Chapter 17.100 — OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REGULATIONS
Susanville Municipal Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Susanville
§ 17.100.010. Purpose.¶
This chapter specifies off-street parking and loading spaces for all land uses. The following standards are intended to minimize street congestion and traffic hazards; provide safe and convenient access to residences, businesses, public services and places of public assembly; and make the appearance of parking areas aesthetically pleasing and compatible with surrounding land uses.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.020. Application.¶
All uses shall be provided with regularly maintained off-street parking and loading facilities in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.030. When required.¶
Every building or mobile home hereafter installed, constructed, enlarged or structurally altered, and every use of property hereafter inaugurated or expanded, shall be required to provide off-street parking and loading facilities, as specified by this section.
The spaces shall be improved and installed prior to final building inspection or occupancy. When justified, a deferral of the required parking improvements may be approved, as set forth in the city development standards. All required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be maintained in good condition for the duration of the use that they are intended to serve. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.040. Parking facilities location.¶
Required parking shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the use which the spaces serve, except as otherwise provided in this section. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.050. Joint use.¶
The joint use of off-street parking areas may be authorized by use permit for the following uses or activities under the following conditions:
A. The joint use of off-street parking for "nighttime" uses, such as theaters, bowling alleys, bars or restaurants, may count the parking area provided for "daytime" uses, such as banks, offices, retail and personal services establishments provided the hours of operation do not conflict;
B. Up to 50% of the off-street parking for "daytime" uses may be supplied by the parking area provided by "nighttime" uses;
C. Up to 50% of the parking for churches or auditoriums may be supplied by the parking facilities provided by "daytime" uses;
D. Parking in commercial or industrial zones may be located offsite, but must be located within 500 feet of the uses which it serves; and
E. A use permit application for joint use of off-street parking shall contain information which will substantiate that there will be no conflict between the principal operating hours of the buildings or uses for which joint parking or off-street parking is proposed and that all other requirements of this section will be met. In addition, a conveyance or an agreement shall be signed by the affected landowners or their duly authorized agents guaranteeing that joint parking or off-street parking will be available for the use which it serves during the term of the permit. The agreement or conveyance shall be approved as to form by the city attorney, recorded with the county recorder, and a copy submitted to the community development department, prior to issuance of the use permit.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.060. Compact car parking.¶
Compact vehicle parking may be provided at the following rate:
| Total Parking Spaces | Maximum Compact Spaces |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 spaces | None |
| 11 to 30 spaces | 10 percent of all spaces |
| 31 to 100 spaces | 30 percent of all spaces |
| 101 or more spaces | 30 percent plus 40 percent of all in excess of 100 |
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.070. Parking within front and street side yards.¶
Off-street parking spaces for one-family and two-family residences and residential accessory uses shall not be located in required front or street side yard areas. Off-street parking spaces for other uses may be located in front or street side yard areas, except in required landscape areas. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.080. Parking within interior side and rear yards.¶
Interior side and rear yards may be used for vehicle parking and access, except in required landscape areas.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.090. Tandem parking.¶
Except in mobile home parks, or as provided by a use permit, tandem parking (parking where a car or cars have to be moved in order to allow a car to back from a parking space) shall count only as one parking space. To meet off-street parking requirements, each car must be able to enter and exit a parking space independently of the movement of any other vehicle. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.100. Surfacing.¶
All parking areas and driveways shall be paved in accordance with city development standards unless modified or delayed by issuance of a use permit. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.110. Controlled access.¶
Except for a one-family or two-family residence and residential accessory uses, access to required parking spaces shall be designed in such a manner that vehicles leaving a parking space do not back directly onto any public street. Parking lots shall be designed and improved to prevent entrance or exit at any point other than designated driveways. (Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.120. Off-street loading spaces.¶
Loading space requirements are as follows:
A. No building or part thereof having a floor area of 10,000 square feet or more, which will be occupied by a hospital, institution, hotel, commercial or industrial use or other similar uses shall be erected, structurally altered or allowed to house a change in use unless at least one off-street loading space, plus one additional loading space for each additional 20,000 square feet of floor area is provided;
B. Each off-street loading space shall not be less than 12 feet in width, 30 feet long (exclusive of driveways and maneuvering areas), and, if covered, a minimum of 15 feet high;
C. A loading space which does not adjoin a street or alley shall have a minimum 20 foot-wide access; and
D. Loading space(s) shall be improved to the same standard as required for parking areas.
E. Loading space(s) for any retail commercial structure in excess of 35,000 square feet shall be screened from view from adjacent properties or a public right-of-way.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.130. Parking plan.¶
All parking required by this section shall be installed and maintained in accordance with a parking plan. The plan shall be submitted to and approved by the community development director prior to issuance of a building permit or a use permit, and shall show the layout of the parking stalls, access, interior aisles and other pertinent improvements. This plan may be combined with a landscaping plan.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.140. Off-street parking standards.¶
The following parking schedule applies in all zone districts. The required parking spaces are in addition to company operated vehicles. When computing the required number of off-street parking or loading spaces, a remaining fraction of one-half or more shall be deemed a whole unit of measurement; a remaining fraction of less than one-half will be disregarded.
- A. Parking Requirements:
| Use | Off-Street Parking Space Requirements |
|---|---|
| Animal care facility | Five spaces per doctor |
| Automobile service, including repair, body shop or service station |
Five parking spaces exclusive of service bays, pumping areas or auto storage areas |
| Bowling alley | Five parking spaces for each bowling lane, plus one parking space for each 200 square feet devoted to accessory uses |
| Business college or trade school |
One parking space per three students, plus one space per employee |
| Card room | One parking space for each two seats in the play area, plus restaurant and bar parking as required. |
| Church, social hall, club, lodge, community center, theater or other place of public assembly |
One parking space for each four seats in principal seating area, or one parking space for every 40 square feet in the principal seating area, whichever is greater, plus one passenger loading space |
| Condominiums or town- houses |
See multifamily residences |
| Convalescent hospital | One parking space for each three beds |
| Day care center | One space for each ten children, plus two other spaces, plus one passenger loading space |
| Day care home, large | Required residential parking, plus one parking space and one passenger loading space |
| Emergency shelter | One parking space per each three employees on shift, plus one space per four beds. |
| Flea market | One parking space for each 500 square feet of sales or display area, plus one per sales both |
| Golf course | Four parking spaces per hole, plus required parking for accessory uses |
| Guest house, servants' quarters or senior citizen residence |
One space in addition to that required for the main residence |
| Group care home | One parking space per each employee on shift with a minimum of two spaces |
| Hospital | One parking space per patient bed, plus one parking space per visiting doctor, plus one parking space per employee on a major shift |
| Hotel, motel, boarding house or bed and breakfast guest facility |
One parking space per guest room, plus one space per two employees, plus required parking for accessory uses |
| Industry | One parking space for each 1,000 square feet of manufacturing or warehousing area, or per employee, whichever is greater, plus one parking space for each 300 square feet of offce area, plus one parking space for each 250 square feet of retail foor area, if retail sales are allowed |
| Medical offces and clinic | One parking space for each 200 square feet of gross foor area |
| Mobile home park | Two parking spaces per unit (tandem parking permitted), plus one guest parking space for each four units, plus one recreational vehicle parking space for each four units |
| Mortuary | One parking space for each four seats in the principal seating area, plus three spaces, or one space for each 45 square feet in the principal seating area, whichever is greater |
| Multifamily or group residence, condominiums or town houses |
1.5 parking spaces per one-bedroom or studio unit, two parking spaces per unit for two or more bedroom units, plus one guest parking space for each fve units, plus one recreational vehicle parking space for each ten units |
| Personal services | One parking space for each 200 square feet of gross foor area |
| Professional offce, including bank and other fnancial institution |
One parking space for each 300 square feet of gross foor area |
| Research and development | One parking space for each two employees |
| Group care home 7+ (for the elderly) |
One-half parking space per unit, in addition to parking for other types of residences |
| Restaurant (fast food) | One parking space for each 50 square feet of gross foor area |
| Restaurant (standard) or bar |
One parking space for each 250 square feet of gross foor area or one space for every four seats based upon the capacity of the fxed or movable seating area, whichever is greater |
| Retail: enclosed— General retail |
One parking space for each 200 square feet of gross foor area |
| Retail: enclosed— furniture, large appliance, carpet, piano, auto showroom or similar use |
One parking square for each 500 square feet of retail foor area |
| Retail: open lot, including auto, boat, recreation vehicle, and/ home (does not include fea market or similar uses) |
One parking space for each 5,000 square feet, not to exceed fve spaces, plus one space for each two employees |
| Retail: shopping center | One parking space for each 275 square feet of gross foor |
| School: Grades K-8 | One parking space per employee, plus ten spaces |
| School: Grades 9—12 | One parking space per fve students, plus one space per two employees |
| Senior citizen residence | One parking space per residence |
| Single-family or two-family residence |
Two parking spaces per dwelling unit |
| Skilled nursing or intermediate care facility |
One parking space for each three beds |
- B. Drive-Up Facilities. In addition to the required off-street parking, drive-up facilities shall provide 20-foot-long stacking or vehicle reservoir spaces, in addition to the space where the service is being provided, in accordance with the following schedule:
| Use | Off-Street Parking Space Requirements |
|---|---|
| Car wash | Two reservoir spaces per rack |
| Drive-in bank | Seven reservoir spaces for one teller; drive-up, four reservoir spaces per window for tellers, and three reservoir spaces per window for three or more tellers |
| Drive-up restaurant | Six reservoir spaces per window |
| Photo drop | One reservoir space per window |
| Service station | Two spaces per aisle/ |
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.150. Parking lot design and striping standards.¶
Parking lot design and striping standards for this section are set out in Figures 17.100.150(A) and 17.100.150(B).
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.160. Exceptions.¶
Any portion of Sections 17.100.030 — 17.100.150 may be modified for a particular use if a use permit is obtained. The approving body must find, based upon data submitted by the applicant, that the proposed arrangement and design will be of equal or greater excellence in arrangement, design or attractiveness than would be realized by the normal standards of this section. Exceptions to Section 17.100.140(A) may be made if a use permit is first obtained for a facility that existed before the date of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this title, and it is not feasible, due to space constraints, to provide the required parking.
(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
§ 17.100.170. Transitional parking standards.¶
Unstructured parking for passenger cars may be permitted in an R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 zone district subject to the approval of a use permit when such parking is incidental to a commercial or industrial use, and where the objectives of this section and the minimum development standards set out in this section can be met as follows:
A. The property for transitional parking abuts the commercial or industrial property or is across a standard alley from such property;
B. The principal orientation of the commercial or industrial use is not altered;
C. The design and construction of the parking lot shall conform to the standards as required in Sections 17.100.060 — 17.100.150 , unless modified by the planning commission in the approval of a use permit;
D. Where parking lot lighting is provided, it shall comply with the provisions of Section 17.96.050 ;
E. Landscaping for such parking lot shall conform to the provisions of Section 17.96.040 , unless modified by the planning commission in the approval of a use permit;
F. The parking lot shall meet the required front yard setbacks of the zone district in which a parking lot is approved; said front yard shall be landscaped;
G. Parking lots in residential districts which serve a commercial or industrial project shall be fenced along all abutting property lines by a solid fence of wood, masonry or other solid materials as approved by the use permit. The height of such fence shall be a minimum of six feet except in the front yard setback which shall be three feet in height; and
H. Required parking which is provided off-site in accordance with this section shall be permanently secured to the commercial or industrial use which it serves by a covenant approved by the city and recorded in the county recorder's office.
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(Ord. 00-866 § 2, 2000; Ord. 06-932 § 1, 2006)
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