11.070 Standards for Off-Street Automobile Parking Facilities.

All off-street parking facilities shall conform with the following standards:

A. Aisles. Access to each off-street automobile or bicycle parking space shall be from a driveway or aisle, which is sufficient for readily turning and maneuvering automobiles and bicycles.

B. Access. Each parking space shall be accessible from a street or alley or from an aisle or drive connecting with a street or alley. No off-street parking facility for five or more spaces in an R district shall be designed so that vehicles must back across a sidewalk in order to gain access to a street or alley.

When a parking facility does not abut a public or private street, alley, or access easement, there shall be provided an access drive of not less than 20 feet in width, except as follows:

1. Drives furnishing access to parking facilities serving from three to 10 dwelling units shall be not less than 12 feet in width and drives serving two or fewer dwelling units shall be not less than 10 feet in width.

2. Where separated one-way access drives are proposed, these shall consist of two drives each of which shall not be less than 12 feet in width.

C. Sight Distance. Each entrance and exit to a parking lot or driveway shall be constructed and maintained so that any vehicle entering or leaving such parking lot shall be clearly visible a distance of not less than 15 feet to a person approaching such entrance or exit on any abutting pedestrian walk or foot path and not less than 30 feet to a person approaching such entrance or exit on any abutting bikeway.

D. Driveway Gradients. The maximum gradient for an aisle or drive connecting off-street parking space(s) with the public right-of-way shall not exceed 15 percent except in hilly areas where maximum gradient shall not exceed 18 percent and the maximum change in gradient of any such aisle or drive shall not exceed 12 percent rise or eight percent decline in any 30 linear feet.

E. Parking in Required Yards. Parking areas for other than single-family, residential duplex, and bed and breakfast structures shall not be permitted in required front setback or required street side setback.

F. Permanent Surface. Parking areas, aisles, and access drives shall be constructed and maintained to provide a durable, dustless surface and shall be graded and drained to dispose of surface water without damage to private or public properties, streets, or alleys.

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

Ch. 11 Parking and Loading Facilities, Off-Street | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance

Page 10 of 15

G. Lighting. Any lights provided to illuminate a parking facility shall be arranged so as to reflect the light away from any adjacent properties, streets or highways.

• H. Repair Work. No repair work or servicing of vehicles shall be conducted on parking area.

• I. Parking Stall Size. Parking stall size shall be determined by the Planning Commission in the Site Plan and Architectural Review Procedures and Guidelines.

J. Landscape Reserve. Parking spaces required in industrial and business parks zoning districts that exceed current employment needs may be reserved as landscaped area, subject to approval by the Director. (Ord. 2830 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2764 § 3 (Exh. A), 2021.)