Local zoning · Fowler

Fowler — Parking

Q: What is the minimum size for a standard parking stall in Fowler?

Fowler requires a standard parking stall of 20 feet long by 9 feet wide ; up to 30% of stalls may be compact at 16×9 ft ; accessible stalls must comply with State standards — see § 9‑5.2003(C) .

Q: What are the loading space requirements for commercial buildings?

No loading space is required for buildings ≤ 4,000 sq ft ; 1 off‑street loading space is required for 4,001–40,000 sq ft ; beyond that add 1 loading space per 30,000 sq ft or major fraction, up to 5 spaces; each required loading space must be 40×12 ft with 14 ft vertical clearance — § 9‑5.2005–9‑5.2006 .

Q: If my site is in the P (parking) district, what special rules apply?

The P District is tailored to permanent parking areas; permitted uses, minimum lot area, access widths, screening (6‑ft masonry wall next to residential), and mandatory site plan and design review are spelled out in § 9‑5.902–9‑5.915 . If you propose a parking structure or permanent lot, expect design review and specific access/screening requirements .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains what the Fowler Zoning Code requires for parking, off‑street loading, recreational vehicle storage, and how certain overlay and special districts change the rules. It summarizes the numeric standards (spaces per unit/GFA, space dimensions, loading bay sizes), special allowances (shared parking, Form‑Based Code waivers), and where to look in the code to verify requirements. For rules that interact with construction or accessibility standards, also check the California Building Standards Code and the city's design review and development standards pages listed below.

How the code is organized for parking (short)

Parking rules are implemented by Article 20 of the 2010 Zoning Code and applied across districts by cross‑references in each district chapter; see the parking chapter headings and standards at § 9‑5.2003 through § 9‑5.2011 for facility standards and § 9‑5.2005–§ 9‑5.2006 for loading requirements .
Certain districts and overlays add or modify parking rules (for example the Form‑Based Code Area, the P — Off‑Street Parking District, and PUD provisions); see the district summaries below for the site‑specific changes and waivers .

Note: first mentions of related topics are linked for convenience: Fowler Zoning, Fowler Development Standards, Fowler Design Review, Fowler Overlay Districts, Fowler ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.

Key standards and district-by-district guidance

Below I summarize the Fowler rules that directly control parking. Where the ordinance ties a requirement to a district I identify that district and give the relevant § citation.

General parking and lot standards (applies citywide unless a district overrides)

Minimum parking stall dimensions: 20 ft length x 9 ft width; up to 30% of spaces may be compact at 16 ft x 9 ft; accessible stalls must meet State standards — § 9‑5.2003 .
Single‑family dwellings: a covered off‑street parking area of at least 400 sq ft (minimum 20 ft x 20 ft) is required — § 9‑5.2003(D) .
Parking must have adequate ingress/egress, be paved, graded and drained to City/City Engineer standards; entrances/exits approved by the City — § 9‑5.2003(A,B,I) .
Where existing uses expand, only the addition is required to meet parking standards; existing lawful parking is not made nonconforming solely by changed standards — § 9‑5.2010–9‑5.2011 .
Screening, fencing and lighting rules for parking areas abutting residential zones: fences/walls and controls on lighting are required — § 9‑5.2007 .
Landscaping for parking lots: 5% landscaped for lots up to 20 spaces, 10% for lots over 20 spaces; tree wells required every 10 contiguous stalls — § 9‑5.2008(B–D) .
Joint/shared parking permitted but must be within 350 ft and secured by a written agreement — (joint use / shared parking rules) § 9‑5.2002 (as codified and applied in Article 20) .

Table — at‑a‑glance numeric standards and references:

Item	Standard (Fowler)	Code Reference
Stall size (standard)	20 ft × 9 ft	§ 9‑5.2003(C)
Compact stalls (allowed %)	Up to 30% (min 16 ft × 9 ft)	§ 9‑5.2003(C)
Single‑family covered parking	≥ 400 sq ft (min 20 ft × 20 ft)	§ 9‑5.2003(D)
Loading (small to mid)	0 req for ≤ 4,000 sq ft; 1 for 4,001–40,000 sq ft; additional 1 per 30,000 sq ft (max 5)	§ 9‑5.2005(A–C)
Loading bay size	40 ft L × 12 ft W × 14 ft clearance min	§ 9‑5.2006(D)
Landscaping (%)	5% (≤20 stalls) ; 10% (>20 stalls)	§ 9‑5.2008(B–C)
Shared/joint parking distance	≤ 350 ft from use served; written agreement required	(joint use) § 9‑5.2002/9‑5.2003
RV storage in R zones	Prohibited except rear yard behind setbacks, enclosed area or garage; other controls	§ 9‑5.2004(D–H)

District summaries (purpose, typical uses, notable parking specifics)

Note: every district's chapter generally cross‑references Article 20 for off‑street parking; below I call out district‑specific exceptions where the code does so.

R (One‑family residential districts) — Purpose: low/medium density single‑family areas; typical uses: one‑family dwellings and limited two/three‑family in certain areas. Key parking controls: required off‑street parking (covered garage/carport) for single‑family 400 sq ft, storage of inoperable vehicles must be in enclosed spaces, RVs are restricted to rear yard behind setbacks and within enclosed areas — § 9‑5.701–9‑5.703; § 9‑5.2003(D); § 9‑5.2004(D) .
R‑1‑6 (One‑family residential, R‑1‑6 standards apply to some UR uses) — The code explicitly references R‑1‑6 development standards for one‑family dwellings in certain conditional situations; parking follows Article 20 (off‑site/on‑site options) — § 9‑5.604(F); § 9‑5.2003 .
RM (Multi‑family residential) — Multi‑family parking requirements are stated in the parking space schedule (e.g., 1.5 spaces for two‑bedrooms or fewer; 2.0 for three+) and guest parking rules; all required spaces must be on the same lot except where the code allows proximate off‑site parking (≤ 350 ft) — § 9‑5.100?/G (parking schedule) and Article 20; see § 9‑5.1000‑1016 and § 9‑5.2003 . (Verify unit‑type mapping to RM in the full code text.)
C‑1 / C‑2 / C‑3 (Commercial districts) — Commercial uses defer to Article 20 parking schedules; integrated shopping centers have their own ratios (e.g., 1 space per 200 sq ft for centers ≤ 10,000 sq ft) and the Form‑Based Code Area (downtown) sets different minimums and waivers — see § 9‑5.1000s and § 9‑5.1702(D) .
P — Off‑Street Parking District — This district is specifically for permanent parking areas. Permitted uses are parking lots, with design and site requirements (minimum lot area, setbacks, screening, access width) and site plan/design review — § 9‑5.902–9‑5.915 .
M‑1 / M‑2 (Industrial districts) — Off‑street parking and loading are required as prescribed in Article 20; large industrial uses must provide the loading spaces described in § 9‑5.2005 and meet loading bay size § 9‑5.2006 .
UR (Urban Reserve) and RCO (Resource Conservation/Other) — Both require off‑street parking per Article 20; UR and RCO have special site area and yard rules but defer to Article 20 for parking numerics — § 9‑5.601‑9‑5.612; § 9‑5.507‑9‑5.516 .
Form‑Based Code Area — Purpose is to support downtown, walkable development. Parking standards here are different:
- Nonresidential: minimum 3 spaces / 1,000 sq ft GFA (new on‑street stalls created with the project may count) — § 9‑5.1702(D)(1)(a) .
- Residential: minimum 1.5 spaces per unit, with at least one covered space per unit — § 9‑5.1702(D)(1)(b) .
- Shared parking is encouraged and may be approved by the Director; parking may be on‑site or within 350 ft — § 9‑5.1702(D)(1)(c),(3) .
- Waivers: certain downtown fronting properties are exempt or have 50% reductions per mapped area — § 9‑5.1702(D)(4)(a–b) .
PUD (Planned Unit Development overlay) — PUDs may propose different parking and loading standards than the base district if the design demonstrates consistency with ordinance objectives; PUDs must still conform to parking requirements unless modified under PUD standards — § 9‑5.28.05(A), (7) .

Information Gaps (what the retrieved materials do NOT confirm)

Specific numerical parking ratios for many non‑integrated commercial or institutional uses (e.g., office, restaurant, medical) beyond the Form‑Based/Integrated Shopping Center rules — Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the full Article 20 parking schedule in the Zoning Code.
Local bicycle parking requirements (spaces, short‑ vs long‑term standards, rack types) — Not found in the retrieved materials (bicycle/pedestrian language appears only as encouragement in PUDs) . Verify with Planning Department or the full code.
Any local Electric Vehicle (EV) charging or EV‑ready parking requirements (these are often driven by state/green building rules) — Not found in retrieved materials; check California Codes/City engineering policies and the city’s building permit checklist.
Any ADU‑specific local parking reductions or explicit cross‑references to state ADU parking limitations in the local code text — the state ADU guidance restricts local parking imposition; the local code text retrieved does not clearly restate the state ADU parking exemptions — verify with the Planning Department and Fowler ADUs and state ADU statutes .

Checklist — what an applicant must provide (common items)

Confirm which district the parcel is in and apply the district chapter parking cross‑references (e.g., Form‑Based Code Area, P, R, C, M) — verify with § 9‑5.1702 and the applicable district chapter .
Calculate required parking: residential spaces per unit (or RM schedule), nonresidential by GFA or integrated‑center schedule — reference the code parking schedule and Form‑Based exceptions § 9‑5.2003; § 9‑5.1702(D) .
Dimension stalls to 20×9 ft (or compact 16×9 for ≤30% of stalls), show accessible stalls per State standards — § 9‑5.2003(C) .
Provide a paved, graded, drained parking plan; show ingress/egress and curb cuts approved locations — § 9‑5.2003(A,B,I) .
If claiming off‑site or shared parking, include a written joint‑use agreement and show distance ≤ 350 ft — § 9‑5.2002/9‑5.2003 .
If loading is needed, show loading bays sized 40×12 ft with 14 ft vertical clearance (or justify reductions per § 9‑5.2006(E) for narrow lots) — § 9‑5.2005–9‑5.2006 .
Provide a landscape plan demonstrating 5–10% on‑lot landscaping for the parking area and tree wells (per lot size/space count) — § 9‑5.2008(B–D) .
If within the Form‑Based Code Area, check the downtown waivers and minimums and whether new on‑street spaces can be counted — § 9‑5.1702(D) .
If proposing a parking lot in a P District, prepare for site plan and design review and meet P District access/screening rules — § 9‑5.902–9‑5.915 .
For single‑family projects, show covered parking meeting the 400 sq ft minimum — § 9‑5.2003(D) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
ADU parking requirements vs. state ADU law	State rules limit local parking requirements for ADUs; local code may not reflect all state limits	Verify with Planning whether local implementation defers to state ADU law and check Fowler ADUs and state code; confirm whether the project is exempt from local parking (§ not explicit in retrieved local text)
Bicycle parking standards	Bicycle parking is encouraged (PUDs mention bike paths) but numeric/short‑ vs long‑term standards aren’t in the retrieved sections	Confirm with Planning or city engineering whether bicycle parking standards exist elsewhere in the municipal code or design standards — Not found in retrieved materials
Counting new on‑street spaces	Form‑Based Code allows new on‑street stalls to be counted for minimums, but mapping/eligibility can be technical	Verify with the Director (Form‑Based provisions § 9‑5.1702(D)(1)(a)) and obtain City confirmation that a proposed new curbside stall will be credited
Shared parking legal commitments	Shared parking requires a written agreement; long‑term enforceability affects project financing	Ensure the written joint‑use agreement meets City approval and records any required easements or covenants (§ 9‑5.2002/9‑5.2003)
Bicycle / EV / accessibility interactions	State codes govern accessibility and green building EV rules; local code references State standards but does not restate them	Cross‑check with the California Building Standards Code and the city’s building permit requirements — local code references State standards for accessible parking § 9‑5.2003(C)

Plain‑English Summary

Fowler’s zoning code requires off‑street parking and loading based on unit count and building area, sets stall sizes (standard 20×9 ft, compact 16×9 ft up to 30%), requires covered parking for single‑family homes (≥ 400 sq ft), and enforces landscaping, screening, and loading bay dimensions; downtown (Form‑Based Code Area) has different minimums and mapped waivers — review § 9‑5.2003–9‑5.2008, § 9‑5.2005–9‑5.2006, and § 9‑5.1702 in the Fowler Zoning Code for details .

Source References

Fowler 2010 Zoning Code, Article 20 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading: § 9‑5.2003, § 9‑5.2004, § 9‑5.2005, § 9‑5.2006, § 9‑5.2007, § 9‑5.2008 (Fowler Zoning Code export) .
Form‑Based Code Area (downtown) parking and waivers: § 9‑5.1701 – § 9‑5.1703, including downtown parking minimums and off‑street parking waivers § 9‑5.1702(D) .
P District (Off‑Street Parking District) rules (uses, access, screening, review): § 9‑5.902–9‑5.915 .
PUD standards that may alter parking requirements: § 9‑5.28.05(A) and PUD parking provisions § 9‑5.28.05(7) .
RV storage / recreational vehicle rules in residential and nonresidential zones: § 9‑5.2004(D–I) .
Existing uses / reductions and nonconforming parking: § 9‑5.2010–9‑5.2011 .
Supplemental state guidance on ADU parking and exceptions (for state‑law interaction): ADU handbook / state statutes — see California ADU guidance (state) for parking limits (not a Fowler ordinance citation) .
For building, access, and accessible parking stall technical requirements consult the California Building Standards Code.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Fowler Zoning Code High relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (article will) High relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (Section 4-) High relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
CPC § 700 High relevance
CBC § 407.2.3 Medium relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (ARTICLE 1) Medium relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (Section 9-5.1907.1.7.E.4) Medium relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (article shall) Medium relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (Section 4-) Medium relevance
Fowler Zoning Code (chapter that) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Fowler code library

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for a standard parking stall in Fowler?

Fowler requires a standard parking stall of 20 feet long by 9 feet wide; up to 30% of stalls may be compact at 16×9 ft; accessible stalls must comply with State standards — see § 9‑5.2003(C) .

How many parking spaces are required for a single‑family house?

Each single‑family dwelling must provide a covered off‑street parking area of at least 400 square feet (minimum 20×20 ft) — § 9‑5.2003(D) .

Can I count on‑street spaces toward my project’s minimum parking?

In certain areas (notably the Form‑Based Code Area) the code allows newly created on‑street spaces to be counted toward a project’s minimum; check the Form‑Based Code provisions and get Director confirmation — § 9‑5.1702(D)(1)(a) .

What are the loading space requirements for commercial buildings?

No loading space is required for buildings ≤ 4,000 sq ft; 1 off‑street loading space is required for 4,001–40,000 sq ft; beyond that add 1 loading space per 30,000 sq ft or major fraction, up to 5 spaces; each required loading space must be 40×12 ft with 14 ft vertical clearance — § 9‑5.2005–9‑5.2006 .

Does Fowler allow shared parking or off‑site parking?

Yes — shared or joint parking is allowed if approved and the shared stalls are within 350 feet of the use they serve; a written agreement acceptable to the City must secure the stalls — see the joint‑use/shared parking provisions and § 9‑5.2003 (and related joint‑use text) .

Are recreational vehicles allowed to be parked on residential lots?

Recreational vehicle storage on residential lots is restricted: in R zones RVs may be stored only in the rear of the required front/street side setbacks in an enclosed area or within a garage/carport and are otherwise controlled by § 9‑5.2004; RVs may be temporarily parked for loading/unloading for up to eight hours in any 24‑hour period — § 9‑5.2004(D–H) .

Where are parking reductions or waivers available downtown?

The Form‑Based Code Area contains mapped waivers: certain frontage blocks on Merced Street and other mapped parcels either are exempt from required off‑street parking or receive a 50% reduction; consult § 9‑5.1702(D)(4) and the Form‑Based Code map for the exact boundaries — § 9‑5.1702(D)(4)(a–b) .

Do I need to provide a landscaping plan for a parking lot?

Yes — parking lot plans must be accompanied by a landscape plan; parking lots must have 5% landscaped area for up to 20 stalls and 10% for lots with more than 20 stalls, with tree wells distributed so no more than 10 contiguous stalls are unbroken by a tree well — § 9‑5.2008(B–D) .

Are there bicycle parking requirements in the Fowler Zoning Code?

The retrieved Fowler materials encourage bicycle paths and bike facilities in PUDs and require pedestrian/bicycle access to be considered, but I did not find a numeric bicycle parking schedule (short‑ vs long‑term racks) in the retrieved text — bicycle standards are Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the Planning Department or the complete municipal code .

If my site is in the P (parking) district, what special rules apply?

The P District is tailored to permanent parking areas; permitted uses, minimum lot area, access widths, screening (6‑ft masonry wall next to residential), and mandatory site plan and design review are spelled out in § 9‑5.902–9‑5.915. If you propose a parking structure or permanent lot, expect design review and specific access/screening requirements .

How does the code treat existing uses that lack required parking?

When an existing use expands, only the addition must meet current parking requirements; existing lawful parking that matched the rules at adoption cannot be reduced and is not automatically made nonconforming solely due to later changes — § 9‑5.2010–9‑5.2011 .

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