Local zoning · Colton

Colton — Parking

Q: What does Colton require for parking on a single‑family lot?

Single‑family homes in Colton must provide two enclosed parking spaces per dwelling unit , sized 10 ft × 20 ft , located on the same lot and independently accessible; driveways minimum 10 ft wide and parking in landscaped/unpaved areas is prohibited (§ 18.12.170 ) .

Q: How many spaces does a multi‑family apartment project need?

Multi‑family projects are generally required to provide two enclosed garage spaces per dwelling unit ; where there are six or more units the code also requires 0.5 guest/uncovered space per unit ; driveway access standards (e.g., 12 ft wide) are in § 18.16.180 .

Q: What stall size and aisle width does Colton require for commercial parking?

Commercial and industrial stalls must be at least 9 ft × 20 ft ; obstructed stalls adjacent to physical obstructions need 11.5 ft width; maneuvering requires 25 ft unobstructed to the front of stalls; aisle geometry rules are in Chapter 18.36 (see § 18.36.020 and § 18.36.030 ) .

Q: Do compact stalls or tandem parking get credited?

Compact stalls can be used for up to 20% of total spaces where there are 20 or more spaces (compact = 7.5 ft × 15 ft ) per § 18.36.020/H ; however, tandem parking is generally not credited unless a specific zone or director approval allows it — check the applicable mixed‑use or MU zone tables and § 18.36.020/E for exceptions.

Q: What if my existing building has nonconforming parking?

Nonconforming parking is addressed in § 18.36.022 : residential nonconforming parking generally is not increased for modest alterations (subject to percent floor area tests); nonresidential changes that increase floor area must make up the parking difference, but the Planning Commission may waive covered parking in limited circumstances. Verify the specific subsection before altering an existing building.

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Colton Zoning Ordinance requires for parking, loading, and bicycle parking — where the rules live in the Colton Zoning Code, how they differ by zone, and the implementation hooks applicants must expect. Colton manages parking through a dedicated chapter (Chapter 18.36) and zone-specific parking subsections (for example § 18.12.170, § 18.16.180, § 18.14.180) that set minimum spaces, stall dimensions, drive aisle geometry, off‑site/shared parking rules, and bicycle/motorcycle parking; many design requirements reference the city's development standards and may trigger design review or overlay rules such as the Downtown overlay (D‑O). Chapter 18.36 is the primary control for non‑residential design and loading (§ 18.36.010) .

How to use the linked internal resources

First time this page uses a term, it's linked: "parking" links to Colton zoning for context Colton Zoning.
When the code refers to development geometry, it points you at Colton Development Standards.
Where site or façade review may be required the page points at Colton Design Review.
Overlay-specific rules are noted and linked to Colton Overlay Districts.
ADU references point to Colton ADUs.
The municipal code frequently defers to the state technical rules; the applicable statewide rules are the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown (what matters to parking)

Note: below each district name is bolded, followed by the key parking rules and the controlling code citation (with the § number) and the file citation from the retrieved ordinance.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: single‑family detached dwellings (see the R‑zone material and parking rules incorporated into the residential chapters). Parking rules are primarily in § 18.12.170.
Key parking rules: two (2) parking spaces per dwelling unit in the form of a garage; each space 10 ft × 20 ft; spaces must be on the same lot and independently accessible; driveways minimum 10 ft wide; no parking in landscape/unpaved areas. See § 18.12.170(A, C, F, G, I) .
Exceptions / notes: existing one‑car garages can qualify for one garage/carport under § 18.12.170(B); carport projection rules and construction standards are specified there and reference the state code for structural/building details (verify with Building).

R‑2 / Multi‑Family Residential (and other residential zones with multi‑family standards)

Purpose / typical uses: duplexes, apartments, townhomes. Parking rules for multi‑family are in § 18.16.180 and related residential sections; R‑2 boarding/rooming houses are called out in § 18.14.180.
Key parking rules: two (2) enclosed garage spaces per dwelling unit as a baseline and 10 ft × 20 ft garage minimum (§ 18.16.180.A.1). Where there are six (6) or more dwelling units on a lot, provide 0.5 unenclosed guest space per unit (§ 18.16.180.A.1). Boarding/lodging houses use one (1) space per room or one per two beds, whichever is greater (§ 18.16.180.C / § 18.14.180.D) .
Tandem and compact car rules: tandem is generally not credited in many sections unless a zone or director approval allows it; some mixed‑use/multifamily provisions permit tandem when explicitly allowed (see MU and mixed use tables). See § 18.36.020(E) and zone tables.

C‑1 / C‑2 (Commercial) and I‑P (Industrial Park)

Purpose / typical uses: retail/service commercial in C‑1/C‑2; office/light industrial in I‑P (see § 18.24.010 for I‑P intent).
Key parking rules (general / nonresidential): commercial/industrial spaces must be not less than 9 ft × 20 ft per stall; handicapped stalls provided per state rules (the Code points to the State Code for exact numbers); where a stall has obstructions within 4 ft of the access aisle the width must be 11.5 ft (§ 18.36.020/G). Vehicle maneuvering requires 25 ft of unobstructed space to the front of a stall; driveways have one‑way 12 ft and two‑way 20 ft widths as baseline (§ 18.36.020/G–M).
Front‑setback encroachment: parking may encroach into front setback up to 17 ft in C‑1, 12 ft in C‑2, and 5 ft in other zones (§ 18.36.020/O).

Downtown / D‑O / Mixed‑Use Zones

Purpose / typical uses: downtown commercial, mixed‑use, pedestrian‑oriented development. Parking tables in the Downtown code (Table 18.23.070‑1) set downtown standards (for example C‑2/D‑O = 1 space per 500 sf for some commercial uses) and MU tables (Table 18.23.1.070‑1) alter residential counts for mixed‑use. See Table 18.23.070‑1 and Table 18.23.1.070‑1 for exact per‑use standards.
Special downtown allowances: shared parking, shared reductions, and tandem rules (where explicitly allowed) are spelled out in the MU and Downtown tables and in Chapter 18.36; shared / joint use agreements and modest reductions (e.g., up to 10% in certain mixed‑use situations) require Development Services Director approval or Planning Commission review. See § 18.36.040 and the MU/Downtown tables.

Public / Institutional and Overlay zones (PC, SP, Railroad/Utility Corridor)

Purpose / typical uses: public buildings, institutions, special planned community or specific plan overlays. Off‑street parking must be provided consistent with Chapter 18.36; many overlay or PC/SP districts require design review and may carry special parking/landscaping/stacking conditions. See § 18.29.050 (Public/Institutional) and the PC rules in Chapter 18.32. Overlay zones may modify standards or impose additional landscaping/stacking/queuing requirements.

Key standards (decision‑relevant table)

Topic	Requirement (plain English)	Code reference
Single‑family parking	2 spaces / unit, garage/carport 10 ft × 20 ft, on‑site & independently accessible; driveway min 10 ft (§ 18.12.170)	§ 18.12.170
Multi‑family parking	2 spaces / unit enclosed garage; where ≥ 6 units provide 0.5 guest space/unit; driveways min 12 ft (§ 18.16.180)	§ 18.16.180
Commercial/Industrial stall size	9 ft × 20 ft min stall; obstructed stalls 11.5 ft wide; 25 ft maneuvering in front (§ 18.36.020/G–J)	§ 18.36.020
Downtown commercial ratio	C‑2 / D‑O = 1 space / 500 sf (Table 18.23.070‑1)	Table 18.23.070‑1
Bicycle parking	Short‑term and long‑term bicycle parking required for nonresidential projects; follow latest California Green Building Standards Code; secure rack/lockable options and changing rooms as appropriate (§ 18.36.060)	§ 18.36.060
Loading	Adequate on‑site loading for commercial/industrial/hospital/institutional as determined by the review committee; no loading in public street/alley; design must allow truck ingress/egress (§ 18.36.050)	§ 18.36.050
Shared / off‑site parking	Off‑site parking allowed for nonresidential with CUP; off‑site facilities generally must be within 1,000 ft (or meet transit/transport access criteria) (§ 18.36.070 + zone tables)	§ 18.36.070

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Confirm the applicable zone for the parcel and pull the zone‑specific parking subsection (for example § 18.12.170, § 18.16.180, or the Downtown tables).
Dimension plans showing stall sizes, aisle widths, and turning templates that meet Chapter 18.36 geometry (use the table in § 18.36.030 for aisle/stall depth guidance).
Show disabled parking stalls and signage per the State Code / ADA requirements (municipal code points to state rules for counts and layout).
Landscape plan showing required planting (trees per X parking spaces) and wheel stops/curbs as required in the code.
If relying on shared or off‑site parking or compact/tandem credits, attach a joint‑use agreement or justification and request the appropriate director/commission approval per § 18.36.040 and the zone tables.
If in Downtown or an overlay, demonstrate compliance with Downtown tables (Table 18.23.070‑1) and the Downtown Design Manual (if applicable).
Bicycle parking detail: short‑term racks anchored permanently; long‑term secure storage or lockers per § 18.36.060 (city defers to the California Green Building Standards Code for technical specs).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Bicycle parking counts unspecified	Colton defers to the latest California Green Building Standards Code for the detailed counts and dimensions; Colton text does not give numeric rates in the recovered excerpts.	Verify the applicable edition of the California Green Building Standards Code at permit time and confirm counts with Development Services (not found in retrieved materials).
Which zone table controls a mixed‑use project	Downtown/MU and base zone tables sometimes differ (e.g., MU/N vs. C‑2); using the wrong table changes required spaces substantially.	Verify the parcel’s official zoning map and which code table applies (see Table 18.23.1.070‑1 and 18.23.070‑1)
Tandem‑parking credit allowed or denied	Some city sections say tandem parking is not credited; others (MU, small lots) allow tandem under conditions — inconsistent application risks undercounting.	Confirm whether tandem credit is allowed for your specific lot/lot size and get written Director approval if applicable (see § 18.36.020/E, MU tables).
Off‑site parking distance / transit requirement	Code allows off‑site parking with limits (1,000 ft in some places, 1/4–1/2 mile transit standard in others).	Verify the specific off‑site criteria for the zone and whether a CUP or binding transportation agreement is required; check § 18.36.070 and zone‑specific text.
Applicability to ADUs	The residential parking sections reference garages and carports; ADU-specific state law may change parking requirements (state ADU law may preempt).	Check the city's ADU page and state ADU law; the city code notes ADUs in nonconforming parking rules but ADU implementation may be controlled by state law — verify with the jurisdiction. Not all ADU-specific parking rules were found in the retrieved material.

Plain‑English summary

Colton requires on‑site, paved, permanently marked parking sized and arranged to the zone’s table: most single‑family homes need two 10×20 garage spaces (§ 18.12.170) and most non‑residential projects must meet Chapter 18.36 geometry and bicycle/handicap rules (bicycle requirements defer to the California Green Building Standards Code) — verify shared/off‑site parking allowances and any tandem or compact car credits with Development Services before design.

Source References

Colton Zoning Code — Chapter 18 (Title 18) text and tables used throughout: see § 18.36.010 (purpose of parking/loading) .
§ 18.12.170 — R‑1 parking requirements (two garage spaces, 10×20; driveway rules) .
§ 18.14.180 — R‑2 / similar residential parking rules (two garage spaces; boarding/rooming house standard) .
§ 18.16.180 — Multi‑family parking, guest parking calculations, driveway widths (12 ft) .
§ 18.36.020 / § 18.36.030 — General parking provisions and design geometry (stall/aisle depths and striping) .
§ 18.36.050 — Loading provisions (no loading in public street/alley; committee determination) .
§ 18.36.060 — Bicycle and motorcycle parking standards (defers to California Green Building Standards Code for technical details) .
Downtown and Mixed‑Use parking tables: Table 18.23.070‑1 and Table 18.23.1.070‑1 (Downtown / MU parking tables) .
City source metadata: Title 18 Zoning (Colton Municipal Code, Municode print export) — Colton Zoning Code export used for retrieval. .
State technical references mentioned by the code: California Building Standards Code / California Green Building Standards (see municipal cross‑references) — see the city’s reference to state codes and the 2025 CBC excerpt for accessibility/parking signage/ADA technical layout (for disabled stalls) .

Information Gaps

The retrieved extracts reference the California Green Building Standards Code for bicycle parking details, but numeric bicycle parking counts per land use were not present in the retrieved Colton excerpts — "Not found in retrieved materials" (verify with Development Services and the current CALGreen edition).
The municipal code references State Code for exact handicapped stall counts and dimensions but the precise count tables (e.g., % of total spaces or formulas) are not in the Colton excerpt — check the currently adopted California Building Standards Code / Accessibility chapter.
Some zone‑specific permitted uses and complete zone maps are not reproduced here; parcel‑specific applicability and overlay mapping must be confirmed with the city planner. "Verify with the jurisdiction."

Sources

Retrieved passages

Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
CBC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (Chapter 18.36) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (chapter for) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (Chapter 18.36) High relevance
CGBSC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance
Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
CMC § 18.12.170 (§ 1) Medium relevance
Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Colton code library

Frequently asked questions

What does Colton require for parking on a single‑family lot?

Single‑family homes in Colton must provide two enclosed parking spaces per dwelling unit, sized 10 ft × 20 ft, located on the same lot and independently accessible; driveways minimum 10 ft wide and parking in landscaped/unpaved areas is prohibited (§ 18.12.170) .

How many spaces does a multi‑family apartment project need?

Multi‑family projects are generally required to provide two enclosed garage spaces per dwelling unit; where there are six or more units the code also requires 0.5 guest/uncovered space per unit; driveway access standards (e.g., 12 ft wide) are in § 18.16.180 .

What stall size and aisle width does Colton require for commercial parking?

Commercial and industrial stalls must be at least 9 ft × 20 ft; obstructed stalls adjacent to physical obstructions need 11.5 ft width; maneuvering requires 25 ft unobstructed to the front of stalls; aisle geometry rules are in Chapter 18.36 (see § 18.36.020 and § 18.36.030) .

Are bicycle parking or motorcycle spaces required?

Yes. Non‑residential projects must provide short‑term bicycle racks and long‑term secure bike parking per § 18.36.060, which directs the city to follow the latest California Green Building Standards Code for technical counts and design; motorcycle parking minima for large developments are also specified in § 18.36.060(B) .

Can I use off‑site or shared parking to meet the requirement?

Colton allows off‑site parking for non‑residential uses with approval (Conditional Use Permit or Director/Commission approval) subject to distance and transit/access criteria (generally within 1,000 ft unless accompanied by a transportation access agreement); shared parking/joint‑use agreements are detailed in § 18.36.040 and § 18.36.070 .

Do compact stalls or tandem parking get credited?

Compact stalls can be used for up to 20% of total spaces where there are 20 or more spaces (compact = 7.5 ft × 15 ft) per § 18.36.020/H; however, tandem parking is generally not credited unless a specific zone or director approval allows it — check the applicable mixed‑use or MU zone tables and § 18.36.020/E for exceptions.

Where are loading spaces regulated?

Loading for commercial, industrial, hotels, hospitals and institutions must be provided as the Committee determines; loading areas must permit truck ingress/egress without using a public street or alley (see § 18.36.050) .

Does Colton let parking sit in the front setback?

Some zones allow limited encroachment of parking into front setbacks: up to 17 ft in C‑1, 12 ft in C‑2, and 5 ft in other zones, per § 18.36.020/O — but check zone‑specific setback and design rules because overlays and downtown design guidelines may restrict this.

Are there special tree/landscaping requirements for parking lots?

Yes. Parking lot landscaping is required (trees per number of spaces, planter widths, and minimum landscaping coverage) in the district standards and Downtown code (for example, one tree per five parking spaces in some downtown rules) — see the district landscaping sections and § 18.23.070‑style provisions.

What if my existing building has nonconforming parking?

Nonconforming parking is addressed in § 18.36.022: residential nonconforming parking generally is not increased for modest alterations (subject to percent floor area tests); nonresidential changes that increase floor area must make up the parking difference, but the Planning Commission may waive covered parking in limited circumstances. Verify the specific subsection before altering an existing building.

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