Sonoma County Municipal Code Art. XXXI Parking Regulations

Sec. 26C-310. - Required parking.¶

All uses permitted in Chapter 26C of the Sonoma County Code shall provide parking according to the following formulas:

General Use	Use Type	Parking Spaces
(a) Bicycle parking	All commercial, dwelling industrial and institutional uses permitted by this chapter	One (1) bicycle parking space per five (5) spaces of required automobile parking
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	One single-family dwelling	One (1) covered space
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	One dwelling unitplex	Two (2) covered spaces
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	One triplex	Three (3) covered spaces
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Four (4) through eight (8) dwelling units	One (1) covered space/dwelling unit plus one-half uncovered guest space/dwelling unit
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Nine (9) or more dwelling units	One (1) covered space/dwelling unit plus one-half uncovered guest space per one-bedroom unit and one (1) uncovered guest space/dwelling unit with two (2) or more bedrooms
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Hotels, motels	One (1) space/unit plus one (1) space for manager
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Single mobile homes	One (1) covered space/unit
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Mobile home parks	One (1) covered space/unit plus one-half uncovered guest space/unit and one-fourth storage space/unit
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Travel trailer parks	One (1) space/ten (10) coach sites
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Condominiums and planned unit developments	One (1) covered space/dwelling unit plus one (1) uncovered guest space/dwelling unit
(b) Residential (except as otherwise specified by this chapter)	Bed and breakfast inns	One (1) space/guest room plus two (2) spaces for the resident family
(c) Medical offices, clinics, hospitals and other facilities	Dental and medical clinics	One (1) space/two hundred (200) square feet of floor area whichever is greater
(c) Medical offices, clinics, hospitals and other facilities	Veterinary hospitals and offices	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area
(c) Medical offices, clinics, hospitals and other facilities	Major medical facilities; hospitals	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area
(c) Medical offices, clinics, hospitals and other facilities	Group care facilities and resocialization facilities	Two (2) covered spaces
(d) Schools, colleges, universities	Kindergarten and nursery schools and day care centers	One (1) space/employee plus one (1) space/ten (10) children
(d) Schools, colleges, universities	Elementary and junior high schools	One (1) space/employee plus one (1) space/eight (8) students
(d) Schools, colleges, universities	Senior high schools	One (1) space/employee plus one (1) space/six (6) students
(d) Schools, colleges, universities	Colleges, universities and institutions of higher learning; business and professional schools and colleges; music and dancing schools	One (1) space/employee plus one (1) space/three (3) students
(d) Schools, colleges, universities	Large family daycare	At least three (3) spaces which may include spaces provided to fulfill residential parking requirements and on-street parking so long as it directly abuts the site.
(e) Places of public assembly	Auditoriums, community centers	One (1) space/4 seats or one (1) space/seventy-five (75) square feet floor area, whichever is greater
(e) Places of public assembly	Libraries, museums, art galleries	One (1) space/three hundred (300) square feet floor area
(e) Places of public assembly	Sports arenas, stadiums	One (1) space/four (4) seats
(e) Places of public assembly	Dance halls	One (1) space/fifty (50) square feet floor area
(e) Places of public assembly	Theaters	One (1) space/4 seats
(e) Places of public assembly	Private clubs and lodges	One (1) space/one hundred (100) square feet floor area
(e) Places of public assembly	Churches, chapels	One (1) space/4 seats or space/seventy-five (75) square feet floor area whichever is greater
(e) Places of public assembly	Mortuaries, crematoriums and columbariums	One (1) space/four (4) seats in sanctuary
(f) Recreational facilities	Gymnasiums	One (1) space/four (4) fixed seats
(f) Recreational facilities	Skating rinks	One (1) space/one hundred (100) square feet floor area
(f) Recreational facilities	Bowling alleys	Five (5) spaces/alley
(f) Recreational facilities	Golf courses	Seven (7) spaces/hole
(f) Recreational facilities	Golf driving ranges	One (1) space/tee
(f) Recreational facilities	Miniature golf courses	Two (2) spaces/hole
(f) Recreational facilities	Billiard and/or pool parlors	Two (2) spaces/table
(f) Recreational facilities	Public, private and commercial swimming pools	One (1) space/one hundred (100) square feet pool area
(f) Recreational facilities	Baseball parks	One (1) space/four (4) seats
(f) Recreational facilities	Commercial stables and riding academies	One (1) space/three (3) horses
(f) Recreational facilities	Auto race tracks, horse race tracks	One (1) space/4 seats
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	General retail, except as otherwise specified	One (1) space/two hundred (200) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Offices including all county offices, except as otherwise specified	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area with a minimum of four (4) spaces
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Stores selling furniture and major appliances only	One (1) space per five hundred (500) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Motor vehicle sales	One (1) space/five hundred (500) square feet floor area or one (1) space/two thousand (2000) square feet of outdoor sales area, with a minimum of four (4) spaces
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Auto repair shops, body and fender shops	One (1) space/four hundred (400) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Self-serve laundries and dry cleaners	One (1) space/three (3) washing machines
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Self-serve auto washes	Two (2) spaces/stall
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Barber shops, beauty and styling salons	Three (3) spaces/barber or stylist, with a minimum of four (4) spaces
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Health studios	One (1) space/one hundred (100) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Contractor's storage yards	One (1) space/three thousand (3000) square feet lot area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Nurseries, retail	One (1) space/two thousand (2000) square feet site area plus one (1) fifteen by thirty foot (15' x 30') loading space/acre
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Feed yards, fuel yards, material yards	One (1) space/two thousand (2000) square feet. site area plus one (1) fifteen by thirty foot (15' x 30') loading space/acre
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Banks	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area plus five (5) tandem land spaces/teller or teller station
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Savings and loan and other financial institutions, title companies	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Shopping centers	One (1) space/two hundred (200) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Cabinet, plumbing, heating, electrical shops	One (1) space/five hundred (500) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	General business and professional offices	One (1) space/two hundred fifty (250) square feet floor area, with a minimum of four (4) spaces
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Antique shops, second hand sales	One (1) space/two hundred (200) square feet floor area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Restaurants	One (1) space/sixty (60) square feet dining area
(g) Commercial facilities, offices	Outdoor markets, flea markets, etc.	One (1) space/two hundred (200) square feet sales area, with a minimum of four (4) spaces

(h) A portion of the above required parking spaces shall be provided for disabled persons consistent with state and federal law.

(i) Vehicular and bicycle parking requirements for all uses not specifically enumerated herein shall be determined by the zoning administrator or the planning commission.

(j) In most cases where mixed uses are proposed, the required parking for the use with the most restrictive parking standard may be utilized to meet the above standards, provided that the applicant can demonstrate the effectiveness of the parking plan in relation to the proposed uses, and provided that future changes in the use of the property are subject to review by the decision making body so as to maintain the effectiveness of such plan. Otherwise, each proposed use shall be required to meet its applicable parking standard.

(k) The above parking standards may be reduced when it has been satisfactorily demonstrated to the director of the permit and resource management department or applicable decision making body that fewer spaces will adequately serve the specific use or that the applicant has encouraged transit opportunities through one (1) or more of the following:

Participation in a comprehensive travel demand management (TDM) program including, but not limited to, provision of flex-time, car pooling, and transit passes;
Provision of transit stops and/or turnouts developed in cooperation with and approved by Sonoma County Transit;
Provision of amenities for bicyclists beyond those required by this section, including, but not limited to shower/locker room facilities, additional bicycle parking spaces and covered bicycle parking.

(l) The parking standards may be increased when it is determined that employee parking substantially reduces the number of spaces needed for customer use.

(Ord. No. 5318 § 1, 2001.)

(Ord. No. 6517, § II(Exh. A), 5-6-2025)

Exceptions & meaning →