Hollister — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Hollister Municipal Code requires for parking, off-street loading, and bicycle parking under Title 17 (Zoning). It is a plain‑English, Hollister‑specific synthesis of the local standards (not building-code/Title 24 requirements). The controlling off‑street parking, bicycle and loading framework is in Chapter 17.18 (Pedestrian, Bicycle, Parking and Loading Standards); see § 17.18.010 for purpose and applicability.

Notes on terminology used below:

• "Required parking" refers to the minimum off‑street vehicle spaces the Zoning Ordinance obligates a use to provide (Table 17.18‑1 / § 17.18.060 and associated text).
• Where I use the word parking the city’s Zoning rules (Title 17) are the source; see the city zoning overview for other topics. Hollister Zoning

How the rules are organized (quick)

• Citywide standards and design requirements sit in Chapter 17.18 (17.18.010–17.18.110). Key sections include § 17.18.030 (Circulation plan / pedestrian connections), § 17.18.060 (Number of parking spaces required / Table 17.18‑1), § 17.18.070–080 (bicycle design and location), § 17.18.090 (reductions/shared parking/in‑lieu options), § 17.18.100 (disabled parking), and § 17.18.110 (design & development standards for off‑street parking).

• The district chapters (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Mixed‑Use, etc.) add district‑specific parking direction or relaxations (e.g., Mixed‑Use / West Gateway flexibility; Downtown assessment district options). See the district summaries below (each cites the local ordinance text that defines the district purpose and any special parking rules).

Where the page mentions local development design, setbacks or site rules I link to the city’s Hollister Development Standards. Where design review, overlays or ADUs come up I link to the city pages for those topics: Hollister Design Review, Hollister Overlay Districts, and Hollister ADUs. When building-code overlap is relevant I point to the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district parking summary (Hollister-specific)

For each zoning district below I list: purpose (from Title 17), typical uses, where it applies, and the parking/parking‑design highlights that apply in addition to the citywide Chapter 17.18 standards.

Important: the citywide Chapter 17.18 minimums (Table 17.18‑1 / § 17.18.060) are the baseline for all districts unless a district chapter states otherwise.

RE (Residential Estate)

• Purpose & where it applies: large–lot residential (Table of districts, § 17.02.030).
• Typical uses: single‑family estate homes and accessory uses.
• Parking rules: baseline residential parking standards apply (see § 17.18.060). Residential lot rules (setbacks, garage siting, driveway widths) are in the residential standards; driveway width caps and front hardscape limits are enforced (see residential development standards).

R‑1 (Low Density Residential)

• Purpose & where it applies: standard single‑family neighborhoods in Hollister (district table, § 17.02.030).
• Typical uses: single‑family homes, accessory structures.
• Parking rules: Two (2) off‑street parking spaces required per dwelling (see § 17.18.060(C)). Garage/drives must meet the residential development rules including maximum driveway widths and front‑setback hardscape limits.

R‑2 / R‑3 / R‑4 / OT (Two‑family thru High Density / Old Town)

• Purpose & where it applies: multi‑unit neighborhoods; each district’s lot coverage, setbacks and height are in Tables 17.04‑2/3/4.
• Typical uses: duplexes, small‑ and medium‑sized multifamily buildings.
• Parking rules: Multifamily parking requirements are drawn from Table 17.18‑1 (e.g., units → spaces per unit or per bedroom as listed); affordable/density‑bonus projects have special ratios under § 17.34.070 (density bonus parking adjustments). Shared parking reductions and reductions for affordable housing are explicitly allowed.

DMU (Downtown Mixed Use)

• Purpose & where it applies: downtown commercial + mixed use (Table 17.02.030). The downtown rules encourage zero‑lot lines and pedestrian orientation.
• Typical uses: retail, restaurants, offices, upper‑floor housing.
• Parking rules: downtown encourages on‑street and shared facilities and allows the Downtown Parking Assessment District to satisfy off‑street requirements when included in that district (see § 17.18.090 regarding parking assessment districts and in‑lieu certificates). Downtown buildings may have no required yard and are oriented to the sidewalk — on‑site parking may be behind buildings.

NMU (Neighborhood Mixed Use)

• Purpose & where it applies: smaller scale mixed‑use, near neighborhoods.
• Typical uses: neighborhood retail + housing.
• Parking rules: baseline Table 17.18‑1 ratios apply; the Mixed‑Use supplemental standards allow the Planning Commission to authorize reductions for mixed‑use developments when a shared parking plan and residential parking are protected. See § 17.08.050(D) (mixed‑use parking flexibility) and § 17.18.090 (reductions/shared parking).

WG (West Gateway)

• Purpose: planned mixed‑use gateway to the west of downtown; the code explicitly encourages parking assessment districts and authorizes the Planning Commission to reduce commercial parking when residential needs are met and long‑term demand‑management measures are in place. See § 17.08.060(C).
• Typical uses: larger mixed‑use and multifamily near gateway roads.
• Parking rules: Commission can approve reductions and require reciprocal agreements, resident parking plans and travel‑demand measures (bike parking, transit, car‑share) as conditions to a reduced commercial parking count.

CO (Commercial Office) / GC (General Commercial) / NG (North Gateway)

• Purpose & where it applies: commercial corridors and retail/office zones; NG prioritizes large‑scale retail and coordinated master plans.
• Typical uses: offices, retail, restaurants, big‑box and auto‑oriented retail in NG.
• Parking rules: Table 17.18‑1 provides vehicle and bicycle ratios by use (e.g., offices, restaurants, retail, hotel). NG carries supplemental landscape and screening standards to screen parking and loading from the gateway corridors. Off‑site or assessment district parking options are allowed for downtown/assessment district properties.

M1 (Light Industrial) / IBP (Industrial Business Park)

• Purpose: industrial and business park uses; outdoor storage / loading is expected to be accessory and screened. § 17.10.010 sets purpose and allowed uses.
• Typical uses: warehousing, manufacturing, R&D, large equipment (M1 may require conditional use for heavy industrial).
• Parking & loading rules: industrial uses have their own vehicle‑space rules in Table 17.18‑1 (e.g., spaces per employee or per floor area) and the code emphasizes on‑site loading and screened outdoor storage. Loading access and design standards are in § 17.18.110 and the industrial chapter.

Key standards at-a-glance (decision‑relevant table)

Practical guidance / interpretation notes (plain‑English)

• Start from Table 17.18‑1 and § 17.18.060 for the minimum number of vehicle spaces required per land‑use type — that is the controlling baseline for all zoning districts unless a district or specific plan says otherwise. For single‑family homes the ordinance explicitly requires two spaces per dwelling.

• Bicycle requirements are numeric and design‑specific (anchored racks, 5‑ft maneuvering space, proximity to entries) — design your site plan to show rack type, counts and a 5‑ft clear aisle. See § 17.18.070–080.

• Accessible (disabled) parking must follow State standards; the city defers to Title 24 for counts and dimensions and requires owners to upgrade when state rules change — see § 17.18.100 and the California Building Standards Code.

• If your project is mixed‑use, downtown, or in the West Gateway, expect flexibility: the Planning Commission and Director have explicit authority to reduce commercial parking when shared parking, reciprocal agreements, parking assessment districts, or demand‑management measures (transit, bike parking, car‑share) are provided. File a parking study when requesting a reduction. See § 17.18.090 and supplemental mixed‑use/West Gateway rules (§ 17.08.050 / § 17.08.060).

• ADU applicants: Hollister follows the ADU chapter rules. An ADU normally needs one off‑street space (studio exempt), but the code lists several exemptions (e.g., conversions of garages, ADU within primary unit, ADU within ½ mile of transit, car‑share proximity). Where exemptions apply, no ADU parking is required. See § 17.32.030(I). Always confirm with the ADU rules and state ADU law.

• Layout details matter: stall size, aisle width, drainage, landscaping, sight triangles and pedestrian paths are all regulated in § 17.18.110 and the figures/tables in Chapter 17.18 — include a circulation plan with your application when the Engineering Department deems parking substantially increased.

Checklist (what an applicant must provide for most new projects that trigger parking requirements)

• Site plan showing all required parking spaces and the stall/aisle dimensions (use Chapter 17.18 dimensions). § 17.18.110.
• Table/calculation comparing proposed spaces to Table 17.18‑1 minimums and any requested reductions. § 17.18.060 / § 17.18.090.
• Bicycle parking plan (rack type, counts, 5‑ft aisle, location within 50 ft of entrance). § 17.18.070–080.
• Accessible parking layout consistent with State code (Title 24) and reserved signage. § 17.18.100 and Title 24.
• Circulation plan showing pedestrian connections and ADA routes (if project increases parking substantially). § 17.18.030.
• Landscaping plan meeting parking lot landscaping (minimum 10% landscape in parking area). § 17.18.110(I).
• If requesting reduced parking or shared parking: a parking study and recorded reciprocal parking agreements or in‑lieu documentation. § 17.18.090.

Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific constraints, overlay requirements, or specific plan conditions.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Hollister’s Zoning Ordinance requires each new use to provide the off‑street vehicle spaces listed in Table 17.18‑1 as its starting point, with clear design rules for stall size, aisles, drainage, landscaping and bicycle parking; the Director and Planning Commission can approve reductions or shared parking when a parking study and long‑term protections are provided, and ADUs have a discrete set of parking rules and exemptions governed in the ADU chapter. Key sections: § 17.18.060 (counts), § 17.18.110 (design), § 17.18.090 (reductions/shared), and § 17.32.030 (ADU parking).

Source References

• Hollister Municipal Code, Title 17 — Chapter 17.18 (Pedestrian, Bicycle, Parking and Loading Standards): § 17.18.010–17.18.110.
• Hollister Municipal Code: Off‑street parking counts and Table 17.18‑1; § 17.18.060.
• Hollister Municipal Code: Bicycle parking design & location: § 17.18.070–080.
• Hollister Municipal Code: Parking reductions / in‑lieu / assessment district options: § 17.18.090.
• Hollister Municipal Code: Disabled (accessible) parking: § 17.18.100 (references State standards).
• Hollister Municipal Code: Parking design dimensions and figures (stall depths, aisle widths): § 17.18.110 and figures.
• Hollister Municipal Code: ADU (Accessory Dwelling Units) parking and exemptions: § 17.32.030(I) and § 17.32.040 (JADU).
• Hollister Municipal Code: District descriptions and mixed‑use / West Gateway supplemental parking approach: § 17.08.050 / § 17.08.060.
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — referenced by Hollister for accessible parking and building/occupancy technical standards. California Building Standards Code

(If you want the exact Table 17.18‑1 excerpt for a specific use — e.g., restaurant, office, retail, hotel — tell me which use and I’ll paste the city table entries with exact citations.)

Retrieved passages

• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.04) High relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Section 5020.1) High relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.18.) High relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Section 17.16.080) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.18) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.04) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 2 (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.04) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 2 (Section 17.16.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.18) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Section 17.32.030.) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Section 50079.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Hollister Zoning Code (Chapter 17.18) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Hollister Municipal Code, Title 17 — Chapter 17.18 (Pedestrian, Bicycle, Parking and Loading Standards): **§ 17.18.010–17.18.110**. (Title 17)
• Hollister Municipal Code: Off‑street parking counts and Table 17.18‑1; **§ 17.18.060**. (§ 17.18.060)
• Hollister Municipal Code: Bicycle parking design & location: **§ 17.18.070–080**. (§ 17.18.070)
• Hollister Municipal Code: Parking reductions / in‑lieu / assessment district options: **§ 17.18.090**. (§ 17.18.090)
• Hollister Municipal Code: Disabled (accessible) parking: **§ 17.18.100** (references State standards). (§ 17.18.100)
• Hollister Municipal Code: Parking design dimensions and figures (stall depths, aisle widths): **§ 17.18.110** and figures. (§ 17.18.110)
• Hollister Municipal Code: ADU (Accessory Dwelling Units) parking and exemptions: **§ 17.32.030(I)** and **§ 17.32.040** (JADU). (§ 17.32.030)
• Hollister Municipal Code: District descriptions and mixed‑use / West Gateway supplemental parking approach: **§ 17.08.050 / § 17.08.060**. (§ 17.08.050)
• California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — referenced by Hollister for accessible parking and building/occupancy technical standards. California Building Standards Code (Title 24)
• Hollister_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md

• Official Hollister code library