Local zoning · Lathrop

Lathrop — Parking

Q: What dimensions must each parking stall meet in Lathrop?

Standard automobile parking stalls must be 18 ft long by 9 ft wide ; up to 40% of stalls may be compact at 16 ft × 8 ft ; accessible stalls must meet state standards. See § 17.76.030(C) .

Q: Are there rules for lighting and photometric plans for parking lots?

Yes — parking lots with five or more spaces require a photometric plan; parking lot lighting must maintain a minimum of 1 foot‑candle , an average not to exceed 4 fc , and not exceed 10 fc in any one location § 17.76.030(E) .

Q: Does Lathrop allow tandem parking to meet requirements?

Tandem parking is generally not allowed except for specified exceptions (parallel parking along adequately wide driveway, driveways of single‑family houses, or commercial parking lots operated separately) — see § 17.76.030(I) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Lathrop's zoning code requires about parking (off-street parking, loading, bicycle parking and truck/RV stalls) under Title 17. For project-level decisions you will repeatedly read and apply § 17.76.030 through § 17.76.120 for dimensional standards, location rules, and special provisions; many zone chapters then reference Chapter 17.76 for the actual parking counts and site design expectations. See Lathrop Zoning for context on where these rules sit in the municipal code. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel- or project-specific interpretations.

(First related-topic links: "parking" -> /us/california/lathrop/zoning; "development standards" -> /us/california/lathrop/development-standards; "design review" -> /us/california/lathrop/design-review; "overlay districts" -> /us/california/lathrop/overlay-districts; "ADUs" -> /us/california/lathrop/adu; "California Building Standards Code" -> /us/california/building-codes.)

Key Lathrop parking standards (plain-English + code pointers)

Required parking and loading facility rules live in Chapter 17.76. Many zone chapters explicitly require provision "as prescribed in Chapter 17.76" (for example in residential, commercial and industrial district rules) — see § 17.76.030 and each district cross-reference .
Stall dimensions and layout: standard automobile stalls are 18 ft long by 9 ft wide; up to 40% of stalls may be compact at 16 ft × 8 ft; handicapped/accessible stalls must meet state standards (see § 17.76.030) .
On-site paving, drainage and maneuvering are required: parking areas, aisles and access drives must be paved and graded to city standards; lighting and photometric plans are required for parking lots of five or more spaces (minimum maintained 1 fc, average not to exceed 4 fc; max 10 fc at any location) — § 17.76.030(E, G) .
Location rules: parking must generally be on the same site as the use, except limited exceptions in the CC district (up to 400 ft walking distance allowed) — § 17.76.060 .
Loading: buildings with gross floor area ≥ 10,000 sq ft that require vehicle receipt/distribution must provide at least one off-street loading space plus one additional berth per 20,000 sq ft or fraction — § 17.76.040; loading berth design and placement standards are in § 17.76.050 .
Truck/RV stalls: for highway-oriented uses in CH or CC, truck/RV stalls are sized 12 ft × 72 ft and are required as determined case-by-case by the community development director — § 17.76.110 .
Bicycle parking: required for commercial, professional office, industrial and public/quasi-public uses at 5% of automobile spaces (minimum 5% for institutional uses); design, rack spacing and aisle widths are specified in § 17.76.120 .
Tandem parking: prohibited in general except in driveways for single-family homes, certain parallel arrangements, or commercial lots independently operated — § 17.76.030(I) .
Joint or shared parking is allowed with planning approval and recorded covenants where required; common facilities on sites ≥ 5,000 sq ft may be permitted with a 15% reduction in required spaces in certain cases — see § 17.76.030(I–J) .
Existing uses are not automatically nonconforming solely for lacking current parking standards, but expansions trigger current requirements — § 17.76.080 and § 17.76.090 .

District-by-district breakdown (what to expect for parking)

Note: most district chapters point to Chapter 17.76 for specific parking counts; below we summarize each district's purpose, typical permitted uses (as they relate to parking), where the district applies, and special parking-related notes from the code.

R (Residential — single-family / general residential)

Purpose: residential neighborhoods; protect livability and circulation. See general development standards in Article(s) for residential zones (e.g., Tables in 17.62.110) .
Typical uses: single-family dwellings, accessory structures, parks.
Key parking notes: must provide private covered parking as required by the development standards (commonly 2 spaces per unit for 2+ bedroom units; 1 space for 1-bedroom or studio in some product types), and at least one on-street parking space per single-family residence in any residential zoning district is required by code § 17.76.030(K) . Tandem garages may be used subject to program rules in Central Lathrop where approved (see Table notes) .
Where it applies: citywide residential neighborhoods (see Chapter 17.36/17.62 tables) .

RM (Multi-family Residential)

Purpose: medium-to-high density housing.
Typical uses: duplexes, apartments, townhomes.
Key parking notes: multi-family parking counts are handled through Chapter 17.76 and site plans must show parking dimensions and guest parking; project expansions trigger current parking requirements § 17.76.080 . Design review/site plan review often required (Chapters 17.100/17.104) .

UR‑ST / RCO / Central Lathrop Specific Plan districts

Purpose: these Central Lathrop districts (UR-ST, RCO, NC, etc.) are governed by the Central Lathrop Specific Plan; development standards explicitly tie parking counts to Chapter 17.76 and allow modifications via the Central Lathrop design review process § 17.62.120 and § 17.62.131–133 .
Typical uses: mixed residential/commercial, neighborhood commercial, civic.
Key parking notes: Minimum parking may be modified during design review or by the Development Standard (DS) overlay for the CLSP; shared parking, reduced ratios and special on-street counting rules are expressly contemplated (see Central Lathrop notes and Table 17.62.120) .

CC (Central Commercial) and CH (Highway Commercial)

Purpose: retail, services, highway-oriented uses. See permitted uses list for CC (long list incl. bicycle shops, restaurants, hotels) .
Key parking notes: within CC, the code allows off-site parking within 400 ft walking distance in limited circumstances § 17.76.060; truck/RV stalls size & case-by-case requirement apply for highway-oriented uses in CH/CC per § 17.76.110 .

CO‑LG / CS‑LG / IL‑LG (Lathrop Gateway Business Park - LG combining zone)

Purpose: commercial office, service commercial and industrial applications in the Business Park Specific Plan (LGBPSP); parking requirements defer to Chapter 17.76 in each district table (see Table 17.58.060 and related notes) .
Typical uses: office, light industrial, service establishments.
Key parking notes: site plan and design review required; the community development director may approve deviations; parking may be shared or reduced with concurrence and supporting parking studies § 17.58.027 / § 17.62.131 .

I (Industrial)

Purpose: manufacturing, warehouses, and heavier industrial uses.
Key parking notes: off-street loading is critical — loading spaces required for buildings ≥ 10,000 sq ft and an additional berth per 20,000 sq ft or fraction § 17.76.040–050; parking stall sizing and circulation must accommodate truck access and be paved per § 17.76.030(G) .

P / P‑QP (Parks, Public / Quasi-Public)

Purpose: parks, libraries, schools, civic buildings. Permitted uses include parking lots/structures for public uses (see § 17.23.020 listings) .
Key parking notes: bicycle parking is required for public/quasi-public (institutional) uses at 5% of auto spaces (or higher by Planning Commission via conditional use) § 17.76.120(B)(2) .

Mobilehome Park (special district rules)

Purpose: mobilehome parks and parks' internal circulation.
Key parking notes: each home site requires at least 2 off-street parking spaces (one may be tandem), plus 1 guest parking space per mobilehome site for each cluster of four contiguous sites (subject to exceptions) — see mobilehome district standards and Chapter 17.76 for parking construction standards .

Quick decision table (most decision‑relevant standards)

Requirement	Standard (plain English)	Code reference
Standard automobile stall	18 ft × 9 ft	§ 17.76.030(C)
Compact stall allowance	Up to 40% of stalls at 16 ft × 8 ft	§ 17.76.030(C)
Accessible/handicapped stalls	Must meet state standards (see Title 24)	§ 17.76.030(C) and California Building Standards Code /us/california/building-codes
Bicycle parking	5% of automobile spaces for commercial/industrial/institutional uses (design specs in code)	§ 17.76.120(B–C)
Loading trigger	≥ 10,000 sq ft gross floor area → 1 berth + 1 per 20,000 sq ft	§ 17.76.040
Truck/RV stall size	12 ft × 72 ft (for CH/CC highway uses; number by director)	§ 17.76.110(A)(3)
Paving / drainage / maneuvering	All parking, aisles, access drives must be paved and graded to city/public works standards	§ 17.76.030(G)
Lighting	Photometric plan if ≥ 5 spaces. Min 1 fc maintained; average ≤ 4 fc; peak ≤ 10 fc	§ 17.76.030(E)
On-site vs off-site parking	Must be on same site except CC district allows ≤ 400 ft walking distance	§ 17.76.060
Tandem parking	Generally not allowed except specific cases (single‑family driveways, certain lots)	§ 17.76.030(I)
Joint/shared parking reduction	Shared/common parking allowed; 15% reduction possible for common facilities on sites ≥ 5,000 sf	§ 17.76.030(J)

Checklist (what an applicant must provide)

Site plan showing all parking and loading areas, stall dimensions, aisles, striping, and internal circulation per § 17.100.020(E) and § 17.76.030 .
Calculations of required automobile and bicycle parking (apply Chapter 17.76; where Central Lathrop or LG zones apply, check the specific plan tables that reference Chapter 17.76) .
Loading berth sizing and count (if building ≥ 10,000 sq ft) per § 17.76.040–050 .
Truck/RV stall plan if the use is highway-oriented in CH/CC; striping and dimensions per § 17.76.110 .
Photometric plan for parking lots with 5 or more spaces showing maintained/average/maximum foot-candles § 17.76.030(E) .
Landscaping/screening plan consistent with Chapter 17.92 where parking adjoins residential districts § 17.76.070 . Link to landscaping & screening is useful: /us/california/lathrop/landscaping-and-screening.
If joint/shared parking is proposed and spaces are off-site or on a separate parcel, provide recorded covenant and parking study per § 17.76.030(I–J) .
Confirm ADA/accessible stall layout against state standards (Title 24) — code requires compliance but defers technical details to the state building code § 17.76.030(C) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
No city table of use-specific parking ratios included in retrieved materials	Many zone chapters simply defer to Chapter 17.76; the exact numerical ratio per use may be elsewhere or implemented via planning practice	Verify the specific numeric parking ratio for your use with Community Development and the full text of Chapter 17.76; request current parking table from the planner
Central Lathrop / Specific Plan overrides or modifications	CLSP contains DS overlay that explicitly allows parking ratio modifications through design review § 17.62.131–133	If project is in Central Lathrop, confirm whether a DS overlay applies and whether design review will change required ratios
ADA technical details are not provided in Title 17	Title 17 defers to state standards for accessible stalls (civil rights and building code requirements) § 17.76.030(C)	Verify accessible stall dimensions and counts with Building Department and Title 24; consider including Title 24-compliant details on your site plan /us/california/building-codes
On‑street parking credit and counting	On-street credit is allowed in some residential contexts (SFD) but practice/policy can vary	Confirm with Traffic/Engineering whether on-street spaces count toward required guest or residential spaces for your application
Joint-use parking covenants	If relying on off-site parking owned by another party, you must record covenants to ensure long-term availability § 17.76.030(I)	Prepare recorded agreement in form acceptable to the City and verify distance & hour-of-use compatibility

Plain-English Summary

Lathrop requires on-site, paved parking and loading built to the dimensional standards in Chapter 17.76 (standard stalls 18×9 ft, compact allowance, bicycle parking at 5% of auto spaces for many non‑residential uses, loading berths for buildings ≥ 10,000 sq ft). Many zone chapters (residential, commercial, industrial and specific plans) simply point to Chapter 17.76 and also require site plan or design‑review approval, so you should present a full, dimensioned parking plan and confirm any Central Lathrop or overlay exceptions with planning staff § 17.76.030 – § 17.76.120 .

Source References

§ 17.76.030 Standards for off‑street and on‑street parking facilities (stall dimensions, compact cars, lighting and paving requirements) .
§ 17.76.040 Off‑street loading facilities required (10,000 sq ft threshold; berths per 20,000 sq ft) .
§ 17.76.050 Standards for off‑street loading facilities (loading berth design and placement) .
§ 17.76.060 Location of off‑street parking and loading facilities (same site rule; 400‑ft exception in CC) .
§ 17.76.070 Screening, fencing and landscaping for parking areas (consistency with Chapter 17.92) .
§ 17.76.080 – § 17.76.090 Existing uses and reductions/limitations on reducing parking for expansions and special cases .
§ 17.76.100 Exceptions for parking districts (if a parking district is formed) .
§ 17.76.110 Truck and recreational vehicle parking rules (CH/CC uses; stall size) .
§ 17.76.120 Bicycle parking and storage standards (applicability, percentages, rack design) .
Central Lathrop / Specific Plan references to parking and development standard overlay: § 17.62.120, § 17.62.131–133 (parking requirements referenced to Chapter 17.76, and DS overlay may modify parking ratios) .
Mobilehome park parking rules (two off‑street spaces per home site, guest parking) — mobilehome park standards referencing Chapter 17.76 .
Site plan submittal requirements (include off‑street parking/loading on plans) — § 17.100.020(E) .
Lathrop zoning and related planning pages (internal navigation anchors used in this document): /us/california/lathrop, /us/california/lathrop/zoning, /us/california/lathrop/development-standards, /us/california/lathrop/design-review, /us/california/lathrop/overlay-districts, /us/california/lathrop/adu, /us/california/building-codes.

Information Gaps

A single, consolidated table of numerical parking ratios by use (e.g., retail, restaurant, office, residential multifamily) was not present in the retrieved extracts; the code frequently defers to Chapter 17.76 or to the specific plans/design review for exact ratios. Not found in retrieved materials — verify required ratio for your specific use with the City planner.
Exact accessible/ADA stall counts and markings (technical sizing and van‑accessible dimensions) are referenced to state standards but not reproduced here; consult Title 24 for the technical specs — code only states "meet state standards" § 17.76.030(C) .
Any locally adopted parking ordinances or administrative parking policies (e.g., on‑street credit policies, parking study thresholds, fee-in-lieu programs) were not present in the retrieved snippets. Verify with Community Development and Public Works. Not found in retrieved materials.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Lathrop Zoning Code (§ 17.76.060.) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (Section 17.76.110.A) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (title to) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (§ 17.76.100.) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (Chapter 17.110) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Lathrop Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Lathrop code library

Frequently asked questions

What dimensions must each parking stall meet in Lathrop?

Standard automobile parking stalls must be 18 ft long by 9 ft wide; up to 40% of stalls may be compact at 16 ft × 8 ft; accessible stalls must meet state standards. See § 17.76.030(C) .

When is an off-street loading berth required?

An off-street loading space is required for any building or combination of occupancies with a gross floor area of 10,000 sq ft or more that needs vehicle receipt/distribution; provide one berth plus one additional berth per 20,000 sq ft or major fraction thereof § 17.76.040 .

How much bicycle parking does a commercial building need in Lathrop?

Commercial, professional office and industrial users must provide bicycle parking equal to 5% of the total automobile parking required for the use; public/institutional uses have a minimum of 5% and may be required to provide more by the Planning Commission § 17.76.120(B) .

Can parking be located off-site from the primary building?

Generally parking must be located on the same parcel as the use; however, in the CC district off-site parking is allowed if within 400 ft walking distance as measured by the shortest pedestrian route § 17.76.060 .

Are there rules for lighting and photometric plans for parking lots?

Yes — parking lots with five or more spaces require a photometric plan; parking lot lighting must maintain a minimum of 1 foot‑candle, an average not to exceed 4 fc, and not exceed 10 fc in any one location § 17.76.030(E) .

Does Lathrop allow tandem parking to meet requirements?

Tandem parking is generally not allowed except for specified exceptions (parallel parking along adequately wide driveway, driveways of single‑family houses, or commercial parking lots operated separately) — see § 17.76.030(I) .

What if my use wants to share parking with another use?

Joint or shared parking is allowed but requires review and authorization by the Community Development Director; if parking is on a different ownership parcel, a recorded covenant is required to guarantee the parking availability § 17.76.030(I–J) .

Do I need special truck/RV parking for a gas station or highway business?

Highway‑oriented uses in CH or CC districts are subject to truck/recreational vehicle parking standards; the Community Development Director determines the number required and each stall must be 12 ft × 72 ft § 17.76.110 .

Does an existing building that lacks required parking automatically become nonconforming?

No — the code states an existing use is not a nonconforming use solely because it lacks the off‑street parking called for in the chapter; however, expansions or additions will trigger current parking requirements § 17.76.080 .

If I’m in Central Lathrop, can design review change parking requirements?

Yes — Central Lathrop's design review and Development Standard (DS) overlay allow modifications to parking ratios and other development standards as part of the design review process; check § 17.62.131–133 and Table 17.62.120 for how parking is handled there .

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