When parking is provided, the following requirements shall apply unless otherwise noted in this Title.
A. Access to Parking Areas and Parking Spaces.
1. Access to parking areas. Parking areas shall be designed to prevent access at any point other than at designated access drives.
2. Parking space location. Parking spaces shall not be located within ten feet of an access driveway, measured from the property line. See Figure 3-9 (Parking Space Location) below. Uncovered parking spaces in the R1 and R2 zones shall comply with § 17.320.035.P.3. (Allowable R1 and R2 uncovered parking placement).
3. Internal maneuvering area. Parking areas shall provide suitable maneuvering room so that vehicles enter the street in a forward direction, except for single-family homes, two-family homes, or triplexes on non-arterial streets, which may be designed to permit backing a vehicle into a public street right-of-way.
B. Access to Adjacent Sites. Applicants for non-residential developments are encouraged to provide shared vehicle and pedestrian access to adjacent non-residential properties for convenience, safety, and efficient circulation.
C. Parking Space and Lot Dimensions.
1. Parking spaces.
a. Residential spaces. Parking spaces within carports shall have minimum dimensions of nine feet in width by 18 feet in length for each vehicle. Parking spaces within garages shall have minimum dimensions of nine feet in width by 18 feet in length for each vehicle with minimum interior dimensions for a two-car garage of 20 feet, six inches in width by 18 feet in depth; and for a one-car garage ten feet, six inches in width by 18 feet in depth. Uncovered parking spaces shall have a minimum dimension of eight feet, six inches in width by 18 feet in depth. Access to a garage or carport located behind a dwelling unit shall have a backup aisle of 17 feet with a 45 degree angle leading to a driveway. See Figure 3-10 (Residential Garage/Carport and Driveway) below.
b. Tandem parking spaces. Each tandem parking space shall be nine feet in width by 18 feet in depth.
i. Within residential districts or within the residential parking area of a mixed use development, tandem parking spaces may be provided. Tandem parking may be arranged to be no more than two spaces in depth.
ii. For non-residential uses, tandem parking may be provided where authorized through a Parking Plan approval by the Director. The use of the tandem parking for non-residential uses shall require that the operator of the parking facility provide a valet or attendant at all times that the parking is accessible to users, except where the Director determines that the nature of the use and its operation will not require attended parking. Tandem parking may be arranged to be no more than three spaces in depth.
c. Compact parking spaces. For non-residential uses, compact spaces may be provided for up to 25% of the off-street parking provided. Compact spaces shall measure a minimum of seven feet, six inches in width by 15 feet in length, and shall not be eligible for further reductions (e.g. through an Administrative Modification or other entitlement). Compact spaces shall be clearly marked as compact.
d. All other parking spaces. Minimum parking space dimensions shall be as shown in Table 3-3 (Parking Space and Drive Aisle Dimensions) and Figure 3-11 (Parking Space and Aisle Dimensions).
2. Parking lot aisles. Drive aisles within parking areas shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the following standards.
a. Aisle width. Parking area aisles shall comply with the minimum dimensional requirements in Table 3-3 (Parking Space and Drive Aisle Dimensions) and Figure 3-11 (Parking Space and Aisle Dimension).
b. Visibility. Drive aisles shall be designed and located so that adequate visibility is ensured for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists when entering individual parking spaces, circulating within a parking facility, and entering or leaving a parking facility.
Angle of Parking | Minimum Dimensions | ||||
A Stall Width (1) | B Stall Length | C Stall Depth (aisle to curb) | D Drive Aisle Width and Backup | ||
One Way (2)(3) | Two Way (2)(3) | ||||
0 degrees (parallel parking) | 8 feet, 6 inches | 26 feet | 8 feet, 6 inches | 12 feet | 18 feet |
30 degrees | 8 feet, 6 inches | 18 feet | 17 feet | 13 feet | 20 feet |
45 degrees | 8 feet, 6 inches | 18 feet | 19 feet | 13 feet | 20 feet |
90 degrees | 8 feet, 6 inches | 18 feet | 18 feet | 24 feet | 24 feet |
Notes:
(1) Each parking space that is adjoined on either side of its longer dimension by a fence, wall, partition, column, post or similar obstruction, and the obstruction is located less than 14 feet from the access aisle, measured along the length of the stall, shall have its minimum width increased by at least 10 inches on the side of the obstruction.
(2) The Director may require greater aisle widths where slopes or other obstructions are encountered.
(3) For all parking spaces that back out onto an alley, the width of the alley shall be included in the minimum dimensions required for aisle width and backup.
D. Curbing.
1. Continuous concrete curbing at least six inches high and six inches wide, with breaks to allow on-site drainage, shall be provided along the edges of parking spaces adjacent to fences, walls, other structures, property lines, pedestrian walkways and planted areas. Curbing shall be placed within the parking space a minimum of two feet from the front of the space. Curbs are not required where two parking spaces are contiguous at the width ("head to head"). Alternative barrier designs to protect planted areas may be approved by the Director.
2. To increase the parking lot landscaped area, a maximum of two feet of the parking stall depth may be landscaped with low-growth, hearty materials in lieu of paving, allowing a two-foot bumper overhang while maintaining the required parking dimensions per § 17.310.020.C.4 (Bumper overhang areas). See Figure 3-6 (Bumper Overhand Area).
E. Slopes of Driveways, Ramps, and Parking Areas. The slopes of driveways, ramps, and parking areas shall comply with the following requirements.
1. Driveways and ramps. Driveways and ramps shall not exceed a maximum slope of 20%, measured along the driveway centerline. Where there is a change in the slope of the driveway, it shall be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director that vehicles will be able to pass over the change in slope without interference with an average vehicle's undercarriage. The 20 feet of driveway or ramp closest to the exit shall not exceed a slope of 3% or as determined appropriate by the Director.
2. Parking areas. Parking areas shall have a maximum grade of 5%, measured in any direction.
F. Landscaping. Parking area landscaping shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 17.310 (Landscaping).
G. Lighting. Parking areas within non-residential projects shall have lighting that provides adequate illumination for security and safety, pursuant to the standards in § 17.300.040 (Outdoor Lighting).
H. Directional Areas and Signs.
1. Parking spaces, aisles, approach lanes, and maneuvering areas shall be clearly marked with directional arrows and lines to ensure the safe and efficient flow of vehicles.
2. The Director may require the installation of traffic signs, in addition to directional arrows, to ensure the safe and efficient ingress and egress and circulation of vehicles in a parking facility.
I. Striping and Identification. Parking spaces shall be clearly outlined with a double striped line on each side of the parking space. The double striped line shall consist of two four-inch-wide lines spaced six inches apart and painted on the surface of the parking facility. Parking space width shall be measured from the centerline between the two four-inch lines. Circulation aisles, approach lanes, and turning areas shall be clearly marked with directional arrows and lines to ensure safe traffic movement.
J. Surfacing. Parking spaces and maneuvering areas shall be paved and permanently maintained with a minimum thickness of two inches of asphalt, concrete, or other all-weather surface, over a minimum thickness of four inches of a base material; or paved and permanently maintained with a minimum thickness of four inches of Portland cement or as deemed appropriate by the Director. Alternative surfaces for parking and loading areas may be approved by the Community Development Director and the Public Works Director; provided that the material used meets aesthetic standards as determined by the Director, improves drainage and permeability, and responds to any historic guidelines for the property and its setting.
K. Interior Parking Clearance. Covered parking areas shall be provided with a minimum of seven feet of unobstructed clearance from finished floor surface to any ceiling, beam, entranceway, pipe, suspended sign or other obstruction, improvement, or device overhead, except as approved by the Director for storage cabinets or other suspended or cantilevered obstructions. Where a covered parking area is intended for, or is accessible to, general public use, each entrance shall be clearly posted with a sign indicating the minimum interior clearance actually provided.
L. Treatment of Parking Areas. In order to further the objective of reducing the visual impacts of parking, driveways, and garage doors, projects shall incorporate two or more of the following strategies:
1. Locate parking areas and garages underground, completely wrapped with occupiable enclosed buildings, or to the rear half of the site.
2. Use garage doors constructed of enhanced materials other than vinyl, fiberglass, or painted metal. Enhanced materials include wood, doors that incorporate windows consistent with the architecture of the building, trellis or trim around the door, carriage-style garage doors, or deeply recessed (eight inches) doors.
3. Orient garage doors perpendicular to the front property line.
4. Design driveways and vehicle maneuvering areas with use of pattern and such materials as integral color concrete, slate, brick, pervious concrete, or areas of permeable surface.
5. Locate driveways on the side of the project lot so that the driveway is not the central feature visible from the street.
6. Use landscaping to screen parking areas from the street (see § 17.310.020.C. (Parking Areas and Parkways).
7. Use single car width garage doors.
M. Entrance Gates and Barriers. Gates or barriers at the entrance to shared parking, if included, shall be set back a minimum of 18 feet from the property line to prevent queuing into the public right-of-way and a minimum of 18 feet from the building wall of the structure to minimize visibility from the public right-of-way.
N. Subterranean Parking. Subterranean parking structures shall comply with all requirements of this Section, and the following additional requirements when located within a required setback.
1. Invisibility. Subterranean parking shall not extend more than three feet above finished grade.
2. Accommodate landscaping. The subterranean structure shall be designed to accommodate landscaping or other setback area improvements as required by this Title.
3. Covered structure. When located within a required street-facing setback area, the subterranean structure shall be fully covered by landscaping.
O. Parking Structures. Parking structures providing parking for residential and non-residential uses shall comply with all requirements of this Section, and the following additional requirements.
1. Parking structures shall comply with the setback requirements and height limits of the applicable zoning district.
2. Above-ground parking structures and above grade portions of subterranean parking structures shall be screened from the public right-of-way using one or more of the following strategies:
a. Parking garage is wrapped by occupiable buildings or portions thereof. Occupiable building area used to screen a parking garage shall be a minimum depth of 30 feet on the ground floor.
b. Parking garage is screened with landscaping with a ten-foot minimum depth.
c. Parking garage is screened with a solid or semi-solid building material/crafted ornamental metal screens/art installation that is consistent with the chosen architectural style of the project.
d. Parking levels above the ground level may extend to the building facade but shall be designed and treated with the same level of detail, material quality, and facade articulation as other facade areas (e.g., facade articulation and modulation, use of real windows with glazing or false windows defined by frames, lintels, or sills).
e. Parking structure lighting shall be screened, shielded, and/or directed downward to reduce light trespass and glare onto the public right-of-way and adjacent properties.
P. Special Parking Requirements for Residential Uses.
1. Driveway length. Except as otherwise allowed by this Title, within residential zoning districts, access to every parking space or to a common/shared parking area shall be provided by a paved driveway not less than 20 feet in length, measured from the end of the parking space to the nearest public or private street right-of-way line from which access to parking is provided, except uncovered spaces which may be located in accordance with Figure 3-12. In the R1 Zone, front-facing garages shall be set back at least 25 feet from the front property line.
2. No setback parking. Vehicles shall not be parked between the street property line and the front or side of a residential unit except on a driveway leading to a garage or carport, or on a designated uncovered parking space.
3. Allowable R1 and R2 uncovered parking placement. In the R1 and R2 zones, any uncovered parking provided shall be placed within 15 feet of a maximum of one interior side yard property line and/or shall be fully screened from view of the public right-of-way by the primary structure. Front yard-facing parking not located within 15 feet of an interior side yard property line shall be fully covered and enclosed. See Figure 3-12 (Allowable R1 and R2 Uncovered Parking Placement) below.
Q. Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking. Each land use type shall be provided the number of parking spaces equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for installation of future EV charging stations and with full EV charging stations, as set forth in this Section, except where a greater number of spaces are required through the California Green Building Code, a conditional use permit or other permit approval. Property owners shall inform tenants of the availability of EV Ready and EV Capable spaces.
1. Definitions.
a. "EV Capable." Installation of raceway, conduit, and panel capacity to accommodate the future installation of a dedicated branch circuit and 208/240 volt (Level 2) chargers/charging stations.
b. "EV Ready." A complete circuit installation, including raceway, conduit, wiring, receptacle, circuit breakers, dedicated branch circuit, 208/240 volt 40 amp panel capacity, and any other necessary components to support the future installation of a Level 2 charger/charging station.
c. "Full EV Charger/Charging Station." All necessary components required for EV Ready, in addition to an already installed charger/charging station (208/240 volt, Level 2).
2. Multiple-Family Residential Uses.
a. Quantity of EV Capable: 20% of the parking spaces provided.
b. Quantity of EV Ready: 10% of the parking spaces provided.
c. Quantity of Full EV Charger/Charging Station: 10% of the parking spaces provided.
d. Full EV Chargers/Charging Stations shall be in addition to the EV Ready infrastructure. Where the number of parking spaces provided is less than the cumulative minimum number of required EV spaces, the EV Ready requirement shall be applied first; additional spaces shall not be required in order to comply with the cumulative EV space requirements. Requirements for Full EV Chargers/Charging Stations shall not apply to parking spaces that are located within individual privately accessible garages that correspond to a specific dwelling unit.
3. Non-Residential Uses.
a. Quantity of EV Capable: 20% of the parking spaces provided; a minimum of two spaces.
b. Quantity of EV Ready: 10% of the parking spaces provided; a minimum of two spaces.
c. Quantity of Full EV Charger/Charging Station: 10% of the parking spaces provided; a minimum of one space.
d. Full EV Chargers/Charging Stations shall be in addition to the EV Ready infrastructure. Where the number of spaces provided is less than the cumulative minimum number of required EV spaces, the Full EV Chargers/Charging Stations requirement shall be applied first; additional spaces shall not be required in order to comply with the cumulative EV space requirements.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2014-002, § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2019-009 § 2; Ord. No. 2020-013 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2021-012 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2022-008; Ord. No. 2023-002, Exhibit A (part); Ord. No. 2024-001, Exhibit A (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)