Local zoning · Imperial

Imperial — Parking

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

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Imperial’s zoning ordinance sets minimum, use-based off-street parking, bicycle parking, motorcycle parking, and truck loading requirements, along with detailed design and layout standards. The rules apply citywide across all base zones, overlays, and most project types, and they are administered alongside Imperial Zoning and Imperial Development Standards. For some projects—especially in the Village Commercial area—parking is reviewed through Imperial Design Review.

Big picture: every new building/use, or any change that increases demand, must provide off-street parking (and where triggered, bicycle/motorcycle spaces and loading), located on-site or on an adjacent parcel with an irrevocable easement, and designed per the city’s stall dimensions, landscaping, and circulation standards (§ 24.13.120 A–C; § 24.13.160) .

How the code organizes parking

  • Authority and purpose: § 24.13.110–.120 establish scope, applicability, and general rules. Parking is required for new construction, new uses, enlargements, or occupancy changes; existing lawful sites aren’t deemed nonconforming solely for lacking today’s parking, but existing spaces can’t be reduced below minimums (§ 24.13.110; § 24.13.120 A–B, E) .
  • Where parking may go: on the same site or on an adjacent site via recorded, irrevocable access/parking easement; street rights-of-way don’t count (§ 24.13.120 C) .
  • How to count: fractions round up; each use in a mixed-use project must be parked per its line-item; the City can set requirements for unlisted uses by analogy/traffic data (§ 24.13.120 H–K) .
  • Other modes and loading: bicycle parking, motorcycle areas, and off-street loading berths are required for specified uses/thresholds (§ 24.13.130 G–H; § 24.13.140) .

Decision-relevant standards at a glance

The most frequently applied ratios and triggers are below. Always confirm whether your use falls under a more specific line in § 24.13.130.

Use or Standard Minimum Requirement Code Reference
Administrative/professional offices 1 space per 250 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(A)
Shopping centers/general commercial 1 space per 300 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(B)
Eating & drinking (no fixed seats) 1 space per 75 sq ft seating area, plus 1/employee § 24.13.130(B)(1)
Eating & drinking (fixed seats) 1 space per 5 seats, plus 1/employee § 24.13.130(B)(1)
Fast food w/ drive-through 1 space per 7 seats + 1/employee + on-site queue for 8 vehicles § 24.13.130(B)(1)(a)
Gasoline/automotive service 2 spaces + 4 per service bay § 24.13.130(B)(2)
Furniture/appliance stores 1 space per 500 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(B)(3)
Hotels/motels 1 space per unit + 1 per employee § 24.13.130(B)(4)
Retirement hotels 0.6 space per unit + 1 per employee § 24.13.130(B)(4)(a)
Auto/truck/machinery sales & garages 1 space per 800 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(B)(5)
Medical/dental/veterinary 1 space per 250 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(B)(6)
Day care 1/staff + 1/5 children, or 1/10 with adequate drop-off § 24.13.130(C)(1)
Convalescent/nursing homes 1 space per 4 beds + 1 per employee (peak shift) § 24.13.130(C)(2)
Schools (senior high) 1 per 1.5 employees + 1 per 5 students § 24.13.130(C)(5)(b)
Manufacturing 1/500 sq ft manufacturing GFA (+ parking for ancillary uses) § 24.13.130(D)(1)
Research & development 1 per 300 sq ft GFA § 24.13.130(D)(2)
Storage/warehouse 1/1,000 sq ft first 20k; 1/2,000 next 20k; 1/4,000 over 40k § 24.13.130(D)(3)
Bicycle parking (shopping centers >50k sf) 1 bike space per 33 auto spaces required § 24.13.130(G)
Motorcycle parking Sites with >25 auto spaces: 1 designated area; >100 spaces: 1 area per 100 auto spaces § 24.13.130(H)
Off-street loading (commercial/industrial) 1 berth ≥25k–40k sf; +1 berth per tier up to 7; then +1/90k sf § 24.13.140

Accessibility: handicapped parking is governed by state standards and counts toward the auto total; the ordinance mirrors state ratios for non-residential uses and recognizes state preemption for future updates (§ 24.13.130(F)) . The table of non-residential accessible space counts appears in § 24.13.130(F)(2) . See California Building Standards Code for technical details.

Design, location, and layout

  • Minimum stall sizes: residential covered 10 ft × 20 ft; uncovered 9 ft × 20 ft; parallel 8.5 ft × 22 ft; compact 8.5 ft × 18.5 ft; bicycle 2 ft × 6 ft; motorcycle 4 ft × 8 ft (§ 24.13.160(A)(1)) .
  • Aisle/bay widths: standards vary by one- or two-way circulation and single/double-loaded aisles (§ 24.13.160(A)(2)) .
  • Surfacing/striping/identification: paved all-weather surface; stalls striped; special identification for accessible, motorcycle, and bicycle spaces (§ 24.13.160(A)(3)–(4)) .
  • Landscaping/lighting/drainage: one 15-gallon tree per three spaces; 4 ft min inside dimension for landscaped islands with curb; lighting max 18 ft high and directed away from property lines; on-site drainage required (§ 24.13.160(B)(1)–(6)) .
  • Residential front yards: in R zones (except RC/RA), vehicle storage in front yards is limited to the driveway or adjacent paved area; personal-use only if beyond that area (§ 24.13.160(B)(7)) .
  • Operations: keep facilities in good condition; no storage/repair or sales in parking areas (except temporary uses); handicap/motorcycle/carpool spaces within 100 ft of an entrance (§ 24.13.170) .

Loading berth siting standards

Required berths must be at least 45 ft long by 12 ft wide with 14 ft clearance, located off the street with on-site forward-exit maneuvering; no front or exterior side yard locations; separation or screening from residential required; paved, graded, drained; and light spill controlled (§ 24.13.150(A)–(J)) .

District-by-district guidance

Parking ratios in Imperial mostly track use type rather than zone, but several districts introduce added requirements or context.

RR — Residential Rural

  • Purpose: very low-density residential on 1-acre lots (§ 24.01.140; § 24.03) .
  • Typical uses: single-family dwellings.
  • Parking: the RR district requires 2 covered spaces per dwelling (garage) per the residential table (§ 24.03.120, item 11) .
  • Where it applies: mapped per the Official Zoning Map (§ 24.01.140) .

RL — Residential Low Density

  • Purpose: low-density residential, min 20,000 sq ft lots (§ 24.03) .
  • Parking: 2 covered spaces per dwelling in RL (§ 24.03.120, item 11) .
  • Notes: general R-zone front-yard parking limits apply (§ 24.13.160(B)(7)) .

R-1 — Residential Single Family

  • Purpose: single-family neighborhoods on 6,500 sq ft lots (§ 24.03) .
  • Parking: 2 covered spaces per dwelling (garage) (§ 24.03.120, item 11) .

RC — Residential Condominium

  • Purpose: multifamily condos up to 20 du/net acre (§ 24.03) .
  • Parking: covered parking is tiered by bedroom count—generally 1.0 covered for studios/1-bedrooms, 1.5 for 2-bedrooms, and 2.0 for 3+ bedrooms; the Planning Commission may accept carports as covered spaces in RC (§ 24.03.120, item 11 and note) .
  • Additional R-multifamily standards include RV parking provisions (§ 24.03.130(10)) .

RA — Residential Apartment

  • Purpose: apartments at higher densities (§ 24.03) .
  • Parking: covered space requirements mirror RC by bedroom count, with carports permitted to satisfy covered parking at Commission discretion (§ 24.03.120, item 11 and note) .

MHP — Mobile Home Park

  • Purpose: mobile home communities with specific site standards (§ 24.09.130) .
  • Parking: two tandem 10'×20' spaces per unit space, plus 1 guest space per 4 units (§ 24.09.130(A)(14)) .

C-1 — Commercial Neighborhood and C-2 — Commercial General

  • Purpose: retail/services; standard commercial development (§ 24.05) .
  • Parking: both C-1 and C-2 apply the citywide § 24.13 parking schedule; design is reviewed under site plan review (§ 24.05.130(A)(11)) .
  • Ratios: see table above for shopping centers, restaurants, medical, hotels, etc. (§ 24.13.130) .

VC — Village Commercial (Downtown)

  • Purpose: mixed commercial core; encourages mix of residential with nonresidential (§ 24.05) .
  • Parking: apply § 24.13; plus Downtown Review Committee oversight. Submittals must show off-street parking/loading locations, space counts, dimensions, and internal circulation (§ 24.05.180(D)(3)) . See Imperial Design Review.

I-1 / I-2 — Industrial

  • Purpose: general and rail-served industrial (§ 24.07) .
  • Parking/loading: § 24.13 applies to off-street parking and loading, with added site standards. Along residential edges, a 15 ft landscape setback is required and may be used for required open off-street parking (§ 24.07.130(B)(1), (A)(11)) .

A — Agriculture

  • Purpose: agricultural activities with rural standards.
  • Parking: projects must meet § 24.13; the ag chapter cross-references the citywide off-street requirements (§ 24.09.440) .

SPPD / Planned Development and Mixed-use (project-level)

  • Purpose: planned flexibility for integrated development; often used with specific plans or overlays (§ 24.01.140) .
  • Parking: PUD provisions set residential minima—e.g., single-family units require 2 covered spaces; multifamily requires 1.5 covered spaces per unit, plus an extra space for 3+ bedrooms and 2 guest spaces per 10 units; nonresidential uses within a PUD follow § 24.13, and mixed-use parking may be set by the approving body (§ 24.09.263) . See Imperial Overlay Districts.

Special modes and access

  • Bicycle parking is required only for listed use categories and at the stated ratios (§ 24.13.130(G)) .
  • Motorcycle parking areas are required once a site exceeds 25 auto spaces, with added areas per 100 auto spaces beyond 100 (§ 24.13.130(H)) .
  • Accessible parking follows State standards; the ordinance includes a count table for nonresidential sites and confirms state preemption. Spaces count toward the auto total (§ 24.13.130(F)) . For technical criteria, see California Building Standards Code.

Approvals, flexibility, and enforcement

  • Site Plan Review submittals must show parking, loading, access, and circulation for qualifying projects (§ 24.19.520–.530(A)) .
  • Variances from parking may be granted only on specific findings that traffic volumes do not require strict compliance and that on-street impacts/safety hazards will not result (§ 24.19.450) . See Imperial Variances and Exceptions.
  • Existing lawful sites lacking today’s minimums are not nonconforming solely for that reason; however, do not reduce existing stall counts below code minima (§ 24.13.120(E)). Related remedies are discussed under Imperial Nonconforming Uses .

Related residential topics

Parking for attached/detached homes, condos, and apartments is integrated into R-zone standards and PUD provisions (§ 24.03.120; § 24.09.263) . Accessory Dwelling Units follow separate state-driven rules; see Imperial ADUs and California ADU law.

Checklist

  • Confirm your zoning district and use category via the Imperial Land Use tables and § 24.13.130 schedule .
  • Calculate minimum auto spaces; round up fractional results (§ 24.13.120(H)) .
  • For mixed-use, add requirements for each component (§ 24.13.120(K)) .
  • Determine bicycle and motorcycle space triggers (§ 24.13.130(G)–(H)) .
  • If commercial/industrial ≥25,000 sq ft, compute loading berths (§ 24.13.140) .
  • Site parking on the same parcel or secure a recorded, irrevocable easement for an adjacent parcel (§ 24.13.120(C)) .
  • Lay out stalls/aisles to dimensional minimums; stripe and sign per code (§ 24.13.160(A)) .
  • Provide landscaping, lighting, and drainage per standards; add a tree per three stalls (§ 24.13.160(B)) .
  • In R zones, respect front-yard vehicle storage limits (§ 24.13.160(B)(7)) .
  • If in VC or another area with design oversight, prepare materials for Imperial Design Review (§ 24.05.180(D)) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Manufacturing/warehouse ratios Portions of § 24.13.130 list detailed ratios; some lines allow Council determination for complex uses Provide your exact floor area by functional area; confirm final ratio with Planning when uses are atypical (§ 24.13.130(D))
Mixed-use centers, off-peak counting The schedule addresses centers and off-peak uses; misinterpretation can under-park a project Confirm how your combination of uses is tallied and any limits on “off-peak” credits (§ 24.13.120(K) and related text)
Accessible parking updates State standards can preempt local counts Use current state ratios; accessible spaces count toward the total (§ 24.13.130(F))
VC design integration Downtown projects must integrate parking with circulation and streetscape Discuss early with the Downtown Review Committee; submit required parking diagrams (§ 24.05.180(D)(3))
Residential nuance (RC/RA) Covered parking is bedroom-tiered and carports may count if approved Confirm unit mix and any carport approvals under R-zone standards (§ 24.03.120, item 11)
PUD/Overlay discretion PUDs can adjust guest parking and amenity parking Check conditions of approval and PUD standards (§ 24.09.263)

Plain-English Summary

Imperial makes you size parking to your actual use and keep it on-site unless you record an easement next door. Stalls and aisles must meet minimum dimensions, be paved and striped, and include landscaping and lighting; large projects also need truck loading spaces. Apartments and condos have covered parking minimums by bedroom count, mobile home parks use tandem spaces plus guests, and downtown projects must show how parking and loading work as part of design review. When in doubt, add up each use’s requirement and round up.

Source References

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.05.) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (SECTION 24.13) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.13) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.05.) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (§iFrone) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.19.440) High relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.19.500.) Medium relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.17.130) Medium relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (SECTION 24.11.800) Medium relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.19.440) Medium relevance
  • Imperial Zoning Code (Section 24.17.130) Medium relevance

Cited sections

  • § 24.01.140 (establishment of zones; overlays) (§ 24.01.140)
  • § 24.03.120 (R-zone residential covered parking table; RC/RA notes) (§ 24.03.120)
  • § 24.03.130 (R-zone performance; RV parking) (§ 24.03.130)
  • § 24.05.130 (C-zone development; § 24.13 applies) (§ 24.05.130)
  • § 24.05.180(D)(3) (Village Commercial parking/loading submittals) (§ 24.05.180)
  • § 24.07.130 (Industrial site standards; parking in setbacks) (§ 24.07.130)
  • § 24.09.130(A)(14) (MHP parking) (§ 24.09.130)
  • § 24.09.263 (PUD parking: SFD, multifamily, guests; mixed-use) (§ 24.09.263)
  • § 24.13.110–.120 (purpose; general parking provisions) (§ 24.13.110)
  • § 24.13.130 (parking schedule; bicycle; motorcycle; accessibility) (§ 24.13.130)
  • § 24.13.140 (off-street loading berths; thresholds) (§ 24.13.140)
  • § 24.13.150 (loading design standards) (§ 24.13.150)
  • § 24.13.160 (parking dimensions; landscaping; lighting; drainage) (§ 24.13.160)
  • § 24.13.170 (parking performance; proximity of designated spaces) (§ 24.13.170)
  • § 24.19.520–.530 (site plan review parking submittals) (§ 24.19.520)
  • § 24.19.450 (parking variances; additional findings) (§ 24.19.450)
  • Internal context: Imperial zoning & planning overview, Imperial Land Use, Imperial Development Standards, Imperial Design Review, Imperial Overlay Districts, Imperial Nonconforming Uses, Imperial Landscaping and Screening, Imperial ADUs, California Building Standards Code, California ADU law
  • Imperial_ZoningCode.md

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces does a new restaurant need in Imperial?

For restaurants without fixed seats, provide 1 space per 75 sq ft of seating area plus 1 per employee; with fixed seats, 1 per 5 seats plus 1 per employee. Fast-food with drive-through must also provide an on-site queue for at least eight vehicles (§ 24.13.130(B)(1)) .

What are the standard stall sizes and aisle widths?

Residential covered stalls are 10 ft × 20 ft; uncovered 9 ft × 20 ft. Parallel stalls are 8.5 ft × 22 ft; compact 8.5 ft × 18.5 ft. Aisle/bay widths vary by one- or two-way circulation and single/double-loaded aisles (§ 24.13.160(A)) .

Do I need bicycle or motorcycle parking?

Bicycle parking is required only for listed uses (e.g., large shopping centers, restaurants, medical offices, recreation, hospitals, churches) at stated ratios. Sites with more than 25 auto spaces need a motorcycle area, with additional areas per 100 spaces beyond 100 (§ 24.13.130(G)–(H)) .

How are loading docks handled for commercial or industrial projects?

If your building has 25,000 sq ft or more of GFA, off-street loading berths are required per the step table in § 24.13.140. Each berth must be at least 45 ft by 12 ft, 14 ft high, off the street, and sited away from front/exterior side yards with screening near residential zones (§ 24.13.150) .

What are single-family and multifamily parking requirements?

In RR, RL, and R-1, provide 2 covered spaces (typically garages). In RC and RA, covered parking is tiered by bedrooms (e.g., 1.0 for studios/1BR, 1.5 for 2BR, 2.0 for 3+ BR) and carports may satisfy the covered requirement if approved (§ 24.03.120) .

Are existing buildings nonconforming if they don’t meet today’s parking minimums?

No. A lawfully established use isn’t deemed nonconforming solely for lacking current parking, but you may not reduce existing parking below minimums (§ 24.13.120(E)) .

Can I get a variance to reduce required parking?

Possibly. The Planning Commission can grant a parking variance if present and anticipated traffic volumes don’t warrant strict compliance and on-street impacts/safety hazards won’t occur (§ 24.19.450) .

What does the Downtown (Village Commercial) area require for parking submittals?

Downtown projects must submit plans showing parking/loading locations, number of spaces, dimensions, and internal circulation for review by the Downtown Review Committee (§ 24.05.180(D)(3)) .

Do mobile home parks have special parking rules?

Yes. Provide two tandem 10'×20' spaces per unit space plus 1 guest per 4 units in MHP parks (§ 24.09.130(A)(14)) .

Where can I put parking on a site shared with another parcel?

Required parking must be on-site or on an adjacent site secured by an irrevocable access/parking easement; right-of-way areas cannot be counted (§ 24.13.120(C)) .

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