Off-Street Parking Requirements for the CO: Office Commercial District in the City of Long Beach
In the CO: Office Commercial district of the City of Long Beach, residential projects are required to provide between 1.0 and 2.0 spaces per unit depending on the number of bedrooms, while professional office and bank uses generally require 4 to 5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. Furthermore, the City of Long Beach mandates significant parking setbacks within the CO: Office Commercial district, including a 30-foot front street setback for ground-floor parking and a 15-foot side street setback [Table 32-2A].
Residential Parking Ratios in the CO District
For any residential development located within the CO: Office Commercial district, the City of Long Beach requires parking to be provided based on the size of the dwelling units. Residential uses in commercial zones must comply with the standard residential ratios set forth in the general parking regulations [Section 21.41.229].
Required Spaces for Residential Units
| Number of Units / Bedrooms | Number of Spaces per Unit |
|---|---|
| 0 bedrooms (not more than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 |
| 1 or more bedrooms (or 0 bedrooms > 451 sq. ft.) | 1.50 |
| 2 bedrooms or more | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units |
Note: In the City of Long Beach, guest parking requirements may be impacted if on-street parking is permitted abutting the lot [Table 41-1A].
Office and Commercial Parking Ratios in the CO District
The CO: Office Commercial district is intended to permit mixed residential and commercial uses, specifically focusing on office uses along major arterial routes [Section 21.32.020]. The City of Long Beach requires the following space counts for typical uses permitted in the CO: Office Commercial district [Table 41-1C].
Required Spaces for Office and Service Uses
| Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Banks, Savings and Loans | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Medical or Dental Office, Clinic | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Professional or Unspecified Office (up to 20,000 GFA) | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Professional or Unspecified Office (over 20,000 GFA) | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (for the portion over 20k) |
| Professional or Unspecified Office (Alternative) | 1 space for each company vehicle exceeding 5 |
| Basic Retail Sales | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Note: For professional offices, the City of Long Beach requires the greater of the GFA-based calculation or one space per employee [Table 41-1C].
Parking Area Development Standards and Setbacks
Within the CO: Office Commercial district, the City of Long Beach imposes strict "Required Yard Areas Between Parking and Property Lines." These setbacks ensure that parking areas do not negatively impact the streetscape or adjacent residential properties [Section 21.32.220].
Parking Setbacks for the CO District
| Boundary Type | Required Setback |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 30 ft. (applies to ground floor) |
| Side Street | 15 ft. |
| Alley | 14 ft. |
| Adjacent to Residential District | 5 ft. |
| Adjacent to Nonresidential District | 5 ft. |
Note: The 30-foot front street setback for parking in the CO: Office Commercial district applies to the ground floor only [Table 32-2A].
Special Provisions and Adjustments
The City of Long Beach allows for certain modifications to these standards under specific conditions:
Buildings Over Ten Years Old
In the City of Long Beach, no new parking is required for changes of use within an existing square footage for a building that is more than ten (10) years old. However, this exemption does not apply to hotels, motels, inns, or event centers [Section 21.41.165].
Parking Exempt Areas (AB 2097)
No minimum number of vehicular parking spaces is required for any lot or parcel located within the "Parking Exempt Area" as established by the City of Long Beach, except for specific uses like hotels and transient lodging [Section 21.41.175].
Administrative Adjustments
The Zoning Administrator of the City of Long Beach may grant an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) to reduce the required number of parking spaces if a Parking Management Plan, a Shared Parking Agreement, or a formal Parking Study is provided and approved [Section 21.41.223].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established
- Section 21.32.220 - Yards
- Table 32-2A - Commercial Development Standards
- Table 32-3A - Residential Uses In Commercial Districts
- Section 21.41.165 - Change of use for building more than ten years old
- Section 21.41.175 - Exemption from parking minimums
- Section 21.41.229 - Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones
- 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
- Section 21.41.223 - Adjustment of parking requirements