Local zoning · Highland

Highland — Parking

Q: What are Highland’s minimum parking requirements for a single‑family house?

Highland requires 2.0 spaces per single‑family detached unit , and those spaces must be provided in an enclosed garage , per § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A). Guest/visitor parking rules and Village Residential special rules may add conditions.

Q: How many parking spaces do I need for a 2‑bedroom apartment in Highland?

For R‑2/R‑3 style multifamily the table lists 2.0 spaces per 2+ bedroom unit , with at least one covered space assigned per unit as applicable; see § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A).

Q: Do Highland’s rules allow tandem parking or compact‑only layouts to meet the minimum?

Tandem parking is generally not allowed to meet required numbers unless specifically permitted or a variance is obtained; compact spaces are limited by percentage caps (generally 25–40% ). See § 16.52.030 and related notes.

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes Highland’s local rules for parking and related facilities under the Highland zoning code, with practical notes for applicants. The Parking chapter sets minimum off‑street automobile rates, off‑street loading schedules, bicycle facility rules, design standards for parking and loading, and special rules for parking structures and shared/off‑site parking. See the code purpose and procedural rules in § 16.52.010 and § 16.52.020.

(Links: this page uses Highland pages for readers who want the broader context — see Highland Zoning, Development Standards, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs and California Building Standards Code pages below.)

How to read this page

Bolded terms are the scan-targets (district names and numeric standards).
Every code requirement below is grounded to the Highland Municipal Code section cited (the full text lives on the city website; this page provides plain‑English interpretation and practical guidance). Where the ordinance text was not available in the retrieved materials, I note that explicitly.

District-by-district breakdown (parking‑relevant features)

Note: each district name below is presented as the code uses it and in bold. Where the zoning chapter text for the district purpose/permitted uses was not present in the retrieved parking chapter, I cite the chapter or table that contains parking or development standards for that district. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific interpretation.

R-2, R-2C, R-3 (single‑family attached / small multi‑family)

Purpose & typical uses: multi‑unit residential; the parking rules in the parking schedule apply to these districts for attached and small multi‑family housing. (The parking table entries treat these districts together for parking calculations.)
Key parking standards:
- Studio: 1 covered space per unit (assigned) — § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A).
- 1‑bedroom: 1.5 spaces per unit (one covered) — § 16.52.030.
- 2+ bedrooms: 2.0 spaces per unit (one covered) — § 16.52.030.
Notes on configuration: Covered spaces shall be assigned to specific units; covered parking may be required as garage/carport depending on district rules. Guest parking requirement: 0.5 space per unit (visitor parking), with up to 50% compact visitor allowance and on‑street counted if within 250 ft (see notes in Table).
Where it applies: Residential parcels zoned R-2, R-2C, R-3 (see zoning map). Verify unit‑by‑unit assignment and covered‑parking requirements with plan review.

R-4 (multifamily)

Purpose & typical uses: larger multifamily developments; parking table has more granular bedroom‑based rates.
Key parking standards (Table 16.52.030.A / § 16.52.030):
- Studio & 1‑bedroom: 1.5 spaces per unit (minimum one covered).
- 2 bedrooms: 1.9 spaces per unit.
- 3 bedrooms: 2.1 spaces per unit.
- 4 bedrooms: 2.4 spaces per unit.
- Guest parking: 0.3 spaces per unit (may be uncovered).
Notes: Minimum of one covered space per unit is required in many cases; planning staff may require covered parking within garage/carport. Reductions for density bonus or affordable housing may apply (see § 16.40.090 and § 16.52.030 notes).

Village Residential (special residential overlay / neighborhood)

Purpose & typical uses: village‑scale residential rules are referenced in parking table notes (special garage/frontage requirements apply in this district).
Key local parking rule (special): within Village Residential District, no more than a two‑car space and no less than a one‑car space shall be provided within an enclosed garage and that garage shall be located a minimum of 45 feet from the exterior garage door to the front property line. This is a specific parking/garage siting rule referenced in the parking table. § 16.52.030 (Table notes).
Where it applies: developments within the mapped Village Residential District. Verify mapping and exceptions with the planning department. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Employment/Industrial districts: BP, I, OP

Purpose & typical uses: business park, industrial and office park uses — see Industrial site development standards (Table 16.24.040.A) and parking chapter cross‑references. Parking for uses in these districts must comply with Chapter 16.52.
Key dimensional standards (site development): minimum front/setbacks, lot coverage and heights vary by district — e.g., front setback 20 ft, max height 50 ft, max lot coverage 60% for BP/I in Table 16.24.040.A (industrial standards).
Parking and landscaping interactions:
- Where parking is visible from the street, a 3‑ft landscaped berm or decorative wall is required between the parking area and required landscaped front setback. § 16.24.040 cross references Chapter 16.52 for parking compliance.

Public / Quasi‑Public (incl. Civic Center CC)

Purpose & typical uses: civic buildings, public utilities, libraries, parks — parking and development standards in Table 16.12.020.B.
Key development standards: example minimums include minimum site area 1 acre, front setback 30 ft, max height 35 ft, max building coverage 45%; parking visible from streets must be screened by a wall/berm and landscaped setbacks apply. § 16.12.020.B.
Parking requirement basis: parking for public/quasi‑public uses follows Chapter 16.52 schedules.

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Use / Situation	Minimum off‑street requirement (highlights)	Code reference
Single‑family detached	2.0 spaces per unit, must be provided within an enclosed garage	§ 16.52.030
Multifamily (R‑2 / R‑3)	Studio 1; 1‑bed 1.5; 2+ bed 2.0 (covered assignments and guest parking 0.5/unit)	§ 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A)
Multifamily (R‑4)	Bedroom‑based rates (e.g., 2‑bed 1.9; 3‑bed 2.1; 4‑bed 2.4) + guest 0.3/unit	§ 16.52.030 (Table)
Off‑street loading — general (commercial)	See Table 16.52.040.A: e.g., general retail 0–4,999 ft² = 1 loading space; larger sizes scale up	§ 16.52.040 (Table 16.52.040.A)
Loading area design	Loading doors facing public street must be ≥ 70 ft from property line; loading areas must allow on‑site maneuvering and screening	§ 16.52.060 (design standards)
Parking structures	Parking structures require conditional use permit/major review; ramp slope max 20%; min two‑way ramp width 18 ft	§ 16.52.070
Compact/tandem rules	Compact spaces capped at 25–40% (unless otherwise specified); tandem parking cannot generally be used to meet required totals unless specifically allowed	§ 16.52.030 / § 16.52.050 notes

Practical guidance and synthesis

Start with the parking schedule in § 16.52.030; it gives the baseline counts by use and district (Table 16.52.030.A). For anything not listed, the code requires a parking study submitted to the Community Development Director and the use will be reviewed during plan review.
Design standards (stall sizes, aisles, circulation, loading door siting and screening, parking structure ramps) are handled in § 16.52.060 and § 16.52.070 — these are enforceable during site plan / department review; parking structures trigger major reviews/conditional use permits.
Compact and tandem allowances are limited: compact space percentage caps apply and tandem may not be used to meet required totals (except where the code explicitly permits or a variance is granted). If you plan tandem or compact-heavy layouts, expect to justify them or request a variance. § 16.52.030 / § 16.52.050.
Shared parking and reductions: reductions or increases may be approved based on parking studies and shared‑parking agreements; the Community Development Director can require a parking study or permit reductions only when supported by findings. § 16.52.030 and § 16.52.050.
Visitor/on‑street assumptions — the code assumes some on‑street guest parking (subject to proximity and whether the street parking is permitted). If on‑street parking is prohibited or restricted, you must provide visitor parking on site (e.g., one visitor space per unit within 100 feet if curb parking is unavailable). § 16.52.030 (Table notes).
Bicycle parking: the code references a schedule for bicycle facilities (Table and § references such as § 16.52.050) and indicates bicycle facilities are excluded from gross floor area. However, detailed bicycle stall dimensions and exact ratios were not fully present in the retrieved materials (see Information Gaps).

(Internal links for related topics: see Highland Zoning, Development Standards, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Prepare an off‑street parking plan and submit per department review rules (§ 16.08.060) and the Parking chapter.
Provide the minimum number of automobile spaces shown in Table 16.52.030.A for your use and district (§ 16.52.030).
Provide required off‑street loading per Table 16.52.040.A and design loading areas to allow on‑site maneuvering and required setbacks/screening (§ 16.52.040, § 16.52.060).
Ensure handicapped spaces are striped/marked per state standards when additional parking is required (§ 16.52.020.B.3).
Demonstrate compliance with parking structure design (if applicable) and obtain conditional use/major development review for aboveground parking structures (§ 16.52.070).
If proposing fewer spaces, prepare a parking study per the code and be ready to request a reduction or variance where applicable (§ 16.52.030.F, § 16.52.050, and variance rules § 16.08.070).
Include landscaping/screening per district development standards where parking is visible from streets (see district tables such as § 16.24.040, § 16.12.020.B).
Maintain parking and bicycle facilities for the duration of the use; do not use required spaces for storage or display (§ 16.52.030.H).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Bicycle parking rates and dimensions	Bicycle facility schedule and design specifics were referenced but not fully retrieved; this affects required bike rack counts and design	Verify § 16.52.050 and any implementing regulations; confirm long‑term vs short‑term bike parking requirements. Not found in retrieved materials.
EV charging / CALGreen expectations	State codes (Title 24 / CALGreen) impose EV readiness and bicycle parking in some projects; local code references state standards but local EV counts not shown	Confirm local EV parking requirements or whether state CALGreen standards apply; consult California Building Standards Code.
Use not listed in tables	Table entries do not cover every commercial/industrial use	If your use is missing, the code requires a parking study and code review; submit four copies of a parking study per § 16.52.030.I.
Shared / off‑site parking reductions	Shared parking can reduce on‑site counts, but the city imposes proximity and pedestrian access requirements	Off‑site/shared parking requires agreements ensuring continued availability; confirm proximity/accessibility and sign agreements per § 16.52.030.F and § 16.52.030.E.
Tandem parking proposals	Tandem parking is generally not accepted toward minimum counts	Tandem is not allowed unless explicitly permitted or a variance is granted; verify with plan reviewer and consider variance § 16.08.070.

Plain‑English summary

Highland’s zoning code requires on‑site parking and loading according to the schedules in § 16.52.030 and § 16.52.040, applies design standards in § 16.52.060 and § 16.52.070, and lets the Community Development Director require a parking study or permit reductions where justified — start with the parking table for your specific use and plan design detail (striping, screening, covered/assigned spaces) to match the code.

Source References

Chapter 16.52, Parking Regulations — purpose and general rules: § 16.52.010; § 16.52.020.
Schedule of off‑street parking: § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A).
Off‑street loading schedule: § 16.52.040 (Table 16.52.040.A).
Design standards / loading area requirements and parking structure requirements: § 16.52.060 and § 16.52.070.
Multifamily parking specifics (R‑2, R‑3, R‑4) and table notes: Table 16.52.030.A within § 16.52.030.
Industrial site development and parking landscaping/screening references: Table 16.24.040.A and related text § 16.24.040.
Public/Quasi‑Public district development standards (site, setbacks, parking screening): Table 16.12.020.B § 16.12.020.
Variance rules (minor/major variances including up to 30% modifications to parking): § 16.08.070.
Local references to bicycle facilities and excluded floor area for bike parking: § 16.52.030 notes referencing bicycle facility schedules.
California Green Building Standards Code references (for EV readiness and bicycle parking in state code): retrieved CALGreen notes (uploaded file).

Sources

Retrieved passages

Highland Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 13.10) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 16.40.090) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (chapter would) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 16.52.030.) Medium relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 13.60) Medium relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 16.52.040.) High relevance
Highland Zoning Code (§ 16.40.090) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Highland code library

Frequently asked questions

What are Highland’s minimum parking requirements for a single‑family house?

Highland requires 2.0 spaces per single‑family detached unit, and those spaces must be provided in an enclosed garage, per § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A). Guest/visitor parking rules and Village Residential special rules may add conditions.

How many parking spaces do I need for a 2‑bedroom apartment in Highland?

For R‑2/R‑3 style multifamily the table lists 2.0 spaces per 2+ bedroom unit, with at least one covered space assigned per unit as applicable; see § 16.52.030 (Table 16.52.030.A).

Do Highland’s rules allow tandem parking or compact‑only layouts to meet the minimum?

Tandem parking is generally not allowed to meet required numbers unless specifically permitted or a variance is obtained; compact spaces are limited by percentage caps (generally 25–40%). See § 16.52.030 and related notes.

What are the off‑street loading requirements for a retail store?

The required loading spaces depend on gross floor area as shown in Table 16.52.040.A; for general retail 0–4,999 ft² the table lists 1 loading space, with larger stores requiring more — see § 16.52.040. Loading areas must be designed for on‑site maneuvering and screened per § 16.52.060.

Does Highland require bicycle parking, and where is that specified?

Yes — the code references bicycle facilities and a bicycle schedule (see § 16.52.030 and references to § 16.52.050). The retrieved materials reference bicycle facility requirements but did not include the full bicycle‑parking ratio table or detailed dimensional standards; check § 16.52.050 and follow‑up implementing regulations during plan review. Not found in retrieved materials (detailed bicycle stall counts/dimensions).

Are parking structures subject to special review?

Yes — subterranean, semi‑subterranean and above‑ground parking structures require a conditional use permit and major development review, and have specific slope, ramp width, queuing, and design requirements in § 16.52.070.

Can I use on‑street parking to meet visitor parking requirements?

On‑street parking may be counted for visitor parking only if spaces are within 250 feet of the unit’s frontage and public street parking is permitted; if on‑street parking is restricted, one visitor space per unit may be required on site within 100 feet per the parking table notes in § 16.52.030.

What happens if a use is not listed in the parking table?

If the parking requirement for a use is not listed, the applicant must submit a parking study to the Community Development Director; the required number of spaces is then determined through application review (§ 16.52.030.I).

Do Highland’s downtown or overlay districts change parking standards?

Some districts and overlays include special siting/landscaping or garage‑placement rules (for example the Village Residential note on garage siting). Consult the specific overlay district chapter for modifications — overlays are part of the zoning text and may alter development standards. Verify in the overlay chapter and during design review.

If I want fewer parking spaces than the table requires, what’s the path?

You can request a reduction via a shared‑parking agreement, a parking study, or pursue a variance — reductions and increases are handled per § 16.52.030.F and § 16.52.050, and variances per § 16.08.070. Be prepared to provide a parking study and legally enforceable agreements where off‑site/shared parking is proposed.

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