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Brisbane — Parking

Parking under the Brisbane local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Brisbane’s off-street parking rules live in Title 17 Zoning, primarily Chapter 17.34 Off‑Street Parking, and they apply citywide with important district and overlay-specific twists. The ordinance sets minimum ratios by use, dimensional and surfacing standards, bicycle parking, and designated clean‑air vehicle spaces, and then layers in targeted exceptions, e.g., in Parkside overlays and Crocker Park. If your project also triggers design review, or sits in an overlay district, expect added, objective parking placement and screening rules on top of the base zoning requirements.

Where the rules live in Title 17

  • Chapter 17.34 Off‑Street Parking: purpose, minimum ratios, use restrictions, design and dimensional standards, clean‑air vehicle spaces, bicycle parking
  • Parkside Overlay districts (PAOZ‑1/PAOZ‑2): additional parking design dimensions and bicycle parking rates within the overlay
  • Crocker Park (TC‑1): no off‑street parking in front setbacks; otherwise follow Ch. 17.34
  • Sierra Point (SP‑CRO): follow Ch. 17.34 for all uses
  • Objective design standards (selected districts): placement, screening, and garage frontage limits that affect how parking can be located or expressed architecturally

Citywide minimum parking ratios (selected uses)

These are the most commonly applied, project‑shaping ratios under § 17.34.020.

Use / Unit type Minimum off-street parking Notes Code Reference
Single‑family: studio/1‑BR ≤ 900 sf 1 space (uncovered or covered) § 17.34.020 (Minimum requirements)
Single‑family: ≤ 1,800 sf 1 off‑street + 1 in a garage/carport § 17.34.020
Single‑family: > 1,800 sf on frontage < 37.5 ft 2 off‑street + 1 in a garage/carport § 17.34.020
Single‑family: > 1,800 sf on frontage ≥ 37.5 ft 2 on‑street or off‑street + 2 in a garage/carport § 17.34.020
Duplex/multifamily: studio 1 space per unit § 17.34.020
Duplex/multifamily: 1‑BR 1.5 spaces per unit (1 covered). If ≤ 900 sf: 1 covered § 17.34.020
Duplex/multifamily: 2‑BR 1.5 spaces per unit (1 covered) § 17.34.020
Duplex/multifamily: 3‑BR+ 2 spaces per unit (1 covered) + 1 extra if > 2,700 sf § 17.34.020
ADU in R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, NCRO‑2, SCRO‑1, PAOZ‑1, PAOZ‑2 No off‑street parking required § 17.34.020
ADU in R‑BA and PD 1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, with transit/car‑share and other exemptions § 17.34.020
Hotels/motels 1 space per unit + add restaurant/bar/meeting hall parking if applicable § 17.34.020
Office (administrative) 1 per 300 sf GFA § 17.34.020
Office (professional) 1 per 250 sf GFA § 17.34.020
Retail/restaurants/bars 1 per 300 sf GFA § 17.34.020
Warehouse/light fabrication/production 1 per 1,000 sf GFA § 17.34.020
Cultural facilities/places of worship 1/50 sf assembly or 1/4 fixed seats (greater), plus 1/300 sf remaining area § 17.34.020
Emergency shelters 0.35/bed + 1 per staff on largest shift § 17.34.020

Additional rules for how to compute/round parking apply: garage/carport floor area beyond 400 sf may count toward floor area for ratio calculations; fractions round up at 0.5; uses requiring < 0.5 space require none; and accessory structures ≤ 200 sf require no parking .

Design and use standards that shape your site plan

  • Use restrictions and access: Required spaces cannot be converted to other uses; each residential unit’s required space(s) must be independently accessible and assigned; guest spaces in multifamily must be posted for 72‑hour max guest use only .
  • Surfacing and striping: Paving/base construction, drainage, and striping are specified; 2‑unit or fewer residential projects need not stripe; permeable paving may be approved by the City Engineer to reduce stormwater pollutants .
  • Compact and tandem: Up to 50% of required spaces may be compact, but provide at least one standard space per dwelling on sites with 2+ units; tandem counts for residential only if each unit’s spaces are independently accessible from others’ spaces .
  • Dimensional tables: Standard and compact stall/aisle/module dimensions are fixed in Table 1 and Table 2; minor deviations require City Engineer approval ensuring no more than two forward turns to enter/exit a space .
  • Parallel stalls: 8' x 20' if open at an end; 8' x 24' if between obstructions; add 1' width next to obstructions > 6" high .
  • Garage interior clearances: Single 10' x 20'; two‑car 20' x 20' (18' x 20' on lots < 27' wide); 2‑in‑tandem 10' x 40' .
  • Accessible parking: Provided as required by state law; coordinate with the California Building Standards Code for stall layout/signage specifics, but Brisbane defers to state accessibility mandates in § 17.34.040(D) .
  • Clean‑air vehicle spaces: For new nonresidential buildings, designate “CLEAN AIR VEHICLE” stalls per schedule (e.g., 1 space at 10–25 total, 8% for 201+ spaces) and mark as specified .
  • Bicycle parking (citywide, nonresidential): Short‑term racks near the entrance based on use intensity (e.g., 1 per 10,000 sf retail; minimum 2), and long‑term parking (e.g., 1 per 6,000 sf retail/office; minimum 1); rounding up required .

District‑by‑district parking notes

The base rules above apply in every district unless a district/overlay standard below says otherwise. Confirm your zoning on the City’s map under Land Use.

R‑1

  • Purpose/uses: Single‑family areas; parking follows § 17.34.020 ratios based on unit size and frontage .
  • Key standards: See the single‑family table above; design/striping/surfacing from § 17.34.040 apply citywide .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned R‑1; Verify with the jurisdiction.

R‑2

  • Purpose/uses: Two‑unit and small multifamily; parking follows § 17.34.020 multifamily ratios; tandem allowed if each unit’s spaces are independently accessible .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned R‑2; Verify with the jurisdiction.

R‑3

  • Purpose/uses: Multifamily; apply § 17.34.020 multifamily ratios; uncovered tandem in driveway is explicitly exempt from public‑street screening height rules in objective standards .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned R‑3; Verify with the jurisdiction.

R‑BA

  • Purpose/uses: Residential Brisbanes Acres/hillside context; ADUs here require 1 space per ADU or bedroom (lesser), subject to transit and other exemptions in § 17.34.020; different from the no‑parking rule for ADUs in many other districts .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned R‑BA; Verify with the jurisdiction.

NCRO‑2

  • Purpose/uses: Neighborhood commercial/residential overlay; storefront uses in NCRO‑2 are exempt from Ch. 17.34 parking requirements per § 17.34.050(C) .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned NCRO‑2; Verify with the jurisdiction.

SCRO‑1

  • Purpose/uses: Mixed residential context with objective design overlay; parking garages/entrances cannot occupy more than 60% of any front elevation width in SCRO‑1 per objective standards; bicycle parking wayfinding may be required when not street‑visible .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned SCRO‑1; Verify with the jurisdiction.

PAOZ‑1 / PAOZ‑2 (Parkside Overlay)

  • Purpose/uses: Parkside Precise Plan area; follow Ch. 17.34 for ratios, but PAOZ imposes its own parking geometry table and bicycle parking for PAOZ‑2 multifamily: Long‑term 1/10 units; Short‑term 1/20 units; and requires conformance with Parkside design standards .
  • Single‑family within PAOZ: Requires 2 spaces in an enclosed garage per dwelling in the PAOZ development standards; multifamily/ADU/JADU parking per § 17.34.020 still applies .
  • Where it applies: Parcels in the Parkside overlay; Verify with the jurisdiction.

PD (Planned Development)

  • Purpose/uses: Master‑planned sites; ADU parking in PD follows the 1 per ADU or bedroom rule (with exemptions) like R‑BA under § 17.34.020 .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned PD; Verify with the jurisdiction.

TC‑1 Crocker Park

  • Purpose/uses: Business park mix (light industrial, office, retail, services); must meet Ch. 17.34 ratios; importantly, no off‑street parking is allowed in the front yard setback (exception possible only for ADA stall placement where it is the most suitable location) .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned TC‑1 (Crocker Park); Verify with the jurisdiction.

SP‑CRO Sierra Point

  • Purpose/uses: Sierra Point planned commercial district; all uses must comply with Ch. 17.34 parking ratios .
  • Where it applies: Parcels zoned SP‑CRO; Verify with the jurisdiction.

Targeted exceptions, modifications, and approvals

  • Existing small SFDs without conforming off‑street parking may expand up to 400 sf (or up to 1,200 sf total if ≤ two bedrooms) without bringing parking into conformance or obtaining a parking use permit, subject to conditions in § 17.34.050(B) .
  • ADUs: Citywide ADU parking rules are embedded in § 17.34.020 and vary by district as shown above; see Brisbane ADUs for the full local program. State constraints also apply; see California ADU law.
  • Units dedicated for persons with disabilities: 1 assigned van‑accessible space per dedicated unit; the Zoning Administrator may approve an accessibility improvement permit to modify parking standards to meet special needs, with notice and findings (§ 17.34.050(D)–(E)) .
  • NCRO‑2 storefront uses: Exempt from Chapter 17.34 requirements (§ 17.34.050(C)) .
  • Off‑site parking for nonresidential: The Planning Commission may grant a parking variance to locate required nonresidential parking off‑site if it incentivizes the project and supports transit access (§ 17.34.050(J)) and through Variances and Exceptions procedures (with modified findings) .
  • Two‑unit developments and urban lot splits: A minimum of 1 standard off‑street space per primary dwelling is required; garage space does not count; no parking required if within 0.5‑mile of qualifying transit or within one block of an approved car‑share facility (§§ 17.05.070/17.05.080 Off‑Street Parking) .

Placement, screening, and objective design touches

  • Screening: Uncovered parking must be screened from public streets (3 ft height) and from abutting R‑1/R‑2/R‑BA (8 ft along shared interior lines), with specified materials; exception: no screening required for uncovered tandem in an R‑3 driveway .
  • Garage frontage: In SCRO‑1, a parking structure/garage entrance cannot exceed 60% of the width of the front elevation facing the street; carport post sizes and façade articulation are also controlled .
  • Bicycle parking wayfinding: Provide directional signage at the main entrance if bike parking is not visible from the street (objective standards) .
  • Landscaping around lots: See Brisbane Landscaping and Screening if your project also triggers separate landscape screening rules.

Notable computational rules

  • Floor area basis: parking ratios using square footage are based on “floor area” definitions; garage/carport area generally excluded up to 400 sf for a single dwelling’s exclusive garage/carport area (§ 17.34.020(B)(1)) .
  • Mixed uses: calculate each use separately; accessory areas like hallways and breakrooms count with the primary use’s floor area (§ 17.34.020(B)(2)) .
  • Rounding and de minimis: round up from 0.5; if the computed requirement is < 0.5, no space is required; accessory structures ≤ 200 sf require no parking (§ 17.34.020(B)(3)–(4)) .

Bicycle parking (overlay supplement)

  • In PAOZ‑2, residential bicycle parking is set at Long‑term: 1/10 units; Short‑term: 1/20 units; designs must follow the Parkside Precise Plan standards (§ 17.27; Parking and Bicycle Parking) .

What’s not in Chapter 17.34

  • Off‑street loading space ratios or dimensions: Not found in retrieved materials. If your use needs loading (e.g., warehouse, grocery), verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist

  • Confirm base ratio in § 17.34.020 for your exact use(s) and compute per § 17.34.020(B) rules (floor area, rounding, mixed‑use calculations) .
  • For residential, check if tandem and compact spaces qualify, and ensure independent access for each unit’s required space(s) .
  • Apply stall/aisle/module dimensions per Table 1/2; get City Engineer sign‑off if seeking minor layout deviations .
  • Add required bicycle parking and any clean‑air vehicle spaces (nonresidential) .
  • If in PAOZ or SCRO‑1, overlay/objective standards for parking geometry, enclosure, screening, and garage frontage also apply .
  • If in TC‑1 (Crocker Park), keep parking out of the front setback (ADA exception possible) .
  • If in NCRO‑2, confirm if “storefront use” qualifies for the chapter‑wide exemption .
  • If seeking off‑site parking (nonresidential), coordinate a parking variance and findings with Planning; see Variances and Exceptions and § 17.34.050(J) .
  • If proposing units dedicated to persons with disabilities, align assigned van‑accessible spaces and consider an accessibility improvement permit if needed (§ 17.34.050(D)–(E)) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Overlay vs. base standards conflict Overlay rules (e.g., PAOZ garage requirements) can be stricter than base § 17.34 ratios Confirm applicable overlay chapter and objective standards for your parcel (e.g., PAOZ single‑family garage requirement)
Front‑setback parking in Crocker Park Parking in the front setback is disallowed in TC‑1 and can derail site plans Confirm TC‑1 boundary and apply § 17.19.070; document any ADA stall placement rationale if within the setback
Off‑site parking requests Nonresidential off‑site parking needs a variance with special transit‑support findings Early meeting with staff; prepare findings under § 17.34.050(J)
Counting compact and tandem Overuse can underperform operationally or miss compliance Cap compact at 50% and ensure tandem meets independent accessibility rules
Loading provisions The code sections retrieved don’t state loading ratios Not found in retrieved materials; ask staff for loading standards or conditions of approval
ADU parking in different districts ADU parking varies (none in many districts vs. 1 per ADU/BR in R‑BA/PD) Check § 17.34.020 table lines for your district; coordinate with Brisbane ADUs

Plain‑English Summary

Brisbane sets clear minimum parking ratios by use and unit size, plus how stalls must be sized, paved, and striped. Overlays like Parkside and districts like Crocker Park add extra placement or enclosure rules, and some districts waive or change parking for ADUs. Before you draw a site plan, run the math under § 17.34.020, lay out stalls to Table 1/2, add the required bicycle and clean‑air vehicle spaces, and then check any overlay/district notes that could push garage design, screening, or front‑setback placement.

Source References

  • Chapter 17.34 Off‑Street Parking: purposes, ratios, calculations, use restrictions, design/dimensions, compact/tandem/parallel, garage sizes, accessible parking, clean‑air vehicle spaces, bicycle parking
  • Parkside Overlay (PAOZ‑1/PAOZ‑2): parking design table and residential bike parking ratios; single‑family garage requirement in overlay standards
  • TC‑1 Crocker Park: no parking in front yard setback; must comply with Ch. 17.34
  • SP‑CRO Sierra Point: comply with Ch. 17.34
  • Objective design standards affecting parking placement/screening/garage frontage (e.g., SCRO‑1; R‑district screening)
  • Exceptions/variances/exemptions: § 17.34.050 (existing SFD expansion, NCRO‑2 storefront exemption, disability provisions, and nonresidential off‑site parking variance)
  • Two‑unit/urban lot split parking standards (1 standard space per primary unit; transit/car‑share exemptions)
  • See also: Brisbane Development Standards, Brisbane Nonconforming Uses, Brisbane ADUs, California Building Standards Code

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • CGBSC § 6 (Chapter 17.46) High relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (section takes) High relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Section 17.01.030) High relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Title 17.) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Title 17.) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Section 3.4) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (§ 16) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Chapter 17.02.) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Chapter 17.34) Medium relevance
  • Brisbane Zoning Code (Section 3.3) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces do I need for a single-family home in Brisbane?

It depends on size and frontage under § 17.34.020. A studio/1‑BR ≤ 900 sf needs 1 space; ≤ 1,800 sf needs 1 off‑street plus 1 in a garage/carport; larger homes need 2–4 total depending on frontage and garage/carport spaces. Tandem may count if each unit’s spaces are independent .

Are ADUs required to provide parking in Brisbane?

Often no. In R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, NCRO‑2, SCRO‑1, PAOZ‑1, and PAOZ‑2, no off‑street parking is required for ADUs. In R‑BA and PD, provide 1 space per ADU or bedroom unless an exemption applies (e.g., within 0.5 miles of transit) per § 17.34.020 .

Can I use compact and tandem spaces to meet my parking requirement?

Yes—with limits. Up to 50% may be compact, but each dwelling on sites with 2+ units needs at least one standard space. Tandem can satisfy residential requirements if each unit’s spaces are independently accessible per § 17.34.040(C),(F) .

What are the stall and aisle dimensions Brisbane requires?

They’re fixed in Tables 1 (standard) and 2 (compact) of § 17.34.040. For example, a 90° standard stall is typically 9' by 18' with a 26' two‑way aisle; compact 90° modules differ. Minor deviations need City Engineer approval .

Do I need bicycle parking for my project?

New nonresidential buildings must provide short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking per § 17.34.070, scaled by use (e.g., retail 1 short‑term/10,000 sf; 1 long‑term/6,000 sf). In PAOZ‑2 residential, long‑term 1/10 units and short‑term 1/20 units apply .

Can I put parking in the front setback in Crocker Park?

No. In the TC‑1 Crocker Park district, off‑street parking is not allowed in the front yard setback. An exception may be granted only for ADA spaces if that’s the most suitable location (§ 17.19.070) .

What if my site can’t meet on‑site parking—can I park off‑site?

For nonresidential projects, the Planning Commission may grant a parking variance to locate required spaces off‑site if it benefits the project and facilitates transit access (§ 17.34.050(J)) .

Do I have to stripe residential parking spaces?

Not for residential uses of two units or fewer. Otherwise, striping must follow § 17.34.040 standards; permeable paving may be approved with conditions by the City Engineer .

Are there special garage size rules?

Yes. A single garage must have a minimum clear interior of 10' x 20'; a standard two‑car garage is 20' x 20' (18' x 20' allowed on narrow lots); a two‑in‑tandem garage must be 10' x 40' (§ 17.34.040(G)) .

Do clean‑air vehicle parking spaces apply to my project?

For new nonresidential buildings, yes. Provide designated “CLEAN AIR VEHICLE” spaces per the schedule in § 17.34.060 (e.g., 1 at 10–25 total spaces; 8% at 201+), with required markings .

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