Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R-1-M District in Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach, residential projects in the R-1-M: Single-family Residential, moderate lot district generally require two enclosed garage parking spaces for typical dwellings with two or more bedrooms. While standard commercial projects are prohibited in the R-1-M District, accessory home-based businesses are permitted provided they do not displace or block the required residential parking spaces [Section 21.51.235].
Residential Parking Ratios in the R-1-M District
The City of Long Beach establishes specific parking ratios for residential uses in the R-1-M District based on the size of the unit and the number of bedrooms. These requirements are categorized by whether the property is located within the standard municipal area or the Coastal Zone.
Required Parking Spaces for Residential Dwellings
| Number of Units/Bedrooms | Standard Requirement (per unit) | Coastal Zone Requirement (per unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 bedrooms (450 sq. ft. or less) | 1.00 space | 1.00 space |
| 1 or more bedrooms (or 0 bedrooms > 450 sq. ft.) | 1.50 spaces | 2.00 spaces |
| 2 or more bedrooms | 2.00 spaces | 2.00 spaces |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units* | 1 space per 4 units* |
*Guest parking is required when four or more detached dwelling units are proposed on a single site [Section 21.41.216].
Enclosed Garage Mandates
In the R-1-M District, all required parking spaces for residential uses must be provided within an enclosed garage [Section 21.41.213]. The City of Long Beach limits the size of a garage for a single-family residence to a maximum of 700 square feet [Section 21.31.245]. If a garage door faces the street, it must be set back at least 20 feet from the street property line [Section 21.31.245.A.1].
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Parking
The R-1-M District allows for the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units. The City of Long Beach imposes the following parking standards for these units:
| ADU Type | Required Parking |
|---|---|
| Limited ADU | 1 space |
| Conforming ADU | 1 space |
Parking Exemptions for ADUs: The City of Long Beach waives the parking requirement for an ADU if any of the following are met:
- The unit is within one-half mile of public transit.
- The unit is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district.
- The unit is part of the proposed or existing primary residence or an existing accessory structure.
- A car-share vehicle is located within one block of the ADU [Section 21.51.276, Table 51.276-2].
Commercial and Accessory Business Parking
The R-1-M District is a residential zone where most "Commercial Uses" are strictly prohibited [Table 31-1]. However, certain accessory commercial-style activities are permitted under specific conditions:
Home Occupations
For home-based businesses in the R-1-M District, the City of Long Beach requires that the occupation does not displace or block the parking spaces required for the residential use [Section 21.51.235]. Furthermore, only one vehicle used in the business may be commercially licensed and parked at the residence [Section 21.51.235.B.12].
Childcare Homes
Large and small family daycare homes are permitted in the R-1-M District. The City of Long Beach requires these uses to maintain all residential parking mandated for the primary dwelling [Section 21.51.230].
Parking Space Dimensions
The City of Long Beach defines the minimum dimensions for required parking spaces in the R-1-M District as follows:
| Parking Space Type | Minimum Dimensions | Required Aisle Width |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Space | 8 feet 6 inches by 18 feet | 24 feet |
| Compact Space | 8 feet by 15 feet | 21 feet |
| Handicapped Space | 14 feet by 18 feet | 24 feet |
Note: In the City of Long Beach, compact spaces may not constitute more than 50 percent of the total residential parking provided [Table 41-2].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.045 - Accessory dwelling unit.
- Section 21.30.040 - District boundary determination.
- Section 21.31.020 - Districts established.
- Section 21.31.110 - Permitted uses (Table 31-1).
- Section 21.31.213 - Parking—Garage required.
- Section 21.31.245 - Accessory structures.
- Section 21.41.213 - Parking—Garage required.
- Section 21.41.216 - Parking—Required number of spaces (Table 41-1A).
- Section 21.41.231 - Parking—Size of spaces (Table 41-2).
- Section 21.51.230 - Childcare—Small and large family daycare homes.
- Section 21.51.235 - Home occupations.
- Section 21.51.276 - Accessory Dwelling Units.