Off-Street Parking Standards for the CNR District in Long Beach
Projects in the Long Beach CNR: Neighborhood Commercial and Residential district must provide off-street parking based on specific use types, with residential projects generally requiring between 1.0 and 2.0 spaces per unit and commercial retail requiring 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet. All parking within the City of Long Beach CNR district must adhere to strict setback requirements from property lines, such as a 30-foot setback from front streets and a 5-foot buffer when adjacent to a residential district.
Residential Parking Requirements in the CNR District
In the Long Beach CNR: Neighborhood Commercial and Residential district, residential development standards regarding parking and loading are governed by Chapter 21.41 [Table 32-3]. The number of required spaces depends on the number of bedrooms and whether the project is located within the Coastal Zone.
Required Spaces for Residential Uses
The following standards from the City of Long Beach Municipal Code apply to residential units in the CNR district:
| Number of Units/Bedrooms | General Requirement (Spaces per Unit) | Coastal Zone Requirement (Spaces per Unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (not more than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 bedrooms > 451 sq. ft.) | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 2 or more Bedrooms | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Guest Parking | 1 space per 4 units | 1 space per 4 units |
Source: [Table 41-1A]
Special Residential Parking Notes
- Room Rentals: For room rentals in the CNR district, two parking spaces must be provided for the operator plus one space for each guestroom [Section 21.51.270].
- Calculation: In the City of Long Beach, when calculating required spaces, any room other than one living room, one dining room, one kitchen, and bathrooms is calculated as a bedroom [Table 41-1A, Note (e)].
Commercial Parking Requirements in the CNR District
Commercial projects in the Long Beach CNR: Neighborhood Commercial and Residential district must provide parking based on the Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the specific use.
| Commercial Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood Shopping Centers | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| General Retail Sales | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Professional Office | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA (up to 20,000 GFA) |
| Restaurant (without drive-through) | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Medical Office or Clinic | 4 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
| Banks, Savings and Loans | 5 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Source: [Table 41-1C]
Parking Setbacks and Location Standards
The City of Long Beach enforces specific "Required Yard Areas Between Parking and Property Lines" for the CNR district to ensure adequate buffering and safety [Section 21.32.220].
CNR District Parking Setbacks
| Boundary Type | Required Setback for Parking |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 30 feet |
| Side Street | 6 feet |
| Alley | 14 feet |
| Adjacent to Residential District | 5 feet |
| Adjacent to Nonresidential District | 0 feet |
Source: [Table 32-2]
General Parking Regulations and Dimensions
All off-street parking in the City of Long Beach must meet standard dimensions and accessibility requirements [Section 21.41.231].
- Standard Stall Size: 8 feet 6 inches by 18 feet [Table 41-2].
- Compact Stalls: In the CNR district, compact stalls (8 feet by 15 feet) are permitted for residential uses (up to 50 percent of total) but are prohibited for nonresidential uses [Table 41-2].
- Independent Access: Every parking space must be independently accessible, with the exception of approved tandem or valet parking [Section 21.41.246].
- Paving: The entire driveway and parking area must be surfaced with at least 3.5 inches of asphaltic or concrete paving [Section 21.41.263].
Exemptions from Minimum Parking Requirements
Pursuant to the implementation of California Assembly Bill 2097, the City of Long Beach has established "Parking Exempt Areas" [Section 21.41.175].
- Vehicular Parking Only: No minimum number of vehicular parking spaces is required for lots or parcels located within the Parking Exempt Area [Section 21.41.175.A].
- Exclusions: This exemption does not apply to hotels, motels, or other transient lodging [Section 21.41.175.D].
- Continuing Standards: Even if a project is exempt from providing a minimum number of spaces, it must still follow all other development standards, including stall dimensions, turning radii, and driveway widths [Section 21.41.175.B].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.15.270 (Room rental)
- Section 21.30.040 (District boundary determination)
- Section 21.32.220 (Yards)
- Section 21.32.235 (Residential uses in commercial districts)
- Section 21.41.175 (Exemption from parking minimums)
- Section 21.41.216 (Parking—Required number of spaces)
- Section 21.41.229 (Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones)
- Section 21.41.231 (Parking—Size of spaces)
- Section 21.41.246 (Parking—Access)
- Section 21.41.263 (Parking areas—Paving)
- Table 32-1 (Uses in Commercial Zoning Districts)
- Table 32-2 (Commercial Development Standards)
- Table 32-3 (Residential Uses In Commercial Districts)
- Table 41-1A (Required Number of Parking Spaces for Residential Uses)
- Table 41-1C (Required Number of Parking Spaces for Commercial/Industrial/All Other Uses)
- Table 41-2 (Minimum Parking Space Sizes)