Local zoning · Colma

Colma — Parking

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

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the Town of Colma regulates parking (off‑street automobile parking), loading, and related site circulation under the Town zoning code. The local rules are contained in the Colma Zoning Code (Chapter 5.03) and set minimum off‑street requirements by use, apply these requirements at building/occupancy changes, and require parking and loading to be planned and screened to reduce neighborhood impacts. See Colma Zoning for the broader zoning context and how parking rules interact with use permissions and review processes. § 5.03.230–232 are the core local rules for parking and loading; see the cited code sections below for the full legal text.

Key takeaways up front

Off‑street parking minimums are set in a parking table (the “Parking Standards / Table 4”) and apply whenever a new structure, a use change increasing parking need, or an alteration that increases parking demand occurs (§ 5.03.231, § 5.03.232).
AB 2097 (Gov. Code § 65863.2) override: no minimum automobile parking is required if a project is within 1/2 mile of high‑quality transit; smaller projects (≤19 units) may still be subject to Table 4 per the local code (§ 5.03.232).
The code emphasizes locating parking behind buildings, landscaping/screening, and addressing noise and circulation impacts in site design (various district standards; see below). See Colma Development Standards for how setbacks and site design interface with parking. § 5.03.220 and district standards add site‑level rules.

For bicycle/long‑term bicycle parking and precise loading bay dimensions, the Colma Zoning Code excerpts provided do not include explicit local minimums — see “Information Gaps” and verify with the Town. Not found in retrieved materials.

How the rules apply (core code citations)

Purpose: the off‑street parking and loading rules are intended to provide adequate on‑site parking/loading and to reduce street impacts and noise (§ 5.03.230).
Applicability: minimum off‑street parking/loading applies when you construct new structures (except accessory structures on residential lots), alter structures in a way that increases parking requirement, or establish a new use that increases parking demand (§ 5.03.231).
Standards: minimums are listed in a Parking Standards Table (Table 4) and the City Planner/City Council may set requirements for uses not listed. AB 2097 transit exception is incorporated locally (§ 5.03.232).

District-by-district breakdown (where parking rules intersect district rules)

Note: each district below names the actual district shorthand used in the Colma code; bolded district names and the controlling local code references are provided. For how parking sits next to setbacks and design rules, consult Colma Development Standards. Links below point to local pages for adjacent topics: development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, and Title 24 (state building code).

The first mention of each related topic above is linked: parking (Colma Zoning), development standards (Colma Development Standards), design review (Colma Design Review), overlays (Colma Overlay Districts), ADUs (Colma ADUs), Title 24 (California Building Standards Code), and landscaping and screening (Colma Landscaping and Screening).

R (Residential) — single‑family and small multi‑family

Purpose / typical uses: single‑family, multi‑family as permitted in the code. See § 5.03.082 development standards table and related permitted uses.
Parking rules: residential parking minimums follow the Parking Standards Table (Table 4). Typical items: two covered spaces for single‑family up to four bedrooms; additional 0.5 spaces per bedroom above four; multi‑family unit ratios (studio/1BR = 1.0, 2–4 BR = mix of covered and uncovered totals) are listed in Table 4 (§ 5.03.232 and Table 4). Tandem parking rules are specific (tandem not permitted for new single‑family detached dwellings; some grandfathering applies). Covered garage dimensions for single‑family units built/altered after October 8, 2003 are required (11'×20' minimum for one covered space; 20'×20' for two) — see local code.
Where it applies: throughout the R zone; additions that add bedrooms may trigger additional parking per § 5.03.232.

R‑S (Sterling Park Neighborhood)

Purpose / typical uses: similar residential standards, with neighborhood‑specific dimension limits in Table 1. Parking references point back to the Parking Standards Table and the R/R‑S rules in § 5.03.082. Landscaping and front setback composition rules also affect driveway placement and parking visibility.

C (Commercial)

Purpose / typical uses: commercial, retail, professional offices; residential uses in C follow residential parking rules for dwelling units (§ 5.03.133).
Parking rules: commercial uses must provide off‑street parking, loading and unloading; the minimum number of spaces is set in the Parking Standards Table (examples: retail — 1 per 100 sf sales floor [not less than 1 per 200 sf gross]; offices — 1 per 300 sf; restaurants — 1 per 4 seats) (§ 5.03.133, Table 4). Parking must generally be placed behind buildings or screened with landscaping and roll‑up/loading doors should not face public roads (§ 5.03.133, § 5.03.132).

E (Executive / Administrative)

Purpose / typical uses: offices, administrative and some retail/service uses. § 5.03.172 establishes E zone development standards and repeats that parking/loading must be maintained on site. Examples: professional offices — 1 per 300 sf; retail/shops — specific ratios in Table 4 (§ 5.03.172). Vehicle entry to covered structures must be set back a minimum distance; see zone text for measurements.

PD (Planned Development)

Purpose / typical uses: site‑specific mix (single family, multifamily, neighborhood commercial, etc.). § 5.03.187 and § 5.03.184 require that the Detailed Development Plan show off‑street parking, loading plan, and circulation diagrams; the PD’s approved Detailed Development Plan becomes the development standard for that site, including parking counts and layout. For PD zones, parking standards are established on the Detailed Development Plan (and may deviate from Table 4 if approved).

Design Review and Special Districts

DR / DR(S): where design review or design standards overlays apply, parking layout and screening will be reviewed under those processes; the code cross‑references design review areas and directs reviewers to apply parking siting, landscaping and noise mitigation in design review conditions. Check Colma Design Review for procedural rules. § 5.03.232 and district sections reference design considerations and screening.
Housing Element Overlay Zone ( § 5.03.195 ): the code tells users to refer to § 5.03.195 for parking rules applying inside that overlay — the overlay may have its own parking approach (see that overlay section). Not all overlay details are reproduced in the retrieved snippets — Verify with the jurisdiction.

Table — Decision‑relevant minimums (excerpt from Table 4 / Parking Standards)

Use (short form)	Typical minimum (how expressed locally)	Code Reference
Single‑family (≤4 BR)	2 covered spaces minimum	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Single‑family – add’l bedrooms >4	+0.5 space per extra bedroom (covered/uncovered)	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Multi‑family (studio/1BR)	1.0 space per unit (covered or uncovered)	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Professional/Medical office	1 per 300 sf gross floor area	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Retail (general)	1 per 100 sf sales area (but not less than 1 per 200 sf gross)	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Restaurant	1 per 4 seats	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Commercial / other	1 per 5 regular employees or 1 per 2,000 sf gross, whichever applies	§ 5.03.232; Table 4
Projects within 1/2 mile of high‑quality transit	No minimum automobile parking required per AB 2097 (adopted into local code) — except developments ≤19 units may still apply Table 4 locally	§ 5.03.232; AB 2097 citation in code

(Excerpt — the full Table 4 contains additional specific use lines. For uses not listed, the City Planner / City Council determines the requirement.) § 5.03.232.

Practical guidance / on‑the‑ground interpretation

Start with the Parking Standards Table (Table 4) in § 5.03.232 to get the baseline count. If your use is not listed, expect to supply a parking study and ask the City Planner to set a number or request the number during a discretionary review.
If your site is within 1/2 mile of high‑quality transit, confirm whether the AB 2097 local implementation applies to your project; for small housing projects (≤19 units) Colma may still apply Table 4 minimums locally — read § 5.03.232 carefully and verify with planning staff.
Layout and screening matter: the code repeatedly requires parking to be placed behind buildings or screened with landscaping, and requires reviewers to consider noise and circulation impacts (setbacks and design requirements in district sections and PD criteria). Include a circulation diagram and landscaping/screening plan in your submittal (PD and major projects require those). See Colma Landscaping and Screening for plant/screening guidance; code references: § 5.03.184 and district sections.
Garage dimensions and covered‑space enclosure rules are mandatory for single‑family units built/altered after certain dates (11'×20' for one covered space; 20'×20' for two covered spaces) — include this in garage plans to avoid rework. § 5.03.232 and related residential subsections.
PD projects and projects requiring design review should include EV charging, loading, circulation and parking layout in the Detailed Development/Design Review submittal; these are reviewable items and may be required as conditions. § 5.03.187, district sections.

Checklist

Identify zoning district for the parcel and read the district‑specific parking statements (e.g., R, C, E, PD) — verify with the Town planning map. § 5.03.082; § 5.03.133; § 5.03.172; § 5.03.182.
Calculate baseline required spaces from Table 4 / Parking Standards (§ 5.03.232).
Determine if AB 2097 (no minimum parking within 1/2 mile of high‑quality transit) applies — if so, document transit proximity and applicable law (§ 5.03.232).
Prepare site plan showing parking layout, landscaping/screening of parking, circulation, loading areas, and EV charging (if required by PD/design review) — PD and large projects must show off‑street parking and loading on plans (§ 5.03.184, § 5.03.187).
For residential additions, calculate added parking if you increase bedrooms (0.5 space per bedroom over four). § 5.03.232.
If your proposed use isn’t listed in Table 4, prepare a parking study and request City Planner determination or a conditional review (§ 5.03.232).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Bicycle parking requirements	The retrieved Colma zoning snippets do not show local minimums or details for short‑ or long‑term bicycle parking.	Not found in retrieved materials — verify whether Colma has a local bike‑parking section or whether the Town applies state or design‑review conditions. Contact planning staff.
Loading bay counts / dimensions	Local code requires loading to be provided and shows loading must be planned, but does not list numeric minimums or standard bay sizes in the excerpts.	Not found in retrieved materials — prepare a loading plan and confirm required counts/dimensions with the City Planner. § 5.03.231 mentions applicability; PD rules require an off‑street parking and loading plan.
Transit‑proximity parking exceptions (AB 2097)	Local text adopts AB 2097 but notes developments ≤19 units “may” impose Table 4 minimums; this can be applied differently across projects.	Verify whether the Town will apply the AB 2097 exception administratively or still require Table 4 minimums for small residential projects. § 5.03.232.
Tandem parking rules (exceptions/grandfathering)	Tandem parking is disallowed for new single‑family detached homes in some sections but other sections allow tandem in some cases.	Check whether your project is covered by a grandfathering clause or whether a variance is required. See § 5.03.232 and residential subsections.
Overlay / PD deviations	PD and some overlays can establish site‑specific parking standards that differ from Table 4.	If your property is in a PD or Housing Element Overlay, read the PD Detailed Development Plan or overlay rules and confirm whether Table 4 or site plan controls. § 5.03.184–187; § 5.03.195 (Housing overlay).

Plain‑English summary

Colma’s zoning code sets minimum on‑site parking by use in a Parking Standards Table (Table 4, § 5.03.232) and requires parking and loading whenever a new structure is built, a new use raises parking need, or an alteration increases demand; the Town emphasizes placing parking behind buildings, screening it with landscaping, and showing circulation/loading on plans. AB 2097 (transit proximity) can remove minimum automobile parking locally — but verify how it’s applied for small residential projects.

Source References

Colma Zoning Code — Off‑Street Parking and Loading: § 5.03.230–5.03.232 (Parking purpose, applicability, and Parking Standards / Table 4)
Colma Zoning Code — Residential development standards and parking notes: § 5.03.082 and attendant residential subsections (garage dimensions, tandem rules, bedroom/parking rules)
Colma Zoning Code — Commercial and Executive zone parking provisions: § 5.03.133, § 5.03.172 (commercial / E zone parking and siting)
Colma Zoning Code — Planned Development submittal requirements (off‑street parking and loading shown on plans): § 5.03.184, § 5.03.187
Colma Zoning Code — Design, circulation, landscaping and parking siting guidance (multiple district sections) e.g., parking behind buildings, screening and noise considerations § 5.03.133, § 5.03.184.
California Green Building / bicycle parking reference (no local bicycle‑parking minimums found in the Colma snippets): Green Code excerpts referencing short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking standards (for building code context) — file extract.

If you need the raw ordinance text or a PDF page reference for the exact Table 4 lines for a particular use, I can extract the full Table 4 excerpt for that use or request the Town’s planning staff to confirm the current interpretation. Verify with the Town for parcel‑specific exceptions, overlay rules, and whether recent local ordinances modified these sections. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Colma Zoning Code (section is) High relevance
CBC § 5.03.232 (Section 5.03.232) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (§ 5.336) High relevance
CBC § 65863.2 (Section 65863.2) High relevance
Colma Zoning Code (§ 5.323) Medium relevance
Colma Zoning Code Medium relevance
CBC § 5.03.232 (section 5.03.232) Medium relevance
CFC § 5.03.320 (Section 5.03.320) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Colma code library

Frequently asked questions

What is the baseline source for parking requirements in Colma?

The baseline is the Colma Zoning Code Parking Standards Table (Table 4) and the off‑street parking chapter: § 5.03.230–5.03.232, which set applicability and minimums; uses not listed are decided by the City Planner or City Council.

Do I need to provide off‑street parking if I build a new commercial use in Colma?

Yes — the code requires off‑street parking and loading for new commercial uses; minimum counts come from Table 4 (examples include retail and office ratios) and parking must be shown on the site plan. See § 5.03.232 and the C zone standards in § 5.03.133.

Are there exceptions if my housing project is near transit?

Colma incorporates the AB 2097 (Gov. Code § 65863.2) transit exception: if the project is within one‑half mile of high‑quality transit, the local code notes there is no minimum automobile parking requirement, although developments of 19 units or fewer may still be subject to Table 4 locally — verify with planning staff. § 5.03.232.

Does Colma require bicycle parking or lockers?

The retrieved Colma zoning excerpts do not include a local bicycle‑parking minimum or detailed bicycle parking standards. Not found in retrieved materials — check with the Town planner or whether Colma enforces state or design review bicycle standards.

If I add a bedroom to a house, do I need to add parking?

Yes — the code requires additional parking where you increase bedrooms beyond the threshold: add 0.5 space per bedroom above four in many residential provisions. See the residential parking rules and garage dimension rules in § 5.03.232 and related residential subsections.

Can parking be located in front of the building or must it be screened?

The code directs that parking should be placed behind buildings or well screened by landscaping, and front setback landscaping requirements limit vehicle storage in front yards; specific district standards spell this out (see § 5.03.133 and development standards).

Are tandem parking and garage size standards addressed?

Yes — tandem parking is restricted: tandem parking is not permitted for new single‑family detached dwellings in some places (with grandfathering exceptions), and covered parking for single‑family units built/altered after Oct 8, 2003 must meet minimum dimensions (11'×20' for one space; 20'×20' for two). See § 5.03.232 and residential subsections.

Does a Planned Development (PD) district allow different parking rules?

Yes — a PD’s Detailed Development Plan must show off‑street parking and loading and that plan becomes the project’s development standard; PDs can therefore set site‑specific parking rules when approved (§ 5.03.184–187).

Where do I put off‑street loading and how many loading bays are required?

Colma requires off‑street loading to be provided and loading locations to be shown on plans, but the retrieved materials do not include numeric loading bay minima or dimensional standards. Not found in retrieved materials — provide a loading plan and confirm counts/dimensions with the City Planner. § 5.03.231; PD/plan requirements § 5.03.184.

If my use is not listed in Table 4, who decides parking?

If a use is not listed, the City Planner or City Council determines parking requirements (often using a conditional use/permit process) — prepare a parking demand justification. § 5.03.232.

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