Local zoning · Calabasas

Calabasas — Parking

Q: How many parking spaces do I need for a two‑bedroom apartment in Calabasas?

Calculate from Table 3‑11: for a 2‑bedroom multi‑family unit the code requires 2 spaces per unit , plus 0.5 additional spaces for each bedroom over two (so a typical 2‑bed unit = 2 spaces); guest parking is 1 space per 3 units . See § 17.28.040 and Table 3‑11.

Q: Do I have to provide bicycle parking for a new grocery store or office?

Bicycle parking is required where Table 3‑11 and § 17.28.090 apply — the code specifically requires bicycle facilities and support (locks, aisles, lockers/showers) for larger commercial/industrial developments (and the number is tied to Table 3‑11 and thresholds in § 17.28.090 ). For buildings >50,000 sq ft bicycle provisions are triggered by § 17.28.090 .

Q: Can I share parking between two different businesses?

Yes — shared parking is allowed under § 17.28.050(B) if you supply a shared‑parking analysis, and provide binding agreements (recorded) showing how the spaces will be shared and maintained. The review authority evaluates time‑of‑day demand and can require recorded covenants.

Q: What are the stall and aisle minimum dimensions I must use?

Use the parking dimensions in Table 3‑12 (Chapter 17.28 , § 17.28.070(C)(1) ): standard stall 9' × 18' (parallel 9' × 24' ), and aisle/bay depths vary by angle (see Table 3‑12). Private garage dims are in Table 3‑13.

Q: Does an ADU require its own parking in Calabasas?

Local ADU standards (Section 17.12.170 ) call for one additional space above the primary dwelling's required parking, but the code also lists the state‑law exemptions (no additional parking if within 1/2 mile of transit, located in a historic district, part of existing residence/structure, on‑street permit issues, or car‑share nearby). Confirm both § 17.12.170 and state ADU law for your site.

Q: Can I defer constructing full parking for a large commercial project?

For nonresidential developments of 10,000 sf or more , the director may approve deferral of one or more required spaces if the applicant demonstrates the spaces are not immediately needed and provides a phasing plan and/or recordation agreement. See § 17.28.030(B) for the deferral rules.

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Calabasas Land Use and Development Code (Title 17) requires for off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle parking. The city's parking rules live in Chapter 17.28; parking quantities are assigned by land use (Table 3‑11) and design/dimensional rules (Tables 3‑12, 3‑13) appear in the same chapter. See the municipal zoning map and district standards to know which zone applies to a parcel before applying the parking rules. § 17.28.010 describes the chapter purpose and goals.

(Links: the page uses Calabasas resources for context — see Calabasas Zoning, Development Standards, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, Landscaping and Screening and the California Building Standards Code in the text below.)

How the Calabasas code controls parking (quick map)

The parking chapter is Chapter 17.28; purpose and applicability are in § 17.28.010 and § 17.28.020.
Quantities are calculated by land use using Table 3‑11 and the rules in § 17.28.040.
Design and dimensions (stall sizes, aisles, driveways, drainage, screening, landscaping) are in § 17.28.070 and associated figures/tables (Table 3‑12, Table 3‑13).
Bicycle parking rules and support facilities are in § 17.28.090.
Loading requirements are in § 17.28.100 (Table 3‑15).
Reductions, shared parking, and special exemptions are in § 17.28.050.

(Internal links used in the first natural mention of topic words: "parking" links to Calabasas Zoning, "development standards" to Calabasas Development Standards, "design review" to Calabasas Design Review, "overlays" to Calabasas Overlay Districts, "ADUs" to Calabasas ADUs, "landscaping" to Calabasas Landscaping and Screening, "California Building Standards Code" to California Building Standards Code.)

District-by-district (where parking rules interact with district standards)

Below are the main Calabasas base zones (as established by § 17.10.020) with the zoning-purpose summary and the parking implications you need to check. For every district, the parking quantity and design follow Chapter 17.28 (see § 17.28.040 for the baseline rule that "Each land use shall provide the minimum number of off‑street parking spaces required by this section").

Notes on format: each district name is bold; a reader must still confirm the exact parcel zoning and any overlays on the official map before applying the rules (Verify with the jurisdiction).

RS (Residential, Single‑Family)

Purpose & typical uses: Detached single‑family homes and related accessory uses (Chapter 17.13, § 17.13.010(A)).
Parking implication: Single‑family housing parking baseline is 2 spaces within a garage (Table 3‑11 / § 17.28.040). Guest parking and per‑lot driveway dimensions are addressed in Table 3‑11 and Table 3‑13; driveways may count for guest parking where they meet size rules.
Where applies: Citywide single‑family neighborhoods; check any suffix (e.g., RS‑8) that sets lot size or density — those affect site planning but not the per‑unit parking minimum.

RM (Residential, Multifamily)

Purpose & typical uses: Apartments, condominiums, townhomes (Chapter 17.13, § 17.13.010(B)).
Parking implication: Multi‑family ratios in Table 3‑11: e.g., studio = 1 covered space/unit; 1‑bed = 1.5 spaces/unit (1 covered); 2+ bed = 2 spaces/unit plus 0.5 per bedroom over two; guest = 1 space per 3 units. One bicycle space per unit is required per Table 3‑11 for many multifamily entries. Verify which category applies to your project.

CL / CR / CO / CB / CMU / CT (Commercial zones)

Purpose & typical uses: range from limited retail and professional office to mixed‑use (Table 2‑1 / § 17.10.020).
Parking implication: Retail, office, restaurants and other commercial uses have land‑use‑specific ratios in Table 3‑11 (e.g., offices typically 1 per ~250 sq ft; restaurants and retail vary by seats/sf). Bicycle parking percentages (5–10% of vehicle spaces or fixed numbers for large floor areas) and shower/locker support apply per § 17.28.090 and Table 3‑14.

PD (Planned Development) and HM (Hillside/Mountainous)

Purpose: PD is project‑specific; HM applies to hillside parcels. Setbacks, densities and the applicable development plan process modify dimensional rules. Parking is still required "as required by Chapter 17.28" but exact lot coverage/setback exceptions may be set in the development plan. Verify with the project’s Development Plan and § 17.62.070.

OS / OS‑DR / PF / REC (Open space / Public Facility / Recreation)

Purpose & typical uses: parks, institutional, resource protection. Parking for public uses is set by Table 3‑11 and may be determined by parking study for complex public facilities. § 17.28.040 requires a minimum; the director may require a study where Table 3‑11 says "parking study required."

Where district tables reference "Parking: As required by Chapter 17.28" that means: find the use in Table 3‑11 and then apply the design/detail rules in § 17.28.070 et seq.

Key standards (decision‑relevant table)

The table below condenses the parking, bicycle and loading rules used most often. All entries are grounded in the Calabasas code; see the cited § for the authoritative text and Table number.

Topic / Use	Rule (what you must provide)	Code reference
Baseline rule	Each land use must provide the minimum off‑street spaces shown in Table 3‑11; director may require more by condition.	§ 17.28.040
Single‑family house	2 parking spaces (within a garage); driveway counts as guest parking if 20'×20' and outside right‑of‑way.	Table 3‑11; § 17.28.040
Multi‑family (typical)**	Studio = 1 covered space/unit; 1‑bed = 1.5/unit (1 covered); 2+ bed = 2/unit + 0.5 per extra bedroom; guest = 1/3 units.	Table 3‑11; § 17.28.040
Retail / Office / Restaurant	Use‑specific ratios (e.g., office ≈ 1/250 sf; restaurants by seats or floor area); see Table 3‑11.	Table 3‑11; § 17.28.040
Bicycle parking	Required for commercial/industrial uses >50,000 sf and as Table 3‑11 indicates; design, device, aisle and locker/shower standards in § 17.28.090.	§ 17.28.090
Loading spaces	Minimum loading counts by gross floor area (e.g., 1 loading space for commercial <4,000 sf; 2 for 4,001–25,000 sf). Loading space dims 15'×25' with 14' vertical clearance; screened and located per standards.	§ 17.28.100; Table 3‑15
Stall & aisle dimensions	Standard stall 9'×18'; parallel 9'×24'; see Table 3‑12 for angled/aisle depths; private garage minima in Table 3‑13.	§ 17.28.070 (Table 3‑12 / 3‑13)
Handicapped spaces	Must comply with state accessibility rules (Title 24 / Cal. Code Regs. and Vehicle Code); code defers to state standards and mandates upgrades when state changes.	§ 17.28.060
Reductions / Shared parking	Up to 25% reduction possible; shared parking allowed with analysis and recorded agreements; reductions for proximity to transit, affordable housing, or enhanced TDM.	§ 17.28.050
On‑site requirement	Parking must be on the same parcel as the primary use unless the director approves leasing/recorded easement guaranteeing use for life of project.	§ 17.28.070(G)

Practical guidance and common scenarios

Start at Table 3‑11 (Chapter 17.28) to get the baseline count for your specific land use; then apply design rules in § 17.28.070 (stall sizes, aisles, drainage, lighting, landscaping). § 17.28.040 instructs you to aggregate parking for mixed uses unless you apply for shared parking under § 17.28.050.
If you plan a multifamily project, compute unit‑based spaces (per bedroom rules in Table 3‑11) and be ready to show covered vs. uncovered breakdowns (the code requires specified covered counts for some unit types).
For any commercial project >50,000 sf, expect bicycle parking, lockers and showers as required by § 17.28.090 (prepare aisle layouts that meet the 5‑ft aisle and 2'×6' bicycle space minimums).
Want fewer spaces? The director/review authority can authorize reductions (up to 25%) if you justify it with a parking study, TDM program, or transit proximity. Shared parking needs a recorded agreement. Always use a licensed traffic engineer for studies; the code requires their review for parking studies.

Links that help with parcel‑level rules: consult the city's Calabasas Zoning page to confirm the base zone and any overlays, then read the Calabasas Development Standards and the Calabasas Design Review page for treatments that influence parking placement/visibility. Overlays like the Park Moderne or Affordable Housing Overlay modify where and how parking can be provided — see Calabasas Overlay Districts and the relevant overlay §.

Checklist

Determine the parcel's base zone and any overlays on the official zoning map (Table 2‑1 / § 17.10.020).
Identify the exact land use in Table 3‑11 and compute required vehicle and bicycle spaces (§ 17.28.040 / Table 3‑11).
Design stalls/aisles to meet Table 3‑12 and garage dims in Table 3‑13 (§ 17.28.070).
Provide required accessible (handicapped) spaces per state rules and plan for upgrades if state standards change (§ 17.28.060).
If requesting reductions/shared parking, prepare a licensed traffic engineer’s parking study and recorded agreements (§ 17.28.050).
For ADUs: apply the ADU parking rules in § 17.12.170 (one additional space except where state exemptions apply).
Landscaping, lighting, drainage, and screening must follow Chapters 17.26 and 17.27 and the parking chapter's development standards (§ 17.28.070(E–F)).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
ADU parking vs. State ADU law	State law limits and exempts ADU parking requirements in many circumstances; local rules reference those state rules but local ADU section also sets a local one‑space rule. Conflicts between local and state law are possible.	Verify ADU-specific exemptions in § 17.12.170 and confirm whether the ADU falls into any state exemption categories (transit proximity, historic district, part of existing structure, car‑share, etc.).
Shared parking legal guarantee	Shared parking approvals require recorded covenants/easements to bind future owners. If not recorded, parking credit can be lost later.	Confirm whether the director will accept the proposed lease/agreement and prepare it to be recorded per § 17.28.050(B).
Parking reductions (TDM/transit)	Reductions up to 25% are discretionary and hinge on acceptable evidence and TDM commitments.	Verify level of evidence acceptable to the review authority (parking study, transit stop proximity, TDM measures) under § 17.28.050(A).
Loading visibility/screening in commercial projects	Loading doors must be located and screened to avoid visibility from rights‑of‑way; mis‑placement can cause denial or major redesign.	Confirm placement per § 17.28.100(B)(3–5); be prepared to show screening details.
ADA / Title 24 compliance	Calabasas refers to state accessibility standards. Noncompliance leads to building permit rejection even if local parking counts are correct.	Coordinate with building department and apply § 17.28.060 together with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24).
Parcel‑specific exceptions	Director has authority to allow on‑adjacent‑parcel parking, defer installation for large nonresidential projects, etc. These are discretionary.	For atypical designs ask for pre‑application meeting and cite § 17.28.070(G) and the deferral language. Verify required recorded commitments.

Plain‑English summary

Calabasas's zoning code requires off‑street parking (and loading/bicycle facilities) based on the use (see Table 3‑11) and sets out how parking must be designed (stall sizes, aisles, landscaping, lighting, accessible stalls). You compute spaces from the land‑use table, then apply the design requirements in Chapter 17.28; reductions or shared parking are allowed but discretionary and require documentation. For ADUs, special parking rules/exemptions appear in § 17.12.170—check those closely.

Source References

Title 17, Chapter 17.28 — Parking and Loading: § 17.28.010 (purpose), § 17.28.020 (applicability), § 17.28.030 (general regs), § 17.28.040 (number of spaces / Table 3‑11), § 17.28.050 (reductions), § 17.28.060 (handicapped), § 17.28.070 (development standards / Tables 3‑12 & 3‑13), § 17.28.090 (bicycle parking), § 17.28.100 (loading).
Table 3‑11 (Parking Requirements by Land Use) and numeric examples: Table 3‑11 / § 17.28.040.
Parking lot dimensions: Table 3‑12 / § 17.28.070(C)(1).
ADU parking and related exemptions/standards: § 17.12.170 (Accessory Dwelling Units).
Zoning districts and where district rules point to Chapter 17.28 for parking: § 17.10.020 (zoning districts) and Chapter 17.13 (residential district purposes).
Landscaping/parking lot planting requirements: Chapter 17.26 and cross‑reference in § 17.28.070(E).
State accessibility standards (handicapped parking referent): California Building Standards Code (Title 24) referenced in § 17.28.060.

If you want parcel‑specific counts or a site plan checklist tailored to an address in Calabasas, tell me the base zone (or upload the zoning map extract) and the proposed uses and I’ll convert Table 3‑11 entries into a site parking schedule. Verify all final calculations and permit requirements with the Calabasas Community Development Department.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (section for) High relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 630) High relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (section and) High relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.62.020) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.56) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.28.070E) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.20) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Article I) Medium relevance
CBC § 17.20.180 (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 66314) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (§ 66322) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Section 17.12.170) Medium relevance
CMC § 17.12.030 (Chapter 17.26) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.27.) Medium relevance
Calabasas Zoning Code (Chapter 17.56) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Calabasas code library

Frequently asked questions

What chapter of the Calabasas code holds the parking rules?

Calabasas places off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle parking rules in Chapter 17.28 of Title 17; see the chapter purpose § 17.28.010 and applicability § 17.28.020.

How many parking spaces do I need for a two‑bedroom apartment in Calabasas?

Calculate from Table 3‑11: for a 2‑bedroom multi‑family unit the code requires 2 spaces per unit, plus 0.5 additional spaces for each bedroom over two (so a typical 2‑bed unit = 2 spaces); guest parking is 1 space per 3 units. See § 17.28.040 and Table 3‑11.

Do I have to provide bicycle parking for a new grocery store or office?

Bicycle parking is required where Table 3‑11 and § 17.28.090 apply — the code specifically requires bicycle facilities and support (locks, aisles, lockers/showers) for larger commercial/industrial developments (and the number is tied to Table 3‑11 and thresholds in § 17.28.090). For buildings >50,000 sq ft bicycle provisions are triggered by § 17.28.090.

Can I share parking between two different businesses?

Yes — shared parking is allowed under § 17.28.050(B) if you supply a shared‑parking analysis, and provide binding agreements (recorded) showing how the spaces will be shared and maintained. The review authority evaluates time‑of‑day demand and can require recorded covenants.

What are the stall and aisle minimum dimensions I must use?

Use the parking dimensions in Table 3‑12 (Chapter 17.28, § 17.28.070(C)(1)): standard stall 9' × 18' (parallel 9' × 24'), and aisle/bay depths vary by angle (see Table 3‑12). Private garage dims are in Table 3‑13.

Does an ADU require its own parking in Calabasas?

Local ADU standards (Section 17.12.170) call for one additional space above the primary dwelling's required parking, but the code also lists the state‑law exemptions (no additional parking if within 1/2 mile of transit, located in a historic district, part of existing residence/structure, on‑street permit issues, or car‑share nearby). Confirm both § 17.12.170 and state ADU law for your site.

Are accessible (handicapped) parking requirements in the local code?

The local code requires accessible parking and defers to state accessibility standards (Title 24/California Code of Regulations and Vehicle Code). See § 17.28.060 for local placement/reservation and the requirement to upgrade when state standards change.

Can I defer constructing full parking for a large commercial project?

For nonresidential developments of 10,000 sf or more, the director may approve deferral of one or more required spaces if the applicant demonstrates the spaces are not immediately needed and provides a phasing plan and/or recordation agreement. See § 17.28.030(B) for the deferral rules.

Where should loading docks be located to comply with Calabasas rules?

Loading docks must be located next to or as close as possible to the main structure, screened from major rights‑of‑way, ensure on‑site maneuvers, and avoid noise impacts to residential areas; loading doors should be on the rear of structures per § 17.28.100(B)(3–5).

Can I use tandem parking to meet parking minimums?

Tandem parking: the code generally disallows tandem parking to satisfy parking minimums except within mobile home parks; valet parking reductions are limited (Old Town exception by CUP). See § 17.28.070(J–K). Verify exceptions with the director.

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