Off-Street Parking Requirements for the R-2-L District in Long Beach

In the City of Long Beach R-2-L (Two-family Residential, large lot) district, residential projects are required to provide between 1.0 and 2.0 parking spaces per unit based on the number of bedrooms, with a general requirement of 1 guest parking space for every 4 units [Table 41-1A]. All required parking for residential uses in the R-2-L district must be provided within an enclosed garage [Section 21.41.213]. While the R-2-L district primarily permits residential uses, most commercial activities are prohibited, though permitted accessory uses like home occupations must not displace or block required residential parking spaces [Section 21.51.235].

Residential Parking Requirements

Off-street parking requirements in the City of Long Beach are determined by the specific type of residential unit and its location relative to the Coastal Zone. For the R-2-L: Two-family Residential, large lot district, the following ratios apply:

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 zero bedrooms > 451 sq. ft.)	1.50	2.00
-2 bedrooms or more	2.00	2.00
Guest Parking	1 space / 4 units	1 space / 4 units

[Table 41-1A]

Calculation Rules for R-2-L

When calculating the required number of spaces for a project in the R-2-L district, fractional numbers must be rounded up to the nearest whole number [Section 21.41.216]. For the purpose of these calculations, a unit is considered to have a bedroom if it includes at least one living room, one dining room, and one kitchen [Table 41-1A, Note e].

Garage and Location Requirements

The City of Long Beach enforces strict standards on where and how parking is provided within the R-2-L: Two-family Residential, large lot district:

Enclosed Storage: In all residential districts, including R-2-L, all required parking spaces must be provided within an enclosed garage [Section 21.41.213].
On-Site Provision: All required off-street parking for residential uses must be provided on the same site as the dwelling units [Section 21.41.221].
Tandem Parking: Tandem parking is generally prohibited for required residential parking in the R-2-L district, except when specifically approved for valet parking through a site plan review or for certain low-income housing projects [Section 21.41.233].

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Parking

For projects in the R-2-L district involving Accessory Dwelling Units, the City of Long Beach requires specific parking provisions:

Unit Type	Parking Requirement
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)	1 space per unit
Primary Dwelling	Same as existing number of spaces

[Table 51.276-2]

Exemptions for ADUs: An ADU in the R-2-L district may be exempt from parking requirements if it is located within one-half mile of public transit, is part of an existing primary residence/accessory structure, or is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district [Table 51.276-2, Note b].

Commercial Project Restrictions in R-2-L

The R-2-L district is established to preserve the character of older, large-lot neighborhoods and is primarily intended for one-family and two-family dwellings [Section 21.31.020.J].

Per the "Uses in Residential Zones" table, almost all standard commercial uses—including retail, office, and restaurants—are prohibited (marked "N") in the R-2-L district [Table 31-1]. Consequently, there are no "commercial" parking standards specific to this district, as the projects themselves are not permitted. However, for allowed accessory commercial uses such as Home Occupations, the business activity must not displace or block the use of parking spaces required for the residential use [Section 21.51.235].

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