tandem parking—Residential uses
- Section 21.41.235 - Tandem parking—Industrial/manufacturing uses
- Section 21.45.132 - Emergency shelters
- Section 21.51.220 - Caretaker's or nightwatchman's residence
- Table 33-2 - Uses In Industrial Districts
- Table 33-4 - Minimum Required Setbacks/Yards Areas
- Table 41-1A - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Residential Uses
- Table 41-1C - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Commercial, Industrial/Manufacturing and All Other Uses