Ferndale — Parking

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Ferndale’s parking rules live in the City’s Zoning Ordinance 02-02, primarily in Article 7, which sets citywide off-street parking and loading requirements that apply across all zoning districts. The code also carves out a Main Street “Off‑Street Parking Exemption Area” for certain projects, and allows flexible tools like shared and off‑site parking when properly documented. Use this page together with the high‑level Ferndale zoning & planning overview and the detailed Ferndale Zoning map to confirm where your site sits.

Plain-English anchor: Almost every new or intensified land use in Ferndale must provide off‑street parking per § 7.16; exceptions exist on Main Street for non-expanding projects, and the City can approve off‑site or shared parking if you record the agreement.

Citywide standards that apply in every zone

• Required spaces and loading:
  • The code lists minimum off‑street parking ratios by use; examples include: dwellings (1 per unit), offices/retail (1 per 500 sf), restaurants/ABC premises (1 per 300 sf or fire‑marshal capacity, whichever is greater), hospitals (1 per bed + 1 per 3 staff), industrial (1 per 3 employees), and theaters/education (1 per 500 sf). Commercial uses >5,000 sf must add 1 loading space, plus 1 more per 20,000 sf over 5,000 sf. See § 7.16.5 a–i for the full menu of ratios .
• Dimensional/design basics:
  • Each parking space must be at least 8 ft by 16 ft with 7 ft vertical clearance; each loading space at least 10 ft by 20 ft with 14 ft vertical clearance (§ 7.16.1) .
  • Parking must be on the same parcel (or a contiguous parcel under the same ownership) as the use it serves (§ 7.16.2) .
  • When ratios are “per employees,” you count the peak shift (§ 7.16.3) .
  • Mixed-use buildings add the requirements for each use (§ 7.16.4) .
  • Provide direct access from a public street, alley, or driveway; maintain a 10‑ft unobstructed vehicular access lane (§ 7.16.5.k) .
• Alternative compliance tools (useful on constrained/historic sites):
  • Off‑site parking within 300 ft is allowed with a recorded lease/commitment; if the lease ends, you must replace parking or reduce the use (§ 7.16.8.b) .
  • Shared parking can cover up to 100% of a use’s requirement if peak hours do not overlap; a recorded agreement is required (§ 7.16.8.c) .
  • City staff may approve off‑site or shared arrangements; other alternatives can be approved by the Planning Commission via a Use Permit (§ 7.16.8.a) .
  • Compliance documentation is reviewed by contract City staff and becomes part of the property record (§ 7.16.9) .
• Special exemptions:
  • Public Facilities and Quasi‑Public Facilities listed in the ordinance are exempt from § 7.16 off‑street parking (§ 7.16.5.j) .
• Accessibility and state codes:
  • § 7.16 requires conformance with ADA design regulations; accessible stall sizing/aisles/signage are detailed in the California Building Standards Code (e.g., CBC 11B‑502, 11B‑503) .

Main Street “Off‑Street Parking Exemption Area”

• Exemptions (existing building envelope): If your structure lies in the Off‑Street Parking Exemption Area, any post‑amendment reconstruction or change of use that stays within the existing square footage and does not increase lodging or residential units is exempt from providing off‑street parking (§ 7.16.6) .
• Added floor area: If you add square footage in “the commercial zone on Main Street from Eugene Street to Lewis Court,” one lot deep, the added area may trigger parking per § 7.16.5 (§ 7.16.7). Verify frontage and lot depth carefully .
• Practical tip: Properties here are often within the city’s design control area; coordinate early with Ferndale Design Review and the Ferndale Historic Preservation context for site/streetscape compatibility.

Facility‑ and program‑specific rules that affect parking

• Mobile home parks: Provide 2 parking spaces per mobile home site; streets and spaces must be paved; additional dimensional specs apply (§ 7.15.5) .
• Vacation rentals: The City mitigates impacts “by requiring the use of existing off‑street parking facilities” (§ 7.26.1.b) — plan to show how guests will use the site’s existing spaces .
• Supportive housing: If located within one‑half mile walking distance of a public transit stop, parking for supportive housing units designated for supportive resident use is not required (§ 7.31.3.h) .
• Single‑room occupancy (SRO): 1 space per 2 SRO units, plus 1 space for the manager’s unit/office and 1 per employee on the max shift (§ 7.31, SRO standards) .
• Bicycle parking: Not found in retrieved materials. State green building standards may impose bicycle parking in some new construction; see the California Building Standards Code. Verify with the jurisdiction.

District-by-district application

All districts must meet § 7.16 unless a listed exemption or alternative applies. Dimensional standards below come from Article 5; use them with Ferndale Development Standards during site planning.

R‑1 Residential One‑Family

• Purpose/uses: Single‑family homes are principal permitted; small employee housing is allowed (§ 5.02.1, § 5.02.1.e) .
• Parking: 1 space per dwelling unit (§ 7.16.5.a) .
• Key standards: Minimum lot area 5,000 sf; width 50 ft; front yard 20 ft; rear 15 ft; sides 10% lot width (min 5 ft, max 12 ft); coverage 40%; height 35 ft (§ 5.02.3) .
• Notes: Alternatives to on‑site parking may be possible via shared/off‑site tools (§ 7.16.8) .

R‑2 Residential Two‑Family

• Purpose/uses: Intended for a range of low‑ to higher‑density residential consistent with General Plan R‑2 (§ 5.03 preface) .
• Parking: Use § 7.16.5 residential ratios (1 per unit) and § 7.16.4 for mixed building programs .
• Key standards: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

R‑3 Residential Multiple‑Family

• Purpose/uses: Multifamily and dwelling groups are typical.
• Parking: Apply § 7.16.5 residential or SRO/supportive provisions where relevant .
• Key standards: Max coverage 60%; yards—front 20 ft, rear 10 ft, side 5 ft; max height 45 ft; density 1–27 du/acre (fractional units round up) (§ 5.04.3.i, § 5.04.4) .

C‑1 Neighborhood Commercial

• Purpose/uses: Neighborhood‑scale retail/services; some upper‑floor residential allowed with conditions (§ 5.05.1–2) .
• Parking: Offices/retail 1/500 sf; restaurants 1/300 sf or capacity; hotels/motels 1 per unit; loading for >5,000 sf (§ 7.16.5.e–i) .
• Key standards: Min lot area 2,000 sf; width 25 ft; yards—front none (unless block partly in an R zone, then match R‑front yard), rear 15 ft (5 ft if alley), side none (§ 5.05.3) .
• Main Street note: Added floor area within the Eugene–Lewis Court segment may be subject to new parking (§ 7.16.7) .

C‑2 Community Commercial

• Purpose/uses and key standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Parking: Use the § 7.16.5 commercial ratios; consider loading if >5,000 sf .
• Where it matters: Sites outside C‑1 that still front on Main Street must check § 7.16.7 for added floor area triggers .

C‑H Highway Service Commercial

• Purpose/uses and key standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Parking: Expect auto‑oriented uses to trigger employee‑based or customer‑area ratios and loading under § 7.16.5 .

M‑L Limited Industrial and M‑H Heavy Industrial

• Purpose/uses and key standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
• Parking: Industrial/utility buildings 1 space per 3 employees; loading if square footage thresholds apply (§ 7.16.5.g–i) .

AE Agriculture‑Exclusive

• Purpose/uses: Protects working lands; farm dwellings, nurseries/greenhouses allowed (§ 5.13.1) .
• Parking: Use dwelling ratio for farm dwellings; verify on‑site circulation for large equipment.
• Key standards: Min lot area 4 acres; width 100 ft; max coverage 35%; yards—front 30 ft; rear 20 ft; side 10% lot width (max 20 ft) (§ 5.13.3) .

FP Flood Plain and FW Floodway

• Purpose/uses: Limit uses in flood‑susceptible areas (§ 5.11) .
• Parking: Use § 7.16 standards; coordinate with floodproofing and access design.
• Key standards (FP): Min lot area 5 acres; width 300 ft; yards—front/rear 20 ft; side 10 ft (§ 5.11.3) .

PF Public Facility

• Purpose/uses: Schools, parks, civic buildings; emergency shelter standards included (§ 5.14.1–2) .
• Parking: Public Facilities and Quasi‑Public Facilities listed are exempt from § 7.16 (§ 7.16.5.j) .
• Key standards: Regulated through use permits/conditions as applicable (§ 5.14.3) .

PD Planned Development

• Purpose/uses: Custom plan areas with integrated uses; plans must show parking, loading, access, and building siting (§ 5.12.2.e–g) .
• Parking: Objective is consistency with § 7.16 unless an approved PD plan provides otherwise.

Combining/overlay districts (how they touch parking)

• Design Control –D: Protects historic character; coordinate materials/streetside features with Ferndale Design Review (§ 6.05) .
• Qualified –Q: Limits commercial intensity where residential presence predominates; parking must still follow § 7.16 (§ 6.06.3.b) .
• Streamside Protection –SPA: Environmental overlay (Francis Creek corridor). Parking is subject to underlying zone and § 7.16; additional environmental policies apply (§ 6.08) .
• Special Building Site –B: Alternate lot/yard standards; coordinate driveway/aisles with § 7.16 access rules (§ 6.03) .

Minimum parking, loading, and key dimensions (selected uses)

Checklist

• Confirm zoning district and any combining/overlay; start with Ferndale Zoning and Ferndale Overlay Districts.
• Identify the applicable use category and apply the § 7.16.5 parking ratio(s) and loading thresholds for your program .
• For mixed-use, add each use’s requirement; for employee‑based uses, count the peak shift (§ 7.16.3–.4) .
• Check if your site is in the Main Street exemption area; if so, test § 7.16.6 (no expansion) vs. § 7.16.7 (added sf may trigger parking) .
• Fit the site plan with code‑sized stalls, aisles, loading, and a 10‑ft clear access lane (§ 7.16.1, § 7.16.5.k) .
• Need flexibility? Prepare an off‑site (≤300 ft) or shared‑parking plan with recorded agreements (§ 7.16.8.b–c) .
• If a Public/Quasi‑Public facility, document the § 7.16.5.j exemption where applicable .
• Coordinate ADA/accessible stalls with the California Building Standards Code (CBC 11B‑502/503) and any applicable Ferndale Design Review conditions .
• If your proposal sits in the historic core, align parking frontage/driveways with Ferndale Historic Preservation policies.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If you add or change a use in Ferndale, plan on off‑street parking and (for larger commercial floor areas) loading, sized and counted the way § 7.16 spells out. Downtown Main Street properties can avoid adding parking for non‑expanding projects, but added square footage can trigger new spaces. If your lot is tight, you can record a shared or off‑site parking agreement nearby, as long as it meets the 300‑ft rule.

Source References

• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.16 Parking and Loading Facilities (ratios, dimensions, alternatives, Main Street rules) .
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.15 Mobile Home Park Standards (2 spaces per site) .
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.26 Vacation Rentals (use of existing off‑street parking) .
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.31 SRO and Supportive Housing (parking specifics; supportive housing transit relief) .
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: R‑1 (§ 5.02), R‑3 (§ 5.04), C‑1 (§ 5.05), AE (§ 5.13), FP (§ 5.11), PF (§ 5.14), PD (§ 5.12), –Q (§ 6.06), –D (§ 6.05), –SPA (§ 6.08), –B (§ 6.03) .
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24): accessible stall and loading zone standards (CBC 11B‑502/503) ; see page: California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.16) High relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.17) High relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.15) High relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (Section 7.16.5.) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (Section 7.16) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (Section 7.16) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§5.17.1) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (ARTICLE 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.16) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.25) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.17) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (ARTICLE 7) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 4.106.4.1 (Section 4.106.4.1.) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§5.14) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.22) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§7.23) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (TITLE and) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (Section amended) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§5.05) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 101.7 (Chapter 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§8.03) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (Section 17.50.275.B.1.a.) Medium relevance show source text
• Ferndale Zoning Code (§5.12) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.16 Parking and Loading Facilities (ratios, dimensions, alternatives, Main Street rules) . (§ 7.16)
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.15 Mobile Home Park Standards (2 spaces per site) . (§ 7.15)
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.26 Vacation Rentals (use of existing off‑street parking) . (§ 7.26)
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: § 7.31 SRO and Supportive Housing (parking specifics; supportive housing transit relief) . (§ 7.31)
• Zoning Ordinance 02‑02: R‑1 (§ 5.02), R‑3 (§ 5.04), C‑1 (§ 5.05), AE (§ 5.13), FP (§ 5.11), PF (§ 5.14), PD (§ 5.12), –Q (§ 6.06), –D (§ 6.05), –SPA (§ 6.08), –B (§ 6.03) . (§ 5.02)
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24): accessible stall and loading zone standards (CBC 11B‑502/503) ; see page: California Building Standards Code. (Title 24)
• Ferndale_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md