11.040 Alternatives to On-Site Parking.

A. The requirements of Section 11.030(A) shall be considered satisJed if the required parking is provided up to

600 feet from the site of the use being served and the required bicycle parking is provided up to 100 feet from the

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 11 Parking and Loading Facilities, OM-Street | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 3 of 15

site, such distance being measured along the shortest available route of pedestrian access to the primary building

entrance. The determination of the distance to be permitted (zero to 600 feet) shall be made by the Community

Development Director on a case-by-case basis. The Director shall consider the following in making the

determination: type of use being served; ease of bicycle and pedestrian access from the oM-site location to the site

being served; characteristics of the oM-site parking facility(s); potential adverse eMects that reduced on-site parking

may present to the immediate area; term of oM-site rental/lease arrangements. This alternative does not apply to

residential parking.

B. Requirements for the provision of parking facilities, with respect to two or more establishments on the same

or diMerent sites, may be satisJed by the permanent allocation of the requisite number of spaces for each use in a

common parking facility, located not farther than 300 feet measured along the shortest available route of

pedestrian access from the site of any such participating use. In such cases, bicycle parking shall still be required

adjacent to each building.

C. The Director may approve valet parking in place of on-site parking. For purposes of this section, “valet

parking” is deJned as an approved parking facility more than 300 feet from the facility served, together with a

developer- or occupant-provided service which either provides on-demand customer transportation to the facility

from the parking area, and vice-versa, or which provides attendants to park and retrieve customer vehicles from

the parking area. The following standards shall apply to valet parking:

1. The lot to be used for valet parking must be able to accommodate the number of parking spaces that are

required in Section 11.060. The on-site parking spaces being provided for this use may be deducted from the

total number required in Section 11.060.

2. The standards for oM-street parking facilities in Section 11.070 shall apply to valet parking lots except

that, if attendants will park the cars, the requirements of Sections 11.070(A) and (B) may be relaxed,

consistent with practical design standards.

3. Valet parking lots shall not be permitted in residential zoning districts (RR, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, MH, or

residential P.U.D. districts).

4. The valet parking lot shall be located within one-half mile of the use that it serves.

5. If the valet parking lot serves more than one use, the number of spaces provided shall be equal to the

sum of the requirements prescribed in Section 11.060 for each use.

6. The valet parking service (attendants or transportation) shall be maintained in service during all hours of

operation of the facility served.

7. At any time that the valet parking lot is no longer available for use as a valet parking lot for the approved

use, that use shall cease or be reduced to an intensity consistent with available oM-street parking until such

time as the required oM-street parking can be provided.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 11 Parking and Loading Facilities, OM-Street | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 4 of 15

8. The applicant for valet parking shall be required to submit proof of entitlement to use the proposed valet

parking area (lease, rental agreement, ownership) and any permit granted pursuant to this chapter may be

conditioned upon the duration of such entitlement.

D. A reduction in on-site parking may be approved when it is demonstrated that a project requires a parking

capacity that deviates from the requirements of Section 11.030(A) based on the following standards and subject to

review authority approval. Parking requirements may be reduced through the following processes and consistent

with standards outlined below:

1. Minor Adjustment. A minor adjustment to required on-site parking of 20 percent or less may be approved

at the discretion of the Director or the review authority for associated project entitlements if it is determined

that the reduction is consistent with the following Jndings:

a. A parking demand analysis, provided by the applicant, demonstrates that the proposed use will

generate parking demand diMerent from the standards speciJed in Table 11.1 due to one or more of the

following factors:

1) Adequate oM-site parking availability;

2) Underutilization of existing on-site parking as a result of speciJc land use characteristics;

3) Access to alternative transportation modes, including proximity to public transit; or

4) Access to and use of alternative transportation programs (such as but not limited to bike share,

car share, electric bikes, electric scooters, or local crosstown connector service).

b. The number of parking spaces approved, excluding on-street parking spaces, will be suLcient for

the safe, convenient, and eLcient operation of the use.

c. Overall project characteristics, such as location, access to alternative transportation modes, and

incorporation of alternate transportation programs, support reduced on-site parking and associated City

goals, policies, and initiatives related to climate action, enhanced connectivity, economic vitality, and

community character.

2. Major Adjustment. A reduction to required on-site parking greater than 20 percent may be granted

through conditional use permit approval if it is determined that the reduction is consistent with the following

Jndings:

a. A parking demand study prepared by a qualiJed professional, provided by the applicant,

demonstrates that the proposed use will generate parking demand diMerent from the standards

speciJed in Table 11.1 due to one or more of the following factors:

1) Adequate oM-site parking availability;

2) Underutilization of existing on-site parking as a result of speciJc land use characteristics;

3) Access to alternative transportation modes, including proximity to public transit; or

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 11 Parking and Loading Facilities, OM-Street | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 5 of 15

4) Access to and use of alternative transportation programs (such as but not limited to bike share,

car share, electric bikes, electric scooters, or local crosstown connector service).

b. The number of parking spaces approved, excluding on-street parking spaces, will be suLcient for

the safe, convenient, and eLcient operation of the use.

c. Overall project characteristics, such as location, access to alternative transportation modes, and

incorporation of alternate transportation programs, support reduced on-site parking and associated City

goals, policies, and initiatives related to climate action, enhanced connectivity, economic vitality, and

community character. (Ord. 2830 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2764 § 3 (Exh. A), 2021.)