Buellton — Parking

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

Buellton’s zoning ordinance (Title 19) sets citywide rules for off‑street parking, loading, and related design details that apply to most land uses and districts. The backbone of the standards is in the general development regulations for parking and loading, the land‑use‑based parking schedule, and the design/layout rules; mixed‑use projects have additional, district‑specific provisions. These rules work alongside the base Buellton Zoning, Buellton Land Use allowances, and cross‑reference other Buellton Development Standards.

Citywide framework: What the code requires everywhere

• Core sections. The city’s parking program lives in the general development regs: the purpose/applicability, retention, recalculation on change of use, on‑site location rule, accessible space rule, and a bicycle parking provision are all in § 19.04.140; the quantitative “how many spaces” table is in § 19.04.142; and the geometry, paving, lighting, driveway, maneuvering, and screening rules are in § 19.04.144.
• Retain required parking. Once required spaces exist, they cannot be eliminated or reduced without equivalent approved facilities; violating this voids the land‑use permit.
• Change of use = recalc. Any change of use triggers a fresh parking calculation under current standards; prior parking “mods” are voided.
• Where parking may be located. Required spaces must be on the same site as the use; for nonresidential uses, they may be within 500 feet (measured along streets) of the main building or site.
• Accessible parking. Nonresidential lots must provide the number of accessible spaces required by the California Building Standards Code; Buellton also reproduces an accessible‑space count table.
• Bicycle parking. For development plan projects other than single‑family, the Planning Commission decides whether bike parking is needed and how much, including rack and locking devices.
• Interpretation and rounding. The code defines floor area for parking purposes, requires rounding fractional spaces up, and allows the director to assign a standard to unlisted uses based on the most comparable listed use. Mixed‑use totals are the sum by use unless the Commission exercises discretion.
• Variations and relief. “Modifications” to parking requirements may be granted through the development plan process in § 19.08.120; pursue relief through Buellton Variances and Exceptions only as applicable.

Minimum parking by land use (selected)

The land‑use schedule below is enforced citywide; apply these counts first, then add any mixed‑use adjustments if your project is mixed use.

Notes:

• Employee housing (≤6 persons) and agricultural employee complexes reference these same residential/Group Housing counts.
• For unlisted uses, the director selects the most comparable standard.

Off-street loading requirements

Design and layout standards that shape your site plan

• Space size. Residential stalls: 8.5 ft x 16.5 ft. Nonresidential stalls: 9 ft x 16.5 ft. Up to 30% of required nonres spaces may be compact (8 ft x 14.5 ft) and must be marked.
• Setback rule. Off‑street parking cannot sit within required front/side setbacks unless the applicable zone expressly allows it.
• Distance allowance. For nonresidential uses, required parking may be placed within 500 feet of the main building/site (street measurement, alleys excluded).
• Maneuvering. Except for residential uses in the RS district, site design must avoid backing into a street or sidewalk from a required stall.
• Paving and markings. Uncovered areas require at least 2 inches of asphalt, concrete, or equivalent on a suitable base; lanes and stalls must be striped; wheel stops as needed.
• Lighting. Lots serving nighttime uses must be lit and shielded away from adjacent residences.
• Driveways. Side/rear lot access driveways must maintain a minimum 12‑ft clear width; the Commission may require different driveway numbers/widths or locations for safety, appealable per § 19.10.130.
• Geometrics. Stall/aisle dimensions and turning radii must follow the ordinance’s Parking Diagrams/Tables.
• Screening and landscaping. Where nonresidential parking abuts residential, provide a minimum 5‑ft wall; provide 5‑ft screen strips or decorative walls/fences and, for uncovered areas >3,600 sq ft, landscaped islands at ends of rows and at intervals; performance securities may be required to ensure installation/maintenance. Tie these with Buellton Landscaping and Screening.

Mixed-use project overlays: special parking provisions

Chapter 19.18 modifies and supplements parking for mixed‑use projects:

• Start with the base counts. First calculate required parking by use per § 19.04.142 (e.g., 20 1‑BR units = 20 spaces; 5,000 sq ft retail = 17 spaces; base total 37).
• Potential 25% reduction using nearby City lots. A development plan may approve up to a 25% reduction if a City‑owned lot is within 500 ft; cumulatively, no more than 50% of the City lot’s spaces may be “encumbered.” A fee of $18,000 per borrowed space applies and is paid before building permit issuance; reductions may not take residential below 1 space per unit.
• Shared parking. Allowed via development plan with sites within 500 ft if the other lot has surplus spaces or if peak hours don’t overlap.
• Layout rules unique to mixed use. Unless prior entitlements say otherwise, 60% of spaces must be at the rear; streetside edges must be partially screened (walls/fences/berms) and enhanced with space‑defining elements; parking structures are allowed if architecturally integrated.
• Minimum residential provision. All mixed‑use projects with residential units must provide at least 1 covered or uncovered space per unit (independent of any shared/City‑lot reductions).

District-by-district: how parking interacts with each zone

The parking schedule in § 19.04.142 applies citywide by use; districts add where/placement details (e.g., how close to lot lines) and, for some zones, extra screening or access rules. Confirm a parcel’s zoning before applying these (Buellton zoning & planning overview).

RS — Residential Single-Family

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards:
  • Required counts: 2 covered per dwelling (see table above).
  • Parking area setbacks: same as the RS front/side/rear yard setbacks in § 19.02.120.
  • Backing to street is allowed uniquely in RS (other districts must avoid backing into street/sidewalk).
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned RS on the City Zoning Map (citywide applicability of Title 19).

RM — Residential Multifamily

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards:
  • Required counts: 1–2.5 per unit based on bedrooms; plus 1 visitor per 5 units; multifamily spaces must be within 200 ft of the building for 2+ BR and 3+ BR categories.
  • Parking area setbacks: at least 15 ft from streets and 5 ft from other property lines (residential zone general standards).
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned RM on the City Zoning Map.

PRD — Planned Residential Development

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards:
  • Provide parking per § 19.04.140 and arrange lots to prevent through‑traffic to other parking areas; screen uncovered areas from streets and adjacent residences to at least 4 ft in height.
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned PRD through rezoning and development plan approval.

MHP — Mobilehome Park

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards:
  • Required counts: 2 spaces per mobilehome lot (tandem allowed; 1 must be covered) and 1 guest per 3 mobilehomes (also reflected in the parking schedule).
  • Additional MHP specifics (e.g., RV storage 1 per 5 sites; siting of common parking) are provided within mobilehome park standards; parking is tied back to § 19.04.140.
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned MHP.

CN — Neighborhood Commercial (mixed-use context)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards (mixed‑use projects in CN):
  • Parking areas must be at least 5 ft from all property lines.
  • Mixed‑use rules in Chapter 19.18 also apply (rear‑bias, shared/City‑lot reductions).
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned CN; standards shown here are those the code states for mixed‑use projects in CN.

CR — General Commercial (outside specific plan areas; mixed-use context)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards (mixed‑use projects in CR):
  • Parking areas must be at least 5 ft from all property lines.
  • Mixed‑use rules in Chapter 19.18 also apply (rear‑bias, shared/City‑lot reductions).
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned CR outside specific plans.

CS — Service Commercial (mixed-use context)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards (mixed‑use projects in CS):
  • Parking areas must be at least 5 ft from all property lines.
  • Mixed‑use rules in Chapter 19.18 also apply.
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned CS.

M — Industrial/Manufacturing (mixed-use context)

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards (mixed‑use projects in M):
  • Parking areas must be at least 5 ft from all property lines.
  • Mixed‑use rules in Chapter 19.18 also apply.
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned M.

REC — Recreation; OS — Open Space; PQP — Public/Quasi-Public

• Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Typical permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Key parking‑related standards:
  • Parking is required per § 19.04.140; no separate, zone‑specific parking ratios are stated in the retrieved materials.
• Where it applies: Parcels zoned REC, OS, or PQP.

Locational and setback highlights by district (most decision‑relevant)

Practical notes you will use on a plan set

• Show counts by use on the site plan and confirm rounding up of fractional spaces.
• Label compact stalls and keep them within 30% of nonres totals.
• Dimension every stall/aisle to the City’s parking tables; if you use angled stalls, match the diagram values.
• Provide accessible spaces per state code and show cross‑slopes/van space location; the City references Title 24 counts.
• If proposing mixed use, consider the 25% City‑lot reduction, the 60% rear‑lot placement rule, and shared parking within 500 ft.

Checklist

• Identify each on‑site use and select the corresponding parking ratio from § 19.04.142; round up fractions.
• Confirm any residential bedroom counts and visitor/guest parking.
• Apply any mixed‑use adjustments (City‑lot reduction, shared parking, rear‑bias) via the development plan process.
• Keep required parking on‑site (or within 500 ft for nonresidential) and outside required setbacks.
• Dimension stalls/aisles to the City’s diagram/table; show compact stall markings and counts.
• Provide off‑street loading if thresholds are met; dimension spaces and keep them out of setbacks.
• Add lighting and landscaping/screening details per code, including islands for lots >3,600 sq ft.
• If required by the Commission, add bicycle racks/lockers to your development plan package.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Buellton requires you to park your project based on what you’re building: houses need set numbers of covered spaces; multifamily parking scales with bedrooms plus guest stalls; shops, restaurants, offices, and industrial uses have square‑footage or bed/seat‑based ratios. Your spaces must meet the City’s stall sizes and layout diagrams, be paved/striped, lit, and screened, and—unless you’re in single‑family RS—you can’t back into the street from a required stall. Mixed‑use projects can tap a 25% reduction with nearby City lots, use shared parking within 500 ft, and must tuck most spaces at the rear.

Source References

• § 19.04.140 Parking and loading (purpose/applicability; retention; recalculation; on‑site rule; accessible/bicycle provisions; interpretation)
• § 19.04.142 Number of parking spaces required (citywide schedule by land use)
• § 19.04.144 Design and improvement of parking (sizes; setbacks; paving; lighting; driveway widths; diagrams; screening/landscaping; loading)
• § 19.18.020 Parking standards (mixed‑use: base counts, 25% reduction via City lot, shared parking, rear placement, minimum per unit)
• § 19.18.018 Development standards (mixed‑use: parking area setbacks by CN/CR/CS/M and RM)
• § 19.02.120 Residential zone general development standards (parking area setbacks in RS/RM; linkage to § 19.04.140)
• § 19.02.330 Special purpose zone general development standards (REC/OS/PQP refer to § 19.04.140 for parking)
• Title 19 applicability baseline (Title 19 applies citywide; verify zoning on the map)
• State reference: Accessible parking under the California Building Standards Code (CBC/Title 24), as referenced by Buellton’s § 19.04.140

Information Gaps

• Zone “purpose” statements and detailed “typical permitted uses” for each district: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Fixed bicycle parking ratios (by use or square footage): Not found in retrieved materials (bicycle parking is Commission‑determined during development plan review).
• Any local EV‑charging/EV‑ready parking provisions: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Specific plan area variations (for CR inside specific plans): Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction.

Retrieved passages

• Buellton Zoning Code (chapter for) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 3 (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 19.04.130) Medium relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 19.04.142) Medium relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (title for) Medium relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 19.04.142) High relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 3 (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 19.02.110) Medium relevance show source text
• Buellton Zoning Code (§ 19.02.330) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 19.04.140 Parking and loading (purpose/applicability; retention; recalculation; on‑site rule; accessible/bicycle provisions; interpretation) (§ 19.04.140)
• § 19.04.142 Number of parking spaces required (citywide schedule by land use) (§ 19.04.142)
• § 19.04.144 Design and improvement of parking (sizes; setbacks; paving; lighting; driveway widths; diagrams; screening/landscaping; loading) (§ 19.04.144)
• § 19.18.020 Parking standards (mixed‑use: base counts, 25% reduction via City lot, shared parking, rear placement, minimum per unit) (§ 19.18.020)
• § 19.18.018 Development standards (mixed‑use: parking area setbacks by CN/CR/CS/M and RM) (§ 19.18.018)
• § 19.02.120 Residential zone general development standards (parking area setbacks in RS/RM; linkage to § 19.04.140) (§ 19.02.120)
• § 19.02.330 Special purpose zone general development standards (REC/OS/PQP refer to § 19.04.140 for parking) (§ 19.02.330)
• Title 19 applicability baseline (Title 19 applies citywide; verify zoning on the map) (Title 19)
• State reference: Accessible parking under the California Building Standards Code (CBC/Title 24), as referenced by Buellton’s § 19.04.140 (Title 24)
• Buellton_ZoningCode.md

• Official Buellton code library