Apple Valley — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Town of Apple Valley Development Code (Title 9) rules that govern parking, off‑street loading, and bicycle parking. The controlling ordinance is Chapter 9.72 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations (Title 9, Development Code); specific dimensional and siting modifications appear in other district chapters (for example § 9.72.010, § 9.72.020, § 9.72.040).

(Quick internal links: this page discusses Apple Valley zoning, development standards, design review, overlay districts, and ADUs. Must comply with the California Building Standards Code for accessible/handicapped spaces.)

Controlling ordinance & where to read it

• The parking rules are codified chiefly in Chapter 9.72 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations (Title 9). The Chapter’s purpose and applicability are recorded at § 9.72.010 and the required spaces per use are in § 9.72.020 (Table 9.72.020‑A for vehicle parking and Table 9.72.020‑B for loading).
• Geometry, stall and aisle dimensions, and surfacing/curbing/light requirements are in § 9.72.060 (Table 9.72.060‑A for dimensions) and access standards are in § 9.72.070.

Top‑level rules you must know (plain structure)

• Required parking counts are use‑based: consult Table 9.72.020‑A for minimum off‑street spaces per use and Table 9.72.020‑B for loading spaces; gross floor area (gfa) is generally the basis for nonresidential calculations. Fractions of 0.5 round up. § 9.72.020.
• Bicycle parking may be required and, where required, the Director determines demand; a minimum rule is one bicycle rack space per 20 required vehicle parking spaces. § 9.72.020(B) and § 9.72.060(D).
• Parking geometry (stall size, aisle widths, angled/parallel dimensions) are mandatory: Table 9.72.060‑A contains the min. dimensions (e.g., Parallel = 9' × 19' stalls; one‑way aisle widths shown). § 9.72.060.
• Loading space dimensions and siting (typical minimum 15' × 50' with 14' vertical clearance for freight) and design/location/screening requirements are in § 9.72.060 (Loading Areas).
• Shared parking/adjustments: the code allows shared parking reductions (documentation and findings required); up to 50% of required parking may be counted as shared where supported. § 9.72.030.
• Off‑site parking and valet: off‑site parking is allowed only with Special Use Permit style controls and proximity/safety/recorded agreements; valet can satisfy a portion of required parking (up to 66% of requirement through valet in the Apple Valley "Village" area, but at least 33% must be on‑site). § 9.72.030(B), § 9.72.050.

District‑by‑district breakdown (what to expect per zoning district)

The Town’s zoning districts are listed in Table 9.05.030‑A (e.g., R‑VLD, R‑A, R‑LD, R‑E, R‑E¾, R‑EQ, R‑SF, R‑M, O‑P, C‑G, C‑S, C‑R, C‑V, M‑U, I‑P, I‑RE, P‑F, OS‑C, OS‑R, and SP/overlays). Use the summary below to link parking expectations to those districts; see the cited local sections for district‑specific dimensional deviations.

Note: every district still defaults to Chapter 9.72 for parking counts and design standards; district chapters add siting and buffer modifications where noted.

R‑SF (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family dwellings. See Table 9.05.030‑A for district definition.
• Parking expectation: two (2) enclosed garage parking spaces per unit; garage min. clear area 20' × 20'; additional driveway parking permitted in certain setbacks if driveway is at least 20' long. See § 9.72.020 (Residential) and § 9.72.040(B)(1).
• Where applies: citywide single‑family zones; driveway/curb cut design must be approved by Town Engineer (see access rules). Verify with the jurisdiction for lot‑by‑lot curb‑cut constraints.

R‑M (Multi‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: multi‑unit housing.
• Parking expectation: multi‑family parking counts per Table 9.72.020‑A (small/medium/large project breakouts). Off‑street parking must be on‑site within 150 ft of the dwelling it serves; staff/assigned and guest spaces rules apply; garages and assigned spaces have minimum dimensions. Refer to § 9.72.020 (Table 9.72.020‑A) and § 9.72.040(A–E).

R‑VLD, R‑LD, R‑A, R‑E, R‑E¾, R‑EQ (Other residential variants)

• Purpose / typical uses: range of low to estate and equestrian residential lot types.
• Parking expectation: same base rules in Chapter 9.72 apply; single‑family garage standards and driveway allowances are discussed in § 9.72.040. Where lots are large or unpaved streets exist, the code allows dust‑proof surfacing alternatives; RV/vehicle storage rules and limits on parking on vacant lots are specially listed in § 9.72 cross‑refs.

O‑P, C‑G, C‑S, C‑R, C‑V (Office / General / Service / Regional / Village Commercial)

• Purpose / typical uses: commercial and office uses; C‑V denotes Village Commercial (downtown area).
• Parking expectation: nonresidential counts are in Table 9.72.020‑A (shopping center ratios, restaurant and retail entries, etc.). Commercial parking within 400 feet of the main structure is allowed; parking adjacent to residences requires a larger setback/buffer (see § 9.72.050). Valet rules limiting reliance on valet (Village only) appear in § 9.72.030/050.

M‑U (Mixed Use)

• Purpose / typical uses: integrated commercial + residential.
• Parking expectation: Mixed‑use projects still follow Chapter 9.72, but the code allows parking standards to be modified via a parking study and Planning Commission review (shared parking assumptions allowed; guest parking treated per study). See the Mixed‑Use exceptions and § 9.72.020 / 9.72.030.

I‑P (Planned Industrial) and I‑RE (Resource Extraction)

• Purpose / typical uses: industrial and extraction uses. Table 9.45.040‑A lists I‑P and I‑RE site standards; Chapter 9.72 applies for parking and loading. Industrial loading and truck maneuvering standards are emphasized (loading adjacent to rear/side; not in front setbacks). § 9.72.060, Table 9.72.020‑B for loading counts, and Table 9.45.040‑A for district setbacks.

P‑F, OS‑C, OS‑R, SP, Overlays (Public facilities, open space, specific plans, overlays)

• Purpose / typical uses: parks, public institutions, specific plan–regulated areas. Specific Plans and overlay districts can modify or allow alternative parking approaches (e.g., specific plans that authorize parking reductions via a study). Check the applicable SP or overlay chapter for parking modifications. See Table 9.05.030‑A and SP text. Verify with the jurisdiction for SP‑level rules.

Quick decision‑relevant table

Practical guidance / interpretation

• Always start with Table 9.72.020‑A (vehicle parking counts) to compute minimum spaces; use gross floor area for nonresidential uses and the project‑type breakouts for multi‑family. § 9.72.020.
• If your project mixes uses or is a shopping center/mall, you will likely need a parking study to justify any deviation or shared parking reduction; the code requires documentation/traffic analysis and permits a maximum 50% shared reduction if findings are met. § 9.72.030.
• For site design, follow the stall/aisle dimensions in Table 9.72.060‑A, provide continuous curbing, landscaping buffers between parking and frontage, and meet the lighting and drainage rules. These are not optional; the Town Engineer reviews access and driveways. § 9.72.060, § 9.72.070.
• Bicycle parking must be provided where the Director determines it necessary (common for shopping centers, schools, theaters). Size/detail and rack anchoring standards are in § 9.72.060(D).
• For residential projects, pay attention to § 9.72.040: single‑family has specific garage size requirements and multi‑family has assigned/guest parking rules and a 150-foot on‑site locational limit for parking it serves.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a typical commercial or residential project)

• Calculate required vehicle parking from Table 9.72.020‑A for each use and sum per § 9.72.020.
• Provide loading spaces per Table 9.72.020‑B if applicable and design them to the minimum dimensions in § 9.72.060.
• Dimension stalls and aisles per Table 9.72.060‑A and show striping, curbing, surfacing, drainage, and lighting plans. § 9.72.060 / § 9.72.070.
• Provide bicycle parking where required (show rack type, location, capacity at 1:20 ratio where invoked). § 9.72.020(B) and § 9.72.060(D).
• Provide landscape buffers and screening for parking per Chapter 9.47 and district modifications (e.g., R‑M buffer rules). § 9.47.040 / § 9.72.040.
• If requesting shared parking, off‑site parking, or valet, submit required parking study/agreements and required findings (Special Use Permit / Deviation / Planning Commission review). § 9.72.030, Chapter 9.16, Chapter 9.25.
• Demonstrate compliance with Title 24 for accessible spaces and signage (coordinate with Building Division). § 9.72.060 / Title 24.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Apple Valley requires you to provide a specified number of off‑street parking and loading spaces based on your use (look them up in Table 9.72.020‑A/B), build the stalls and aisles to the dimension table, provide bicycle parking when required, and meet rules for landscaping, lighting, and screening; shared, off‑site, or valet solutions are allowed but need approved studies or permits. Always check the site’s zoning district rules and coordinate with the Town Engineer and Planning Division.

Source References

• Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Chapter 9.72: Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations, including § 9.72.010, § 9.72.020, § 9.72.030, § 9.72.040, § 9.72.050, § 9.72.060, § 9.72.070.
• Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Zoning districts list (Table 9.05.030‑A).
• Table 9.45.040‑A (site development standards for industrial districts, I‑P and I‑RE). § 9.45.040.
• Specific Plan and mixed‑use parking guidance (Specific Plan text allowing parking study reductions).
• Apple Valley mixed/multi‑family and parking specifics (e.g., § 9.29.070, multi‑family standards).
• State ADU / parking guidance (ADU handbook excerpt included among provided materials).
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — available in local files for accessibility references.

Retrieved passages

• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.72) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.72) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter including) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.24) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (§ 65589.5) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Section 9.72) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (§ 65589.5) High relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter may) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 9.29.070 (Section 9.29.070) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Section of) High relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 11 (Chapter 9.16) Medium relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.16) Medium relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Chapter 9.75) Medium relevance show source text
• Apple Valley Zoning Code (Section 6) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 406.2.1 Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Chapter **9.72: Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations**, including **§ 9.72.010**, **§ 9.72.020**, **§ 9.72.030**, **§ 9.72.040**, **§ 9.72.050**, **§ 9.72.060**, **§ 9.72.070**. (§ 9.72.010)
• Town of Apple Valley Development Code — Zoning districts list (Table **9.05.030‑A**).
• Table **9.45.040‑A** (site development standards for industrial districts, I‑P and I‑RE). **§ 9.45.040**. (§ 9.45.040)
• Specific Plan and mixed‑use parking guidance (Specific Plan text allowing parking study reductions).
• Apple Valley mixed/multi‑family and parking specifics (e.g., **§ 9.29.070**, multi‑family standards). (§ 9.29.070)
• State ADU / parking guidance (ADU handbook excerpt included among provided materials).
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — available in local files for accessibility references. (Title 24)
• AppleValley_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Apple Valley code library