Parking requirements | Nevada City Zoning Guide

Off-street parking facilities must be provided for all buildings hereafter erected or increased in capacity, with the amount of parking determined by the specific use of the property [Section 17.80.030.A, p. 101]. Required parking must be available to customers at all times and cannot be rented or leased to other uses [Section 17.80.030.E, p. 102].

Required Parking Ratios by Use

The following minimum off-street parking counts are required [Section 17.80.030.G, p. 102-103]:

Residential (Single and Multi-family): Two spaces per dwelling unit. For units in residential base zones, this is in addition to spaces required for any nonresidential uses in the same building.
Retail Stores, Banks, and Professional Offices: Eight spaces for the first 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus one space for each additional 250 square feet.
Manufacturing and Light Assembly: Eight spaces for the first 1,000 square feet of floor area, plus one space per 250 square feet of enclosed work area, plus one space per 2,000 square feet of bay/storage area, plus one space per 5,000 square feet of outside storage area.
Hotels and Motels: One space per guest room, plus two spaces for permanent manager's quarters.
Churches and Mortuaries: One space for each five seats in the main chapel or assembly room.
Theaters and Auditorium: One space for each three fixed seats or maximum audience.
Child Care Facilities: One space per employee plus one space for each 12 children, including a safe drop-off/pick-up area.
Employee Housing: Two spaces for Small Employee Housing units; one space for every three authorized beds for Large Employee Housing units.

Design and Construction Standards

All parking areas and driveways must be paved and constructed to provide adequate drainage [Section 17.80.040.B-C, p. 103-104].

Stall Dimensions: Standard perpendicular spaces must be 9 feet by 18 feet. Parallel spaces must be 9 feet by 22 feet [Section 17.80.040.A.2-4, p. 103].
Compact Spaces: Up to 40% of total spaces may be compact (8 feet by 14 feet) and must be clearly marked [Section 17.80.040.A.1, E, p. 103-104].
Aisles: Driveway throats and aisles must be a minimum of 24 feet wide [Section 17.80.040.A.3, p. 103].
Screening: Facilities with more than eight spaces abutting a residential zone must be screened by a hedge, fence, or wall [Section 17.80.040.G, p. 104].

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Parking for ADUs is limited to a maximum of one additional space per unit or bedroom, whichever is less. This may be provided as tandem parking on an existing driveway [Section 17.72.026.E.1, p. 85]. No parking is required for ADUs located within one-half mile of public transit, within an architecturally/historically significant district, or when part of an existing primary residence [Section 17.72.026.E.3, p. 85].

In-Lieu Parking Payments

In the downtown area (identical to the Historical District), the city may allow developers to satisfy parking requirements by paying an in-lieu fee of $3,000.00 per required space [Section 17.112.040-050, p. 151]. This option is at the city's discretion and requires a variance application to demonstrate mitigation [Section 17.112.080, p. 152].

Landscaping Requirements

Perimeter Strips: A planting strip with a minimum width of 4 feet is required between parking facilities and any public street or sidewalk [Section 17.80.060.A, p. 105].
Interior Landscaping: For lots with more than eight spaces, additional landscaping must be provided at a ratio of 30 square feet per parking space, dispersed throughout the lot [Section 17.80.060.B, p. 105].

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