Arcadia — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the City of Arcadia Development Code rules for off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle parking for projects within Arcadia. It translates the Code’s numeric tables and design rules into practical guidance and district-by-district highlights so applicants know which standards to show on a site/parking plan. The rules below are taken from the Development Code: especially § 9103.07.050 through § 9103.07.170 and related parking/design sections cited inline.

NOTE: This page covers only zoning / development-code parking requirements (what the City requires under the Development Code). Building code (Title 24), state ADU mandates, or landlord/tenant rules are outside this page. See the linked resources below for those topics.

How to use this page

• If you are preparing plans, reference the specific table and subsection cited (e.g., § 9103.07.050, Table 3‑3) and include the calculations on the site plan.
• If you propose reductions (shared parking, proximity-to-transit, parking study), call out the Code provision relied on and attach the parking study or covenant.

Key citywide rules (what applies everywhere)

• Required parking counts are in tables (residential Table 3‑3; nonresidential Tables 3‑5–3‑8). Adopt the table rate unless you provide an approved parking study. § 9103.07.050; § 9103.07.060.
• All required off‑street parking areas must be paved and provide safe ingress/egress; minimum back‑out clearances, drive approach construction, and striping rules apply. § 9103.07.080.
• Shared, joint‑use, and off‑site parking is allowed but must be documented (covenant/recordation) or supported by an approved shared‑parking study prepared by a registered traffic engineer. § 9103.07.090.
• Loading requirements are size/number based (Table 3‑12) and include design rules to prevent truck maneuvers in public streets; some downtown/mixed zones are excepted. § 9103.07.160.
• Bicycle parking minimums apply to most new development (not required in R‑M, R‑0, R‑1 for small projects) and use Table 3‑11 standards for short‑ and long‑term racks/secure parking. § 9103.07.150.
• Electric vehicle (EV) readiness/charging may be required for large lots or multifamily projects consistent with state green building codes; the Reviewing Authority can require EV facilities under the Site Plan & Design Review process. § 9103.07.140 and the California Green Building Standards Code.

(For the City’s overall zoning framework see Arcadia Zoning and the Development Standards pages.) Arcadia Zoning Arcadia Development Standards

District‑by‑district parking summary

Below are the districts most commonly asked about. Each subsection gives the practical parking rules drawn from the Code; confirm any parcel‑specific interpretations with the City.

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes.
• Parking rule: Required residential parking must be provided on the same site in an enclosed garage; required garage spaces and any additional required spaces must be within the enclosed garage and behind the front setback. Driveway minimum width is 9 ft (one driveway normally allowed). See § 9103.07.050 and the R‑0/R‑1 subrules.
• Stall/driveway sizing and driveway count limits (including circular driveway rules) apply; below‑grade parking is restricted unless an Administrative Modification is granted. § 9103.07.080 and R‑0/R‑1 rules within § 9103.07.050.

R‑0 and R‑M (Other single‑family / mixed residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: small lot or neighborhood variations of single‑family/mixed residential.
• Parking rule: same general rules as R‑1 — enclosed garage requirement and driveway sizing; maximum driveway widths differ by zone (20 ft max single‑family driveways). See § 9103.07.050 and the Residential Driveways subsection in § 9103.07.080.

R‑2, R‑3, R‑3‑R (Multifamily)

• Purpose / typical uses: duplexes, small and larger multifamily.
• Parking counts: For R‑2/R‑3/R‑3‑R zones the Code requires 2 covered spaces per unit plus guest parking rates (see Table 3‑3). Tandem parking is allowed but limited (multifamily: tandem ≤ 20% of required spaces). See § 9103.07.050 (Table 3‑3) and tandem rules in § 9103.07.050.I.
• Dimensions: Residential parking stall minimums are in Table 3‑4 (e.g., 10 ft width general, 20 ft length; when adjacent to a wall 11 ft 6 in width). § 9103.07.080 (Table 3‑4).

Mixed‑Use (MU) and Downtown Mixed‑Use (DMU) and CBD

• Purpose / typical uses: commercial + residential combinations, downtown intensification.
• Parking counts: Mixed‑use developments follow the mixed‑use parking standards (Tables 3‑3 and 3‑5–3‑8) and have special sharing rules (e.g., no more than 50% of required residential guest parking may be shared with commercial). § 9103.07.070.
• Loading exceptions: the minimum loading space table does NOT apply in DMU, MU, and CBD (exception in § 9103.07.160). However, loading must still be designed to avoid trucks using public streets. § 9103.07.160.

Commercial / Industrial Zones (including general C and I spaces)

• Purpose / typical uses: retail, office, hotels, manufacturing, warehousing.
• Parking counts: Use Tables 3‑5 through 3‑8 for specific use categories (e.g., retail, office, health clubs, manufacturing). If a use is not listed the Director determines an analogous rate. § 9103.07.060.
• Loading: Required loading spaces scale by building square footage (Table 3‑12: e.g., 7,000–30,000 sf = 1 loading space; larger buildings require more). Loading spaces must be sized (min 10 ft x 25 ft, or 11 ft 6 in if adjacent to a structure) and designed so truck maneuvers do not occur on public streets. § 9103.07.160.

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Practical guidance and interpretation

• Show the table(s) you used (Table 3‑3 or the appropriate 3‑5–3‑8) directly on the plan and annotate any rounding logic (fractions rule in § 9103.07.050.B).
• If you plan shared or off‑site parking, attach the recorded covenant or a shared‑parking study stamped by a registered traffic engineer and reference § 9103.07.090.
• Parking layout must meet the Design Standards (aisle widths, 25 ft back‑out clearances or measured at a 75° angle alternative, wheel stops, striping). Show these dimensions; cite § 9103.07.080 on plan.
• For multifamily proposals that propose tandem spaces, count no more than 20% of required spaces as tandem; identify which spaces are tandem and demonstrate access/turning room. § 9103.07.050.I.

(If you’re preparing a submittal that includes site modifications, anticipate Site Plan & Design Review and reference the design review page.) Arcadia Design Review

Checklist (what to include with your application)

• Parking tabulation showing use(s), Table used (3‑3 / 3‑5–3‑8), math and rounding. § 9103.07.050; § 9103.07.060.
• Dimensioned parking layout: stall sizes, aisle widths, back‑out clearances (25 ft or measured at 75°), wheel stops or planter curbs. § 9103.07.080.
• Loading plan if building >7,000 sf (or as required by Table 3‑12): loading bay locations, sizes, turning radii, screening from residential if applicable. § 9103.07.160.
• Bicycle parking: count and type (short‑ vs long‑term), racks/secure parking details, location within 200 ft of entrance. § 9103.07.150.
• If using shared/off‑site parking, a recorded covenant or parking study prepared by a registered traffic engineer. § 9103.07.090.
• EV readiness/charging information for qualifying projects or where required by the Reviewing Authority. § 9103.07.140.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Arcadia requires you to provide a set number of off‑street spaces based on use tables (residential, commercial, industrial), to build those spaces to City layout and dimension standards, and to show loading, bicycle, and (where applicable) EV parking details on your plans; shared or off‑site parking is allowed but must be documented or justified by a study. See the Code tables and the cited sections for exact counts and dimensions. Verify parcel‑specific exceptions and ADU applicability with the City.

Information Gaps

• The uploaded materials include the Development Code excerpts and parking tables but do not include the full Division 2 zone descriptions with the City's narrative "purpose" statements for every zoning district; where the Code excerpts reference zone purpose or allowed uses, the full zone text was not included in these search results. Verify specific permitted uses for a parcel by consulting Division 2 (Zones) in the City's Development Code or the Arcadia zoning map. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.050 — Off‑Street Parking for Residential Uses (Table 3‑3, ADU notes, rounding rules).
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.060 — Off‑Street Parking for Non‑Residential Uses (Tables 3‑5—3‑8).
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.070 — Mixed‑Use Parking Standards.
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.080 — Parking Area Design Standards (paving, back‑out clearance, driveway widths, dimensions, Table 3‑4).
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.090 — Shared/Joint Use and Off‑Site Parking.
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.150 — Bicycle Parking Requirements (Table 3‑11).
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.160 — Off‑Street Loading (Table 3‑12; size and screening requirements).
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.140 — Parking for Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
• Arcadia Development Code, § 9103.07.170 — Free Off‑Street Parking for Large Retail Developments.
• Nonconforming parking and loading provisions: § 9106.09.040 (continuation and change-of‑use triggers).

For context on site review requirements and plan submittal expectations, consult the City’s design review and development standards pages. Arcadia Design Review Arcadia Development Standards

Retrieved passages

• Arcadia Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9103.15.030) High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9103.07.050.D.) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9107.19) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.050** — Off‑Street Parking for Residential Uses (Table 3‑3, ADU notes, rounding rules). (§ 9103.07.050)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.060** — Off‑Street Parking for Non‑Residential Uses (Tables 3‑5—3‑8). (§ 9103.07.060)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.070** — Mixed‑Use Parking Standards. (§ 9103.07.070)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.080** — Parking Area Design Standards (paving, back‑out clearance, driveway widths, dimensions, Table 3‑4). (§ 9103.07.080)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.090** — Shared/Joint Use and Off‑Site Parking. (§ 9103.07.090)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.150** — Bicycle Parking Requirements (Table 3‑11). (§ 9103.07.150)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.160** — Off‑Street Loading (Table 3‑12; size and screening requirements). (§ 9103.07.160)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.140** — Parking for Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles. (§ 9103.07.140)
• Arcadia Development Code, **§ 9103.07.170** — Free Off‑Street Parking for Large Retail Developments. (§ 9103.07.170)
• Nonconforming parking and loading provisions: **§ 9106.09.040** (continuation and change-of‑use triggers). (§ 9106.09.040)
• Arcadia_ZoningCode.md

• Official Arcadia code library