Corte Madera — Parking

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Corte Madera zoning ordinance (Title 18) requires for parking (off‑street vehicle parking, loading, and bicycle parking) and how those rules vary by district. It pulls the Town's parking schedule, layout/dimension standards, bicycle parking rules, off‑site parking and loading rules, and MX‑1 specific ratios from the Corte Madera zoning code and interprets the parts applicants most commonly need. For design, plan and landscape requirements see the town's Development Standards and Design Review pages.

Key rules at a glance

• Off‑street parking counts are set by use in § 18.20.030; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have a specific entry referencing Chapter 18.31/state law. § 18.20.040 sets bicycle parking minimums.
• Parking stall dimensions, compact‑space limits, landscaping and lot layout standards appear in § 18.20.050 (and Figure 16). Tandem parking is not allowed unless the code expressly permits it.
• Off‑site parking is allowed for commercial, light industrial and public facilities districts up to 800 feet with a recorded indenture; residential and professional office districts must provide spaces on the same site. § 18.20.060.
• Loading berth minimums and standards are in § 18.20.070–090; loading areas cannot be placed in required yards and must be screened from residential districts.
• Lots with 10+ spaces require at least 10% of parking area as landscaped islands; landscaping plans go through Design Review.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the districts in the Corte Madera code where parking rules have district‑specific notes. For each district I name the district as the code does (bolded), state the parking rules that apply, and point to the controlling sections.

Note: the zoning code uses several district names; where the code uses a generic phrase "commercial district" the C‑districts (for example C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, C‑4) are the specific commercial categories named in the schedule.

Residential — R‑1, R‑2, R‑3 (Open Residential, Very Low, Low, Medium, Multiple Dwelling)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family and multi‑family housing. See the residential development tables in Chapter 18.08 / Table 1 for densities and setbacks.
• Parking rules: Off‑street parking and loading must be provided per Chapter 18.20; required residential parking may not be located in required front yards or certain corner/reversed‑corner locations. Uncovered parking can occupy other side or rear yards only if equivalent open area is provided elsewhere on the site. § 18.08.040(3) and § 18.20.050(5).
• Typical numeric standard: Single‑family dwelling = two spaces per unit for dwellings under 4,000 sq ft (one must be covered); additional covered space required for units >4,000 sq ft. See the schedule in § 18.20.030.

Multiple Dwelling — R‑2 and R‑3

• Purpose / typical uses: duplex, small multi‑unit and larger multi‑unit housing. Parking requirements for multifamily are in the Chapter 18.20 schedule; where specific overlays apply (e.g., MX‑1) the overlay may set different ratios (see MX‑1 section). § 18.20.030 and § 18.13.185.

Commercial — C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, C‑4 (Local/Neighborhood, General, Highway/Service)

• Purpose / typical uses: retail, restaurants, services. The parking schedule in § 18.20.030 lists specific ratios by use (e.g., retail, grocery, office, restaurant). For many retail/service uses the code uses ratios in the range of 1/200 to 1/1,000 sq ft depending on the category and center size.
• Off‑site parking: in commercial districts required parking may be on another lot up to 800 feet from the use if recorded and accessible; a recorded indenture is required before occupancy. § 18.20.060.

Mixed‑Use MX‑1 (Neighborhood Zone and Highway Zone)

• Purpose / typical uses: mixed residential and commercial; MX‑1 is split into Neighborhood Zone and Highway Zone with different height/yard/setback rules. Parking for residential uses in MX‑1 follows a specific table: studio = 1; 1‑bed = 1.5; 2+ bed = 2; guest = 1 per 10 units; commercial uses default to Chapter 18.20. § 18.13.185. Bicycle parking for residential uses is 0.4 spaces/unit and must be in secure indoor parking for tenants. § 18.13.190 and § 18.13.185.

Professional and Administrative Office district (PAO)

• Purpose / typical uses: offices. Off‑street parking and loading rules are required in Chapter 18.20; parking areas cannot be in required front yards or street‑side corner yards. Off‑site parking is not allowed in this district (must be on same site). § 18.20.050(6) and § 18.20.060.

Light Industrial, Service Commercial, Public Facilities

• Parking counts: industrial/warehouse/manufacturing parking ratios are in § 18.20.030 (e.g., manufacturing 1/2,000 sf; warehouses vary by combination with retail). Loading berth rules are stricter here; loading berths can be located on‑site or on an adjoining site per § 18.20.090. § 18.20.030, § 18.20.070–090.

Decision‑relevant standards (table)

Practical guidance / interpretation

• Start with the specific-use line in § 18.20.030: the schedule is the baseline. When a use isn't listed, the code requires the same number of spaces as the "most similar specified use." § 18.20.030.
• If you are in the MX‑1 overlay, use the MX‑1 residential ratios in § 18.13.185 for dwelling units and the separate bicycle standard in § 18.13.190. The MX‑1 commercial uses still default to § 18.20.030.
• Plan for landscaping and a landscape/irrigation plan early—lots with 10+ spaces require 10% planting and automatic irrigation (design review applies). § 18.20.030(8) and design review is handled under Chapter 18.30.
• If you want to put required spaces off‑site for a commercial use, budget time and cost for a recorded indenture and ensure the off‑site parcel is within 800 feet and has "reasonable access." No certificate of occupancy until the recorded instrument is on file. § 18.20.060.
• Accessibility (disabled stalls) is referenced to the Uniform Building Code/Title 24 in the zoning code; the local zoning code requires compliance but does not reproduce the technical accessible stall counts — consult the California Building Standards Code and the building department for required accessible stall counts and dimensions. § 18.20.050(7).

Checklist (what to show on a parking submission)

• Parking count table tied to § 18.20.030 (list each use and required spaces).
• Dimensioned parking plan showing stall types (9'x20' full or 8.5'x18' compact), aisle widths per Figure 16, and compact stall calculation (≤30%). § 18.20.050.
• Bicycle parking plan with counts and racks (2' x 6.5' min) per § 18.20.040.
• Landscape plan showing ≥10% parking‑area landscape where applicable, irrigation and screening for loading areas. § 18.20.030(8) and Chapter 18.30 design review requirements.
• Loading plan showing berth size, access, and screening; show compliance with § 18.20.070–090.
• If proposing off‑site parking for a commercial use, provide draft legal indenture and verify distance ≤ 800 ft. § 18.20.060.
• Proof of accessibility compliance (Title 24 / California Building Standards Code) — see the California Building Standards Code. § 18.20.050(7).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Corte Madera's zoning code sets required off‑street parking counts by specific use (see § 18.20.030) and adds bicycle parking, stall sizes, compact limits, landscaping and off‑site rules; MX‑1 and some overlays have their own residential ratios. If you're preparing a site plan, show the exact schedule entries that govern your use, dimensioned stalls and aisles, bicycle racks, a landscape plan, and (when applicable) a recorded indenture for off‑site parking — and confirm accessible stall numbers with the building department.

Information Gaps

• The text of Chapter 18.31 (Accessory Dwelling Units) was not retrieved here; the code entry for ADU parking refers to it. Verify the local ADU chapter for any local reductions or clarifications. Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any Planning Commission resolutions that set "development standards for parking facilities" (design detail, lighting, EV parking or stall materials) were not included in the retrieved files — check with Planning. Not found in retrieved materials.

Source References

• Corte Madera Municipal Code — Chapter 18.20, Off‑Street Parking and Loading: § 18.20.010–100 (purposes, basic requirements, required numbers, bicycle parking, dimensional and lot standards, off‑site parking, loading).
• Corte Madera Municipal Code — MX‑1 district (Neighborhood/Highway zones) parking and bicycle provisions: § 18.13.165–195, specifically § 18.13.185 (parking) and § 18.13.190 (bicycle parking).
• General district/residential provisions referencing off‑street parking: § 18.08.040 and § 18.10.080.
• Loading berth schedule and standards: § 18.20.070–090.
• Parking stall dimensions and layout (Figure 16) and compact‑space limit: § 18.20.050.
• Note on building/accessibility standards: Uniform Building Code reference and coordination with the California Building Standards Code for accessible stalls — see § 18.20.050(7).

Retrieved passages

• Corte Madera Zoning Code (Chapter 18.30) High relevance show source text
• Corte Madera Zoning Code (Section 18.04.255) High relevance show source text
• Corte Madera Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Corte Madera Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
• Corte Madera Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 5 (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 5 (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• Corte Madera Zoning Code (Chapter 18.20) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Corte Madera Municipal Code — Chapter 18.20, Off‑Street Parking and Loading: **§ 18.20.010–100** (purposes, basic requirements, required numbers, bicycle parking, dimensional and lot standards, off‑site parking, loading). (Chapter 18.20)
• Corte Madera Municipal Code — MX‑1 district (Neighborhood/Highway zones) parking and bicycle provisions: **§ 18.13.165–195**, specifically **§ 18.13.185 (parking)** and **§ 18.13.190 (bicycle parking)**. (§ 18.13.165)
• General district/residential provisions referencing off‑street parking: **§ 18.08.040** and **§ 18.10.080**. (§ 18.08.040)
• Loading berth schedule and standards: **§ 18.20.070–090**. (§ 18.20.070)
• Parking stall dimensions and layout (Figure 16) and compact‑space limit: **§ 18.20.050**. (§ 18.20.050)
• Note on building/accessibility standards: Uniform Building Code reference and coordination with the **California Building Standards Code** for accessible stalls — see **§ 18.20.050(7)**. (§ 18.20.050)
• CorteMadera_ZoningCode.md

• Official Corte Madera code library