Off-Street Parking Requirements for the CH: Highway Commercial District in Long Beach
Commercial developments in the City of Long Beach CH: Highway Commercial district are generally required to provide 4 to 5 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area, while residential components within the same district must provide between 1 and 2 spaces per unit depending on the bedroom count. Parking areas within the CH: Highway Commercial district must maintain a minimum 5-foot setback from front and side streets and provide a 14-foot setback when abutting an alley [Table 32-2A, Table 41-1A].
General Applicability and Exceptions
In the City of Long Beach, parking standards for the CH: Highway Commercial district apply to all new construction, additions, and established land uses [Section 21.41.120]. However, the City of Long Beach provides a significant exemption for existing structures: no new parking is required for changes of use within existing square footage for buildings that are more than ten years old, provided the use is not a hotel, motel, or other transient lodging [Section 21.41.165].
Commercial Parking Ratios
The City of Long Beach utilizes specific ratios for different types of commercial uses within the CH: Highway Commercial district. These ratios are based on Gross Floor Area (GFA) or Gross Leasable Area (GLA).
| Use Category | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| General Retail / Commercial Clusters | 4 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Professional Office | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Banks, Savings and Loans | 5 per 1,000 GFA |
| Ready-to-Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Dinner Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 GFA (dining) + 20 per 1,000 GFA (tavern/dance floor) |
| Automobile Sales | 2 per 1,000 GFA (showroom) + 1 per 1,000 GLA (outdoor display) |
| Medical or Dental Office | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
[Table 41-1C]
Residential Parking Ratios
Residential uses permitted within the CH: Highway Commercial district must comply with the standard residential parking requirements of the City of Long Beach.
| Number of Units/Bedrooms | Required Spaces per Unit |
|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (not more than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 BR > 450 sq. ft.) | 1.50 |
| 2 or more Bedrooms | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units |
[Table 41-1A]
Parking Design and Setbacks
The CH: Highway Commercial district has specific yard requirements that dictate the placement of parking facilities relative to property lines.
| Required Yard Area | CH: Highway Commercial Setback |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 5 feet |
| Side Street | 5 feet |
| Alley | 14 feet |
| Adjacent to Residential District | 5 feet |
| Adjacent to Nonresidential District | 3 feet |
[Table 32-2A]
Parking Space Dimensions
All parking provided within the CH: Highway Commercial district must meet the following minimum size standards:
- Standard Spaces: 8 feet 6 inches by 18 feet.
- Compact Spaces: 8 feet by 15 feet (permitted for nonresidential uses at up to 50 percent of the total required parking).
- Handicapped Spaces: 14 feet by 18 feet (refer to State Title 24 requirements for specific accessibility markings).
[Table 41-2]
Adjustments and Exemptions
Parking Exempt Area
Under the "No Net Loss" and high-quality transit provisions, no minimum number of vehicular parking spaces is required for lots or parcels located within the "Parking Exempt Area" of the City of Long Beach, as established on the Parking Exempt Area Map [Section 21.41.175]. This applies primarily to vehicular parking and does not waive EV charging or ADA requirements.
Administrative Adjustments
An Administrative Use Permit (AUP) may be sought to reduce the required number of spaces if the applicant submits a Parking Management Plan or a Shared Parking Agreement demonstrating that the hours of demand for different uses do not overlap [Section 21.41.223].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established
- Section 21.32.130 - Transition between defunct and new commercial zones
- Section 21.41.120 - Applicability
- Section 21.41.165 - Change of use for building more than ten years old
- Section 21.41.175 - Exemption from parking minimums
- Section 21.41.223 - Adjustment of parking requirements
- Section 21.41.229 - Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones
- Table 32-2A - Commercial Development Standards
- 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
- Table 41-2 - Minimum Parking Space Sizes