San Diego Municipal Code Div. 10 Loading Area Regulations

The purpose of these regulations is to provide the number, size, location, and screening requirements for loading areas in multiple unit residential, commercial, and industrial uses. The intent of these regulations is to minimize disruption of traffic flow by freight-carrying vehicles blocking the public right-of-way and to minimize impacts to vehicular and pedestrian circulation and required off-street parking spaces. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

This division applies to all development in multiple unit residential, commercial, and industrial zones, whether or not a permit or other approval is required for the development. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) Loading area requirements are provided in Table 142-10B. The number of required loading area spaces is based on the use of the building and the building size. Where two or more uses are located on the same premises, the number of loading area spaces required is the sum of the spaces required for each use (based on square footage of each use) computed separately. The City Manager may reduce these loading area requirements where the loading area is shared by the uses.

(b) Parking of passenger vehicles is not permitted in off-street loading areas.

(c) Each required off-street loading space shall have a minimum length of 35 feet,
a minimum width of 12 feet, and a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet
including entrances and exits.

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (10-2024)

Table 142-10B

Required Off-Street Loading Spaces

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-13-08 by O-19805 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21836 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-21836-SO.pdf ]

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (10-2024)

(a) In the IP zones, loading areas shall be located so that they are not parallel to any adjacent public right-of-way except alleys. In all other zones loading areas shall be located so that they are not parallel to any adjacent public right- of-way if one or more residentially zoned properties are located on the other side of the public right-of-way.

(b) In the IP zones, loading areas shall not be located in the front 25 percent of
the premises, measured from the front property line.

(c) Loading areas shall be designed and located so that loading vehicles are not
parked in required front or street side yards, driveways, or required parking
spaces during loading activities.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) Loading docks and overhead doors shall be screened from the public right-of-way with fences or walls designed to reduce visual impacts.

(b) In all industrial zones, loading docks and overhead doors that are adjacent to
the street yard shall comply with Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 4 (Landscape
Regulations) for loading docks that face the street.

(c) In the IP zones, loading docks and overhead doors shall be screened from the
public right-of-way with a wing wall that meets the following criteria:

(1) The wing wall may be either freestanding or attached to the building
wall, as shown in Diagram 142-10A.

(2) The wing wall shall be at least 12 feet high for half its length but may
taper to a lesser height, as shown in Diagram 142-10A, provided that
the wall still screens the loading dock and loading vehicles from the
public right-of-way. The wall shall not be less than 4 feet high at any
point.

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (10-2024)

Diagram 142-10A

Wall Requirement in the IP Zone

Building structure
12' min Wing wall
4' min

Elevation

Building structure
Overhead
door

Wing wall
Front or street side property line

Plan View

(3) The wing wall shall be architecturally similar to the associated
building and shall be constructed of the same materials as the building
to which it is attached.

(4) The wing wall shall not encroach into a visibility area.

(5) The length of the wing wall shall be sufficient to screen the loading
dock and any vehicle parked in the area.

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (10-2024)

(d) In the IL and IH zones, a maximum of two loading docks or overhead doors may be visible when projected perpendicularly to a single plane that is most parallel to the closest abutting public right-of-way. The total width of the loading docks or overhead doors shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the length of the street wall. See Diagram 142-10B.

Diagram 142-10B

Street Wall Loading Docks in the IL and IH Zones

Building
Street
'C' wall

'B'
Street
wall 'A'

Length of street
wall = 'A'+'B'+'C'

The total width of overhead doors within
the street wall shall not exceed 25% of the
length of the street wall

CL
STREET

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14: General Regulations (6-2000)

Article 2: General Development Regulations