Local zoning · Commerce

Commerce — Parking

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

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Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the City of Commerce regulates off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle parking under the local zoning ordinance (Title 19). It summarizes who must provide spaces, how many, dimensional/layout rules, landscaping/screening requirements, and special programs (remote/shared parking, alternative‑fuel/EV parking). For related procedural or design topics see the City overview and rule pages for Commerce and the city's zoning and development standards pages linked below.

(Links — first natural mention)

Important note on the ordinance title: Commerce's zoning/regulatory provisions are codified in Title 19 of the Commerce Municipal Code; off‑street parking and loading are collected in Chapter 19.21 (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) and related chapters (site planning, landscaping, nonconforming rules). See § 19.21.020 for applicability.

What the ordinance requires (quick map)

  • Who it applies to: all new construction, expansions, renovations and changes of use in all zones (see § 19.21.020).
  • How many spaces: the numeric parking standards live in Table 19.21.040A (Off‑Street Parking Requirements) and are mandatory; fractional spaces are rounded up (see § 19.21.040).
  • Dimensions & layout: stall/aisle sizes, vertical clearance, and access rules are in § 19.21.060 and Table 19.21.060A.
  • Required improvements and striping, paving, buffers, and lighting: § 19.21.070.
  • Landscaping/trees/buffers for parking lots: § 19.21.120 (minimum perimeter widths, % landscaping, trees).
  • Loading: size, counts and queuing rules are in § 19.21.130 and Table 19.21.130A.
  • Alternative‑fuel/EV parking reservation: § 19.21.110 (minimum five reserved spaces; discretionary reductions for small projects).
  • Remote/shared parking: authorizations, covenants and max distance (up to 1,000 feet with CUP) are permitted under the remote parking provisions referenced in Chapter 19.21.
  • Nonconforming parking: existing shortages may continue until a change/expansion triggers full compliance under § 19.37.200.

District‑by‑district breakdown (where parking rules matter)

Below are the City’s common zoning districts that interact with parking requirements. For each district I summarize the ordinance's stated purpose, typical uses, and the key parking‑related development standards or cross‑references from Title 19. Always verify the parcel's zoning on the official map and check any applicable specific plan or overlay.

C-2 (Commercial) — C-2

  • Purpose & typical uses: stores, retail, services; the ordinance requires most activity to be enclosed except parking/loading (see § 19.09.040).
  • Parking basics: nonresidential uses in C-2 must meet the numeric ratios in Table 19.21.040A (e.g., banks, restaurants, assembly uses — see § 19.21.040).
  • Site rules that affect parking: driveway placement, access, and buffering align with § 19.21.050 and § 19.21.070 (paving, striping, lighting, wall/landscape buffers next to residential).

CPF (Commercial Public Facility) — CPF

  • Purpose & typical uses: municipal buildings, schools, religious and community facilities (see § 19.13.010–.020).
  • Parking: CPF projects follow Chapter 19.21 for parking and loading; see cross‑references in § 19.13.080 ("other applicable regulations").

R‑1, R‑2, R‑3 (Residential) — R-1, R-2, R-3

  • Purpose & typical uses: single‑family and multi‑family residential zones (various sections across Title 19). Required resident/guest/employee parking ratios for single‑family, duplex and multifamily are given in Table 19.21.040A (e.g., Single‑Family = 2‑car garage per unit; multifamily ratios by bedroom mix). Fractional spaces round up (see § 19.21.040).
  • Special notes: carports are prohibited in residential zones if created after June 30, 1999 (§ 19.21.100). Also, R‑1/R‑2 are given an exception about parking within 20 ft of driveways in § 19.21.060.

Manufacturing / Industrial — C/M‑1, M‑1, M‑2

  • Purpose & typical uses: light and general manufacturing and industrial uses; parking ratios for manufacturing, warehousing, truck/trucking vary and are listed in Table 19.21.040A (for example, warehousing = 1 space per 2,000 sf + 1 per loading bay). Truck parking and loading have special provisions; see § 19.21.040 and § 19.21.130.
  • Site controls: loading docks should not be visible from the right‑of‑way, and adequate on‑site maneuvering and queuing (115 ft linear queuing where required) are mandatory per § 19.21.130.

Planned Development Overlay — PD

  • Purpose: overlay to allow flexible site design; PD projects still must meet the parking, loading, landscaping, and open space requirements of the underlying zone unless specifically modified (see § 19.15.040(E)).

HOO zone and Specific Plans (e.g., Modelo Specific Plan)

  • HOO and specific plan areas include tailored driveway/parking standards; when a specific plan or HOO applies it can supersede some standards — but parking and loading remain subject to Chapter 19.21 unless the specific plan explicitly replaces those rules (see § 19.47.110 and § 19.16.020). Verify specific plan text for precise parking rules.

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant tables)

Table: Common off‑street parking requirements (excerpt). See Table 19.21.040A for full list; quoted ratios are representative only — consult the table for your specific use. All items below come from § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A).

Use (representative) Typical required spaces Code reference
Single‑family 2‑car garage per unit (+ extra for >4 bedrooms) § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A)
Multifamily (1‑bed) 1 space per unit + 0.5 guest/unit § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A)
Restaurants (sit‑down) 1 per 4 fixed seats (plus 1 per 2 employees) § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A)
Banks/financial 1 per 200 sf gross floor area § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A)
Warehousing 1 per 2,000 sf + 1 per loading bay § 19.21.040 (Table 19.21.040A)

Table: Required loading spaces (Table 19.21.130A). See § 19.21.130 for dimensions, vertical clearance, queuing and alley loading rules.

Gross floor area Minimum loading spaces Code reference
Under 8,000 sf 1 § 19.21.130 (Table 19.21.130A)
8,001–25,000 sf 2 § 19.21.130 (Table 19.21.130A)
Each additional 100,000 sf above 200,000 sf +1 § 19.21.130 (Table 19.21.130A)

Parking dimensions and layout: minimum stall/aisle dimensions and vertical clearances are located at § 19.21.060 and Table 19.21.060A (e.g., typical 90° stall depth 18 ft and aisle width 26 ft for standard stalls; 15‑ft vertical clearance in some situations; see table).

Plain‑English synthesis and practical guidance (original)

  • The City sets required parking counts by land use in one master table (Table 19.21.040A) — start there to calculate your project's baseline parking. If your proposed use isn't listed, the Community Development Director decides the closest matching standard (see § 19.21.040).
  • Layout matters: it's not enough to have the right number of spaces — stalls must meet the dimensional and access rules in § 19.21.060, be paved/striped and lit per § 19.21.070, and include required landscaping and trees per § 19.21.120.
  • Loading is treated like parking: there are minimum counts and large dimensional/queuing rules designed to keep delivery vehicles on‑site and out of streets or alleys (§ 19.21.130). Expect strict maneuvering and queuing requirements for commercial and industrial sites.
  • Alternatives and variances: shared/remote parking, reductions, or offsite arrangements are possible, but require written covenants, director or planning commission approval, or a Conditional Use Permit — see the remote parking rules and the variance process. If a project expands or changes use, previously nonconforming parking shortages must be corrected (§ 19.37.200).

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy

  • Calculate required spaces using Table 19.21.040A and round fractional spaces up (§ 19.21.040)
  • Prepare a site plan showing stall geometry, aisle widths and access consistent with § 19.21.060 and Table 19.21.060A (including vertical clearance)
  • Show loading bays and queuing length; confirm loading counts per Table 19.21.130A and § 19.21.130
  • Design perimeter and interior parking landscaping and trees per § 19.21.120 (min 7.5% landscaped; 1 tree/8 spaces; perimeter widths)
  • Pave, stripe, sign and light parking areas per § 19.21.070; include accessible spaces per the referenced accessibility standards (see § 19.21.040C)
  • If requesting remote/shared parking or alternative arrangements, include recorded covenant and application materials per remote parking provisions and § 19.21.090 (see municipal code cross‑references)
  • Provide required alternative‑fuel/EV reserved spaces per § 19.21.110, or request reduction from Community Development Director where allowed
  • If the project is in a PD, HOO, or Specific Plan area, verify whether the specific plan modifies parking requirements (see § 19.15.040(E) and § 19.16.020)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Use not listed in Table 19.21.040A The Community Development Director selects the closest standard — this affects required counts Confirm which Table entry the Director will apply; request written determination (see § 19.21.040D)
Conflicting specific plan or PD rules Specific plans can supersede municipal code parking rules where explicit Check the applicable specific plan text (e.g., Modelo Specific Plan) and the PD approval conditions (see § 19.16.020 and § 19.15.040)
Nonconforming parking on existing site Expansion or change of use triggers full compliance under nonconforming parking rules Determine historic approvals; if expanding, plan to bring entire use into compliance per § 19.37.200
Alley or street loading constraints Loading doors must not face the street; queuing and maneuvering space rules are strict Confirm alley widths, provide on‑site queuing (115 ft linear where required), and orient loading per § 19.21.130
Bicycle parking expectations (not fully enumerated in Table) Bicycle and carpool spaces must be “near main entrance” (§ 19.21.060) but the Code does not always list counts Provide bicycle racks near the main entrance per § 19.21.060(8) and verify whether the Director requires a specific count (see § 19.21.060)

Plain‑English Summary

Commerce requires each new or expanded project to provide a set number of off‑street parking spaces (listed in the city's Table 19.21.040A), lay out stalls and drive aisles to the city's dimension rules, provide loading bays sized and sited so trucks stay on site, and add landscaping and buffering around parking lots; variances, shared/remote parking, or reduced EV/alt‑fuel space rules are possible but require approvals. Verify the precise table entries and any specific‑plan overrides for your parcel.

Source References

  • Commerce Municipal Code — Chapter 19.21: Off‑Street Parking and Loading (applicability, required spaces table, dimensions, loading, landscaping) — § 19.21.020; § 19.21.040; § 19.21.060; § 19.21.070; § 19.21.110; § 19.21.120; § 19.21.130.
  • Remote/shared parking and recorded covenant rules (remote parking, covenants, up to 1,000 ft with CUP) — Commerce Municipal Code and implementing rules referenced in Chapter 19.21.
  • Nonconforming parking rules — § 19.37.200 (changes/expansions require full compliance).
  • Specific plan / PD references for special areas — § 19.16.020 and § 19.15.040 (specific plans and PD overlay standards).

(If you want, I can pull the exact rows from Table 19.21.040A for the specific land use you care about — tell me the parcel address or the intended use and I’ll extract the exact ratio, associated compact/truck allowances, and the precise code citation for your application. Verify parcel zoning and any specific plan overlays with the City before final submittal.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Commerce Zoning Code High relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (Chapter 2.16) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (Section 110) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • CBC § 040 (Chapter 11) Medium relevance
  • CBC § 1 (Chapter 19.21) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • Commerce Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What does Table 19.21.040A require for my commercial tenant (e.g., a 3,000 sf retail store)?

Retail/commercial uses are listed in Table 19.21.040A; the City’s required ratio for retail/shops is found in § 19.21.040 — use that table to compute spaces (fractional spaces round up). Confirm the exact retail subcategory in the table and any compact‑space allowances when applying.

Do I need to provide loading docks for a warehouse in Commerce?

Yes. Commercial/industrial uses must provide off‑street loading sized and counted per Table 19.21.130A; an individual loading space must be at least 12 ft x 45 ft with 15 ft vertical clearance and on‑site maneuvering and queuing per § 19.21.130.

Can I count on‑street parking toward my required spaces?

No — required parking spaces must be on the same lot unless the Community Development Director authorizes remote parking per Chapter 19.21 (remote/shared parking rules and recorded covenants); where allowed a covenant is recorded and approvals obtained (see the remote parking provisions in Chapter 19.21).

Where are bicycle racks required and how many do I need?

The Code requires that all carpooling parking spaces and bicycle racks be located near the main entrance of the facility they serve (see § 19.21.060(8)). The numeric bicycle parking requirement is not uniformly listed for every use in the off‑street table; the Community Development Director may specify counts during review. Verify with the Director for your use.

Are compact stalls allowed and how many?

Yes — compact stalls are allowed in many nonresidential requirements but are limited (typically maximum 10% of spaces where 20+ spaces are provided for several use categories); see the notes in Table 19.21.040A and the compact‑stall rules in § 19.21.040.

Do parking lot landscaping requirements apply to my project?

Yes — parking areas must provide perimeter planter strips, minimum widths, a minimum of 7.5% of parking lot area as landscaping, and one tree per eight parking spaces (minimum five trees) — see § 19.21.120.

If an existing building has fewer spaces than Table 19.21.040A requires, do I have to add spaces when I renovate?

Not necessarily for routine maintenance; however, any change in land use, occupancy, or expansion triggers a requirement to bring the whole use/structure into compliance with Chapter 19.21 — see § 19.37.200.

Does Commerce require EV charging or electric‑vehicle‑capable spaces?

Commerce reserves a minimum of five spaces for alternative‑fuel vehicles in newly designed parking facilities; EV recharge facilities “may be provided,” and the Director can reduce the number for small projects (see § 19.21.110). For detailed EV infrastructure installation standards, consult the California Building Standards Code and local building permit requirements.

Can I use a parking covenant to rely on a neighboring lot for required spaces?

Yes — the Code authorizes recorded covenants and remote parking agreements (including a recorded covenant prepared/approved by the City) and allows remote parking up to 1,000 feet with authorization (see remote parking provisions in Chapter 19.21).

What if my parcel is in the Modelo Specific Plan or an HOO zone?

Specific plans and HOO zone provisions can change standard development rules; sections for specific plans and the HOO zone direct applicants to the specific plan text and note that where the specific plan differs it controls — verify the specific plan documents and any site‑specific development standards. See § 19.16.020 and § 19.47.110.

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