Local zoning · Cerritos
Cerritos — Parking
Parking under the Cerritos local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026
Overview
This page summarizes what the Cerritos development code requires for off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking, and related site design. It pulls the city’s on‑the‑books parking standards (minimum counts, residential rules, parking‑area design, and overlay‑specific rules) and interprets how they apply to common districts (residential, industrial/commercial, and special area plans). For procedural items like design review or ADUs, see the linked local pages for application rules and the state California Building Standards Code for building‑safety details.
Key local chapters used: Chapter 22.74 (Off‑Street Parking), Chapter 22.70 (Development Standards), area development plans such as 22.15 (Auto Mall / ADP‑5) and 22.61 (ADP‑5.1), and the industrial/commercial zones (MC / MC‑1 / MC‑2). See the Cerritos zoning and development standards pages for context.
District-by-district breakdown
RS — Single‑Family Residential (Chapter 22.22, RS zones)
- Purpose & typical uses: single‑family homes; governed by the RS chapters and general development standards. See the city’s RS zone rules at the Cerritos Zoning overview.
- Key parking standards: each single‑family home must provide a minimum of two enclosed garage parking spaces with garage interior dimensions at least 20 ft wide × 22 ft long; larger homes (≥ 3,500 sq ft) and some additions trigger a three‑car garage standard per § 22.74.300(1)(a–c) .
- Where it applies: all RS zones and RS area development plans; garage/apron and driveway design rules also appear in local site standards (see Development Standards) § 22.74.300 .
Practical note: the code prohibits tandem parking for new single‑family dwellings in the residential standard and requires a 20‑ft concrete parking apron in front of the garage (§ 22.74.300) .
RM / Multi‑Family Residential (Chapters in 22.22 / area plans)
- Purpose & typical uses: duplexes, apartments, condominiums.
- Key parking standards: at least two parking spaces per dwelling unit, minimum individual stall size 10 ft × 20 ft, and at least one covered space per unit; no tandem parking; parking must be arranged so vehicles do not back onto a public street (§ 22.74.300(2)(a–d)) .
- Where it applies: multifamily zoning chapters and specific area development plans (e.g., 22.34 planned residential) .
Practical note: some multifamily and planned developments impose extra visitor or guest parking rates in their area plans — check the specific area development plan (e.g., ADP chapters) for adjustments (§ 22.74.300; area plan sections) .
MC / MC‑1 / MC‑2 — Commercial / Industrial (Chapters 22.29, 22.32, 22.33)
- Purpose & typical uses: light industrial, manufacturing, research, industrial offices.
- Key parking standards: off‑street parking required per Chapter 22.74; many commercial/industrial uses are listed in the § 22.74.500 table with per‑use ratios (retail 1/200 sf, offices 1/250 sf, manufacturing 1/500 sf, etc.) .
- Special rules: loading docks must be sited so trucks do not back from streets other than local industrial streets; no loading dock may face an arterial or a street adjacent to school/residential uses; loading areas must be screened (§ 22.70 / MC zone standards) .
Practical note: parking lot landscaping (minimum planting ratios, planter dimensions) and parking‑area lighting standards are enforced under the development standards and MC zone site standards — expect plan review requiring tree planters and screening (§ 22.70; MC zone site development standards) .
ADP / Auto Mall / Special Area Plans (e.g., 22.15 Auto Mall, 22.61 ADP‑5.1)
- Purpose & typical uses: district‑level plans that replace/augment base zoning for large or specialized areas (Cerritos Auto Square, Los Cerritos Center, etc.). See the city overlay districts and design review pages for process.
- Parking approach: area plans frequently require the Chapter 22.74 standards as baseline and then allow/require the director or planning commission to impose additional parking, special display/storage parking rules, or site‑specific parking guides (e.g., manufacturer “space guides” for auto dealerships) (§ 22.15.350; § 22.61.110(9–12)) .
- Loading and storage: auto‑sales and related service areas must screen loading and vehicle storage from public view and prohibit loading on arterial/internal streets in some overlay areas (§ 22.15.360; § 22.61.110(7), (12)) .
Practical note: dealership/display uses often require a precise plan and may apply manufacturer parking standards as part of the approval; the department may require more spaces than the table minimum (§ 22.15.360; § 22.61.110) .
Key standards at a glance
| Topic / Use | What the code requires (decision‑relevant) | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| Single‑family dwelling parking | 2 enclosed garage spaces (garage interior 20' × 22'); larger homes may require 3 enclosed spaces; no tandem parking; 20' concrete apron (§ 22.74.300(1)(a–d)) | § 22.74.300 |
| Multi‑family parking | 2 spaces per unit; stalls 10' × 20'; one covered space per unit; no tandem; no stalls within required front yards (§ 22.74.300(2)(a–d)) | § 22.74.300 |
| Minimum parking by use (commercial/industrial) | Retail 1/200 sf, Office 1/250 sf, Grocery 1/150 sf, Motor vehicle sales 1/400 sf plus outdoor rules — full table in § 22.74.500 | § 22.74.500 |
| Parking area design | All stalls outlined; paving and circulation rules; two‑way aisles ≥ 26 ft; landscaped planters and tree ratios (1 tree per 5 single‑row stalls) (§ 22.74.400 & development standards) | § 22.74.400 and Chapter 22.70 |
| Bicycle parking for large nonres. projects | 4 bicycle racks per first 50,000 sf of nonres. development, then +1 per additional 50,000 sf; facilities may be racks, lockers or enclosed rooms; city satisfaction required (§ 22.76 — bicycle provisions) | Chapter 22.76 (bicycle parking provision text) |
| Loading docks & screening | Loading docks may not face arterial or streets adjacent to schools/residential; trucks may only back to docks from local industrial streets; loading must be screened (§ 22.70; MC zone and area plans) | § 22.70; MC zone site standards |
| ADU parking (local / state limits) | Local ADU parking is limited by state law; local ordinances cannot exceed state caps — review local ADU provisions and state ADU rules. Local second‑unit rules require one on‑site space for a second unit in some local provisions (verify with ADU chapter) | Local ADU rules (city code) and state ADU law; local citation: ADU‑related text in city code (see ADU chapter) and state guide |
(See source list below for exact code extracts and file citations.)
Checklist
An applicant should prepare to satisfy each bullet before submittal:
- Site plan showing all required off‑street parking stalls, dimensions, aisle widths and striping per § 22.74.400 .
- Use calculation showing required number of stalls using the table in § 22.74.500 (round fractions to nearest whole number) .
- For single‑family residences: garage layout meeting 20' × 22' (or 30' × 22' for 3‑car garages when required) and 20' concrete apron § 22.74.300 .
- Bicycle parking plan for large nonresidential projects (≥ 50,000 sf) demonstrating 4 racks per first 50,000 sf and locations (Chapter 22.76) .
- Loading area plan showing dock orientation, screening, and truck turning (no docks fronting arterials or schools) per § 22.70 / area plan standards .
- Landscape plan satisfying parking landscaping requirements/planters per Chapter 22.70 and § 22.74.400 .
- If in an overlay/ADP (Auto Mall, ADP‑5.1, ADP‑21, etc.), include the precise plan or attachments (manufacturer parking guides for vehicle sales) where required (§ 22.15; § 22.61) .
- Check ADU rules for limits and State ADU law constraints (local ADU chapter + state guidance) .
Risks & Ambiguities
| Issue | Why it matters | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Bicycle parking subsection number | The city code text requires bicycle parking for large nonresidential projects, but the snippet in the provided materials does not show a precise subsection number under 22.76 | Verify exact subsection number in Chapter 22.76 and confirm measurement and rounding rules with Planning staff (§ 22.76 text) |
| ADU parking local exceptions vs state law | State ADU law limits local parking rules; local code may still include legacy second‑unit rules | Verify current local ADU chapter language and application of Government Code to avoid inconsistent requirements (§ 22.x ADU local chapter; state ADU guidance) |
| Overlays / area plans requiring “additional parking” | Area plans give director / commission authority to require additional spaces (e.g., Auto Mall) — this creates parcel‑specific requirements | If property is in an overlay (e.g., ADP‑5/ADP‑5.1), confirm precise plan conditions and any manufacturer "space guide" attachments (§ 22.15; § 22.61) |
| EV / Green standards vs local code | State green building code (and CALGreen) has EV readiness/bicycle guidance that can affect parking design | Where EV readiness or EV‑charging is required, check the California Green/Building Standards references and coordinate electrical/ADA requirements (not a substitute for zoning) |
| Handicapped/ADA stall counts | Accessible stalls are required by building code (Title 24) not local parking chapter—but location and striping are reviewed with parking plans | Confirm accessible stall counts and design with Building & Safety (Title 24) — zoning references parking location/usability only (Verify with jurisdiction) |
Plain‑English summary
Cerritos requires on‑site, off‑street parking per a use table and residential rules: single‑family homes need two enclosed garage spaces with specific garage dimensions, multi‑unit projects generally require two stalls per unit, and commercial/industrial uses use per‑use ratios in § 22.74.500. Large commercial projects must also provide bicycle parking and meet parking‑lot landscaping and loading/dock screening rules. Area plans and overlays can add or modify parking requirements, so verify overlay/area plan language for your parcel (§ 22.74.300; § 22.74.500; overlay chapters) .
Source References
- Cerritos Municipal Code — Chapter 22.74 Off‑Street Parking: purpose, general provisions, Residential requirements (§ 22.74.300) and Minimum parking table (§ 22.74.500). See § 22.74.300 and § 22.74.500 for numeric minima.
- Development standards and parking/landscaping design: Chapter 22.70 (definitions, landscaping, walls/fences, parking area design) — parking stall widths, planter and aisle standards referenced.
- Loading, industrial/commercial zone rules: MC / MC‑1 / MC‑2 zone site standards including loading orientation and screening (see MC zone chapters and § 22.70).
- Auto Mall / Area Development Plans (Auto Square / ADP‑5, ADP‑5.1, ADP‑21): overlay site standards that modify or add parking, loading, and vehicle display rules (e.g., §§ 22.15.xxx; 22.61.110).
- Bicycle parking and Transportation/TDM provisions (large nonresidential projects): Chapter 22.76 provisions requiring bicycle parking (4 per first 50,000 sf, +1 per each additional 50,000 sf) — text located in Chapter 22.76 in the retrieved materials; verify exact subsection in current code.
- ADU / second‑unit local notes and state guidance: local ADU references in city code and California ADU guidance (state law limits local parking for ADUs). See local ADU chapter and state ADU guidance for limits.
- California Green/Building Standards (EV / bicycle guidance): CALGreen and related appendices (cited here for EV readiness and bicycle parking best practices) — local projects may also need to satisfy these standards where applicable.
Sources
Retrieved passages
- Cerritos Zoning Code (Chapter 22.74) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (Chapter 22.70.) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (Section 22.61.090) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (Chapter 22.74) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code Medium relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (chapter of) Medium relevance
- CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (section on) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (Chapter 22.72) High relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code Medium relevance
- CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance
- Cerritos Zoning Code (section on) High relevance
Cited sections
- Cerritos Municipal Code — Chapter **22.74 Off‑Street Parking**: purpose, general provisions, **Residential requirements (§ 22.74.300)** and **Minimum parking table (§ 22.74.500)**. See § 22.74.300 and § 22.74.500 for numeric minima. (§ 22.74.300)
- Development standards and parking/landscaping design: **Chapter 22.70** (definitions, landscaping, walls/fences, parking area design) — parking stall widths, planter and aisle standards referenced. (Chapter 22.70)
- Loading, industrial/commercial zone rules: MC / MC‑1 / MC‑2 zone site standards including loading orientation and screening (see MC zone chapters and **§ 22.70**). (§ 22.70)
- Auto Mall / Area Development Plans (Auto Square / ADP‑5, ADP‑5.1, ADP‑21): overlay site standards that modify or add parking, loading, and vehicle display rules (e.g., §§ 22.15.xxx; 22.61.110). (§ 22.15.xxx)
- Bicycle parking and Transportation/TDM provisions (large nonresidential projects): Chapter **22.76** provisions requiring bicycle parking (4 per first 50,000 sf, +1 per each additional 50,000 sf) — text located in Chapter 22.76 in the retrieved materials; verify exact subsection in current code. (Chapter 22.76)
- ADU / second‑unit local notes and state guidance: local ADU references in city code and California ADU guidance (state law limits local parking for ADUs). See local ADU chapter and state ADU guidance for limits. (chapter and)
- California Green/Building Standards (EV / bicycle guidance): CALGreen and related appendices (cited here for EV readiness and bicycle parking best practices) — local projects may also need to satisfy these standards where applicable.
- Cerritos_ZoningCode.md
- 2025 California Green Building Standards Code.md
- 2025 California ADU handbook.md
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum off‑street parking for a new single‑family home in Cerritos?
A new single‑family dwelling must provide two enclosed garage parking spaces; garage interior dimensions are at least 20' × 22', with a 20‑ft concrete apron in front of the garage. Larger homes (≥ 3,500 sq ft) or certain additions can trigger a three‑car garage requirement. See § 22.74.300(1)(a–d) for details.
How many parking spaces do I need for a 10‑unit apartment building?
The local minimum is two parking spaces per dwelling unit (so 20 spaces total as the baseline), with each space at least 10' × 20' and at least one space covered per unit; no tandem parking and no required stalls in front yards abutting public streets (§ 22.74.300(2)(a–d)) .
Where is the city’s per‑use parking table and what are common ratios?
The per‑use minima are in § 22.74.500: typical ratios include retail 1 per 200 sq ft, office 1 per 250 sq ft, grocery 1 per 150 sq ft, motel 1 per guest unit, and motor vehicle sales 1 per 400 sq ft plus special outdoor display rules. See § 22.74.500 for the full table.
Does Cerritos require bicycle parking?
Yes — the code requires bicycle parking for large nonresidential developments: 4 bicycle‑parking spaces per first 50,000 sq ft and 1 bike per each additional 50,000 sq ft; facilities may be racks, lockers or enclosed rooms, and location/facility type are to the city's satisfaction (Chapter 22.76 text) . Verify the exact subsection number with staff.
Are loading docks allowed to face arterial streets?
No. Loading docks/areas must be located so trucks do not back to them from streets other than local industrial streets, and no loading dock may face an arterial street or a street adjacent to a school or residential use; all loading must be screened from arterial streets, schools and residential areas (§ 22.70; MC zone/area plan site standards) .
Can an area plan or overlay change the parking required by the table?
Yes. Area development plans and overlays (for example 22.15 Auto Mall or ADP‑5.1) use Chapter 22.74 as a baseline but explicitly allow the department or planning commission to require additional parking or to adopt special standards (manufacturer parking guides, precise plans, etc.). If your parcel is in an overlay, check the applicable ADP/overlay text and any precise plan attachments (§ 22.15; § 22.61) .
What landscaping/screening is required inside parking lots?
Parking areas must be paved, have clearly painted stalls, meet minimum aisle widths (two‑way ≥ 26 ft) and provide landscape planters/trees (generally 1 tree per 5 single‑row stalls or similar standard) and conform to the city’s development standards in Chapter 22.70 and § 22.74.400 .
Do I need extra parking when I change a use or expand a building?
Yes. When occupancy, use, or floor area is enlarged or changed, additional parking is required for the new portion only. There are limited exceptions for very large shopping centers; check § 22.74.200(2–5) for change/increase rules and exceptions.
Are ADUs required to provide parking beyond state limits?
State ADU law constrains local parking rules for ADUs. The local code includes second‑unit requirements in places, but state law limits local agencies from imposing parking that exceeds statutory caps — confirm with the local ADU chapter and state ADU guidance before assuming extra local parking is allowed or required.
Who enforces the parking design and counts?
The director of community development (and Planning/approving authority) enforces the zoning‑level parking requirements and monitors compliance; building & safety enforces accessible stall design and Title 24/ADA requirements. See Chapter 22.76.500 for monitoring language.
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