Article I — Off-Street Parking

The provisions of this chapter apply within all zoning districts and to all uses and structures within the City. At the time of the erection of any building and/or structure listed in this chapter or at the time any such building and/or structure that requires additional parking spaces is constructed or intensified in use, enlarged or increased in capacity, the minimum off-street parking spaces set forth in Section 18.60.050 , with provisions for adequate and usable ingress and egress, shall thereafter be maintained in connection with such building and/or structure and use of land. (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

• A. Fractional Remainders. When the unit of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces results in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction of 0.5 spaces or more is considered as a whole space and any fraction of 0.4 or less is dropped as a whole space.

• B. Seating Capacity. When the unit of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces is based upon the seating capacity of a structure or use, each 24 inches of pew, bench or other seating shall count as one seat.

• C. Gross Floor Area. When the unit of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces is based upon gross floor area, such area shall be calculated as prescribed in Section 18.60.050 .

• D. Employees. When the unit of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces is based on the number of employees, the maximum shift or employment period during which the greatest number of employees are present at the structure or use shall be used in the computation.

• (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

Off-street parking facilities shall meet the following standards:

• A. Every off-street parking space shall be accessible by a driveway from a public street or alley.

• B. Each parking space shall be not less than 19 feet in length and nine feet in width or as otherwise noted in Section 18.60.050 .

• C. Where three or more parking spaces are provided in one area, driveways shall be designed to allow forward movement of a vehicle between the street and the parking spaces.

• D. Driveways shall have a clear width of not less than 10 feet, and a paved width of not less than eight feet.

• E. Driveways providing for two lanes of vehicular traffic in opposite directions shall have a width of not less than 20 feet.

• F. Off-street parking areas shall be designed to permit the operator of a vehicle to maneuver from one aisle of the off-street parking area to another aisle without driving upon any portion of a public street.

• G. Entrances and exits shall be provided at locations approved by the City Engineer.

• H. If the parking area is illuminated, lighting shall be deflected away from abutting streets and residential sites so as to prevent dangerous or annoying glare.

• I. A required off-street parking space shall not be located in the required front yard setback, or in a required side yard adjoining a street.

• J. All driveways and parking areas shall be surfaced so as to provide a durable and dustless surface, and shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the area, and shall be arranged and marked to provide for orderly and safe parking and movement of vehicles. Drainage of driveways and parking areas shall comply with current National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Regional Water Quality Control Board standards for stormwater runoff including low impact development (LID) standards.

• (Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.6(A)—(J), 1980; Ord. 2019-478 §2; Ord. 2023-515, 2/27/2024)

• A. "Vehicles," as used in this chapter, include recreational vehicles; boats, whether on or off trailers; trailers; and any other similar vehicles whether operable or inoperable.

• B. Parking a vehicle or vehicles on any unpaved portion of a front yard or side yard setback is prohibited. Such parking is also prohibited on any unpaved portion of a street side yard setback of corner lots. Notwithstanding the foregoing prohibition, a vehicle may be parked on an unpaved portion of a front or street side yard setback for a period not exceeding one hour while actively being washed.

• C. Vehicle parking may be allowed on a paved portion of a side yard setback (or street side yard setback of corner lots) with a zoning clearance. Suitable paved surfaces include solid asphalt or concrete, concrete or brick pavers, or a concrete lattice supported surface such as grasscrete.

• D. After the effective date of the ordinance adopting this section, any additional paving of the front yard setback or side yard setback (or street side yard setback of corner lots) shall require the approval of a zoning clearance.

• E. In considering an application for a zoning clearance, the City shall consider the aesthetic impact as well as the potential for interference with access to structures for emergency vehicles and personnel from vehicles or other obstructions to be placed on such paving. Only one side yard area shall be occupied by vehicle parking. That side yard area shall be located adjacent to an existing driveway. A minimum 5-foot-wide side yard access to the rear yard shall be maintained in perpetuity. In no case shall additional paving reduce the total area of landscaping within the front yard (or street side yard setback of corner lots) to less than 33% of the pertinent yard setback area.

• (Ord. 2008-392 §1; Ord. 2014-425 §1; Ord. 2018-468 §1; Ord. 2019-478 §2)

• A. Residential.

  1. Dwelling, Single-Family.

     • a. New construction of single-family residential dwellings shall provide two off-street parking spaces within a garage or carport, and where preengineered, uniform carport and garage designs are approved through a design review permit. Off-street parking spaces within a garage or carport shall be a minimum of nine feet by 19 feet; except that single-car garages and carports with side walls shall be 11 feet by 19 feet. These

spaces shall be free and clear of any appliances, cabinets, structures or material which could make the space unusable for the parking of automobiles.

  - b. Single-family residential units which existed or were under construction prior to approval of the ordinance codified in this section and where additional living area is added after adoption of this ordinance amendment shall provide two off-street parking spaces, one of which must be within a garage or carport and one of which must be on a flat, paved pad accessible directly from the driveway or the public way and located outside the front yard setback. The requirement of this paragraph for existing structures shall not apply when additions are made to the unit that do not constitute an increase in living area. This section in no case will prohibit the addition of living area to a singlefamily residence when there is no accessible space available for the required additional parking space, subject to all other provisions of the zoning regulations being complied with. 

2. Two-family/duplex dwellings or multifamily dwellings shall provide two spaces per unit, one of which shall be covered.

3. Condominium developments require two covered parking spaces per dwelling unit, plus one guest parking space for each two dwelling units. The guest parking spaces shall be distributed throughout the development at locations approved by the Planning Department.

4. Mobile home parks shall provide two spaces per unit, plus one guest space for each four mobile home sites in the park.

5. Senior Housing Units.

   • a. Where the square footage per unit does not exceed 600 square feet, shall provide one space for each three units, plus one space per each staff member.

   • b. Units exceeding 600 square feet shall provide one space per dwelling unit, plus one space per each staff member.

6. Boardinghouses. One covered parking space is required per habitable room as determined by the Building Official. For the purpose of this section, bathrooms and kitchens are not habitable rooms.

• (Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.5(A), 1980; Ord. 2019-478 §2; Ord. 2023-509 §3; Ord. 2023-515, 2/27/2024)

• A. All off-street parking required by this chapter in any residential zone shall be constructed as follows:

  1. In single-family residential zones, all such parking spaces shall be covered by a garage or carport.

  2. In multifamily residential zones, at least one such parking space shall be covered by a carport or garage.

• B. Parking required by this chapter shall be subject to design review and approval of the Planning Director or designee.

• C. Parking design not approved by the Planning Director or designee may be redesigned by the applicant, or the decision appealed to the City Council.

• (Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.6(K), 1980; Ord. 85-261 §3; Ord. 86-266 §3; Ord. 2019-478 §2)

If more than one use is located on a site or within a building, the number of parking spaces provided shall be equal to the sum of the parking spaces required for each use. (Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.5, 1980; Ord. 2019-478 §2)

The off-street parking requirements of this title may be satisfied by the permanent allocation of the required number of spaces for each use in a common parking facility, provided that the total number of spaces shall be not less than the sum of the individual requirements, at any one time, and provided further that a contract between the parties concerned setting forth the agreement to joint use of a common parking facility is approved by the City Council. (Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.5(C), 1980; Ord. 2019-478 §2)

No existing parking shall be changed unless equivalent substitute facilities are provided, or unless the existing parking exceeds requirements, in which case the number of spaces may be reduced to that required under this chapter.

(Ord. 189 Art. 4 §8.4, 1980; Ord. 2019-478 §2)

Where the parking requirement for a use is not specifically defined, the parking requirements shall be determined by the Planning Director or designee and such determination shall be based upon the requirement for the most comparable use specified in this chapter. (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

The minimum distance permitted between a garage opening and a building or structure in direct line with the driveway edge closest to that building or structure is 25 feet. This distance shall be measured perpendicular from the face of the garage along the driveway edge closest to the building or structure.

(Ord. 2019-478 §2)

All off-street parking spaces for all office and commercial uses shall be located upon the same lot as the use for which such parking is provided or if approved by the Planning Director or designee, within 300 feet from the boundary thereof with a recorded off-site parking easement. (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

• A. All landscaped areas which are located within or adjacent to parking or vehicular traffic areas shall be protected from vehicular traffic by the installation of standard concrete curbing.

• B. Parking spaces shall be marked by double striping. Raised 4-inch disks placed not more than 18 inches on-center may be used in lieu of painted stripes, provided the rows of disks are spaced in accordance with the requirements for painted stripes.

• (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

The following standards shall apply unless additional space or width is required for fire safety purposes.

• A. Space for turning around must be provided for parking areas of 3 or more spaces, so that no cars need back into the street. Exception: This requirement shall not apply to properties developed and used as a single-family residence.

• B. Driveways providing two-way circulation to office, commercial and industrial uses shall have a minimum width as follows:

  1. Twelve feet when serving one to and including 7 parking spaces;

  2. Twenty-four feet when serving 8 or more parking spaces.

• C. Driveways providing two-way circulation to residential uses shall have a minimum width as follows:

  1. Ten feet when serving one to and including 7 parking spaces;

  2. Twenty feet when serving 8 or more parking spaces;

  3. The City Council may require wider driveways where the driveway length or number of spaces is determined by the City Council to cause poor circulation.

• D. Driveways serving any number of parking spaces with one-way traffic shall have a minimum width of 12 feet. Parking lots with one-way driveways shall provide an entrance and an exit, and each entrance and exit shall be clearly identified.

• E. Wider driveways may be required by provisions of the Uniform Fire Code, amended by Guadalupe Municipal Code.

• (Ord. 2019-478 §2)

In all districts, excluding the R-1 district, all open parking areas shall be landscaped except those areas specifically used for vehicle parking. Landscaping shall include trees, shrubbery and ground cover. The landscape areas shall be provided with permanent sprinkler systems. Landscaping plans for commercial parking areas shall be approved by the Planning Director or designee.

• A. The design of the parking area should make the best use of the growth and shade provided by existing trees on the project site.

• B. When the total uncovered parking area on the project site (including adjoining lots over which the project has parking privileges) exceeds 3,600 square feet, the following shall be required, in addition to other provisions of this section, as part of a landscape plan:

  1. Trees, shrubbery, and ground cover shall be provided at suitable intervals in order to break up the continuity of the parking area. Planting islands or these trees and shrubs shall be protected from automobile traffic by either asphalt or concrete curbs.

  2. Landscape islands shall be provided at the ends of all parking lanes.

• C. Parking shall be provided at the side or rear of the proposed structures when practicable. Parking lots fronting streets shall be landscaped to soften the visual impact of the parking lot from the street.

• D. Carports shall be located behind or to the side of multi-dwelling complexes where practical. Carport areas shall be screened from view of streets and highways by landscaping or fencing.

• E. Drainage of landscape and parking areas shall comply with current National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Regional Water Quality Control Board standards for stormwater runoff including Low Impact Development (LID) standards.

• (Ord. 2019-478 §2)