Off-Street Parking Requirements for the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial District
In the City of Long Beach, the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district generally prohibits standard residential development, restricting such uses to limited caretaker and artist studio residences [Section 21.32.020]. Commercial projects in this district must provide off-street parking based on specific use-based ratios, typically ranging from 2 to 10 spaces per 1,000 square feet, unless the project qualifies for exemptions within a designated Parking Exempt Area [Section 21.41.175]. All parking facilities in the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district must adhere to specific setback requirements, including a five-foot minimum from front and side streets [Section 21.32.220].
Residential Use Restrictions and Parking
The Long Beach Municipal Code classifies the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district as a zone for large-scale, mixed-use activity centers. While traditional single-family and multi-family residential projects are not permitted, specific residential-adjacent uses are allowed via an Administrative Use Permit (AP) [Table 32-1].
Where allowed, residential uses in the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district must provide parking according to the following ratios:
| Number of Units/Bedrooms | Number of Spaces per Unit | Coastal Zone Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (not more than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 bedrooms, 451+ sq. ft.) | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 2 Bedrooms or more | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units | 1 space per 4 units |
Note: For the purposes of these calculations, all rooms other than one living room, one dining room, one kitchen, and bathrooms are calculated as bedrooms [Table 41-1A].
Commercial Parking Ratios
Commercial projects in the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district are governed by the requirements in Table 41-1C. The City of Long Beach calculates these based on Gross Floor Area (GFA) or Gross Land Area (GLA) [Section 21.41.216].
| Commercial Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| General Retail, Store, or Shop | 4 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Community, Regional, or Neighborhood Shopping Centers | 5 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Merchandise Mall | 10 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Ready to Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Professional Office | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Bank / Financial Service | 5 per 1,000 GFA |
| Furniture Store | 2 per 1,000 GFA |
| Hotel or Motel | 1 per guestroom (plus additional for banquet/restaurant) |
Parking Location and Setbacks
In the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district, the placement of parking is restricted by required yard areas. According to the specific standards for the "CH" equivalent (CHW), the following setbacks apply to parking areas [Section 21.32.130]:
| Parking Area Boundary | Required Setback |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 5 feet |
| Side Street | 5 feet |
| Alley | 14 feet |
| Adjacent to a Residential District | 5 feet |
| Adjacent to a Nonresidential District | 3 feet |
Special Exemptions and Adjustments
The Long Beach Municipal Code provides several mechanisms to reduce or eliminate parking requirements for projects within the CHW: Regional Highway Commercial district:
Parking Exempt Areas
Pursuant to Section 21.41.175, no minimum number of vehicular parking spaces is required for any lot or parcel located within the "Parking Exempt Area" map. This exemption applies only to vehicular parking and does not waive other zoning standards such as drive aisle widths or bicycle parking [Section 21.41.175].
Buildings Over Ten Years Old
In the City of Long Beach, no new parking is required for a change of use within the existing square footage of a building that is more than ten years old. However, this exemption does not apply to specific uses such as hotels, motels, inns, or event centers [Section 21.41.165].
Administrative Adjustments
A developer may apply for an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) to reduce the number of required parking spaces. This typically requires a Parking Management Plan or a professional Parking Study to justify that the proposed parking will be adequate for customers and employees [Section 21.41.223].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.2530 - Sign area.
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established.
- Section 21.32.130 - Transition between defunct and new commercial zones (Table 32-0).
- Section 21.32.220 - Yards (Table 32-2A).
- Section 21.41.165 - Change of use for building more than ten years old.
- Section 21.41.175 - Exemption from parking minimums.
- Section 21.41.180 - Parking Exempt Area Map adopted.
- Section 21.41.216 - Parking—Required number of spaces.
- Section 21.41.223 - Adjustment of parking requirements.
- Section 21.41.229 - Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones.
- Table 31-1 - Uses in Residential Zones.
- Table 32-1 - Uses in All Other Commercial Zoning Districts.
- 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.