Off-Street Parking Requirements for the IP: Port-Related Industrial District

In the IP: Port-related Industrial district of the City of Long Beach, general residential projects are not permitted, with land use restricted primarily to maritime industry, though accessory caretaker quarters and emergency shelters are allowed. Parking requirements for permitted industrial and commercial uses in this district are established by Chapter 21.41 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, which generally requires 2 to 3 spaces per 1,000 square feet for industrial activities and 4 to 10 spaces per 1,000 square feet for commercial or restaurant uses. All development within the IP: Port-related Industrial district must remain consistent with the Port Master Plan and may be subject to additional screening requirements from the Long Beach Harbor Department [Section 21.33.020].

General Parking Requirements

The IP: Port-related Industrial district in the City of Long Beach does not maintain its own unique parking ratios within the industrial chapter. Instead, Section 21.33.190 mandates that all off-street parking and loading be provided as required by the citywide standards in Chapter 21.41 [Section 21.33.190].

For any project within the City of Long Beach, if the building is more than ten years old, no new parking is required for a change of use for any existing square footage, provided the new use is not a hotel, motel, or restaurant [Section 21.41.165].

Industrial and Port-Dependent Ratios

The IP: Port-related Industrial district is intended for maritime industry and marine resources. While general manufacturing is prohibited in the IP district, port-dependent businesses—such as ship building and repair, towboat operations, and marine research—are permitted [Table 33-2]. These uses typically fall under the general industrial/manufacturing categories for parking calculations.

Use Type	Required Number of Parking Spaces
Wholesale sales and distribution center	3 per 1,000 GFA (office area > 25% calculated separately)
Manufacturing, processing, and packing	2 per 1,000 SF-GFA (office area > 25% calculated separately)
Service yards and contractor yards	1 space per every 5,000 sq. ft. of yard area, plus office area
Research laboratories	3 per 1,000 SF-GFA
Mini-warehouse (personal storage)	3 spaces plus 1 per 100 units

[Table 41-1C]

Commercial and Retail Ratios

Commercial uses in the IP: Port-related Industrial district are primarily intended to serve nearby industries and employees [Table 33-2]. These uses must adhere to specific commercial parking ratios based on the Gross Floor Area (GFA) or Gross Leasable Area (GLA).

Use Type	Required Number of Parking Spaces
Ready to eat restaurant	4 per 1,000 GFA
Eating places (with drive-through)	5 spaces plus 1 per 3 seats in dining area OR 10 per 1,000 GFA (whichever is greater)
Basic retail sales	4 per 1,000 SF-GFA
Professional Office	4 per 1,000 GFA up to 20,000 GFA; 2 per 1,000 GFA thereafter
Bank, credit union, or savings and loan	5 per 1,000 GFA

[Table 41-1C]

Residential and Institutional-Adjacent Ratios

General residential developments, such as single-family homes or apartments, are prohibited in the City of Long Beach's IP: Port-related Industrial district. However, specific institutional or accessory residential uses may be permitted under certain conditions.

Use Type	Required Number of Parking Spaces
Caretaker's residence	1.00 space (0-1 bedroom) or 2.00 spaces (2+ bedrooms)
Emergency shelter	Parking provided only for office space at the Professional Office rate (4 per 1,000 GFA); plus 1 loading space per 25 beds
Hospital	2 spaces per bed

[Table 41-1A, Table 41-1C, Section 21.45.132]

Site Improvements and Adjustments

In the IP: Port-related Industrial district, the City of Long Beach requires specific site improvements for parking areas:

Landscaping: A 5-foot wide landscaped strip must be provided wherever a parking area abuts a property line adjacent to a street [Section 21.33.145].
Adjustments: The Zoning Administrator may approve an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) to reduce the number of required spaces if the applicant provides a Parking Management Plan or a Shared Parking Agreement [Section 21.41.223].
Bicycle Substitution: For industrial uses, one long-term on-site bicycle parking space may be substituted for one auto parking space, up to a maximum of 30% of the required auto spaces [Section 21.41.223.D.1.a.ii].

Sections Cited