Inglewood Municipal Code Art. 19 Parking Regulations

Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 1435, 12-30-58; 1587, 1-1-62; 5-29-62; 1724, 3-30-63; 2291, 12-20-77; 2346, 7-3-79; 2397, 5-5-81; 2426, 9-1-82; 2534, 4-15-86.

In addition to constructing and maintaining parking spaces in conformance with the standards of this Chapter, non-residential parking requirements may be satisfied by one or any combination of the following alternatives.

(A) Leased Parking. Whenever the subject property is located within six hundred feet of a municipal parking structure or parking lot, some or all of the required parking spaces may be provided by leasing the same number of parking spaces in said structure or parking lot. Additionally, whenever the subject property is located within the H-C and MU-1 zones (Downtown Area) it shall be located within one thousand feet of a municipal parking structure or parking lot. Such lease shall be by contract with the City and by recordation of a covenant binding upon the owner and future owners of the property for as long as the facilities or use on the subject property requires such parking, or until alternative parking or other accommodations in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter are provided to obviate the need for said leased parking. Such lease shall not occur if the parking spaces in the parking structure or parking lot are already leased or otherwise committed to other users, or if the City of Inglewood is maintaining the parking spaces for the general use of the public.

(B) Off-site Parking. Some or all required parking spaces may be located on a different lot or lots than the use for which the spaces are required. Such off-site property shall be located within six hundred feet of the use for which the parking spaces are provided. A covenant binding upon the owner(s) and any future owners of both the subject site property and the off-site property will be prepared by the Planning Division and shall be recorded by the property owners with the Los Angeles County Recorder, and which will require the continuous provision and maintenance of the required parking spaces for the subject property for as long as the subject structure or use requires such parking. The parking spaces on the off-site property shall not be parking spaces required for any other use.

(C) Alternate Modes of Transportation. Certain uses including, but not limited to group counseling/tutoring uses and social service uses that provide pick-up and drop-off van services, reimburse participants for bus fares or other forms of transportation that result in a reduced demand for on-site parking, may request approval of a Special Use Permit by the Planning Commission to allow reduce parking subject to all of the following limitations:

(1) A parking utilization study prepared and certified by a licensed civil engineer shall be submitted to the Planning Division as proof that a parking analysis that compiles with the Code provisions has been prepared.

(2) A covenant binding upon all parties involved shall be recorded which requires the continuous provision and maintenance of alternate modes of transportation to reduce the on-site parking requirement for as long as the subject use requires such parking.

(3) Any new construction, or an addition to an existing structure or expansion of use shall require additional on-site parking.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 02-12 3-19-02; Ord. 05-06 8-9-05; Ord. 22-17 9-20-22)

The aggregate amount of off-street parking spaces provided in connection with each of the following uses shall be not less than the following, except as provided for properties located within a Transit Oriented Development Plan Area:

(A) One or Two Dwelling Units on One Lot. Two fully enclosed parking spaces for each unit, per the standards of Section 12-50 of this Article.

(B) Three or More Dwelling Units on One Lot. Two fully enclosed parking spaces for each unit, per the standards of Section 12-50 of this Article. Any combination of rooms, so arranged that they can be easily converted into separate living quarters, shall be counted as an additional dwelling unit.

(C) Dormitories, Fraternity or Sorority Houses. Boarding Houses or Adult Group Housing. Two enclosed parking spaces, plus one enclosed space for each bedroom or guestroom, per the standards of Section 12-50 of this Article. For bedrooms or guestrooms designed to accommodate more than two beds, one enclosed parking space shall be provided for each two beds.

(D) Senior Citizen Residential Facilities. 1.50 enclosed parking spaces for each residential unit per the standards of Section 12-50 of this Article. For purposes herein, a bedroom in facilities with communal dining facilities shall constitute a unit.

(E) Convalescent Residential Facilities. Two parking spaces, plus whichever of the following requires the greater number of spaces:

(1) One parking space per each three beds; or

(2) One parking space per each 1.5 bedrooms.

(F) Residential Trailer Parks. One covered parking space for each individual trailer site (or trailer pad) which shall be located upon each such individual site, plus one additional parking space for each two trailer sites which may be located in separate parking area(s) within the subject trailer park.

(G) Live-Work Units.

(1) Live-work units (one to two units on a site). Parking spaces only as required for the non-residential use.

(2) Live-work units (three or more units on a site). Parking as required for the non-residential use, resulting in a minimum of one parking space per live-work unit.

(H) Visitor Parking. For all multiple-unit residential facilities and live-work facilities having six or more units, one additional parking space for visitors shall be provided on-site for every three units, under the following conditions:

(1) Shall not be located within any required front yard or street side yard setback.

(2) Shall be located as near the public street or alley as site conditions permit.

(3) Shall be permitted in the rear setback only if adjacent to an alley.

(4) Shall be accessible without restriction caused by an unattended gate or security measure.

(5) Shall be individually identified with the word "VISITOR" painted or posted at each space.

(6) May be located within tenant parking facilities so long as developed in compliance with all applicable conditions listed above.

(7) May not be located in the area between the front wall of the building and the front setback line, unless developed as follows:

(a) The guest parking spaces shall be parallel with the front property line or with the front building wall; and

(b) There shall not be more than a total of three guest parking spaces abreast (as measured from the building forward); and

(c) Covered guest parking spaces shall be separated from the required front setback and street side setback by a fully landscaped wall not less than six feet in height and shall be provided with a roof or trellis work. The wall and roof or trellis work shall be finished with the same materials and architectural details as the residential structure; or

(d) Uncovered guest parking spaces (fully open to the sky) shall be separated from the required front setback by a fully landscaped wall which shall be not less than four feet and not more than six feet in height and shall be finished with the same materials and architectural details as the residential structure.

(I) Accessory Dwelling Unit Parking Requirement:

(1) No off-street parking is required for ADUs when located within a one-half mile of a transit stop.

(2) No Replacement. When a garage, carport, or covered parking structure is demolished in conjunction with the construction of an ADU or converted to an ADU, those off-street parking spaces are not required to be replaced.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 88-7 5-17-88; Ord. 03-18 10-14-03; Ord. 14-11 8-5-14; Ord. 17-01 11-01-16; Ord. 22-03 12-14-21; Ord. 24-02, 12/12/2023)

The aggregate amount of off-street parking spaces provided in connection with each of the following uses shall be not less than the following, except as provided for properties located within a Transit Oriented Development Plan Area:

(1) Industrial Buildings, Warehouses, Freight Delivery Facilities and the Like (excluding office floor area).

(a) For facilities less than five thousand square feet in total floor area: one parking space for each five hundred square feet of net floor area.

(b) For facilities between five thousand square feet and fifteen thousand square feet in total floor area: ten parking spaces, plus one additional parking space for each additional two thousand square feet of net floor area in excess of five thousand square feet of floor area.

(c) For facilities larger than fifteen thousand square feet in total floor area: fifteen parking spaces, plus one additional parking space for each additional one thousand five hundred square feet of net floor area in excess of fifteen thousand square feet of floor area.

(2) Detached Accessory Storage Buildings (without manufacturing facilities, office facilities and/or restroom facilities, and not constituting more than twenty-five percent of the total floor area on the site). One parking space for each one thousand five hundred square feet of net floor area.

(3) Self-Storage Facilities (when specifically designed for the storage of personal household items and the like, and specifically designed so as not to be convertible to other industrial uses). One parking space for each two thousand square feet of net floor area.

(4) Outdoor Storage Areas. One parking space for each three thousand square feet of gross site area used for storage purposes.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 17-01 11-01-16; Ord. 21-03 12-8-20; Ord. 22-03 12-14-21; Ord. 23-07 1-31-23)

The aggregate amount of off-street automobile parking spaces provided in connection with each of the following uses shall be not less than the following, except as provided for properties located within a Transit Oriented Development Plan Area:

(1) Nursery Schools and Day Care Centers. Two parking spaces plus one parking space for each twelve children of a facility's maximum enrollment capacity.

(2) Schools.

(a) Elementary or Junior High Schools. Two parking spaces plus either one and one-half parking spaces per classroom, or one parking space for each four hundred square feet of net floor area in classrooms, assembly rooms or other instructional facilities, whichever is greater.

(b) High Schools. Seven parking spaces per each classroom, or one parking space for each one hundred square feet of net floor area in classrooms, assembly rooms or other instructional facilities (excluding physical education facilities), whichever is greater.

(c) Colleges, Adult Schools, Trade Schools and the Like. One parking space for each fifty square feet of net floor area in classrooms, assembly rooms, seminar or counseling rooms or other instructional facilities (excluding physical educational facilities) plus one parking space for each three hundred square feet of net office floor area.

(3) Churches. One parking space for each seventy-five square feet of net floor area in chapels or assembly seating area, including any adjacent rooms that may be combined with the chapel or seating area, plus one parking space for each four hundred square feet of all other floor area in all buildings.

(4) Hospitals, General. Two parking spaces for each bed, or one parking space for each three hundred square feet of net floor area for all facilities, whichever is greater. Not less than ten percent of parking spaces provided for outpatient services shall be handicapped parking spaces per Section 12-57 of this Article.

(5) Hospitals, Maternity or Convalescent Only. One parking space for each bed.

(6) Public Libraries, Parks and Other Public Facilities Not Utilized as Offices. To be determined by the Planning Commission pursuant to Section 12-48 of this Chapter.

(7) Small Group Counseling/Tutoring Facilities. One parking space for each three hundred square feet of net floor area.

(8) Large Group Counseling/Tutoring Facilities. One parking space for each one hundred fifty square feet of net floor area.

(9) Emergency Shelter for the Homeless. Two parking spaces plus one space for each fifty beds.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 95-23 10-10-95; Ord. 05-06 8-9-05; Ord. 13-05 12-17-13; Ord. 17-01 11-01-16; Ord. 22-03 12-14-21; Ord. 23-07 1-31-23)

When the parking requirements for a use are not specifically set forth in this Chapter, the parking space requirements for such use may be determined by the Planning and Building Department Director, using as a guide the most comparable use specified herein. If the Director is unable to make a determination, the Planning Commission shall determine that parking requirement and, by resolution, set forth its findings and reasons for making said determination.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)

(A) Residential Uses. All off-street automobile parking facilities for residential uses shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) All parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or building site as the residence for which such spaces are provided. Furthermore, no parking space shall be more than two hundred feet total walking distance from the nearest entrance of the dwelling unit for which it is provided.

(2) Enclosed parking spaces required to be "fully enclosed" shall be located within a permanent structure having a roof, a concrete floor, walls on all sides and solid doors to close both vehicle and pedestrian entrances. Parking spaces required to be "enclosed" or "within a building" shall be enclosed as specified above except that doors need not be provided for the entrances.

(a) All parking spaces required for one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multiple-family dwellings shall be located within a fully enclosed building.

(b) All parking spaces required for dormitories, fraternity or sorority houses, boarding houses, lodging houses and rooming houses shall be located within a building regardless of the zone in which the use or spaces are located.

(3) No garage, subterranean garage, paved parking area or other parking facility shall be located, in whole or in part, in any front yard or street side yard on any residentially zoned or residentially developed property. No garage door shall be located within twenty-two feet of any public street right-of-way.

(4) Any garage located beside or in front of the most forward dwelling unit on a lot shall be physically attached to said unit by means of a roof common to both structures. Not more than two parking spaces may face directly towards a front or side street. Such spaces shall be located in one garage equipped with one or two doors to fully enclose the space.

Exception: A vehicular entrance not exceeding twenty feet in width may provide access to a subterranean or under-building common garage facility having more than four interior parking spaces. Such an entrance to a multiple car garage may not be required to be provided with a door.

(B) Commercial and Industrial Uses. All off-street automobile parking facilities for commercial, industrial and other nonresidential uses shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) All parking spaces required for commercial, industrial and other nonresidential uses shall be located on the same lot or building site as the use for which such spaces are provided, unless some or all of the required parking is provided in conformance with the provisions of Section 12-41 of this Chapter.

(2) No required parking space shall be located in front of any garage door or truck loading door or within any service bay in a repair garage.

(C) Mixed Uses. Whenever a structure or a site contains both commercial and residential uses, parking required for these two types of uses shall be physically separated and shall be provided with separate entrances. The entrance to the residential parking facility shall be appropriately noticed or secured so as to prevent the use of same by the commercial customers or employees.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87)

(A) Standard Parking Space, When Located in Either a Structure or a Paved Lot.

(1) A parking space, with no obstructions on either side of the space (or with not more than one column or post on only one side of the space), shall have a minimum width of eight feet and a minimum length of eighteen feet.

(2) A parking space, with a wall, multiple columns or other obstruction on only one side of the space, shall have a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of eighteen feet.

(3) A parking space, with walls, columns, or other obstructions on both sides of the space, shall have a minimum width of nine feet six inches.

(B) Compact Parking Space. A compact parking space, located in either a structure or a paved lot, shall have a width of eight feet and a length of sixteen feet in all circumstances. All compact spaces shall be individually identified with the word "COMPACT" in not less than twenty-inch high block letters painted in a highly visible (contrasting) color and such designation shall be located in each compact parking space within three feet of the driveway aisle. As an alternative, a sign utilizing not less than twelve-inch high block letters may be mounted upon any wall at the end of each parking space.

(C) Tandem Parking Spaces. Tandem parking spaces shall have a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of eighteen feet each or a minimum total length of thirty-six feet.

(D) Truck Parking. Parking spaces specifically provided for use by trucks, including loading platforms or loading doors, shall have a minimum width of ten feet and a minimum length of thirty feet.

(E) Handicapped Parking. The size of a parking space specifically designed for the handicapped shall conform to the provisions of Section 12-57 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87)

(A) All residential driveways shall be paved with Portland cement concrete.

(B) Location of Driveways.

(1) No driveway shall be constructed or maintained unless it provides direct vehicular access to a garage or enclosed parking facility.

(2) All driveways shall be located on the same lot or building site as the parking spaces for which the driveways provide access.

(3) For residential properties having more than one driveway, such driveways shall not be located within seventy feet of each other at a front or a street side lot line.

(4) A circular driveway in a front yard or a street side yard shall be limited to those properties having a building setback of not less than thirty feet and a street frontage of not less than one hundred feet. A circular driveway shall be only a single width driveway and the two ends of the driveway shall enter the public street not closer than seventy-five feet to each other. A circular driveway shall be permitted only if it is also the only access to the garage facilities on the property. A circular driveway shall not provide access to more than one residential property.

(C) Size of Driveways. All residential driveways shall be located in an unobstructed space in conformance with the following requirements:

(1) For single or one-way driveways, the driveway width shall be not less than ten feet and not more than twelve feet.

(2) For double or two-way driveways, the driveway width shall be not less than eighteen feet and not more than twenty-two feet. (Exception: a double driveway serving only a two-car garage may have a minimum width of sixteen feet.)

(D) Number of Driveways.

(1) For properties having four or fewer residential units, there shall be a maximum of one driveway, single or double, per lot or development site.

(2) For properties having more than four residential units, the minimum number of required driveways shall be determined by the number of parking spaces accessible from the driveways as follows:

(3) Notwithstanding the above limitations, there may be any number of driveways providing access to a public alley.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 88-7 5-17-88)

(A) All driveways shall be paved to standards not less than as required for parking lots per Section 12-55.2 of this Article.

(B) Location of Driveways.

(1) All driveways shall be located on the same lot or building site as the parking spaces for which the driveways provide access.

(2) Two driveways servicing the same site shall be separated by a distance sufficient to provide a minimum length of twenty-two feet of continuous raised street curbing between the two driveway entrances. Two driveways each serving adjacent sites shall be separated by a distance sufficient to provide a minimum length of two feet of fully raised street curbing between the two driveway entrances; otherwise the two driveway entrances shall be designed as a single common driveway entrance.

(C) Size of Driveways. All driveways for non-residential uses shall be located in an unobstructed space in conformance with the following requirements:

(1) For single or one-way driveways, the driveway width shall be not less than ten feet.

(2) For double or two-way driveways, the driveway width shall be not less than twenty feet.

(3) No driveway shall exceed thirty feet in width at the front lot line or street side lot line.

(D) Number of Driveways.

(1) The number of driveways from a public street to a commercial or industrial site should be limited to as few as possible, as determined by the City Engineering Department per site conditions, traffic circulation and traffic volume.

(2) There may be any number of driveways providing vehicular access to a lot or development site from a public alley.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87)

Subterranean parking facilities shall conform to all applicable provisions of this Chapter except that, when no part of said facilities extends more than two feet above the lowest level of the existing or natural grade, subterranean parking facilities may then project into any required rear yard area or interior side yard area to within three feet of the property line, subject to the following conditions:

(A) Any portion of a subterranean parking facility, which is open to the sky, shall be surrounded with a six-foot high masonry wall when abutting neighboring residential property or with a four-foot high masonry wall in all other circumstances.

(B) Any recessed driveway or ramp located within a front yard or street side yard shall be bordered with a forty-two-inch high decorative masonry wall or a maximum four-foot high metal railing or open-work fence.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 90-23 9-11-90)

Notwithstanding all other requirements for parking space size, location, slope and clearance, parking spaces for handicapped persons shall be provided and shall conform to the following requirements:

(A) Number of Spaces. Handicapped parking spaces are included in the total number of required off-street parking spaces and shall not be required as additional parking spaces. The minimum number of handicapped parking spaces shall be determined by the total number of parking spaces provided on the site, in accordance with the following table:

For sites having five hundred one to one thousand parking spaces, there shall be one handicapped space per each fifty parking spaces, including three van-accessible parking spaces.

For sites having more than one thousand parking spaces, there shall be twenty handicapped spaces, plus one handicapped space per each one hundred parking spaces, including one van-accessible space per each eight required handicapped spaces.

(B) Size of Spaces.

Handicapped parking space: A parking space specifically designed to be accessible for handicapped persons shall have a minimum width of fourteen feet and a minimum length of eighteen feet. Of the fourteen-foot width, nine feet shall be the actual parking space and five feet shall be a blue paint-striped access area. The five-foot wide striped access area may be shared by two adjacent handicapped parking spaces. (Refer to Diagram E.)

Van-accessible handicapped parking space: A parking space to accommodate the parking needs for vans and other large vehicles specifically designed to transport handicapped persons shall comply with all requirements for a handicapped parking space except that the paint-striped access area shall be eight feet wide. (Refer to Diagram E.)

(C) Identification of Spaces. Each handicapped parking space shall be identified with a three-foot by three-foot square international symbol of handicapped accessibility in blue paint in that portion of the parking space nearest the drive aisle. As an alternative, a one-foot square sign depicting said symbol may be mounted on any wall located at the end of each handicapped parking space.

(D) Location and Accessibility of Spaces.

(1) Handicapped parking spaces shall be located as close to the primary entrance(s) of the building(s) as site conditions permit. Said spaces shall be so designed that handicapped persons are not required to pass behind any parked cars, other than their own, in order to reach accessways to the building entrance(s). Furthermore, handicapped parking spaces should be located so that handicapped persons are not required to pass across a drive aisle in order to reach said entrance(s).

(2) A seven-foot wide raised concrete walkway, located behind a concrete curb serving as wheelstop, shall be provided at the end of each handicapped parking space. Three feet of said walkway shall constitute space for the overhang of parked vehicles and the remainder four feet shall be utilized as a pedestrian or wheelchair accessway. The three-foot overhang shall be included in the total eighteen-foot length of the handicapped parking space. (Refer to Diagram E.) A ramp, not exceeding eight and three-tenths percent slope, shall provide access from each paint-striped access area to the raised walkway.

(E) Slope and Clearance of Spaces.

(1) The minimum vertical clearance for all vehicular access to handicapped parking spaces shall be eight feet two inches.

(2) Parking lots and parking structure floors shall not exceed two percent slope along either the length or width of a handicapped parking space.

(F) Conformance to State Regulations. Notwithstanding the regulations of this Article, any stricter requirements of the State of California pertaining to handicapped access or parking, which are not specified in this Article or which are established subsequent to the adoption of this Article, shall be enforced as though incorporated herein.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 95-23 10-10-95)

A loading space should be provided and permanently maintained on the same lot for any commercial. industrial, medical or institutional facility that exceeds four thousand square feet in floor area. When such facility abuts an alley, the loading space may be provided adjacent to the alley; otherwise, the loading space should be provided within or adjacent to any on-site parking lot or driveway. No loading space may encroach into any public right-of-way or otherwise obstruct any on-site drive aisle or parking space. The loading space shall be in addition to any parking space required by the provisions of this Article.

A loading space shall be so located and arranged that delivery vehicles may be readily driven upon or into said space. Such loading space shall have a minimum height clearance of fourteen feet and should be so arranged that service entrances for all buildings on the subject property shall have reasonable access to the loading space. When site conditions permit, the loading space shall not be readily visible from the public street. No loading space shall have a width less than ten feet or a length less than twenty feet provided, however, that larger dimensions or an increased number of loading spaces may be required by the Planning and Building Department Director due to size or function of the building or buildings. Loading spaces at warehouses and freight delivery facilities shall conform to the requirement of Section 12-51(D) and Section 12-54(A) of this Article. Any loading space provided parallel to a public alley shall have a minimum width of ten feet as measured perpendicularly to the alley line, and a minimum length of thirty-five feet.

(Ord. 87-3 3-17-87; Ord. 08-05 4-22-08)