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California code FAQ · Building code

What is the minimum garage size for a single-family home in San Francisco?

Last reviewed: July 18, 2026

There isn’t a citywide “minimum garage room” size for a single-family home. If you provide off‑street parking, each independently accessible stall must be at least 8 ft × 18 ft (144 sq ft) for a standard space, or 7.5 ft × 15 ft (112.5 sq ft) for a compact space; these measurements are taken exclusive of aisles/driveways under § 154(a)(1). In addition, ground‑floor ingress/egress and associated aisles and maneuvering areas must provide a minimum 7 ft vertical clearance per § 154(a)(6).

What is (and isn’t) counted

  • The minimum stall area is measured as the clear parking space only; it expressly excludes any driveways, aisles, or maneuvering areas, and each required space must be of usable shape (§ 154(a)(1)). In practice, that means the interior of a garage often needs more space than the stall itself to accommodate access and turning.

Standard vs. compact, and when it applies

  • Any ratio of standard to compact spaces is allowed if the compact spaces are specifically marked and identified (§ 154(a)(2)).
  • Even when a parking space is not required by zoning, spaces that are provided must comply with the Code’s location/arrangement standards; facilities “not required but actually provided shall also meet” those standards (§ 155).

District-specific exceptions

  • In certain districts—DTR, C‑3, RTO, NCT, Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use, PDR‑1‑D, and PDR‑1‑G—the Planning Code sets no minimum area or dimension for off‑street parking stalls (spaces for persons with physical disabilities remain governed by the Building Code) (§ 154(a)(3)). Outside these districts, the 8 ft × 18 ft (standard) and 7.5 ft × 15 ft (compact) stall sizes apply (§ 154(a)(1)).

What the Code does not specify

  • The source provisions do not set a separate minimum “garage room” size beyond the stall dimensions; they also do not specify a minimum garage door width or required storage clearances for single-family homes. The controlling requirements located here address stall dimensions and certain clearances only (§ 154; § 155).

Sources

  • 2025 California Residential Code
  • SF Planning Code
  • 2025 California Building Code
  • SF Admin Code
  • gocodebook sf city adu onboarding flow v1 0.json

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General information, not legal advice — see our methodology. Verify the controlling requirement with your local planning and building department.