(A) Applicability:
1. Specified: Any new building constructed, any new use established, any addition or enlargement of an existing structure or use, and any change in the occupancy of an existing building or the manner in which a use is conducted that would result in additional parking spaces being required, shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
2. Additions, Enlargements Or Changes: In the case of additions or enlargements of an existing building or use, or a change of occupancy or manner of operation that would result in additional parking spaces being required, the additional parking spaces shall be required only for such addition, enlargement or change, and not for the entire building for use, unless a specific finding is made by the planning director that additional parking for the entire building or use is necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare.
3. Parking standards for the Downtown Taft Specific Plan zone district are contained within Table 3.3, Section 3.7 of the Downtown Taft Specific Plan, and prevail over the standards contained in this chapter. Where a use is not identified in that table, the standards contained in this chapter will then be applicable.
(B) Status Of Existing Development and Approvals:
1. Lawfully Existing Building Or Use: No building or use of land which lawfully existed on the effective date hereof shall be considered nonconforming solely because of the lack of off street parking and loading facilities required by this chapter.
2. Prior Approvals: Projects with unexpired plot plans or conditional use permits approved prior to the effective date hereof need only meet the requirements of the parking ordinance in effect on the date the plot plans or conditional use permits were approved.
3. Use Of Facilities In Commercial, Business Or Industrial Zones: No off street parking facilities located in a commercial, business park or industrial zone district shall be used for any purpose other than the temporary parking of vehicles used by employees and patrons that the facilities are intended to serve without first obtaining approval of the city. The display of vehicles offered for sale shall be strictly prohibited on said off street parking facilities.
1. Included Areas: All floor area which is devoted to office, retail, service or other activities and uses, including storage areas, restrooms, lounges, lobbies, kitchens and interior hallways and corridors, unless specifically exempted in this chapter.
2. Outdoor Areas: All outdoor patio, deck, balcony, terrace, kiosk or other outdoor area that will accommodate a permanent activity that will generate a demand for parking facilities in addition to that which is provided to principal activities and uses within the building or structure.
3. Areas Not Included: Gross floor area shall not include enclosed or converted areas used for off street parking, loading or bicycle facilities.
(E) Increases And Decreases In Requirements:
1. Increase: The number of spaces required by the schedules for provision of off street parking and loading spaces contained in sections 6-14-3 and 6-14-4 of this chapter may be increased if it can be demonstrated through a parking study that the proposed use would have a parking or loading space demand greater than the requirements given in sections 6-14-3 and 6-14-4 of this chapter. The planning director may require that a parking study be provided by an applicant when, in the opinion of the planning director, an increase in the number of parking or loading spaces may be warranted.
2. Decrease: A decrease in the number of spaces required by the schedule for provision of off street parking and loading spaces and bicycle facilities contained in sections 6-14-3 and 6-14-4 of this chapter may be granted under the circumstances identified in section 6-14-5 of this chapter by approval of a variance or as part of an application for a conditional use permit.
3. Multiple Uses: In situations where a combination of uses are developed on a site, including multiple uses under single ownership, the number of spaces required by the schedules for provision of off street parking, loading spaces and bicycle facilities contained in sections 6-14-3 and 6-14-4 of this chapter shall be equal to the sum of requirements for each of the uses, unless a reduction is granted pursuant to the shared parking provisions of section 6-14-5 of this chapter. If the gross floor area of each individual user is less than the minimum for which parking or loading spaces would be required, the aggregate gross floor area shall be used in determining the required number of parking and loading spaces.
(F) Operation And Maintenance:
1. Maintenance Required: All parking, loading and bicycle facilities required by this chapter shall be maintained for the duration of the use requiring such facilities.
2. Prohibited Uses:
(a) Required parking and loading facilities shall not be used for the storage or display of merchandise, or for the storage or repair of vehicles or equipment.
(b) Required parking and loading facilities shall not be used for the sale of merchandise, except for a special event, subject to the issuance of a special event permit pursuant to the provisions of section 6-2-11, “Special Event Permit”, of this title.
3. Responsibility For Maintenance: It shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator of a specific use to ensure that required parking facilities are maintained in good operating condition, are periodically swept and cleaned, and are properly striped.
(G) Requirements Not Given In Parking And Loading Schedules:
2. Parking Study: An applicant proposing to develop or expand a use whose parking requirements are not shown, shall submit a parking study to the planning director providing justification for the proposed number of spaces. This study, along with any traffic engineering and planning data that is appropriate to the establishment of a parking requirement for the proposed use, shall be considered during review of the development application.
(H) Compact Parking: The maximum percentage of all on site parking that may be permitted as compact spaces shall be as provided in table 14.A of this section, unless otherwise specified in section 6-14-5, “Adjustments To Off Street Parking Requirements”, of this chapter.
(I) Tandem Parking: Unless otherwise permitted in this chapter, tandem parking shall not be used to meet the required number of parking spaces specified in the parking schedules, unless specifically permitted as part of an approved conditional use permit or unless findings for a variance can be made.
(J) Time Restricted Customer Parking: Time restricted customer parking may be delineated for high turnover businesses for the purpose of restricting long term parking at selected locations. Time restricted customer parking shall comply with the following requirements. Requests for time restricted parking may be included within the required development application submittal for new or expanded uses, and shall be approved or denied based on the criteria listed in subsection (J)3 of this section.
1. Application Requirements: Requests for delineation of time restricted customer parking shall be submitted to the Planning Director on forms supplied by the Planning Department and shall be acted upon by the Planning Commission. The following information shall be supplied within the application:
(a) Site plan of the commercial activity, including information regarding the total number of parking spaces, the number and designation of proposed time restricted parking spaces and on site vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian circulation, access and design.
(b) A letter of justification describing how the proposed use will meet the required findings set forth in subsection (J)3 of this section.
(c) Other information as may be required by the Planning Director, Planning Commission or City Council.
2. Approval Authority: Requests for time restricted parking may be approved by the Planning Commission, the decision of which may be appealed to the City Council as provided in section 6-2-19, “Appeals”, of this title.
3. Required Findings: A request for time restricted customer parking may be approved; provided, that all of the following findings are made:
(a) The amount and distribution of time restricted customer spaces allows for the time restricted parking without adversely affecting the parking needs of other uses within the general area; and
(b) The location of the time restricted customer parking spaces will not impede vehicular, bicycle or pedestrian circulation, and will not encroach into required fire lane access areas.
4. Revocation Of Time Restricted Customer Parking:
(a) Approvals for time restricted customer parking spaces, granted pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, may be revoked if it is found that the continued use of time restricted customer parking adversely affects the parking needs of the general area or impedes vehicular, bicycle or pedestrian circulation due to changes in tenant mix, customer parking demands or any other factors which change the parking demand characteristics.
(b) Any decision to revoke a time restricted customer parking approval shall become final thirty (30) days after the decision to revoke is made, unless an appeal is filed in accordance with the provisions of section 6-2-19 of this title.
(K) Prohibited Parking Areas: No “vehicle”, as defined in section 6-1-19, “Definitions”, of this title, shall be permitted to be parked on any unpaved portion of a front yard setback area, or on any paved portion of a front yard setback area not designated as an access corridor (driveway) to an on site parking facility (carport or garage) on any lot located in a residentially zoned district in the City. (Ord. 768-08, 8-19-2008)
TABLE 14.A
OFF STREET AUTOMOBILE PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS
OFF STREET AUTOMOBILE PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS
Use | Minimum Off Street Parking Requirements | Notes |
Use | Minimum Off Street Parking Requirements | Notes |
Commercial uses: | ||
Freestanding commercial and service uses: | ||
Automobile repair and services | 1 space per 500 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1.5 spaces per service bay | No required off street parking space shall be used for sale, service, rental or repair of vehicles |
Automobile sales | 1 space per 350 square feet of interior office area, plus 2 spaces per service bay | No required off street parking space shall be used for repair of vehicles |
Automobile service station | 2 spaces, plus 2 spaces per service bay | If a minimart is developed as part of the service station, additional parking at a rate of 1 space per 200 square feet of retail area shall be provided |
Automobile washing (self- service) | 1 space per 2 washing stalls | |
Bank, savings and loan | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area | Special design requirements shall apply for drive-through facilities (see chapter 12, “Specific Use Development Standards”, of this title) |
Barbershop, beauty parlor | 2 spaces per barber chair or beautician station | |
Bed and breakfast inns | Required spaces for existing residential units and 1 space per each guestroom | All spaces for guest parking shall be 9 feet wide by 19 feet long. Neither on street nor tandem parking shall be allowed to satisfy the parking requirements |
Business and personal services | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Eating and drinking facility with or without drive-in or take out facilities | 1 space per 100 square feet of gross dining area, inside and outside | Special design requirements shall apply for drive-through facilities (see chapter 12, “Specific Use Development Standards”, of this title) |
Mortuaries | 1 space per each 5 seats, plus funeral procession of queue capacity for 5 cars | |
Offices: | ||
Administrative, business, professional | 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area | |
Government | 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area | |
Retail, furniture, major appliances | 1 space per 500 gross square feet of floor area | |
Retail, general (i.e., department stores, markets, specialty, etc.) | 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area | |
Neighborhood, community and convenience shopping centers greater than 20,000 square feet of total gross leasable area | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area for the total gross leasable area up to 100,000 square feet | Alternative parking requirements for specialty commercial centers may be established by the planning director based upon a parking study submitted by or required of the applicant (see subsection (G)2 of this section) |
1 space per 450 square feet for the total gross leasable area greater than 100,000 square feet | ||
Educational services: | ||
Business and trade schools | 1 space per each 5 person capacity, or 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area, whichever is greater | |
Colleges | 10 spaces, plus 30 spaces per classroom | |
Elementary, junior high schools | 2 spaces per classroom | |
Senior high schools | 10 spaces, plus 10 spaces per classroom | |
Entertainment and recreation uses: | ||
Arcades, games | 1 space per 150 gross square feet of floor area | |
Auditoriums, places of public assembly | 1 space per 5 seats or 1 space per 100 gross square feet where there are no fixed seats | |
Bowling alleys, billiard halls | 5 spaces per alley, plus 2 spaces per billiard table, plus required parking for other on site uses | |
Commercial stables | 1 space per 5 horses capacity for boarding on site | |
Golf course (executive and regulation) | 4 spaces per hole, plus required parking for other on site uses | |
Golf driving range | 1 space per tee, plus required parking for other on site uses | |
Golf, miniature | 3 spaces per hole, plus required parking for other on site uses | |
Health club/centers | 1 space per 100 square feet floor area | Alternative parking requirements may be established by the planning agency based upon a parking study submitted by or required of such a facility (see subsection (G)2 of this section) |
Parks, public and private (over 10 acres in size): | To be determined for the proposed use based upon the parking study findings | Applicant must submit a parking study (see subsection (G)2 of this section) |
Community park | A minimum of 5 spaces per acre, plus additional spaces for spectator seating at athletic fields, community centers and pools | |
Neighborhood parks | A minimum of 5 spaces for the first 2 acres, plus 1 space for each additional acre | |
Skating rinks | 1 space per 100 square feet of gross floor area | |
Tennis, handball, racquetball facilities | 3 spaces per court, plus required parking for on site uses | |
Theaters, movie | 5 spaces, plus 1 space per 3 fixed seats | |
Industrial uses: | ||
Manufacturing | 1 space per 500 gross square feet of floor area devoted to manufacturing, plus the required amount of parking for gross square footage devoted to other uses | |
Research and development | 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area | |
Warehouse and distribution | 1 space per 1,000 gross square feet of floor area devoted to warehousing, plus the required amount of parking for gross square footage devoted to other uses | |
Medical and health services: | ||
Convalescent and nursing homes | 1 space per 3 beds | |
Hospitals | 1 space per 1.5 beds | |
Medical and dental offices and clinics, veterinary clinics and offices, emergency rooms | 1 space per 300 gross square feet of floor area | |
Public and quasi-public uses: | ||
Daycare, preschools, nursery schools, family daycare, residential care homes: | Parking requirements are based upon maximum capacity of the proposed facility | |
Daycare centers | 1 space per employee, plus 1 space per 5 children | |
Family daycare homes | 2 spaces per dwelling unit in addition to residential requirement | |
Residential care homes | 2 spaces per dwelling unit in addition to residential requirements | |
Libraries, museums, galleries | 1 space per 400 square feet of gross floor area | |
Places of worship | 1 space per 100 square feet of floor area of main assembly/ auditorium area, plus requirement for office space, if applicable, plus requirement for school uses, if applicable | |
Public utilities | To be determined by the Planning Director for proposed use | Parking requirements are based upon capacity of the proposed facility Applicant shall submit a parking study (see subsection (G)2 of this section) |
Residential uses: | ||
Mobile home parks and subdivisions: | ||
Resident parking | 2 spaces per unit | Tandem spaces may be permitted to meet parking requirements for a mobilehome park |
Guest parking | 1 space per 5 units | |
Model home complexes | 2 spaces per model home, plus 1 space per 300 square feet of office area | On street parking adjacent to the model homes may be counted toward the parking requirement if it is found that such parking will not impact other residential parking and will not obstruct traffic flow |
Multi-family dwellings: | ||
Residential parking | Studio: 1 space per unit | All spaces shall be located within 150 feet of the unit being served |
1 bedroom: 1 space per unit | ||
2 or more bedrooms: 2 spaces per unit | The parking requirement shall be reduced to 1 space per unit pursuant to a density bonus granted for a qualifying residents project in accordance with the provisions of section 6-11-8 of this title | |
Guest parking | 0.25 space per unit for 11 or more units; no guest parking for 10 or less units | |
Senior housing; congregate care: | ||
Resident parking | 0.5 space per unit or as determined by the planning agency | Applicant shall submit a parking study pursuant to the requirements of subsection (G)2 of this section |
For multiple-family units, the parking shall be within 150 feet of the dwelling it is serving | ||
Guest parking | 0.25 space per unit | |
Senior housing; independent living: | ||
Resident parking | 1 space per unit | Spaces may be covered, and may be either a carport or garage |
Guest parking | 0.25 space per unit | Guest spaces may be uncovered |
Single-family dwelling | 2 spaces per unit | May be located within a garage or covered carport, with the structures not located within the required front setback |
(Ord. 768-08, 8-19-2008; amd. Ord. 828-17, 8-1-2017; Ord. 849-22, 12-6-2022)