Local zoning · Fairfax

Fairfax — Parking

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of Fairfax zoning ordinance requires for parking, off‑street loading, and limited bicycle parking standards. It interprets the town’s general off‑street parking chapter and the zone‑specific parking rules that modify or reference those standards. For related procedural topics see the town’s zoning overview, design review, overlay districts, development standards, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code as they may affect project review.

Key controlling text is in Chapter 17.052: Off‑Street Parking and Loading Requirements (general schedule, dimensions, loading, delineation) and in zone chapters that call back to that chapter while adding local rules or exceptions (for example CL, CS, CH, CC, RM‑S, PD, O‑A, and WHO overlays). See the cited code sections below for the verbatim language and exact phrasing.

How the rules are organized (short)

  • The baseline rules for required spaces, dimensions, loading space sizes, and marking are in § 17.052.010 – § 17.052.070.
  • Individual zoning chapters (for example CL, CS, CH, CC, RM‑S, PD, O‑A) either defer to Chapter 17.052 or add local requirements/exceptions; the zone chapters include their own “Off‑street parking and loading” subsections (e.g. § 17.092.110, § 17.104.100, § 17.096.120, § 17.100.110, § 17.090.100, § 17.130.100, § 17.128.090).

District‑by‑district (parking focus)

CL (Limited Commercial)

  • Purpose & uses: Small/commercial uses serving nearby residents. See local CL chapter for permitted uses.
  • Parking rule: Vehicular off‑street parking and loading must be provided on the same building site and immediately adjacent to the use, and standard facilities are those in Chapter 17.052; where Chapter 17.052 has no specific requirement for a use, CL applies a fallback of one space per 200 sq ft and one large loading space per 20,000 sq ft. § 17.092.110; see Chapter 17.052 for the schedule and dimensions.

CS (Central/Commercial—district label in code)

  • Purpose & uses: Central commercial parcels (see zone chapter for list).
  • Parking rule: CS defers to Chapter 17.052 for standard facilities; where that chapter is silent, CS requires one space per 200 sq ft and one large loading space per 20,000 sq ft. Variances/use permits may allow reductions consistent with findings in the code. § 17.104.100; baseline rules § 17.052.010–.070.

CH (Highway Commercial)

  • Purpose & uses: Highway‑oriented commercial uses.
  • Parking rule: CH refers to Chapter 17.052 for required parking; where Chapter 17.052 lacks a specific entry, CH uses the same 1 per 200 sq ft / 1 loading per 20,000 sq ft fallback. Also driveway entries are regulated under Town Code Chapter 12.12 (see zone driveway section). § 17.096.120; baseline rules § 17.052.030 and § 17.052.050–.060.

CC (Central Commercial)

  • Purpose & uses: Central commercial core properties.
  • Parking rule: Same approach—defer to Chapter 17.052; fallback 1/200 sq ft and loading 1/20,000 sq ft where not otherwise listed. § 17.100.110 and Chapter 17.052 for the schedule and standards.

RM‑S (Multiple‑Family Senior Residential)

  • Purpose & uses: Multi‑family senior residential developments.
  • Parking rule: Off‑street parking as required by Chapter 17.052 plus RM‑S adds landscape and layout requirements for parking areas (interior landscaping percentage, landscaped end islands, canopy trees, setbacks and screening adjacent to streets). Required parking must be located within 150 feet of the dwelling it serves. § 17.090.100 and § 17.126.070(B)(1) for location distance; see Chapter 17.052 for counts and dimensions.

PD (Planned Development)

  • Purpose & uses: Planned developments with site‑specific standards.
  • Parking rule: PD defers to Chapter 17.052; for uses not listed in Chapter 17.052 the PD parking requirements are determined case‑by‑case using a traffic study under Chapter 17.056. § 17.130.100.

O‑A (Open Area)

  • Purpose & uses: Parks, schools, playgrounds, open recreation.
  • Parking rule: O‑A limits uses but still applies design review to structures and references Chapter 17.052 for off‑street parking; check § 17.128.090 and Chapter 17.052 for specific counts/dimensions. § 17.128.010 and zone off‑street parking subsection.

WHO overlay (WHO‑A, WHO‑B) (Town Center / Walkable Housing Overlay)

  • Effect on parking: WHO overlays modify development standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage) and explicitly address garages/parking setbacks (a minimum 20‑foot setback for garages and carports facing a street). Parking levels are not counted in the overlay’s story limits. See WHO notes in the overlay table and related development standards; parking references cite overlay notes and Chapter 17.052 for counts/dimensions.

Core standards and schedule (decision‑relevant table)

Item / Use Requirement (decision‑relevant) Code Reference
Dwellings — studio 1 space per unit § 17.052.030 (A)(1)(a)
Dwellings — one‑bedroom 1.5 spaces (except single‑family detached require 2) § 17.052.030 (A)(1)(b)
Dwellings — two bedrooms 2 spaces § 17.052.030 (A)(1)(c)
Dwellings — 3+ bedrooms 2 spaces § 17.052.030 (A)(1)(d)
Hotels/motels 1 space per guest room + 1 per employee/manager § 17.052.030 (B)
Retail and personal services 3 spaces for first 500 sq ft, +1 per each additional 500 sq ft § 17.052.030 (F)
Offices & banks 3 spaces for first 500 sq ft, +1 per each additional 500 sq ft § 17.052.030 (G)
Restaurants/bars 1 space per 200 sq ft gross floor area § 17.052.030 (H)
Industrial 1 space per 2 employees in max shift § 17.052.030 (K)
Loading 1 large loading space per 20,000 sq ft (large = 12'×45') § 17.052.050; § 17.052.060
Parking stall dimensions Standard: 9 ft × 19 ft (22 ft if parallel/abutting obstruction); 25% may be 8×16 in most zones § 17.052.040 (B)–(C)
Tandem parking Prohibited except a guest space tandemed with required parking for principal residence; not allowed for second residential units § 17.052.040 (E)
Covered parking (residential) At least one parking space per residential unit must be covered (exceptions under § 17.052.020) § 17.052.010 (D); § 17.052.020
Guest parking (RM, SF‑RMP, PDD) 1 guest space per 5 dwelling units; curb parking credit possible via design review § 17.052.020 (B)
Parking location for multi‑family Required spaces must be within 150 feet of the unit served § 17.126.070 (B)(1)
Shared/joint parking (mixed‑use) Allowed with study and recorded agreement; max 400 ft distance; conditions in Chapter 17.126 § 17.126.070 (A)
Reductions for transit proximity Development within 400 ft of a bus stop may reduce required parking up to 5% § 17.126.070 (A)(3)
Bicycle parking (select uses) Example: amusement arcades — 2 on‑site bicycle spaces per device up to 10 devices; can require racks/indoor parking if needed § 17.052.030 (L)
Delineation/marking All parking/loading spaces must be marked/delineated except single‑family/two‑family dwellings § 17.052.070

(Always confirm specific use definitions and mixed‑use aggregation rules in the full ordinance text.)

Practical guidance and interpretation

  • Use Chapter 17.052 as the starting point: it lists the parking schedule, minimum dimensions, loading standards, and marking rules. Rely on the zone chapter only to see whether it imposes additional rules or a fallback ratio when Chapter 17.052 is silent. § 17.052.010 – § 17.052.070; zone off‑street subsections (e.g. § 17.092.110, § 17.104.100, § 17.096.120, § 17.100.110) repeat or incorporate Chapter 17.052 by reference.
  • If your use is not listed in the Chapter 17.052 table, the applicable zone often prescribes a fallback (commonly 1 per 200 sq ft or case‑by‑case via traffic study/PD). Check the specific zone subsection (e.g. CL, CS, CH, CC).
  • Design review and variances are the normal routes to ask for exceptions to the location/amount/dimensions of parking. Exceptions and findings are spelled out in § 17.052.020, variance chapters, and the zone exception clauses. § 17.052.020 and § 17.028.070 (variance findings for parking/loading).
  • For mixed‑use projects, early coordination is critical: the Planning Commission may accept joint/shared parking plans, reductions for affordable housing projects (with findings and sometimes subject to Government Code § 65915 considerations), or other modifications if supported by parking demand studies and recorded agreements. § 17.126.070.

Checklist

  • Determine the principal use(s) and calculate required spaces from § 17.052.030.
  • Verify parking stall dimensions and aisle widths comply with § 17.052.040 and Appendix A.
  • Provide required loading spaces per § 17.052.050–.060 if applicable.
  • Confirm covered‑parking requirement for residences (§ 17.052.010(D)) or applicable exception.
  • For RM/SF‑RMP/PDD multi‑family: include guest parking per § 17.052.020(B); consider curb‑parking credit via design review.
  • If seeking reductions/shared parking: prepare a parking demand study and recorded agreement per § 17.126.070.
  • Make sure parking layout avoids direct backing to public streets (except 1‑ or 2‑family dwellings) and that spaces are delineated per § 17.052.040(A) and § 17.052.070.
  • Check driveway rules in the relevant zone chapter (many zones reference Town Code Chapter 12.12).
  • If the site is in a WHO overlay or other overlay, confirm overlay‑specific parking/setback rules (for instance, 20‑ft garage setback in WHO notes).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
ADU parking treatment State ADU law can preempt local parking rules; the ordinance references ADUs elsewhere but does not list ADU parking exceptions in the retrieved parking chapter. Verify ADU parking exemptions with Planning staff and Chapter 17.048 / state ADU law. Not found in retrieved materials.
Uses not listed in the schedule If a use is omitted, the fallback (1/200 sq ft) or zone‑specific rule may apply; misclassification drives wrong counts. Confirm the applicable zone subsection and whether a traffic study under Chapter 17.056 is required. § 17.052.030; zone sections.
Design review vs. variance Design review can require different parking geometry or allow reductions; a variance needs specific hardship findings. Decide early whether to pursue design review exceptions (§ 17.052.020) or a variance (findings in § 17.028.070).
Transit‑proximity reductions The code allows up to 5% reduction if within 400 ft of a bus stop, but measurement and bus stop eligibility can be ambiguous. Verify the bus stop location and measurement method with Planning Dept.; cite § 17.126.070 (A)(3).
Bicycle parking specifics Only a few uses (e.g., arcades) have explicit bicycle space counts in Chapter 17.052; other uses may be silent. If bicycle parking is a project goal or required by other policies, confirm through design review or planning staff. § 17.052.030 (L); otherwise Not found in retrieved materials.

Plain‑English summary

Fairfax’s zoning code requires off‑street parking and loading mostly by a common schedule in Chapter 17.052 (counts by use, stall sizes, loading dimensions, marking rules), and individual zone chapters either adopt those standards or add local rules and exceptions; reductions are possible via design review, variance, or the mixed‑use/affordable‑housing provisions when supported by studies or findings.

Source References

  • Chapter 17.052, Off‑Street Parking and Loading Requirements — § 17.052.010 – § 17.052.070 (general requirements, exceptions, required parking schedule, stall dimensions, loading standards, delineation).
  • Parking schedule and use table (dwellings, hotels, retail, offices, restaurants, industrial, bicycle requirements for arcades) — § 17.052.030.
  • Parking stall and aisle dimensions; tandem rules; marking — § 17.052.040; § 17.052.070.
  • Loading space standards and sizes — § 17.052.050; § 17.052.060.
  • CL zone off‑street parking — § 17.092.110.
  • CS zone off‑street parking — § 17.104.100.
  • CH zone off‑street parking and driveway reference — § 17.096.120; driveway standard reference § 17.096.105 referencing Town Code Chapter 12.12.
  • CC zone off‑street parking — § 17.100.110.
  • RM‑S parking & landscape requirements; location requirement (150 ft) — § 17.090.100; § 17.126.070 (B)(1).
  • PD zone parking procedure (traffic study) — § 17.130.100.
  • Mixed‑use parking modification and shared parking rules — § 17.126.070.
  • WHO overlay notes (garage setbacks; parking levels not counted as stories) — overlay notes in WHO table and related development standards. Notation in overlay text.

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Fairfax Zoning Code (§ 17.48.100) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (Chapter 17.064) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (Section 17.052.010) High relevance
  • CBC § 17.052.020 (§ 17.052.020) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (CHAPTER 17.052) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (Chapter 17.036.) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (§ 17.54.060) High relevance
  • Fairfax Zoning Code (Chapter 17.052) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What is the baseline parking standard for a two‑bedroom apartment in Fairfax?

A two‑bedroom apartment requires two off‑street parking spaces under the town’s parking schedule in § 17.052.030 (A)(1)(c). Confirm any applicable guest‑parking obligations or overlay/zone modifications.

Do commercial buildings in Fairfax need loading spaces?

Yes—unless a zone subsection says otherwise, loading requirements are governed by Chapter 17.052. The standard fallback in several commercial zones is one large off‑street loading space per 20,000 sq ft, and loading dimensions are specified in § 17.052.060 (large = 12' × 45'). § 17.052.050–.060 and zone subsections such as § 17.092.110 apply.

Can I reduce required parking by using shared or joint parking for a mixed‑use project?

Yes. The Planning Commission may grant reductions for shared parking when supported by a parking demand study and a recorded agreement; shared facilities may be up to 400 feet from the served uses and must meet the conditions in § 17.126.070 (A).

Are there minimum parking stall dimensions I must meet?

Standard parking stall dimensions are 9 ft wide by 19 ft long (or 22 ft if parallel/abutting a curb or obstruction). In most zones up to 25% of assigned spaces may be reduced to 8' × 16'. See § 17.052.040.

Does Fairfax require covered parking for residences?

Yes—unless an exception applies, at least one off‑street parking space for a residential unit must be covered. See § 17.052.010 (D) and the exceptions in § 17.052.020 (for steep slope lots, variances, design review exceptions).

If my parcel is within 400 feet of a bus stop, can I reduce parking requirements?

A residential or mixed‑use development within 400 feet of a bus stop may reduce required parking by up to 5%, per the code’s reduction provisions; the reduction requires demonstration and Planning Commission review per § 17.126.070 (A)(3).

Are bicycle parking requirements spelled out in Fairfax’s code?

Chapter 17.052 includes bicycle parking language for specific uses (for example, mechanical amusement arcades) and allows bicycle parking to be required in other cases; there is not a broad, universal bicycle parking table in the retrieved materials. See § 17.052.030 (L) and consult Planning for project‑specific requirements.

Can I have tandem parking count toward required spaces for a multi‑unit project?

No — tandem parking is not allowed to meet required parking for a residential second unit and is generally prohibited except that a guest space may be tandem with required parking for the principal residence. See § 17.052.040 (E).

What happens if my use is not listed in the parking table?

If a use is not listed, zone chapters typically direct you to Chapter 17.052 or to a fallback standard (often 1 space per 200 sq ft) or a parking requirement determined via a traffic study under Chapter 17.056; see the specific zone subsection for the fallback (for example § 17.092.110, § 17.104.100, § 17.096.120, § 17.100.110).

Who can approve a reduction or waiver of parking requirements?

Reductions can be approved through design review, use permit/variance (with required findings), or Planning Commission action (for mixed‑use reductions and affordable housing modifications). Variance findings specific to off‑street parking/loading are in § 17.028.070 (B). ---

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