Glenn County — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Glenn County zoning/planning ordinance requires for parking (off‑street parking, loading, stall sizes, and landscape treatment) in the county’s unincorporated areas. The controlling local rules live in the Glenn County Code (Title 15 / Division 15‑4, specifically § 15.61.010–.050 for off‑street parking and loading). The county also applies district-level rules (zoning chapters such as RZ, R‑M, C, M, MP, PDR, MHP, etc.) that affect how and where parking is provided; because parking areas must meet landscape and surfacing standards applicants should also consult the county’s landscaping and development standards.

(Links: this page mentions and links to the county’s Development Standards, Zoning, Design Review, Overlay Districts, Landscaping and Screening, the statewide California ADU law, and the California Building Standards Code where those topics are relevant.)

Key County rules (what the code actually says)

• Purpose: The off‑street parking chapter requires off‑street parking be provided to prevent congestion and to “insulate surrounding land uses from their impact,” and applies to new construction and major alterations in the unincorporated areas. See § 15.61.010.

• Minimum required parking by use: Glenn County lists numeric minimums for typical uses in § 15.61.020 (residential, hotels/motels, medical/dental, educational, restaurants, industrial, warehousing, shopping centers, etc.). Applicants must provide the listed number of spaces (or the most similar listed use). See § 15.61.020.

• Stall sizes and compact cars: Stall size minima are in § 15.61.030 — standard spaces must be at least 18 ft long × 9 ft wide; compact spaces may be 16 ft × 8 ft and up to 40% of provided stalls may be compact (signed/marked). See § 15.61.030.

• Surfacing, marking, illumination: Parking areas used year‑round must be paved with asphaltic concrete or equivalent; periodic/low intensity parking may be gravel unless the Public Works Director directs otherwise. Spaces, circulation, and signs must be marked and maintained. See § 15.61.030.

• Landscaping and screening for parking lots: When a lot abuts a public road a minimum 5‑ft planter is required at the right‑of‑way; additionally 5% of the parking lot area must be landscaped and a minimum of one tree per 20 parking spaces. See § 15.61.040 and the county landscaping standards.

• Driveway widths and public‑works coordination: Driveway widths and grading/drainage must meet the Public Works Director’s standards; the county requires driveways and circulation to conform to public works rules. See § 15.61.050 and related public‑works chapters.

• Loading and special cases: Loading requirements appear in specific use chapters (for example, nurseries require one loading space per acre) and certain uses (agricultural processing) require that all parking and loading remain on‑site and not in public right‑of‑way. See § 15.61.020(3.13) and § 15.74.010(5).

• Mobilehome parks, bed & breakfasts and seasonal housing: Mobilehome parks carry site‑specific parking rules (each mobilehome site must provide parking for at least two automobiles; tandem allowed) in § 15.50.030; bed & breakfast establishments must provide one parking space per guestroom in § 15.76.010(6); seasonal farmworker housing has a 1 space per 4 persons standard in § 15.80.010(4).

• Director / discretionary adjustments: For uses not listed the code requires the number of spaces to match the “most similar specified use,” and the Director may prescribe additional parking for certain open or special uses. See § 15.61.020(3.17).

• Bicycle parking and EV infrastructure: The county’s parking chapter does not set detailed bicycle parking ratios; long‑ and short‑term bicycle parking and EV readiness rules are covered by state codes and voluntary green‑building appendices (California Green Building Standards and Title 24) which the county references for technical standards—applicants should consult the California Building Standards Code and the state ADU guidance for bicycle/EV requirements.

District‑by‑district (selected Glenn County districts that commonly affect parking)

Note: these statements apply only in the unincorporated areas of Glenn County where each listed zone appears on the county zoning map. Always verify a parcel’s actual zone on the county zone map before design.

RZ (Recreation Zone) — § 15.31.010–.080

• Purpose & where it applies: Applied in mountainous/hilly areas prioritized for recreation; where light agriculture and watershed protection are important. See § 15.31.010.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings (sparse), parks, golf courses, day‑use recreation, small concession buildings; limited commercial support uses. See § 15.31.020.
• Parking implications: Low‑density recreational developments will still require off‑street parking per § 15.61.020; surfacing may be gravel if used only periodically per § 15.61.030.

R‑M / R‑M (Multiple Residential) — § 15.38.

• Purpose: Intended for multi‑family housing and related services where higher densities are allowed. See § 15.38.
• Typical uses: apartments, townhouses, multifamily dwellings, accessory structures; site plan review required. See § 15.38.
• Parking implications: Multi‑family projects must meet the general residential standard and any district lot‑coverage/setback rules; for long‑term bicycle parking and EV readiness consult state standards referenced by the county. See § 15.61.020 and state codes.

MU‑R (Mixed Use Residential) — § 15.381.010–.130

• Purpose & placement: For areas served by sewer and piped water, to allow mixed residential and compatible commercial/service uses. See § 15.381.010–.020.
• Parking implications: Because MU‑R enables a mix of uses, parking must be calculated per the specific use mixes and often requires site plan review to balance shared parking; consult § 15.61.020 and submit a site plan per § 15.381.130.

C (Commercial zone) — § 15.41.010–.030

• Purpose: Provide for retail, services, hotels/motels, and offices that serve the community and nearby residences. See § 15.41.010.
• Typical uses: stores, restaurants, pharmacies, banks, hotels; some automotive uses allowed with separation from R‑1. See § 15.41.020–.030.
• Parking implications: Use‑specific parking rates in § 15.61.020 apply (e.g., restaurants 1 per 100 sq ft, shopping centers 1 per 200 sq ft). Commercial developments must meet landscape buffering and parking lot planter rules. See § 15.61.020 and § 15.61.040.

HVC (Highway & Visitor Commercial) — § 15.43.010–.110

• Purpose: Facilities serving the traveling public along major collectors/state highways. See § 15.43.010.
• Parking implications: Site design expectations (setbacks, lot coverage, parking layout) and parking counts follow § 15.61.020; high‑turnover uses (restaurants, motels) should size lots to turn/stacking needs and satisfy surfacing/landscape rules.

M / MP (Industrial / Industrial Park) — § 15.44 and § 15.51

• Purpose: Reserve areas for industrial plants, light manufacturing, business parks; protect industrial operations from incompatible neighbors. See § 15.44.010 and § 15.51.010.
• Parking & loading implications: Industrial uses have lower per‑sq‑ft parking ratios (e.g., manufacturing 1 per 500 sq ft, warehousing 1 per 1000 sq ft) and some uses require one or more loading spaces; loading and exterior storage must be screened and located on‑site. See § 15.61.020 and MP standards § 15.51.030.

PDR (Planned Development Residential) — § 15.48.

• Purpose: For master‑planned residential projects; site layout, parking, open space and phasing standards are handled by an approved general plan of development. See § 15.48.010–.080.
• Parking implications: Parking is determined at the plan review stage; parking areas must conform to the county’s parking and landscaping rules when the specific plan is prepared. See § 15.61.020 and § 15.48.

MHP (Planned Mobilehome Park) — § 15.50.010–.030

• Purpose: Standards for planned mobilehome parks (density, spacing, open areas). See § 15.50.010–.030.
• Parking implications: Each mobilehome site must provide paved parking for at least two automobiles (tandem allowed), except in the RZ zone where paving may be excepted. See § 15.50.030(3).

Quick reference table — selected parking minima (decision‑relevant)

Also: standard stall size 18' × 9' (medium/large) and 16' × 8' for compact; maximum 40% compact. See § 15.61.030.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Calculate required minimum parking using § 15.61.020 (choose the specific use or most similar use).
• Show stall dimensions and count; ensure no more than 40% compact stalls and compact stalls are signed. See § 15.61.030.
• Show surfacing and marking plan (asphaltic concrete for year‑round; gravel only for periodic use unless Public Works directs otherwise). See § 15.61.030.
• Provide parking lot landscaping plan: 5‑ft street planter where abutting public road, +5% of lot area landscaped, 1 tree/20 spaces. See § 15.61.040 and landscaping standards.
• Show driveway widths, grading and drainage plans meeting Public Works standards and § 15.61.050.
• Provide loading bays as required by the specific use (e.g., nurseries, warehouses) and show they remain on‑site if the use chapter requires it (e.g., § 15.74.010(5) for agricultural processing).
• For mobilehome parks, bed & breakfasts, PDR or other special districts, show the site‑specific parking required in the district chapter (e.g., § 15.50.030, § 15.76.010, § 15.48).
• If proposing an ADU, be advised state ADU rules limit local parking requirements (consult the state ADU guidance and verify local application). See California ADU guidance.
• Submit site plan for review (site plan review or conditional use/administrative permit as required by the district). See the applicable zone chapter (e.g., § 15.381.130, § 15.51.120).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you're building or changing use in unincorporated Glenn County, you must provide off‑street parking sized to the county’s tables (e.g., 2 spaces for single‑family, 1 per room for motels, 1 per 100 sq ft for restaurants), use standard stall sizes (typically 18'×9'), pave year‑round lots, add parking‑lot trees and planters, and keep loading/parking on the site — see § 15.61.010–.050 for the rules and your zone chapter for district‑specific requirements.

Source References

• Glenn County Code — Off‑Street Parking & Loading Facilities: § 15.61.010–.050.
• Glenn County Code — RZ (Recreation Zone): § 15.31.010–.080.
• Glenn County Code — R‑M (Multiple Residential): § 15.38.
• Glenn County Code — MU‑R (Mixed Use Residential): § 15.381.
• Glenn County Code — C (Commercial Zone): § 15.41.010–.030.
• Glenn County Code — HVC (Highway & Visitor Commercial): § 15.43.
• Glenn County Code — M (Industrial) and MP (Industrial Park): § 15.44 and § 15.51.
• Glenn County Code — Planned Mobilehome Park: § 15.50.010–.030.
• Glenn County Code — Bed & Breakfast rules: § 15.76.010.
• Glenn County Code — Agricultural Processing (parking on‑site): § 15.74.010(5).
• Glenn County Code — Planned Residential Development (PDR): § 15.48.
• California ADU guidance (state law summary; parking exemptions/limits): California ADU handbook.
• California Building Standards / CalGreen (bicycle parking & EV readiness guidance referenced by county): 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Green Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Glenn County Zoning Code (Section 65915) High relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (Section 65915) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (chapter and) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 301.3 (section has) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (title and) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 106.5.3.2.1 (CHAPTER 5) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 106.5.3.4 (CHAPTER 5) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § 1.11 (chapter as) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CPC § P2904.4.2 (Section P2904.4.2.) Medium relevance show source text
• Glenn County Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Glenn County Code — Off‑Street Parking & Loading Facilities: **§ 15.61.010–.050**. (§ 15.61.010)
• Glenn County Code — RZ (Recreation Zone): **§ 15.31.010–.080**. (§ 15.31.010)
• Glenn County Code — R‑M (Multiple Residential): **§ 15.38**. (§ 15.38)
• Glenn County Code — MU‑R (Mixed Use Residential): **§ 15.381**. (§ 15.381)
• Glenn County Code — C (Commercial Zone): **§ 15.41.010–.030**. (§ 15.41.010)
• Glenn County Code — HVC (Highway & Visitor Commercial): **§ 15.43**. (§ 15.43)
• Glenn County Code — M (Industrial) and MP (Industrial Park): **§ 15.44** and **§ 15.51**. (§ 15.44)
• Glenn County Code — Planned Mobilehome Park: **§ 15.50.010–.030**. (§ 15.50.010)
• Glenn County Code — Bed & Breakfast rules: **§ 15.76.010**. (§ 15.76.010)
• Glenn County Code — Agricultural Processing (parking on‑site): **§ 15.74.010(5)**. (§ 15.74.010)
• Glenn County Code — Planned Residential Development (PDR): **§ 15.48**. (§ 15.48)
• California ADU guidance (state law summary; parking exemptions/limits): California ADU handbook.
• California Building Standards / CalGreen (bicycle parking & EV readiness guidance referenced by county): 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Green Building Standards Code.
• GlennCounty_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md
• 2025 California Green Building Standards Code.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md