Local zoning · Del Mar

Del Mar — Parking

Q: What are Del Mar’s required off-street parking ratios for a new multi‑family building?

Compute required spaces using the parking tables in § 30.80.030 ; the code provides residential ratios in a table (per unit or per bedroom where specified) and rounding rules—when in doubt, use the Planning Commission determination procedure in § 30.80.040 if your use is ambiguous .

Q: Can I pay a fee instead of building all required parking in Del Mar’s Village (Camino del Mar)?

Yes, but only for projects in the Central Commercial (CC) zone: you may satisfy up to 75% of required off‑street spaces through the City’s In‑Lieu Parking Fee Program, paid one‑for‑one at the fee set by City Council; payment and Director approval are required before permits. Residential units and hotels are excluded from using the in‑lieu option § 30.80.170 .

Q: Can on‑site required parking be made available to the general public?

In the Central Commercial zone, accessory parking may be made available for general public use only with prior written authorization from the Director; the request process, noticing, and potential conditions are in § 30.22.035 and § 30.22.036 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Del Mar’s off-street parking rules are codified in Title 30 (Zoning), primarily in Chapter 30.80 (Parking). Chapter 30.80 sets the minimum parking ratios, design/dimension standards, loading stall rules, screening/landscaping, and special programs (in‑lieu fees, Town & Country, site-specific plans) that apply across the city; project-level exceptions and alternative approaches are narrowly prescribed and generally require Director or Planning Commission approval. See the municipal purpose statement in § 30.80.010 and the general parking rules in § 30.80.020 .

For related review processes and standards, this page links you to the city’s core pages on zoning, land use, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) where indicated below.

How Del Mar structures parking rules (key chapters & rules)

Minimum parking ratios for residential and non-residential uses: § 30.80.030 (tables and computation rules) .
Parking design and dimensions (space sizes, driveway widths, aisle geometry): § 30.80.060 and associated City parking layout standards .
Loading / unloading stall requirements and dimensions: contained within Chapter 30.80 (see loading stall counts and 12 ft × 20 ft minimum size) and maintenance/improvement rules § 30.80.100 (loading items summarized below) .
Accessible parking follows the State code (Title 24) and an existing-use reduction process is provided in § 30.80.085 .
Alternatives and programs (Site‑Specific Parking Management Plan, In‑Lieu Parking Fee, Town & Country parking) are in § 30.80.095, § 30.80.170, and § 30.80.090 respectively .
Rules on using required accessory parking as general public parking (Central Commercial) and the authorization/review process: § 30.22.035 and § 30.22.036 .

District-by-district breakdown (parking-relevant, Del Mar text cited)

Note: many zone chapters defer to Chapter 30.80 for parking (typical phrase: “See Chapter 30.80 for parking requirements”); below are the parking-relevant takeaways for each zone, with the local zone reference where available. For zone-specific permitted uses beyond parking, consult the listed zone chapter pages (linked above).

Central Commercial — CC

Purpose / where it applies: downtown Village along Camino del Mar (see CC chapter; CC-specific references in parking chapter). Central Village projects frequently rely on shared or in‑lieu approaches. See § 30.22.035 / § 30.22.036 for rules on making accessory parking available to the general public and the review process for that authorization .
Parking rules that matter: change-of-use in existing commercial buildings may not trigger new spaces for certain retail/restaurant/personal services if conditions in § 30.80.020(F) are met (maintain existing spaces and tenant-size limits) .
Alternatives allowed: Town & Country partial right-of-way/private-parking configuration permitted for a specified portion of Camino del Mar under § 30.80.090 (design, setbacks, and credit rules) .
In-lieu fee: CC projects may satisfy up to 75% of required spaces through the In‑Lieu Parking Fee with Director approval; fee is one‑for‑one per space and not refundable; see § 30.80.170 .

Visitor Commercial — VC, North Commercial NC, Professional Commercial PC, Beach Commercial BC

Purpose / where they apply: commercial categories across Del Mar; their zone chapters defer to Chapter 30.80 for parking counts. For multi-tenant commercial development in VC/NC/PC/BC/CC, the owner may apply for a Site‑Specific Parking Management Plan to use an alternative blended rate (Planning Commission approval) under § 30.80.095; approved blended rate generally will be no lower than 1 space per 300 sq ft as a guideline .

Residential single-family — R-1

Purpose / where it applies: single-family neighborhoods. The zone chapter text for R‑1 was not fully retrieved in the provided materials; where R‑1 appears in the parking chapter it is in screening/siting rules (see below). Not found in retrieved materials: a full R‑1 chapter excerpt giving parking specifics — verify with the jurisdiction and the R‑1 chapter for use-specific items.

Residential multi-family — R-2

Parking point of reference: the R‑2 zone chapter says “See Chapter 30.80 for parking requirements” and lists development standards such as front yard 20 ft, rear yard 20 ft tied to site design; parking design and review are controlled by Chapter 30.80 and the zone’s design review trigger § 30.20.060 .

Residential multi-family — RM (RM‑West, RM‑Central, RM‑South)

RM‑West (§ 30.17.070) and RM‑Central (§ 30.18.070) and RM‑South (§ 30.19.070) all state development standards (setbacks, heights, lot sizes) and require design review, and they refer to Chapter 30.80 for parking rules (the parking counts and design specifications come from Chapter 30.80) .
Practical: multi-family projects must provide required off‑street parking as computed under § 30.80.030, submit a circulation and parking plan for review (Traffic Engineer & Director), and comply with screening/landscape rules where parking abuts lower-density residential zones (see screening rules below) .

Key standards and quick reference table

This table extracts the most decision‑relevant numeric or procedural standards in Chapter 30.80 and nearby code provisions.

Requirement / topic	Rule (plain English)	Code reference
Minimum parking ratios (residential & non-residential)	Use the parking tables in § 30.80.030; compute by GFA where table says “per GFA”; fractional spaces rounded up at 0.5 or more	§ 30.80.030
Parking space dimensions & layout	Minimum dimensions and detailed layout follow § 30.80.060 and the City of Del Mar Parking Layout standards (see City layout)	§ 30.80.060
Accessible parking	Provide accessible spaces and paths per the California Building Standards Code (Title 24); existing uses can request a limited reduction to meet ADA per § 30.80.085	§ 30.80.020(E); § 30.80.085
Driveway widths & aisles	Driveway minimums: 10 ft one‑way for ≤6 residential spaces; 10 ft/20 ft rules for other uses; aisle dimensions per City parking layout; see § 30.80.060	§ 30.80.060
Loading/unloading stalls	One loading stall for first 5,000 sq ft GFA and one additional per 20,000 sq ft; stalls min 12 ft × 20 ft; stalls must be on‑site and outside front yard setback	§ 30.80.100 (loading requirements)
Screening and landscaping	Surface lots ≥3 spaces: hedge or wall 2 ft–3'6" between street and lot; parking abutting R1/RM/R2 needs screening ≥6 ft (exceptions for grade difference). Plans must show landscaping; see § 30.80.100 / § 30.80.110	§ 30.80.100; § 30.80.110
Site-Specific Parking Management Plan	Multi-tenant commercial sites (CC, VC, NC, PC, BC) may request a Site‑Specific Plan; Planning Commission review; blended rate generally not lower than 1 per 300 sq ft	§ 30.80.095
In‑Lieu Parking Fee	For CC only: up to 75% of required spaces may be satisfied by paying the in-lieu fee (one-for-one); Council sets fee amount by resolution; payment before building permits	§ 30.80.170
Use of required parking as public parking (CC)	CC properties may make accessory parking available to general public with Director authorization and public notice procedures; Director can revoke	§ 30.22.035; § 30.22.036
On-street or alley counting	Street or alley spaces do not count as required off‑street parking (no portion of a street/alley may be used to satisfy requirements)	§ 30.80.070

Practical guidance / synthesis (how Del Mar applies these rules)

Always start by calculating required spaces with § 30.80.030’s tables; do not assume county/industry defaults. If a use is not listed or is ambiguous, the Planning Commission will set the requirement using the most comparable use per § 30.80.040 .
For commercial projects in the Village (CC), expect negotiation around crediting Town & Country layouts, in‑lieu fees (max 75% of spaces), and potential public access conditions; authorizations and payments are handled before permits § 30.80.090 and § 30.80.170 .
Multi-tenant commercial sites should consider a Site‑Specific Parking Management Plan early if shared parking or a blended rate is desirable; that plan requires Planning Commission approval and annual compliance demonstration § 30.80.095 .
Design and safety checks (driveway width, turnaround, aisle markings, surfacing, drainage) are enforced in plan review; parking plans get routed to the Traffic Engineer and Planning Director and must be submitted before building permits § 30.80.100 and § 30.80.060 .
Accessible parking follows Title 24; the code allows limited reduction of existing parking where necessary to meet ADA, but reductions are not permitted for new development § 30.80.020(E) and § 30.80.085 .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Calculate required off‑street spaces using the tables and rules in § 30.80.030 (rounding rules, GFA definitions) .
Prepare a site circulation and parking plan and submit to the City Traffic Engineer and Director of Planning & Community Development before building permit application as required by § 30.80.100 / § 30.80.060 .
Provide required loading stalls on‑site (one per first 5,000 sq ft and one per additional 20,000 sq ft) and show dimensions 12' × 20' in the plan § 30.80.100 .
Show accessible parking compliant with Title 24 and note whether an existing-use reduction under § 30.80.085 is proposed (if applicable) .
If in CC and proposing alternative compliance (in-lieu fee, Town & Country, or making spaces public), secure Director or City Council authorization as required and pay fees prior to permits § 30.80.170; § 30.22.036; § 30.80.090 .
For multi-tenant commercial properties seeking a lower blended rate, apply for a Site‑Specific Parking Management Plan (Planning Commission) § 30.80.095 .
Demonstrate screening/landscaping and lighting plans that comply with § 30.80.100 / § 30.80.110 (hedges, walls, max light height, downward light) .
Verify whether the project triggers design review under the applicable zone chapter (many RM and R zones require design review) — e.g., RM‑West § 30.17.060, R‑2 § 30.20.060, RM‑Central § 30.18.060 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Ambiguous use not listed in parking tables	The Planning Commission will set the requirement, which can delay approval	Confirm whether your use matches a listed category or will need a Planning Commission determination under § 30.80.040
Counting on‑street or alley spaces	Street/alley cannot substitute required off‑street parking per code	Do not rely on on‑street/alley spaces; see § 30.80.070
Relying on In‑Lieu for residential or hotel uses	In‑Lieu cannot be used for residential units or hotels/motels	If your project is in CC, confirm eligibility; residential and hotel uses are excluded per § 30.80.170(E)
ADA-accessible compliance reducing total spaces	Reductions for accessibility are allowed only for existing uses (not new development)	If proposing a reduction, use the Director process in § 30.80.085 and show no expansion/change of use
Shared parking / public parking operations in CC	Making private required parking public requires Director authorization and public noticing; fees may be allowed	For CC parcels, follow § 30.22.035 / § 30.22.036 and obtain written authorization; Director can revoke for misuse
Screening and grade exceptions	Height/screening requirements vary when lot grades differ; misapplication leads to violations	Verify parking screening rules that apply when adjacent grades differ in § 30.80.100

Plain-English Summary

Del Mar’s zoning code centralizes parking rules in Chapter 30.80: calculate required spaces from the code tables, design them to the City’s layout and dimension rules, provide required loading and accessible stalls, and follow screening/landscaping rules; commercial downtown projects may use in‑lieu fees or special Town & Country layouts, but those alternatives have strict limits and require City approvals (Director or Planning Commission). For specifics, use the chapters cited above and verify zone-specific design review triggers with the applicable zone chapter § references .

Source References

Chapter 30.80 — PARKING: purpose and applicability, § 30.80.010 (purpose) .
General Parking Regulations: § 30.80.020 (off‑street requirement, accessible parking reference, change-of-use rules) .
Required Number of Off‑Street Parking Spaces and tables: § 30.80.030 (tables for residential and non-residential) .
Planning Commission determination for ambiguous uses: § 30.80.040 .
Design of parking spaces, driveway/aisle dimensions and layout: § 30.80.060 and City Parking Layout references .
Conflict with use of street or alley: § 30.80.070 (on‑street not counted) .
Improvement, maintenance, loading/unloading, screening and lighting requirements: § 30.80.100 & § 30.80.110 .
Reduction of parking to meet accessible parking (existing uses): § 30.80.085 .
Town & Country parking (Camino del Mar portion of CC): § 30.80.090 .
Site‑Specific Parking Management Plans: § 30.80.095 .
In‑Lieu Parking Fee Program (Central Commercial): § 30.80.170 .
Use of required parking for general public (Central Commercial authorization & review): § 30.22.035 & § 30.22.036 .
Various zone development standards that reference Chapter 30.80 for parking (examples): RM‑West § 30.17.070, RM‑Central § 30.18.070, RM‑South § 30.19.070, R‑2 § 30.20.070 (these zone chapters require design review and defer parking counts to Chapter 30.80) .

Sources

Retrieved passages

CBC § 7 (§ 7) High relevance
CBC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (§ 8) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Section 23.08.030.) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Section may) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (Chapter 30.80) High relevance
Del Mar Zoning Code (§ 11) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Del Mar code library

Frequently asked questions

What are Del Mar’s required off-street parking ratios for a new multi‑family building?

Compute required spaces using the parking tables in § 30.80.030; the code provides residential ratios in a table (per unit or per bedroom where specified) and rounding rules—when in doubt, use the Planning Commission determination procedure in § 30.80.040 if your use is ambiguous .

Do I need loading stalls for a commercial building in Del Mar, and how big must they be?

Yes—each commercial site must include loading/unloading stalls in addition to required parking. The rule requires one stall for the first 5,000 sq ft of GFA and one additional stall per 20,000 sq ft thereafter; each stall must be a minimum of 12 ft × 20 ft, located on‑site and outside the front yard setback § 30.80.100 .

Can I pay a fee instead of building all required parking in Del Mar’s Village (Camino del Mar)?

Yes, but only for projects in the Central Commercial (CC) zone: you may satisfy up to 75% of required off‑street spaces through the City’s In‑Lieu Parking Fee Program, paid one‑for‑one at the fee set by City Council; payment and Director approval are required before permits. Residential units and hotels are excluded from using the in‑lieu option § 30.80.170 .

Will accessible (ADA) parking reduce total required spaces for a new project?

Accessible parking must comply with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and be provided as required. The code allows limited reductions only for existing developments seeking to come into ADA compliance without expanding the use; reductions are not permitted for new development § 30.80.020(E) and § 30.80.085 .

Can on‑site required parking be made available to the general public?

In the Central Commercial zone, accessory parking may be made available for general public use only with prior written authorization from the Director; the request process, noticing, and potential conditions are in § 30.22.035 and § 30.22.036 .

How do I handle a mixed‑tenant commercial property that wants lower aggregated parking?

Multi‑tenant commercial properties in the specified commercial zones can apply for a Site‑Specific Parking Management Plan to use an alternative blended parking rate; Planning Commission approval is required and the blended rate generally will not be lower than 1 space per 300 sq ft § 30.80.095 .

What are the dimensional rules for driveways and aisles in parking areas?

Driveway and aisle minimums are codified in Chapter 30.80: e.g., access to residential parking (≤6 spaces) requires an unobstructed driveway no less than 10 ft wide (with max width limits along street lines), and multi‑user or larger lots have different widths; aisle dimensions must conform to the City of Del Mar Parking Layout and § 30.80.060 .

My proposed use is not listed in the parking table—what happens?

Where parking requirements are ambiguous or not specified, the Planning Commission will determine the appropriate parking requirement based on the most comparable use in the code per § 30.80.040; plan accordingly for potential hearing and submittal requirements .

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