Off-Street Parking Standards for the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial District in Long Beach
Off-street parking in the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial district of the City of Long Beach is determined by the specific use of the property, with residential projects generally requiring between 1 and 2 spaces per unit and commercial uses such as retail requiring 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet. Within the City of Long Beach, any CT district property located inside the designated "Parking Exempt Area" is exempt from minimum vehicular parking requirements, provided all other development standards are met [Section 21.41.175]. For projects not exempt, specific setbacks apply, including a 30-foot parking setback from front streets for ground-floor facilities [Table 32-2A].
Residential Parking Ratios in the CT District
Residential developments within the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial district must follow the density standards of the R-4-N Zone [Table 32-3A]. The required number of parking spaces is based on the number of bedrooms per unit, with higher requirements for projects located within the Coastal Zone.
Table 1: Residential Parking Ratios
| Unit Type / Bedrooms | Standard Requirement (per unit) | Coastal Zone Only (per unit) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Bedrooms (less than 450 sq. ft.) | 1.00 space | 1.00 space |
| 1 or more Bedrooms (or 0 BR > 451 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 |
| Source: [Table 41-1A] |
Commercial and Entertainment Parking Ratios
The City of Long Beach requires commercial projects in the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial district to provide parking based on the Gross Floor Area (GFA) or other capacity metrics.
Table 2: Common Commercial Parking Ratios in CT
| Use Type | Required Number of Spaces |
|---|---|
| General Retail / Commercial Clusters | 4 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Ready to Eat Restaurant | 4 per 1,000 GFA |
| Dinner Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 GFA of dining area + 20 per 1,000 GFA for tavern area |
| Hotel / Motel | 1 per guestroom (plus additional for banquet/restaurant) |
| Tavern | 20 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Amusement / Entertainment Facilities | 4 per 1,000 SF-GFA |
| Theater (Fixed Seats) | 1 per every 3.3 fixed seats |
| Source: [Table 41-1C] |
Parking Facility Setbacks and Design in CT
The City of Long Beach mandates specific setbacks for parking areas within the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial district to ensure aesthetic compatibility and safety.
Table 3: Parking Setbacks for the CT District
| Boundary Feature | Required Setback for Parking |
|---|---|
| Front Street | 30 ft. (applies to ground floor) |
| Side Street | 5 ft. |
| Alley | 14 ft. |
| Adjacent to Residential District | 5 ft. |
| Adjacent to Nonresidential District | 0 ft. |
| Source: [Table 32-2A] |
Special Provisions and Exemptions
The Long Beach Municipal Code provides several avenues for relief or modification of these standards for the CT: Tourist and Entertainment Commercial district:
Parking Exempt Area
Properties within the "Parking Exempt Area" of the City of Long Beach have no minimum requirement for vehicular parking spaces. This exemption applies only to vehicular parking; it does not reduce other requirements such as bicycle parking, ADA accessibility, or electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure [Section 21.41.175].
Change of Use in Older Buildings
For buildings in the City of Long Beach that are more than ten years old, no new parking is required for a change of use involving the existing square footage. However, this specific relief does not apply to hotels, motels, inns, or other transient lodging typically found in the CT district [Section 21.41.165].
Administrative Adjustments
An applicant may seek an adjustment to the minimum number of required spaces through an Administrative Use Permit (AUP). The Zoning Administrator may approve reductions if the applicant provides a Parking Management Plan, a Shared Parking Agreement, or a certified Parking Study demonstrating that a lower number of spaces will meet the project's demand [Section 21.41.223].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.32.020 - Districts established
- Section 21.32.235 - Residential uses in commercial districts
- Section 21.41.165 - Change of use for building more than ten years old
- Section 21.41.175 - Exemption from parking minimums
- Section 21.41.223 - Adjustment of parking requirements
- Section 21.41.229 - Parking—Residential uses in commercial zones
- Table 32-2A - Commercial Development Standards
- Table 32-3A - Development Standards (Residential)
- Table 41-1A - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Residential Uses
- Table 41-1C - Required Number of Parking Spaces for Commercial, Industrial, and All Other Uses