Chapter 13.36 — PARKING AND LOADING

The requirements of this chapter are intended to ensure that sufficient off-street parking facilities are provided for all uses, and that parking facilities are properly designed, attractive, and located to be unobtrusive while meeting the needs of the specific use. (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Each land use and structure, including a change or expansion of a land use or structure shall provide off-street parking and loading areas in compliance with this chapter. A land use shall not be

commenced and a structure shall not be occupied until the improvements required by this chapter are completed and approved by the director.

(Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

• A. Parking and Loading Spaces to be Permanent. Each parking and loading space shall be permanently available, marked, and maintained for parking or loading purposes for the use it is intended to serve. The approval of a limited term permit (Section 13.62.030 ) may allow the temporary use of a parking or loading space for other purposes.

• B. Parking and Loading to be Unrestricted. An owner, lessee, tenant, or other person having control of the operation of a premises for which parking or loading spaces are required by this chapter shall not prevent, prohibit or restrict authorized persons from using the spaces without the prior approval of the director.

• C. Vehicles for Sale. No vehicle, trailer or other personal property shall be parked on private property for the purpose of displaying the vehicle, trailer, or other personal property for sale, hire, or rental, unless the property is appropriately zoned, approved by the town for that use, and the person or business at that location is licensed to sell vehicles, trailers, or other personal property. However, one vehicle or trailer owned by the owner, renter, or lessee of the property may be displayed for the purpose of sale for a maximum of one month.

• D. Recreational Vehicle Parking. The storage (parking for any period longer than seventy-two hours) of recreational vehicles and/or boats in a residential zoning district shall be allowed only when all portions of the vehicle or boat are located entirely within the property boundaries and do not extend into the public right-of-way. Parking within setback areas shall also comply with Section 13.30.110(D) .

• (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Each land use shall be provided the number of off-street parking spaces required by this section. See Sections 13.36.100 , and 13.36.110 for off-street parking requirements for bicycles and motorcycles, respectively.

A. Parking Requirements by Land Use.

1. Each land use shall provide the number of off-street parking spaces required by Table 3-7, except where a greater number of spaces is required through minor use permit or use permit approval.

2. A land use not specifically listed by Table 3-7 shall provide parking as required by the director. The director shall use the requirements Table 3-7 as a guide in determining the number of off-street parking spaces required.

3. In any case where Table 3-7 establishes a parking requirement based on floor area in square feet (for example: one space per one thousand square feet of floor area), the floor area shall be construed to mean gross interior floor area.

4. A single use with accessory components shall provide parking for each component. For example, a hotel with a meeting room shall provide the parking spaces required by Table 3- 7 for a hotel (i.e., the guest rooms), and for a meeting room.

• B. Expansion of Structure, Change in Use. When a structure is enlarged, or when a change in its use requires more off-street parking than the previous use, additional parking spaces shall be

provided in compliance with this chapter except where the number of additional spaces required is ten percent or less of the number of existing spaces. See also Chapter 13.72 .

• C. Multi-Tenant Sites. A site with multiple tenants shall provide the aggregate number of parking spaces required for each separate use; except where the site is developed as an integrated center with shared parking and no spaces reserved for a particular use, parking shall be provided as required by Table 3-7 for a shopping center. When a multi-tenant center includes one or more uses that will need more parking than retail uses (for example, a fitness center, restaurant, or theater) additional parking shall be required for the non-retail use unless a parking reduction is approved in compliance with Section 13.36.050 .

• D. Excessive Parking. The town discourages a land use being provided more off-street parking spaces than required by this chapter, to avoid the inefficient use of land, unnecessary pavement, and excessive storm water runoff from paved surfaces. The provision of off-street parking spaces in excess of the requirements in Table 3-7 is allowed only with minor use permit approval, and when additional landscaping and pedestrian amenities are also provided to the satisfaction of the review authority.

• E. Bench or Bleacher Seating. Where fixed seating is provided as benches, bleachers, pews, or similar seating, a seat shall be defined as eighteen inches of bench space for the purpose of calculating the number of required parking spaces as provided in Table 3-7.

• F. Nonconforming Parking. A structure with nonconforming off-street parking may be physically changed or undergo a change in use subject to the following provisions.

  1. Residential Uses. No additional parking spaces shall be required, provided the change does not increase the number of dwelling units, nor eliminate the only portion of the site that can be used for the required or existing parking or access.

  2. Nonresidential Uses. The number of existing parking spaces shall be maintained on the site and additional parking shall be provided in compliance with this chapter for any additional floor area. If the use of the structure is changed to one that requires more parking than the previous use, the difference between the parking spaces required for the previous use and the new use shall be provided.

  3. Waiver by Director. The director may waive covered parking requirements when a nonconforming structure is proposed for rehabilitation if the director determines that the existing structure location, lot size, or topography renders the requirement unreasonable.

• G. Exceptions.

  1. The town shall not impose or enforce any off-street automobile parking requirement if the project is located within one-quarter mile of public transit or paratransit stop with service at least eight times per day, and meets at least one of the following criteria:

     • a. Dedication of a minimum of twenty percent of the total number of housing units to very low, low-or moderate-income households, students, the elderly, or persons with disabilities; or

     • b. Is subject to parking reductions based on any other applicable law.

  2. See Section 13.36.080 regarding reduction of parking requirements.

Parking spaces for the disabled shall be provided in compliance with the Uniform Building Code (UBC), the Federal Accessibility Guidelines, and/or California Code of Regulations Title 24 , as applicable. These spaces shall count toward fulfilling the off-street parking requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Each multifamily project and nonresidential land use shall provide bicycle parking in compliance with this section.

• A. Number of Bicycle Spaces Required.

  1. Multifamily projects shall provide bicycle parking spaces equal to a minimum of ten percent of the required vehicle spaces, unless separate secured garage space is provided for each unit. The bicycle spaces shall be distributed throughout the project.

  2. Retail commercial and office uses shall provide bicycle parking spaces equal to a minimum of five percent of the required vehicle spaces, distributed to serve customers and employees of the project.

• B. Bicycle Parking Design and Devices. Each bicycle parking space shall include a stationary parking device to adequately secure the bicycle, shall be a minimum of two feet in width and six feet in length, with a minimum of seven feet of overhead clearance, and shall be conveniently located and generally within proximity to the main entrance of a structure.

• (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Parking lots with fifty or more parking spaces shall provide motorcycle parking spaces conveniently located near the main entrance of a structure, accessed by the same aisles that provide access to the automobile parking spaces in the parking lot.

• A. Number of Spaces Required. A minimum of one motorcycle parking space shall be provided for each fifty automobile spaces or fraction thereof.

• B. Space Dimensions. Motorcycle spaces shall have minimum dimensions of four feet by seven feet.

• (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

• A. Shared On-Site Parking. Where two or more adjacent nonresidential uses have distinct and differing peak parking usage periods, (e.g. a theater and a bank), a reduction in the required number of parking spaces may be allowed through use permit approval. Approval shall also require a recorded covenant running with the land, recorded by the owner of the parking lot, guaranteeing that the required parking will be maintained exclusively for the use or activity served for the duration of the use or activity.

• B. Waiver of Parking. The director may reduce or waive the number of parking spaces required by Section 13.36.040 based on quantitative information provided by the applicant that documents

the need for fewer spaces (e.g., sales receipts, documentation of customer frequency, information on parking standards required for the proposed land use by other cities, etc.). The director may also waive any requirement for off-street parking for new development in the Central Commercial (CC) zoning district for property adjacent to Taylor Road and where the developer has entered into a parking agreement and can demonstrate sufficient parking capacity nearby and in compliance with applicable accessibility requirements.

• C. Waiver of Parking - Downtown Off-Hour Uses. The review authority for a land use or development permit application within the downtown area identified by the general plan may waive the parking requirements of this chapter for land uses that are determined by the review authority to operate exclusively at night, when their peak parking demand occurs after the evening peak period parking demand within the downtown generally, and adequate on-street or public parking is available.

• D. Alternative Parking Arrangements. Other alternatives to the parking requirements of this chapter may be approved by the review authority for projects within the downtown where the applicant executes an agreement with the town to:

  1. Pay a parking in-lieu fee, if an in-lieu fee program is established by the council;

  2. Waive the right to protest the formation of a parking district, if a parking district is formed by the council; or

  3. Provide some other fair share contribution acceptable to the review authority, where authorized by the council.

The agreement shall be recorded prior to the issuance of a building permit for the project.

• E. Off-Site Parking in the Downtown. Where approved by the review authority, parking required for a use proposed within the downtown may be located in a common or shared parking facility away from the site of the proposed use.

  1. Evaluation of Proposal. In considering a request for shared off-site parking, the review authority shall consider how the distance between the parking area and the proposed use may affect whether the off-site facility will satisfy the parking needs of the proposed use.

2. Guarantee of Continued Availability. Required parking spaces that are approved off site shall be committed by a recordable covenant, lease, or other agreement, acceptable to the town attorney. The parties to the covenant, lease, or agreement shall include the owners, and if applicable, the lessees of the off-site parking spaces and the owners, and if applicable, the lessees of the subject site, with covenants reflecting the conditions of approval and the approved off-site parking plan.

   3. Loss of Off-Site Spaces.

      • a. Notification to the Town. The owner/operator of a business that uses approved offsite spaces to satisfy its parking requirements shall immediately notify the director of a change of ownership or use of the property for which the spaces are required, and of termination or default of the agreement between the parties.

      • b. Effect of Termination of Agreement. Upon notification that a lease for required offsite parking has terminated, the director shall determine a reasonable time in which one of the following shall occur:

        • i. Substitute parking is provided that is acceptable to the director; or

ii. The size or capacity of the use is reduced in proportion to the parking spaces lost. (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Required parking areas shall be designed and constructed as follows.

• A. Access to Parking. Access to parking shall be provided as follows for all parking areas other than garages for individual dwelling units.

  1. Parking areas shall provide suitable maneuvering area so that vehicles exit to a street in a forward direction. Parking lots shall be designed to prevent access at any point other than at designated access drives. Single-family homes and duplexes are exempt from this requirement.

  2. An industrial use located on Taylor or Rippey Roads, and commercial uses that provide fifty or more parking spaces shall have access driveways that are not intersected by a parking aisle, parking space, or another access driveway for a minimum distance of twenty feet from the street right-of-way, to provide a stacking area for vehicles entering and exiting the parking area. See Figure 3-7.

  3. A minimum unobstructed clearance height of fourteen feet shall be maintained above areas accessible to vehicles within nonresidential uses.

Figure 3-7 - Queuing Area

==> picture [283 x 249] intentionally omitted <==

• B. Access to Adjacent Sites. Applicants for nonresidential development are encouraged to provide on-site vehicle access to parking areas on adjacent nonresidential properties to provide for convenience, safety, and efficient circulation. A joint access agreement running with the land shall be recorded by the owners of the abutting properties, as approved by the director, guaranteeing the continued availability of the shared access between the properties.

Shared pedestrian access between adjacent properties, including residential developments is also strongly encouraged.

• C. Location. Parking areas shall be located as follows:

  1. Residential parking shall be located on the same parcel as the uses served.

  2. Nonresidential parking shall be located on the same parcel as the uses served or within three hundred feet of the parcel (within five hundred feet in the downtown) if shared parking or public parking facilities are used to meet parking requirements.

  3. Nonresidential parking shall not be located within a required front yard setback area. Parking (not including loading or loading docks) may be located within a required side or rear yard setback area, provided it is separated from the side or rear property line by a minimum of five-foot landscaped area or in the event the adjacent lot is residentially zoned, by a minimum of ten-foot landscaped setback area.

  4. Nonresidential parking within the downtown area identified by the general plan shall not be located between a building and the fronting street.

• D. Parking Stall and Lot Dimensions. Each parking stall, aisle, and other parking lot features shall comply with the minimum dimension requirements in Table 3-9, and as illustrated in Figure 3-8 except that, within all parking lots with noncovered spaces designed so that thirty-three and one-third percent of the required number of parking spaces shall be sized for compact cars (nine feet in width and sixteen feet in length) in order to provide for tree wells and shall be clearly marked "Compact Cars Only" in nonresidential projects. Compact parking spaces shall be distributed throughout the parking lot as determined by the director. Residential garages shall comply with the "General Parking Stall Dimension Requirements" in Table 3-9.

• 1 Industrial uses to allow up to twenty percent of the required parking stalls to be compact, nine feet by sixteen feet (only in order to provide area for orchard style trees) as approved by the director or commission.

==> picture [442 x 420] intentionally omitted <==

Figure 3-8 - Parking Lot Dimensions

• E. Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided in compliance with Section 13.34.040(C) .

• F. Lighting. See Section 13.30.080 .

• G. Striping and Identification. Parking spaces shall be clearly outlined with four-inch wide lines painted on the parking surface. Car pool spaces shall be clearly identified for car pool use only. The restriping of any parking space or lot shall require the approval of a re-striping plan by the director.

• H. Surfacing. Parking spaces and maneuvering areas shall be paved and permanently maintained with asphalt, concrete or other all-weather surfacing approved by the director. Required parking in the RA, RE, or RR zoning districts may be surfaced with gravel, decomposed granite, or other all-weather surface at the discretion of the review authority.

• I. Wheel Stops/Curbing. Continuous concrete curbing at least six inches high and six inches wide shall be provided for parking spaces located adjacent to fences, walls, property lines, landscaped areas, and structures. Individual wheel stops may be provided in lieu of continuous curbing when the parking is adjacent to a landscaped area, and the drainage is directed to the landscaped area.

When provided, wheel stops shall be placed to allow for two feet of vehicle overhang area within the dimension of the parking space.

(Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 216 § 1, 2005; Ord. 218 § 3, 2005; Ord. 229 § 1, 2006; Ord. 285

§ 1, 2020; Ord. 290 § 2, 2022; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

Each driveway providing site access from a street, alley or other public right-of-way shall be designed, constructed and maintained as follows:

• A. Number of Driveways.

  1. Multifamily and Nonresidential Projects. A multifamily or nonresidential project on a parcel of two acres or less shall be limited to a maximum of two driveways, unless the director and town engineer determine that more than two driveways are required to accommodate the traffic for the project. Whenever a property has access to more than one street, access shall be generally limited to the lowest volume street where the impact of a new access will be minimized.

  2. Single-Family Dwellings and Duplexes. A single-family dwelling or duplex shall be allowed one driveway. A circular driveway may be allowed on a parcel with seventy feet or more of street frontage. A parcel within the RA, RE, or RR zoning districts with a frontage of two hundred feet or more may have two separate driveways, provided that they are separated by a minimum of one hundred feet, or lesser distance as approved by the town engineer based on consideration of site topography and traffic safety.

  3. Shared Driveways on Arterials. The use of shared driveways for adjacent parcels located on Barton Road, Brace Road, Horseshoe Bar Road, King Road, Rocklin Road, Sierra College Boulevard, and Taylor Road shall be required where determined by the review authority to be feasible.

• B. Distance from Street Corners. Each driveway shall be located a minimum of one hundred fifty feet from the nearest intersection, as measured from the centerline of the driveway to the centerline of the nearest travel lane of the intersecting street. For parcels with frontages less than one hundred fifty feet, the minimum distance shall be one hundred feet unless a lesser distance is approved by the town engineer.

• C. Driveway Spacing. Driveways shall be separated along the street frontage as follows:

  1. Single-family and Duplex Residential Development. Driveways shall be separated by at least six feet, unless a shared, single driveway is approved by the director. The six-foot separation does not include the transition or wing sections on each side of the driveway; and

  2. Multifamily and Nonresidential Development. Where two or more driveways serve the same or adjacent multifamily or nonresidential development, the centerline of the driveways

shall be separated by a minimum of fifty feet. Exceptions to this standard shall be subject to the approval of the town engineer.

• D. Driveway Width and Length.

  1. Single-Family Dwellings. Each single-family dwelling shall be provided a driveway with a minimum length of twenty feet from the back of the sidewalk, or the edge of the right-of-way where there is no sidewalk.

  2. Nonresidential Uses. A driveway for a nonresidential use shall have a minimum paved width of thirteen feet for a one-way driveway and twenty-six feet for a two-way driveway. The maximum driveway width shall be thirty feet, exclusive of the area provided for a median divider.

3. Signalized Driveways for Warehouse Retail Uses. A signalized driveway shall have twoway paved access and shall not exceed a maximum paved width of sixty feet.

• E. Clearance from Obstruction. The nearest edge of a driveway curb cut shall be at least three feet from the nearest property line, the centerline of a fire hydrant, utility pole, traffic signal, light standards, or other similar facilities. Street trees shall be a minimum of ten feet from the driveway access, measured at the trunk. Driveways shall have an overhead clearance of fourteen feet in height except within a parking structure which may be reduced to seven feet, six inches.

• F. Traffic Safety Visibility Area. Structures or landscaping over thirty inches in height shall not be allowed within a traffic safety visibility area. See Section 13.30.050(E) .

• G. Surfacing. Within the commercial, industrial, RS, RM, and RH zones, driveways shall be paved and permanently maintained with asphalt, concrete, or paving units. Within other zoning districts, the director may authorize the use of other all-weather surfacing, where the director determines that a surface other than asphalt or concrete is consistent with the driveways of similar properties in the vicinity, and that the alternate surface will not impair accessibility for emergency vehicles. A driveway with a slope of fifteen percent or more shall be paved with asphalt or concrete in all cases.

• (Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 285 § 1, 2020; Ord. 290 § 2, 2022; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)

• A. Number of Loading Spaces Required. Nonresidential uses shall provide off-street loading spaces in compliance with Table 3-11, below. Requirements for uses not listed shall be determined by the director based upon the requirements for comparable uses.

• B. Standards for Loading Areas. Off-street loading areas shall be provided as follows. These standards and the requirements of subsection A may be reduced by the review authority where

the review authority first determines that the operating, shipping and delivery characteristics of the use do not require the number or type of loading spaces required by this section.

1. Dimensions. Loading spaces shall be a minimum of twelve feet in width, forty feet in length, with fourteen feet of vertical clearance.

2. Lighting. Loading areas shall have lighting capable of providing adequate illumination for security and safety. Lighting shall also comply with the provisions of Section 13.30.080 .

3. Loading Ramps. Plans for loading ramps or truck wells shall be accompanied by a profile drawing showing the ramp, ramp transitions and overhead clearances.

4. Location. Loading spaces shall be:

   • a. As near as possible to the main structure and limited to the rear two-thirds of the parcel, if feasible;

   • b. Situated to ensure that the loading facility is screened from adjacent streets;

   • c. Situated to ensure that loading and unloading takes place on site and in no case faces a public street, or is located within a required front yard setback, adjacent public rightof-way, or other on-site traffic circulation areas;

   • d. Situated to ensure that vehicular maneuvers occur on site; and

   • e. Situated to avoid adverse impacts upon neighboring residential properties and located no closer than one hundred feet from a residential zoning district unless adequately screened, and authorized through design review approval.

5. Screening. Loading areas shall be screened from abutting parcels and streets with dense landscaping or solid masonry walls with a minimum height of six feet.

6. Striping. Loading spaces shall be striped, and identified for "loading only." The striping and "loading only" notations shall be continuously maintained in a clear and visible manner.

(Ord. 205 § 1 (Exh. A), 2003; Ord. 285 § 1, 2020; Ord. 290 § 2, 2022; Ord. 299, 11/12/2024)