Local zoning · Garden Grove

Garden Grove — Parking

Q: Do I always use Table 9.18‑11 to compute parking for a new building in Garden Grove?

Yes. The number of required off‑street spaces is set by Table 9.18‑11 and the rule in § 9.18.140.030 ; fractional spaces are rounded up. If your project is mixed‑use you calculate each use separately and may pursue up to a 10% reduction administratively for shared residential/commercial parking, or larger reductions through a formal shared‑parking/parking management plan process § 9.18.140.030–.050 .

Q: What are the minimum stall sizes I must show on my site plan?

Show standard open stalls at 9' × 19' and enclosed stalls at 10' × 20' interior dimensions (compact stalls at 8' × 15'); compact stalls may be used for up to 20% of required commercial parking where consolidated and signed § 9.18.140.040 .

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

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Garden Grove regulates parking under the local zoning/title 9 ordinance: where off‑street spaces must be provided, the sizing and design rules, required ratios for common uses, shared/off‑site parking, bicycle parking, and special rules for residential districts and mixed‑use projects. Read this as a planning/zoning reference (not building code/Title 24). For related topics see the city's zoning overview and the development standards pages mentioned below.

Citywide legal framework (quick pointers)

Off‑street parking rules are codified in the municipal code at § 9.18.140 (Purpose, applicability, parking schedules and design standards) .
The required number of parking spaces is driven by Table 9.18‑11 (Required Parking Spaces) and implementing subsections at § 9.18.140.030 (Parking Spaces Required) .
Stall dimensions, compact‑space allowances, mechanical parking, and bicycle parking references are in § 9.18.140.040 (Parking Requirements) and § 9.18.140.070 (Parking Design Standards) .
Residential‑chapter parking rules (R‑zones) and garage dimension rules appear in the single‑ and multi‑family chapters (e.g., § 9.08 and § 9.12) and cross‑reference the citywide tables and stall sizes .
Bicycle parking is required by reference to the applicable building code requirements (see § 9.18.140.040.D; short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking follow the building code) . For state building accessibility and parking dimensions, consult the California Building Standards Code.

Because Garden Grove uses a single citywide parking schedule (Table 9.18‑11) plus district‑specific development chapters, apply the table first and then the district rules (e.g., garage sizing in R‑zones or mixed‑use special rules). See also the design review and landscaping and screening pages for controls that typically affect parking lot layout and frontage.

District‑by‑district breakdown (how parking applies in each zone)

Note: the code defines specific zone names and where their development standards live; the general parking schedule is Table 9.18‑11 and applies unless a zone chapter states otherwise. Citations below point to the local zone descriptions and the parking sections you must apply.

Residential zones — R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose / where it applies: R‑1 is the single‑family zone; development standards are in Chapter 9.08 (Single‑Family Residential) .
Typical uses: single‑family homes, limited accessory uses, family day care, small community care (see Table 1 in Chapter 9.08) .
Key parking standards: single‑family parking requirement per Table 9.18‑11 is based on number of sleeping rooms (for example, 1–4 sleeping rooms = 2 spaces in an enclosed garage plus 2 open spaces) — see § 9.18.140.030 (Table 9.18‑11) . Garage interior minimums and permitted garage use rules appear in the R‑1 chapter (e.g., minimum one‑car garage interior: 10' x 20') and garage must be used for parking only per § 9.18.140.020.D and residential development sections § 9.08 and § 9.12 .
Where to check: Table 9.18‑11 for required counts and § 9.08 for R‑1 development details and permitted exceptions .

Residential zones — R-2 and R-3 (Limited multiple & multiple‑family)

Purpose / where it applies: R‑2 and R‑3 development standards are in Chapter 9.12 (Multifamily Development Standards) and summarized at § 9.12.020 .
Typical uses: duplexes, small multi‑units (R‑2), broader multi‑family options (R‑3); supportive/transitional housing treated as residential in these zones (see § 9.60/§ 9.12) .
Key parking standards: multi‑family parking ratios are in Table 9.18‑11 and vary by unit size, project scale, and whether the project fronts a major arterial (examples: 2.5–3.5 spaces per unit depending on unit mix and location — see § 9.18.140.030 Table 9.18‑11) . R‑2/R‑3 chapters also require that resident enclosed spaces be provided in garages or carports as specified (§ 9.12.040.190/210) .
Where to check: Table 9.18‑11 and Chapter 9.12 for unit‑type details and garage allocation rules .

Commercial zones — O‑P, C‑1, C‑2, C‑3

Purpose / where it applies: commercial zones and their intent are described at § 9.16.020; development standards are in Chapter 9.16 and parking for commercial uses comes from Table 9.18‑11 (§ 9.18.140.030) .
Typical uses: offices, neighborhood retail (C‑1), community commercial (C‑2), heavier commercial (C‑3) — see § 9.16.020.020 .
Key parking standards: retail/office/restaurant ratios are in Table 9.18‑11 (e.g., retail: 1 space per 200 sf (<40k sf); offices: scale‑based; **restaurants: often 1 per 100–200 sf depending on type) — see § 9.18.140.030/Table 9.18‑11) . Design controls (landscaping, lighting, paving, screening) are in § 9.18.140.070 and the commercial development chapters .
Where to check: Table 9.18‑11 for counts and Chapter 9.16 for specific site and frontage rules .

Industrial zones — M‑1, M‑P

Purpose / where it applies: industrial zones are described in § 9.16.020.020; parking for industrial uses (including truck/vehicle circulation and loading) is governed by the general chapters and special loading provisions in the chapter for specific uses .
Typical uses: light/limited industry (M‑1), industrial park uses (M‑P). Load/unload and circulation requirements (including that dock approaches not be obstructed) are enforced by the loading rules in the parking chapter; see § 9.18.140.070 and loading subsections in that chapter .
Where to check: Table 9.18‑11 for industrial parking requirements and Chapter 9.16 for lot standards and screening rules .

Mixed‑use and Civic zones — GGMU‑1/2/3, CC‑1/2/3, NMU, AR

Purpose / where it applies: Garden Grove’s mixed‑use and civic zones are defined in Chapter 9.18 (Garden Grove Boulevard Mixed Use, Civic Center, Neighborhood Mixed Use, Adaptive Reuse). They emphasize pedestrian orientation, shared parking, and often require a commercial ground‑floor component in vertically integrated projects (see § 9.18.090 and related subsections) .
Typical uses: integrated retail/office/residential civic uses; ground‑floor commercial is commonly required in several of these zones .
Key parking standards and flexibility:
- Shared parking and reductions are specifically anticipated: the site plan/hearing body may reduce residential/commercial mixed‑use totals by up to 10%; larger reductions must use the shared parking/management plan process and findings in § 9.18.140.030.B and § 9.18.140.060 .
- Mixed‑use zones often prioritize pedestrian plaza, landscaping and shared/structured parking; consult the GGMU and CC standards in Chapter 9.18 for plaza and parking siting requirements .
Where to check: Chapter 9.18 for zone‑specific build‑form rules and § 9.18.140 for the parking schedule and shared‑parking procedures .

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant table)

Standard / Use	Requirement (short)	Code Reference
Standard parking stall	9 ft × 19 ft (open)	§ 9.18.140.040.A.1
Compact stall	8 ft × 15 ft; up to 20% of required commercial stalls may be compact	§ 9.18.140.040.A / .B
Enclosed parking (garage)	10 ft × 20 ft interior per space (e.g., 2‑car = 20' × 20')	§ 9.18.140.040.A.2
Bicycle parking	Short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking per applicable building code requirements	§ 9.18.140.040.D
Handicapped ratio	At least 1 per 40 spaces; at least 1 for each nonresidential building >15 spaces (and follow state/federal law)	§ 9.16.040.160
Location of required spaces	On‑site except where off‑site/shared parking is approved via parking management plan or shared parking agreements (Gov. Code § 65863.1)	§ 9.18.140.050; cross‑refs § 9.16.040.170
Example — Single‑family (1–4 sleeping rooms)	2 enclosed + 2 open	Table 9.18‑11 § 9.18.140.030
Example — Retail (<40,000 sf)	1 space per 200 sf gross floor area	Table 9.18‑11 § 9.18.140.030
Example — Multifamily (typical ranges)	2.5–3.5 spaces/unit depending on unit mix and arterial adjacency (see table)	Table 9.18‑11 § 9.18.140.030

(Use Table 9.18‑11 as the primary source for specific uses and fine gradations; it is the controlling schedule in § 9.18.140.030) .

How to interpret the rules in practice — plain English guidance

Start with Table 9.18‑11 (§ 9.18.140.030) to compute required spaces for each use; round fractional spaces up to the next whole space .
Apply district‑specific garage and driveway rules from the residential chapter (e.g., R‑1 and R‑2 rules) when your site is in a residential zone; those chapters also restrict parking in required yards and set garage interior dimensions .
If you want a shared or off‑site parking arrangement (adjacent lot or different legal entity), prepare a parking management plan or a shared parking agreement complying with the findings in § 9.18.140.060 and the shared‑parking provisions in § 9.18.140.050; larger reductions need a professional parking demand study and an enforceable contract between owners .
Bike parking is not optional for nonresidential/assembly uses — provide short‑ and long‑term bike parking consistent with the building code (see § 9.18.140.040.D) and coordinate with building‑code (Title 24) bicycle standards; see the state's building code references on the city's building codes page .
Landscaping, screening and lighting standards for parking lots must be met; refer to Chapter 9.18 (landscape requirements) and § 9.18.140.070 (design standards) — e.g., minimum tree counts and planter sizes apply to nonresidential parking lots .

Checklist

Compute required spaces for every use on site using Table 9.18‑11 (§ 9.18.140.030) and round up fractional spaces .
Lay out stalls to meet minimum dimensions: 9'×19' standard; 10'×20' interior for enclosed spaces; compact rules (≤20%) as allowed (§ 9.18.140.040) .
Provide required handicapped spaces (min 1 per 40 or at least one when >15 spaces) and mark/identify per law (§ 9.16.040.160) .
Show on‑site circulation, ingress/egress, queuing (mechanical parking if proposed must meet conditions in § 9.18.140.040.C) .
Provide bicycle parking per building code and show location on site plan (§ 9.18.140.040.D) — coordinate with building permit reviewer and the California Building Standards Code .
If proposing off‑site/shared parking or a parking reduction, submit a parking management plan and, for larger reductions, a parking demand study and signed shared‑parking contract per § 9.18.140.050/.060 .
Show landscaping, lighting and screening consistent with Chapter 9.18 landscaping rules and parking design standards § 9.18.140.070 and the City's landscape water efficiency appendix .
Verify garage/enclosed parking rules (R‑zone chapters) and that no required parking is placed in required setbacks (exceptions for single‑family driveway noted in residential chapters) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
ADU parking treatment	State ADU law restricts or removes local parking requirements for certain ADUs; local code references ADUs elsewhere but does not restate all state exemptions	Verify ADU parking exemptions with the ADU chapter and state law; see local ADU rules (Ch. 9.54) and state ADU guidance (not fully reproduced here). Not found in retrieved materials locally — see ADU handbook and consult the City for application of state law .
Which chapter governs if code chapters conflict	Parking rules live in § 9.18.140 but residential chapters also have parking rules (garage sizes, driveway setbacks) — potential overlap	Confirm which rule controls for your project type with the Community Development Director; reference § 9.18.140.020 on applicability and the R‑zone chapters § 9.08/9.12 for residential specifics .
Shared/off‑site parking acceptability	Shared parking reductions require specific findings, a demand study, and a contract; ad hoc arrangements risk denial	If proposing shared/off‑site parking, prepare a formal parking management plan and a legal shared‑parking agreement per § 9.18.140.050/.060 and Gov. Code § 65863.1 .
Bicycle parking detail	The municipal code defers short/long‑term bicycle quantities to the building code; applicants sometimes omit this until building review (slows permits)	Provide bicycle counts and details consistent with the building code early (see § 9.18.140.040.D) and consult plan check to avoid rework .
Accessibility/van‑accessible stalls	The zoning code gives ratios; specific stall dimensions are set by state/federal accessible parking rules (Title 24/ADA)	Design accessible stalls to meet building code/Title 24 and ADA; zoning requires counts and placement per § 9.16.040.160 but not the minute dimensional rules, which are in state code .

Plain‑English Summary

Garden Grove uses a single citywide parking schedule (Table 9.18‑11) to set how many off‑street spaces each use needs; citywide standards also set stall sizes, compact‑space limits, bicycle parking (per the building code), and design/landscaping requirements. Residential chapters add garage size and driveway rules; mixed‑use and civic areas allow shared parking and limited reductions through a parking management plan. Always start with § 9.18.140 (the table and design rules), then apply the zone chapter (R‑, C‑, M‑ or GGMU/CC rules) for site‑specific details .

Source References

§ 9.18.140.010–.070 (Purpose, general provisions, parking spaces required/Table 9.18‑11, requirements and design standards) .
§ 9.18.140.030 — Table 9.18‑11 (Required Parking Spaces; detailed use‑by‑use ratios) .
§ 9.18.140.040 — Stall dimensions, compact space rules, automated systems, bicycle reference to building code (D) .
§ 9.18.140.050 — Location of parking spaces; off‑site and shared parking provisions (cross‑ref to Gov. Code § 65863.1) .
§ 9.18.140.060 — Joint use/parking management provisions (requirements for reductions and parking management plans) .
§ 9.18.140.070 — Parking design standards (paving, drainage, lighting, screening) .
Chapter 9.08 (R‑1 single‑family development standards, garage rules) — see § 9.08.010–.020 and Tables in Chapter 9.08 .
Chapter 9.12 (R‑2/R‑3 multifamily development standards and parking special requirements) — see § 9.12.020 and § 9.12.040.* for parking and garage allocation rules .
Chapter 9.16 (Commercial/industrial zones and their purpose) — § 9.16.020.020 (zone summaries) and § 9.16.040.160 (handicapped parking/minimums) .
Garden Grove mixed‑use/civic zone standards (GGMU, CC, NMU, AR): Chapter 9.18 (see § 9.18.090 and related subsections) .
California ADU guidance (state parking limits and exemptions referenced in the ADU handbook provided): 2025 California ADU handbook (summary of state ADU parking limits) — see uploaded ADU handbook file for Gov. Code references (e.g., Gov. Code § 66322, § 66314) .

Sources

Retrieved passages

Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 9.16.040.200.) High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 9.16.040.170.) High relevance
CBC § 7 (§ 7) High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 9.08.040.170.) High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 9.08.040.180.) High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (Section 9.18.140.050.C) High relevance
CBC § 407.2.3 High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
CBC § 3 (§ 3) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 9.04.030.) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance
Garden Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Garden Grove code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always use Table 9.18‑11 to compute parking for a new building in Garden Grove?

Yes. The number of required off‑street spaces is set by Table 9.18‑11 and the rule in § 9.18.140.030; fractional spaces are rounded up. If your project is mixed‑use you calculate each use separately and may pursue up to a 10% reduction administratively for shared residential/commercial parking, or larger reductions through a formal shared‑parking/parking management plan process § 9.18.140.030–.050 .

What are the minimum stall sizes I must show on my site plan?

Show standard open stalls at 9' × 19' and enclosed stalls at 10' × 20' interior dimensions (compact stalls at 8' × 15'); compact stalls may be used for up to 20% of required commercial parking where consolidated and signed § 9.18.140.040 .

Can I use off‑site parking to meet requirements?

Off‑site parking may be allowed only with an approved parking management plan or a shared parking agreement that meets the findings and requirements in § 9.18.140.050 and § 9.18.140.060 (and consistent with Gov. Code § 65863.1) — expect to provide a legal agreement and possibly a parking demand study .

What does Garden Grove require for bicycle parking?

The zoning code requires short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking but defers sizing and fixture standards to the building code; the citation is § 9.18.140.040.D — provide bicycle counts and racks/lockers per the applicable building code standards and show locations on the site plan .

Are there special rules for accessible (handicapped) parking stalls?

Yes. The zoning code requires accessible spaces at a ratio not less than 1 per 40 spaces on office/commercial/industrial sites and at least one accessible space for nonresidential buildings requiring more than 15 spaces; markings/signage are required § 9.16.040.160. Exact dimensions and aisle widths are governed by state/federal accessibility codes — coordinate with building code/plan check .

How does parking work for ADUs?

State ADU law limits local parking requirements in specified circumstances; the Garden Grove code references ADUs in its code structure but the city must implement state ADU parking exemptions where they apply. See local ADU chapter (Ch. 9.54) and state ADU guidance summarized in the ADU handbook for Gov. Code references (e.g., Gov. Code § 66322). Verify with the City — local application and exemptions must follow state rules .

Can I use mechanical/automated parking to meet required counts?

Yes, mechanical or automated parking systems can count toward required parking so long as they comply with the conditions in § 9.18.140.040.C (systems must be within a building, not visible from ROW, provide queuing, and not increase building bulk beyond comparable structured parking) .

Does Garden Grove require parking lot landscaping or shading?

Yes. Nonresidential parking lots must meet landscape requirements (minimum landscaped percentage, tree counts and planter sizes) set in the parking/landscape chapters; see § 9.18.140.070 (design standards) and the landscape requirements in Chapter 9.18 (e.g., tree counts and planter sizes) .

Ask about any Garden Grove property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Garden Grove zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial