Off-Street Parking Standards for the CNA District in Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach, the CNA: Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented district requires off-street parking for commercial projects at a general rate of 4 to 5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area, while residential uses such as live-work units must provide between 1 and 2 spaces per unit based on bedroom count. Parking areas within the CNA district are subject to specific property line setbacks, including a 10-foot requirement from front streets and a 6-foot requirement from side streets [Table 32-2]. Furthermore, vehicular parking minimums may be entirely waived for projects located within designated "Parking Exempt Areas" near major transit stops [Section 21.41.175].
District Overview
The CNA: Neighborhood Commercial Automobile-Oriented district is established by the City of Long Beach to provide for small-scale, neighborhood-serving centers. Unlike pedestrian-oriented districts, the CNA district is intentionally auto-oriented, requiring buildings and parking to be set back from the front property line to accommodate vehicular access and convenience [Section 21.30.010, Section 21.32.020.B.2].
Required Number of Parking Spaces
The City of Long Beach Municipal Code determines the required number of parking spaces based on the specific land use within the CNA district. While residential uses are restricted in this district, specific hybrid uses like live-work units and caretaker residences are permitted and must follow residential ratios.
Commercial and Service Ratios
The following ratios apply to commercial developments in the CNA district [Table 41-1C]:
| Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Basic Retail Sales | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Neighborhood Shopping Centers | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Restaurants (No Drive-Through) | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Fast Food (Detached/Separate Pad) | 10 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (or 5 spaces + 1 per 3 seats) |
| General Office / Professional Service | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (up to 20,000 GFA) |
| Banks / Financial Services | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Automobile Sales | 2 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (interior) + 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. (outdoor) |
| Medical / Dental Offices | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Residential Ratios (Limited Uses)
For permitted residential-hybrid uses in the CNA district (such as Live-Work units), the following ratios apply [Table 41-1A]:
| Unit Type | Standard Requirement | Coastal Zone Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (up to 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 space per unit | 1.00 space per unit |
| 1 Bedroom (or 0 BR > 451 sq. ft.) | 1.50 spaces per unit | 2.00 spaces per unit |
| 2 or More Bedrooms | 2.00 spaces per unit | 2.00 spaces per unit |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units | 1 space per 4 units |
Location and Setback Requirements
Parking facilities in the City of Long Beach CNA district cannot be placed directly against property lines. They must respect the following minimum setbacks [Table 32-2]:
- Front Street: 10 feet.
- Side Street: 6 feet.
- Alley: 14 feet (measured from the centerline of the alley).
- Adjacent to a Residential District: 5 feet.
- Adjacent to a Non-Residential District: 5 feet.
All required yard areas between parking and property lines must be landscaped and maintained in a neat and healthy condition [Section 21.32.220].
Parking Design and Dimensions
The City of Long Beach enforces strict dimensional standards to ensure parking functionality in the CNA district [Table 41-2, Section 21.41.243]:
- Standard Stall Size: 8 feet 6 inches wide by 18 feet deep.
- Standard Aisle Width: 24 feet (for 90-degree parking).
- Compact Stalls: 8 feet by 15 feet. Note that compact stalls are permitted only for residential uses (up to 50% of total) and are prohibited for non-residential uses in the CNA district.
- Turning Radii: A minimum 24-foot turning radius is generally required, though this may be reduced to 23 feet in certain zones [Table 41-3].
- Driveways: The minimum width for a driveway serving 0–4 spaces is 9 feet. For 5–14 spaces, the width must be at least 12 feet [Table 41-4].
Special Exemptions and Adjustments
Parking Exempt Area (AB 2097)
Per the "Exemption from parking minimums," the City of Long Beach does not require a minimum number of vehicular parking spaces for any lot or parcel within a designated "Parking Exempt Area." This typically applies to projects located near major transit stops. However, these projects must still provide required ADA and Electric Vehicle (EV) charging spaces [Section 21.41.175].
Administrative Use Permit (AUP) Adjustments
An applicant may apply for an Administrative Use Permit to reduce the required number of parking spaces. The Zoning Administrator may grant this reduction if the applicant provides a Parking Management Plan or demonstrates a Shared Parking Agreement where multiple uses have different peak hours of demand [Section 21.41.223].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.1070 (Definitions - GFA)
- Section 21.30.010 (Districts Designated)
- Section 21.32.020 (Districts Established)
- Section 21.32.220 (Yards)
- Table 32-1 (Uses in Commercial Zoning Districts)
- Table 32-2 (Commercial Development Standards)
- Section 21.41.175 (Exemption from parking minimums)
- Section 21.41.216 (Required number of spaces)
- Table 41-1A (Parking for Residential Uses)
- Table 41-1C (Parking for Commercial/Industrial/All Other Uses)
- Table 41-2 (Minimum Parking Space Sizes)
- Section 21.41.223 (Adjustment of parking requirements)
- Section 21.41.243 (Parking lot layout)