Local zoning · Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach — Parking

Q: What are the minimum parking stall dimensions the City requires?

Standard minimum stall dimensions are 9 ft width by 19 ft depth for most angled and 90° stalls; residential stalls are sized likewise at 9×19 with specified aisle widths by angle (e.g., 26 ft two‑way for 90°). See § 231.14 and § 231.16 for full dimensional tables and exceptions.

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

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes Huntington Beach off‑street parking rules in the local zoning ordinance (Title 17). It explains who must provide parking, the numeric parking and loading standards (Schedule A), dimensional and design rules for stalls and structures, bicycle parking, and district‑level variations (e.g., residential, mixed‑use, commercial, industrial). Where the code lets the City adjust requirements (joint use, reductions, in‑lieu fees, or conditional approvals) those authorities and triggers are cited so you know when to expect discretionary review. See the city's zoning overview for context: Huntington Beach Zoning.

What the ordinance requires (core rules)

Off‑street parking and off‑street loading must be provided at initial occupancy, on construction of a structure, or on major alteration/enlargement; parking landscaping must follow Chapter 232. Refer to § 231.02 for the basic requirement and triggers.
Required counts are set by the Chapter 231 Schedule A (use‑based minimums, e.g., residential units, restaurants, offices). Reductions, joint‑use calculations, and in‑lieu options (Downtown Specific Plan) are established in § 231.04 (Schedule A referenced), § 231.06, § 231.08, and § 231.10.
Stall size, aisle and aisle‑type minimums are mandatory (e.g., 9 ft stall width; 19 ft stall depth; residential stalls 9x19 and 25‑ft aisle for two‑way); see § 231.14 and § 231.16 for dimensional and application rules.
Bicycle parking minimums: nonresidential buildings up to 50,000 sq ft must provide one bicycle space per 25 automobile spaces (minimum three); multifamily housing requires one bicycle space per four units; design provisions require locking capability and proximity to entrances—see § 231.20.
Accessible (handicapped) stalls must comply with State law; the ordinance points to State handicapped regulations for specifics—see § 231.12.
Parking area plans, including striping, lighting, drainage and landscaping, must be submitted prior to construction/restriping except some single‑family exemptions — § 231.26.

(For coastal/zoned special cases: oceanside or on‑street parking in the Coastal Zone has replacement rules; see § 231.28.)

Note: the ordinance cross‑references other site rules (landscaping/screening and design review) — see Huntington Beach Development Standards, Huntington Beach Design Review, and Huntington Beach Landscaping and Screening for related processes.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the districts where the code explicitly links parking rules into district development standards. Each subsection summarizes the district purpose, typical uses, and the Huntington Beach parking rules or cross‑references that apply on a district basis. Always "See Chapter 231" when the district table says "Off‑Street Parking and Loading—See Ch. 231."

R Districts (single‑ and multi‑family residential; R‑designations listed in Title 21)

Purpose & typical uses: housing (single‑family, duplex, multifamily); standards are in the residential district chapters. See Title 21 (Base District Provisions).
Parking rules that apply: Each dwelling unit’s required parking is established by Schedule A (Chapter 231) and applied to residential districts; assignment and guest rules require assigned enclosed spaces for units and a walking distance limit of 200 ft for assigned enclosed spaces. Garages/carports must be constructed with the main building; driveway stacking rules (minimum 20 ft stacking where required) and guest‑parking requirements for small‑lot and planned developments are spelled out in district standards and in § 231.18(D) and related parts. Accessory dwelling units require one additional off‑street space (special coastal minimum of four on‑site spaces in the coastal zone). See § 231.18(D)(11) and § 231.26.
Where it applies: All parcels zoned RL, RM, RMP, RH, etc.; planned developments and small‑lot standards reference Chapter 231 as well.

Practical takeaways: for a new multifamily project check Schedule A (Chapter 231) for unit‑by‑unit counts, design assigned spaces within 200 ft of units, and include guest parking notes in the site plan.

MU‑TC / MU‑TCD (Mixed‑Use Town Center / Transit‑Corridor)

Purpose & typical uses: mixed‑use residential + commercial nodes; specific dimensional standards are in § 218.06 and 218.07 (MU‑TC / MU‑TCD).
Key development/parking standards: Off‑street parking follows Chapter 231; MU‑TCD includes its own Schedule A for residential counts (studio = 1 per unit, 2‑bed = 2 spaces, 3+ bed = 2.5 spaces, guests = 1 per 5 units). Compact spaces cannot satisfy minimums in some cases; tandem up to 20% subject to CUP approval for MU‑TCD. See MU‑TC schedules at § 218.06/218.07 and cross‑reference to Ch. 231.
Where it applies: MU‑TC / MU‑TCD mapped zones and Downtown Specific Plan area (note in‑lieu parking options inside Downtown Specific Plan covered by § 231.10).

Practical takeaways: mixed‑use projects must use the MU‑TCD Schedule A for residential counts and Chapter 231 for commercial counts; expect the City to restrict compact spaces and allow limited tandem parking only with approval.

C (Commercial) districts (CV, CG, CO and neighborhood/commercial variants)

Purpose & typical uses: retail, restaurants, offices, personal services; parking rates for commercial uses are in Chapter 231 Schedule A (examples: restaurants with ≥12 seats 1 per 60 sq ft; retail 1 per 200 sq ft; offices 1 per 250 sq ft or per office type). See Schedule A for the full list.
Design/dimensional rules: parking areas must meet the stall and aisle dimensions of § 231.14, circulation rules in § 231.18, and landscaping rules in Chapter 232. Reciprocal access is required for commercial properties (see § 231.18(E)).

Practical takeaways: check Schedule A for the proposed use, dimension the lot using § 231.14, and expect requirements for circulation, screening, and reciprocal access.

IG / IL / RT (Industrial districts)

Purpose & typical uses: industrial, warehousing, manufacturing (see § 212.06).
Parking rules: industrial use ratios appear in Schedule A (examples: speculative buildings 1 per 500 sq ft; wholesaling/warehousing 1 per 1,000 sq ft; outdoor storage uses have per‑acre minimums). Industrial districts defer to Chapter 231 for parking and loading design and add limits on accessory office area that may trigger a parking demand study if exceeded. See § 212.06 and Schedule A cross‑references to Chapter 231.

Practical takeaways: large industrial uses must check Schedule A for the correct ratio and be prepared to supply loading spaces (loading design rules and location restrictions are in § 231.18 and district provisions).

Parks, Public Service, and Specific Plan areas (OS / PS / SP)

Purpose & typical uses: parks, institutional, and planned specific plan development. Parking provisions for these areas either reference Chapter 231 directly or establish site‑specific counts in the district chapter; public parking on City land can require discretionary approval. See § 214.08 (PS), § 215.06 (SP), and Chapter 213 (OS) for cross‑references.

Quick standards table (decision‑relevant)

Requirement	Rule / Minimum	Code reference
When parking is required	At initial occupancy, construction, or major alteration/enlargement	§ 231.02
Numeric minimums (Schedule A)	Use‑based; e.g., multifamily = 1 (studio/1BR), 2 (2BR), 2.5 (3+BR); restaurants, retail, offices per Schedule A	Chapter 231, Schedule A / § 231.04 (Schedule referenced)
Parking stall dims	Standard stalls 9 ft × 19 ft; residential stalls 9 × 19; bicycle stall 8 × 17; aisle widths vary by angle (90° aisle 26 ft 2‑way)	§ 231.14 & § 231.16
Bicycle parking (min)	Nonresidential ≤50k sf: 1 bicycle per 25 auto spaces (min 3); multifamily: 1 per 4 units	§ 231.20
Accessible parking	Must comply with State handicapped regs (ADA/Title 24 references)	§ 231.12
Parking plan submittal	Required prior to construction or re‑striping (includes drainage, landscaping, striping) — single‑family pre‑existing lots exempt	§ 231.26
Joint use / reductions	Joint use allowed (max 250 ft between use and parking); Zoning Administrator can reduce via CUP with findings and TDM	§ 231.06, § 231.08
Downtown in‑lieu option	Downtown Specific Plan area may allow parking via in‑lieu payment per § 231.10	§ 231.10

Checklist (what an applicant must provide or satisfy)

Confirm applicable base district and overlay(s); apply district schedule and any specific plan counts (e.g., MU‑TCD residential Schedule A).
Use Schedule A (Chapter 231) to compute required off‑street parking and loading for every use on site; if multiple uses, sum per § 231.06.
Dimension stalls and aisles per § 231.14 and adjust for walls/columns per § 231.16. Include striping diagram.
Provide bicycle parking per § 231.20 and locking provisions; for employment‑intensive sites follow Transportation Demand Management rules (shower/locker, carpool spaces) in § 230.36.
Submit a Parking Area Plan to the Director showing stalls, bumpers, circulation, lighting, drainage, landscaping consistent with Chapter 232 as required by § 231.26.
If requesting reductions, tandem/compact configurations, in‑lieu payment, or joint‑use: prepare CUP materials, TDM plan, and any parking legal instrument (for off‑site/adjacent lots) as required by § 231.06, § 231.08, § 231.10.
Verify ADA/Title 24 accessible stall counts and vertical clearance with the building/code department (ordinance defers to state regs in § 231.12). Verify with jurisdiction.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Which Schedule A row applies to a mixed or novel use	Mixed uses can produce ambiguous classifications that change the parking count and loading requirements	Verify use classification with the Zoning Administrator; if mixed, calculate parking by summing each use per § 231.06 and consider a parking demand study for reductions per § 231.08.
Tandem/compact credits and counting	Some specific plans (MU‑TCD) allow tandem or compact with limits; other districts generally prohibit compact to satisfy minimums	Check district text (e.g., MU‑TCD allows tandem up to 20%) and get Director/Zoning Administrator approval where the code allows exceptions.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) coastal rule	Coastal zone has a higher minimum (coastal: minimum of four parking spaces on‑site per ADU rule in Chapter 231 text)	Verify with jurisdiction for parcel‑specific coastal overlay application; see § 231.18(D)(11).
Off‑site parking & recorded leases	Parking on an adjacent lot must be recorded and provided at occupancy; losing that parking can terminate the use	If using adjacent parking, prepare recorded instrument approved by City Attorney and file before building permit/CO issuance per § 231.18(E).
Loading placement and neighborhood impacts	Loading doors facing residential zones or blocking access can trigger rejection	Loading location rules (e.g., not facing within 45 ft of planned residential) and buffer requirements apply — see § 231.18(E)(5–7) and district provisions.

Plain‑English summary

Huntington Beach requires off‑street parking and loading based on a use‑by‑use table in Chapter 231 (Schedule A), enforces specific stall sizes and circulation standards, requires bicycle parking and TDM measures for larger employers, and gives the City limited ability to reduce requirements or accept in‑lieu payments in specified areas (e.g., Downtown). For most projects you compute parking from Schedule A, dimension stalls per § 231.14, supply bicycle and accessible stalls, and submit a parking plan for approval. Always verify coastal overlays and district exceptions — some zones (MU‑TCD, coastal areas) have special counts and limits.

Source References

Huntington Beach Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 231 (Off‑Street Parking and Loading): § 231.02, § 231.04 (Schedule A reference), § 231.06, § 231.08, § 231.10, § 231.12, § 231.14, § 231.16, § 231.18, § 231.20, § 231.26, § 231.28.
MU‑TC / MU‑TCD development standards and MU‑TCD Schedule A (residential counts): § 218.06 / § 218.07.
Industrial district development standards and cross‑references to parking: § 212.06 (IG, IL, RT).
Transportation Demand Management (employee carpool, showers/lockers, passenger loading, vanpool, bus stop coordination): § 230.36.
Parking area landscaping and screening (Chapter 232) referenced for planter width, interior landscaping percentages, and protection measures: Chapter 232 and § 232.02/§ 232.10.

Related site pages (internal links used above for process/context):

Zoning overview: Huntington Beach Zoning
Development standards: Huntington Beach Development Standards
Design review: Huntington Beach Design Review
Overlay districts: Huntington Beach Overlay Districts
ADUs: Huntington Beach ADUs
Landscaping and screening: Huntington Beach Landscaping and Screening
State building code (for accessible stall/clearance references): California Building Standards Code

Sources

Retrieved passages

Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.06.) High relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 231.) High relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.08.) High relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 231.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.18.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.06.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.22.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 218.07.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 231.20.) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (section at) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
Huntington Beach Zoning Code (§ 213.07.) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Huntington Beach code library

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces does a 2‑bedroom apartment need in Huntington Beach?

A 2‑bedroom apartment in most Huntington Beach districts is counted as 2 parking spaces per unit under the municipal Schedule A; multifamily guest parking is typically 0.5 space per unit (or 1 per 5 units in MU‑TCD specifics). Confirm the applicable district Schedule A and any specific plan exceptions; see Schedule A / Chapter 231 and MU‑TCD rules in § 218.06/218.07.

What are the minimum parking stall dimensions the City requires?

Standard minimum stall dimensions are 9 ft width by 19 ft depth for most angled and 90° stalls; residential stalls are sized likewise at 9×19 with specified aisle widths by angle (e.g., 26 ft two‑way for 90°). See § 231.14 and § 231.16 for full dimensional tables and exceptions.

Does Huntington Beach require bicycle parking, and how much?

Yes. For nonresidential buildings up to 50,000 sq ft, provide 1 bicycle space per 25 automobile spaces (minimum three); for multifamily residential provide 1 bicycle space per 4 units. Bicycle racks/lockers must allow locking the frame and wheels and be located close to entrances. See § 231.20.

Can required parking be reduced or shared between uses?

Yes — the Planning Commission or Zoning Administrator can approve joint‑use arrangements and parking reductions where uses have complementary peak hours (joint use) or where a TDM plan supports lower demand. Joint use approvals require that parking be within 250 ft of the use and recorded when off‑site. See § 231.06 and § 231.08.

Are compact or tandem spaces allowed to meet minimums?

Compact spaces are allowed in some contexts but generally may not be used to satisfy minimum required parking in many districts; tandem parking may be permitted up to district‑specific percentages (e.g., up to 20% in MU‑TCD subject to CUP). Always check the district provisions and obtain discretionary approval if the code allows exceptions. See MU‑TCD Schedule notes and Chapter 231 for limits.

What do I need to include in a Parking Area Plan?

A Parking Area Plan must show fence/screen locations, stall layout and dimensions, bumpers/striping, lighting, drainage to an approved system, and a landscape/irrigation plan that complies with Chapter 232; re‑striping of an existing approved lot may be exempt from full plans. See § 231.26.

Do commercial loading areas have placement rules?

Yes. Loading spaces must be sited so vehicles do not block sidewalks/streets, must be accessible from alleys when available, and cannot face within 45 ft of property zoned for general planned residential. Where loading abuts residential districts, a landscape buffer is required. See § 231.18(E) and district rules.

If my project is in the Downtown Specific Plan, can I pay in‑lieu of providing spaces?

Yes — within the Downtown Specific Plan Area the City may accept parking via an in‑lieu payment tied to a Council resolution amount and conditional use approval; payments and conditions are handled prior to building permit/CO per § 231.10.

Does the code defer accessible stall counts to State code?

Yes. The Huntington Beach ordinance requires compliance with State handicapped regulations and refers stall counts/clearances to State law (Title 24 / California Building Standards). Confirm accessible stall numbers and vertical clearance with building/code staff; see § 231.12.

Can parking be located on an adjacent lot?

Yes, provided the adjacent lot is in the same person's possession (deed or long‑term lease), a recorded instrument is filed before building permit/CO issuance, and the parking remains committed. See location/ownership rules in § 231.18(E).

Ask about any Huntington Beach property

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

Start Free Trial