Local zoning · Gridley

Gridley — Parking

Q: What parking ratios apply to apartments and single‑family homes in Gridley?

For apartments and dwellings the general table in § 17.76.030.E(1) controls: studio/one‑bed: 1 space/unit , two‑bed: 1.5 spaces/unit , single‑family/duplex/triplex: 2 spaces each . For second dwelling units / cottage units the code lists 1 space each . Verify any combining zone exceptions (downtown) that may change garage requirements.

Q: Do I need to provide bicycle parking for my new retail or office in Gridley?

Yes — Chapter 17.76 requires that an adequate number of bicycle racks or similar facilities be provided and located to avoid obstruction; the Planning Commission approves the amount and placement at site review. There is no numeric standard in the chapter — plan for a practical number and expect the PC to confirm during site review. § 17.76.030.C .

Q: Can my downtown store avoid providing on‑site parking?

If the property is in Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 (central business area west of Haskell Street), there are no on‑site parking requirements for non‑residential uses — Zone 1 is intended to permit denser downtown development. Confirm the parcel map because the exception only applies inside that zone. § 17.58.020 .

Q: May I use tandem parking to satisfy required spaces for a house or small apartment?

Tandem parking is allowed specifically in R‑S , R‑1 and R‑2 zones (see § 17.76.060.B ). Other zones may allow tandem parking only if approved as part of a site plan or PD/exception; check with Planning if you are outside those named zones.

Q: Are parking lot layouts reviewed by the City?

Yes — the design of proposed off‑street parking areas with five or more spaces must be reviewed by the Planning Commission before city permits are granted (see § 17.76.050.E ). Expect review of circulation, sight distance, surfacing, lighting and landscaping.

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Gridley regulates parking under its zoning ordinance (Title 17). It pulls the off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking, design and special‑zone exceptions that control how many spaces, what size and where spaces can be placed in each zoning district. For procedure and site review implications see the city's rules on design review and the City's development standards. Key rules live in Chapter 17.76 (Off‑Street Parking) and the Special Parking Combining Zones in 17.58; those chapters are cited throughout below.

How the code is organized (short)

General off‑street rules and a table of required parking by use are in § 17.76.010–17.76.060.
Many district chapters (for example C‑1, C‑2, M‑1, R‑ districts, DMU/NMU) either incorporate Chapter 17.76 or point to the Special Parking Combining Zones in § 17.58 for downtown exceptions. See each district subsection below for the local interpretation.

District-by‑district breakdown (purpose, typical uses, parking-specific standards)

Note: every district name below is shown in bold and the text cites the controlling zoning chapter where the parking rule appears. Where a district refers to the general off‑street rules, those rules originate in § 17.76.

C-1 (Central Commercial) — C-1

Purpose / typical uses: neighborhood and downtown retail and services (see Chapter 17.32).
Parking rule: properties in C‑1 are governed by Chapter 17.76, except that properties inside the downtown Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 use § 17.58 instead (no on‑site parking required for non‑residential uses there). § 17.32.090 and § 17.58.020.
Loading: private off‑street loading must be provided; loading bays shall be at least 12 ft wide and 14 ft high. § 17.32.100.

C-2 (General Commercial) — C-2

Purpose / typical uses: larger retail, automotive and wholesale retail (see Chapter 17.34).
Parking rule: same approach as C‑1 — Chapter 17.76 governs except downtown properties within Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 defer to § 17.58. § 17.34.090.
Loading: same minimum 12 ft by 14 ft rule for truck movement. § 17.34.100.

M‑1 / M‑2 / M‑3 (Industrial / Agricultural Industrial) — M-1, M-2, M-3

Purpose / typical uses: light to heavy industrial and ag‑industrial activities (see Chapters 17.42, 17.44, 17.46).
Parking rule: all reference Chapter 17.76 for required spaces; design/load requirements and lot‑coverage limits also influence how much area is available for parking (e.g., M‑1 caps aggregate coverage to 80%, which includes required parking). § 17.42.080, § 17.42.070, § 17.44.080.
Loading: minimum loading dimensions 12 ft wide by 14 ft high appear in multiple industrial/commercial districts. § 17.42.090, § 17.44.090.

R districts (Residential) — R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-S

Purpose / typical uses: single‑family to higher‑density residential (see respective chapters).
Parking rule: residential parking rates are spelled out in § 17.76.030.E(1) — e.g., single‑family/duplex/triplex: two spaces each; studio/one‑bed units: one space/unit; two‑bed apartments: 1.5 spaces/unit; second dwelling units (ADUs) / cottage units: one space each. The chapter also allows some flexibility where multiple uses share parking (reduction up to 25% at Planning Commission discretion). § 17.76.030.
Design/access: one required space for single‑family must be covered by a garage, except for properties inside Special Parking Combining Zone Number 2 (see § 17.58.030). Tandem parking is permitted in R‑S, R‑1 and R‑2 zones (§ 17.76.060.B). § 17.76.050–060, § 17.58.030.

DMU (Downtown Mixed Use) and NMU (Neighborhood Mixed Use) — DMU, NMU

Purpose: encourage compact mixed‑use downtown and neighborhood centers (Chapters 17.53 and 17.54).
Parking rule: DMU and NMU generally require no separate non‑residential parking per se and default to one space per residential unit for residential uses; they explicitly allow use of street parking or shared parking (see § 17.53.040.D and § 17.54.040.D). DMU/NMU direct parking to the side or rear and discourage new parking along the front property line or at intersections.

PD (Planned Development) — PD

Purpose: flexible combining zone. Off‑street parking minimums default to Chapter 17.76, but the PD process allows the City to modify off‑street parking requirements during approval (see § 17.55.040.B). Verify any PD permit conditions.

PQP (Public & Quasi‑Public) — PQP

Parking rules: City requires compliance with Chapter 17.76 and site development review for public projects. § 17.62.080 and § 17.62.090.

Special Parking Combining Zones — Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 / Number 2

Purpose: allow downtown density and to address small pre‑existing lots (Chapter 17.58). § 17.58.010.
Zone 1 (central business area, applies to non‑residential districts west of Haskell Street): no on‑site parking requirement for non‑residential uses. Residential units in Zone 1 must meet the residential parking rules referenced in the district chapters. § 17.58.020.
Zone 2 (downtown residential area bounded by Locust St, Lateral No. 8, West Biggs‑Gridley Rd, and Hwy 99): Chapter 17.76 applies but required residential spaces need not be covered and tandem parking is allowed. § 17.58.030.

Key numeric standards — quick table

Use or standard	Requirement / Decision point	Code reference
Bicycle parking	"An adequate number" of bicycle racks or similar facilities required; location and amount subject to Planning Commission approval. Verify number at plan review.	§ 17.76.030.C
Accessible parking	Must provide accessible spaces per the California code (Title 24). Verify Americans with Disabilities Act and Title 24 layout.	§ 17.76.030.B + reference to California Building Standards Code
Residential parking (typical)	Single‑family/duplex/triplex: 2 spaces each; Studio/1‑bed: 1 space/unit; 2‑bed+: 1.5 spaces/unit; ADU/second unit: 1 space.	§ 17.76.030.E(1)
Commercial examples	Offices (medical/dental): 1 per 200 sq ft; other offices: 1 per 300 sq ft; Hotels/motels: 1 per bedroom; barbers/beauty: 3 per operator.	§ 17.76.030.E(2)
Parking space dimensions	Parallel: 8 x 22 ft; Compact: 8 x 17 ft; Standard: 10 x 20 ft; Oversize: 12 x 40 ft for trucks/RVs.	§ 17.76.050.A(1–4)
Loading area	Minimum 12 ft wide and 14 ft high for truck movement and loading.	§ 17.32.100, § 17.34.100, § 17.42.090
Surface / paving	Required surface: asphalt, concrete or similar durable dust‑free surface for all required parking and access drives.	§ 17.76.050.C
Shared parking reduction	When multiple uses share a site, Planning Commission may reduce combined requirement up to 25%.	§ 17.76.030.A

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

Start with Chapter 17.76 when calculating required spaces — the district chapters almost always default to it. § 17.76.020 requires compliance before building permits or certificate of occupancy.
If your property sits in downtown areas, check whether it lies inside Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 or 2 — downtown non‑residential properties in Zone 1 may have no on‑site requirement; Zone 2 allows tandem parking and no garage requirement. Map extents are described in § 17.58. Verify the parcel's zone with the City. § 17.58.020–030.
Bicycle parking is required but the code deliberately uses performance language (“adequate number”) and places final determination with the Planning Commission at site review — be prepared to propose a rack count and location during site development plan review. § 17.76.030.C.
For any change of use or expansion, the incremental parking principle applies — you must provide the additional spaces required by the new use compared to the old use (you may not count existing spaces toward a new requirement beyond the combined maximum). § 17.76.020.C–D.

Also consult the City’s site development and design review processes (see design review and overlay districts) early, because the Planning Commission reviews parking lot designs with five or more spaces and can impose conditions or accept shared/alternate solutions. § 17.76.050.E, § 17.08.010.

Checklist

Confirm zoning district for the parcel and whether any combining zones (SP, DMU, NMU, HCC) apply (verify with City). § 17.58, district chapters.
Calculate required spaces using § 17.76.030 rates for your use(s).
Include accessible spaces compliant with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and ADA where applicable; show dimensions on plans. § 17.76.030.B.
Provide bicycle parking proposals and locations (subject to PC approval). § 17.76.030.C.
Dimension spaces per § 17.76.050 and show surfacing/drainage (asphalt/concrete).
If five or more spaces proposed, prepare for Planning Commission design review of parking layout. § 17.76.050.E.
For loading docks, show 12 ft x 14 ft minimum clearances on plans. § 17.32.100, § 17.34.100.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
“Adequate” bicycle parking	The code uses non‑numeric wording and leaves final determination to the Planning Commission — you could be required to add more racks at review.	Prepare a bicycle parking plan and verify expected standard during pre‑application with Planning (see § 17.76.030.C).
Downtown zone mapping	Being in Special Parking Combining Zone No.1 may remove a non‑residential on‑site requirement; mis‑mapping risks overbuilding or under‑providing parking.	Confirm parcel location (City map / Planning counter) and applicability of § 17.58.020 or 17.58.030.
Counting existing spaces at change of use	The code restricts counting of existing spaces toward new uses and requires only incremental increases.	For change of use, calculate required increase per § 17.76.020.C–D; verify assumptions with planning staff.
ADA / Title 24 layout	Local code defers to Title 24 for accessible spaces; site plans that meet Gridley counts but not Title 24 still fail building permit.	Include Title 24/ADA layout and citations in plans; reference § 17.76.030.B and California Building Standards Code.
Bicycle rack placement blocking sidewalks	The code requires racks be located to prevent obstruction. Poor placement can fail plan review.	Show exact rack dimension/location on drawings (see § 17.76.030.C).
Shared parking reductions	A Planning Commission reduction may be approved up to 25%, but this is discretionary.	If relying on shared parking, document operating schedules and ask for pre‑application guidance; cite § 17.76.030.A.

Plain‑English summary

Gridley requires most properties to meet the off‑street parking rates in Chapter 17.76 (space counts by use, space sizes, surfacing, bicycle parking and loading dimensions), but downtown combining zones can change or relax those requirements (notably the Special Parking Combining Zones in § 17.58). For residential units the code gives clear per‑unit counts (e.g., 2 spaces for single‑family; 1 for ADUs); for many commercial uses the rates are square‑foot or per‑seat. Always confirm whether your parcel sits in a downtown or other combining zone and expect the Planning Commission to review parking layouts with five or more spaces.

Source References

Gridley Municipal Code, Chapter 17.76 (Off‑Street Parking): § 17.76.010 – § 17.76.060 (number of spaces, bicycle parking, design standards, access, repair/remodel exceptions).
Gridley Municipal Code, Chapter 17.58 (Special Parking Combining Zones): § 17.58.010 – § 17.58.030 (Zone 1 — downtown non‑residential exception; Zone 2 — downtown residential rules).
District chapters referencing parking and loading minimums: § 17.32.090–100 (C‑1), § 17.34.090–100 (C‑2), § 17.42.080–090 (M‑1), § 17.44.090 (M‑2); they reference Chapter 17.76 for parking and specify loading bay minima of 12 ft / 14 ft.
Downtown / Mixed Use combining zones: § 17.53.040.D and § 17.54.040.D (parking treatment for DMU and NMU: generally one space per residential unit; may use street/shared parking).
Planned Development flexibility and parking modifications: § 17.55.040.B–C.

If you need parcel‑specific confirmation (is my lot inside SP Zone 1 or 2?) or a copy of the city parking map, verify with the Gridley Planning Department or request the City zoning/overlay map (Verify with the jurisdiction).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Gridley Zoning Code High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 12) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 13) High relevance
CBC § 26 (§ 26) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 19) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 12) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 26) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 21) High relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (§ 13) Medium relevance
Gridley Zoning Code (Chapter 17.76.) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Gridley code library

Frequently asked questions

What parking ratios apply to apartments and single‑family homes in Gridley?

For apartments and dwellings the general table in § 17.76.030.E(1) controls: studio/one‑bed: 1 space/unit, two‑bed: 1.5 spaces/unit, single‑family/duplex/triplex: 2 spaces each. For second dwelling units / cottage units the code lists 1 space each. Verify any combining zone exceptions (downtown) that may change garage requirements.

Do I need to provide bicycle parking for my new retail or office in Gridley?

Yes — Chapter 17.76 requires that an adequate number of bicycle racks or similar facilities be provided and located to avoid obstruction; the Planning Commission approves the amount and placement at site review. There is no numeric standard in the chapter — plan for a practical number and expect the PC to confirm during site review. § 17.76.030.C.

Can my downtown store avoid providing on‑site parking?

If the property is in Special Parking Combining Zone Number 1 (central business area west of Haskell Street), there are no on‑site parking requirements for non‑residential uses — Zone 1 is intended to permit denser downtown development. Confirm the parcel map because the exception only applies inside that zone. § 17.58.020.

What are the minimum loading‑dock dimensions the City requires?

The zoning chapters repeatedly require private off‑street loading and handling areas sized to permit loading without use of public streets; loading areas intended for truck movement must be at least 12 ft wide and 14 ft high (this appears in multiple district chapters such as § 17.32.100, § 17.34.100, § 17.42.090).

May I use tandem parking to satisfy required spaces for a house or small apartment?

Tandem parking is allowed specifically in R‑S, R‑1 and R‑2 zones (see § 17.76.060.B). Other zones may allow tandem parking only if approved as part of a site plan or PD/exception; check with Planning if you are outside those named zones.

Does Gridley require accessible parking and where does the standard come from?

Yes — Gridley requires an adequate number of parking spaces designated for disabled persons as specified in Title 24 (California Building Standards Code); the ordinance directs compliance to Title 24/ADA layout and access. Show Title 24‑compliant accessible spaces on plans. § 17.76.030.B.

If I change a building from retail to restaurant, how does the parking change?

When a use changes to one with a higher parking demand, the code requires an incremental increase equal to the difference between what was required for the old use and the new use; you may not count existing spaces beyond that combined maximum. The code gives an example and describes this policy in § 17.76.020.C–D.

Are parking lot layouts reviewed by the City?

Yes — the design of proposed off‑street parking areas with five or more spaces must be reviewed by the Planning Commission before city permits are granted (see § 17.76.050.E). Expect review of circulation, sight distance, surfacing, lighting and landscaping.

Do ADUs (second units) need extra parking in Gridley?

ADUs (second dwelling units / cottage units) are listed with a requirement of one parking space each in the residential parking table (§ 17.76.030.E(1)(a)). However, ADU rules can be influenced by state ADU law and local ADU rules — confirm with Gridley’s ADU guidance and the planning counter (Verify with the jurisdiction).

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