Lodi — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Lodi's zoning / development code requires for off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle parking. It is focused on the rules in Title 17 (the Development Code): how many spaces are required, where they go on a site, design/dimensional rules, and district-level expectations. For design, setbacks and other site standards see the city's Development Standards and for discretionary review see Design Review.

NOTE: All requirements below are drawn from the Lodi Development Code (Title 17). Cite links point to the controlling code sections shown in the city file. Always verify parcel‑specific application with the Community Development Department.

How Lodi organizes parking rules (short)

• The parking chapter is Chapter 17.32 (Parking and Loading). It sets minimum counts, adjustments, design and circulation, disabled parking, bicycle parking, and loading standards. See § 17.32.010—§ 17.32.110 for the chapter framework.

Citywide rules you must know (synthesis)

• Minimum counts: Every use must provide at least the minimum number of off‑street parking spaces required by the chapter; those minimums are listed in Table 3‑1 and implemented via § 17.32.040. The table bases some requirements on gross floor area; where a use is not listed, the director uses Table 3‑1 as a guide. § 17.32.040.

• Adjustments / reductions: A reduction or shared‑parking arrangement is possible but requires the review process (use permit or other review) and supporting data; see § 17.32.050. Shared‑use reductions also require recorded covenants if approved.

• Disabled/ADA spaces: Accessible parking must comply with the California Building Code and federal accessibility guidelines and counts toward the chapter’s minimums (see § 17.32.060). For dwelling units required to be adaptable, the accessible parking standards follow the California Building Code. § 17.32.060.

• Bicycle parking: Multi‑family and all nonresidential uses must provide bicycle stalls per Table 3‑2 and the design/installation rules in § 17.32.090; commercial typically requires at least 4 stalls or 20% of auto stalls (whichever is greater), residential multi‑family requires 1 secure stall per 2 units. § 17.32.090.

• Loading: Loading spaces are required and must meet siting, dimension and screening standards; minimum loading stall size is 12' x 45' with 14' vertical clearance (see § 17.32.100). Loading should be to the rear/two‑thirds of parcel, discouraged from facing streets, and must be screened from adjacent residential properties. § 17.32.100.

• Site design and surfacing: Parking areas must be paved (no decomposed granite/turfstone for required parking) and striped; landscape and screening rules apply to parking per Chapters 17.30 and 17.32 design guidelines. See § 17.32.070 and related design guidance (e.g., tree ratio 1 per 3 spaces in some downtown standards). § 17.32.070; downtown guidance also references reductions/waivers at the director’s discretion.

• Operational restrictions: Required parking must be kept available to authorized users and may not be used for storage, sales, vehicle display, or repair (general parking regulations). § 17.32.030.

• Special vehicle rules: Commercial vehicles and RVs are regulated in residential areas—commercial vehicles over 1.5 tons may not park in view in residential zones (except behind front setback or for loading), and RV overnight occupancy on a lot is generally prohibited except in RV parks or via temporary permit. § 17.32.030.

• ADU parking: Accessory dwelling units have their own rules — typically one off‑street space is required per ADU unless one of several exemptions applies (e.g., within ½ mile of transit, part of the primary residence, historic district, car‑share within one block). Tandem parking and driveway spaces are allowed; demolished garages converted to ADUs typically do not require replacement parking. See § 17.36.130 (ADU parking rules).

• Heavy commercial / vehicle storage / auto sales: Where allowed, parking facility/vehicle storage yards and auto sales have extra standards: landscape setbacks, screening walls, minimum separation from residences/schools, and special exceptions for display areas. See § 17.36.170 and § 17.36.180.

District‑by‑district breakdown

Each district’s development table points to Chapter 17.32 for parking; the practical effect is that the numeric requirement is determined by use (Table 3‑1) and then applied across districts, with some district‑specific design expectations below.

RLD, RMD, RHD (Residential districts)

• Purpose / typical uses: Low‑ to high‑density housing (single family, duplex, multi‑family per district). See Residential District General Development Standards. Chapter 17.18 (Table 2‑5).
• Parking standard: All residential districts point to Chapter 17.32 for off‑street parking requirements; multi‑family also must provide bicycle parking per § 17.32.090. See the residential table note: "Parking — As required by Chapter 17.32." § 17.18 / § 17.32.090.
• Key dimensional/site notes: Front/side/rear setbacks and garage placement that affect where parking can be sited are in the residential standards (e.g., garage setback 20 ft from street). See Table 2‑5 and § 17.14.060 for exceptions. § 17.18.

CC, GC, O (Commercial districts)

• Purpose / typical uses: Retail, offices, hospitality and service uses. See Table 2‑7 (Commercial District General Development Standards). § 17.20.040.
• Parking standard: The table references "Parking: As required by Chapter 17.32 (Parking and Loading)". Downtown/commercial areas include design guidance to locate parking behind buildings and allow director discretion to reduce or waive downtown parking where shared parking or location warrants. § 17.20.040; downtown guidance also in the DMU/Downtown design guidelines.
• Key site notes: Where parking sits relative to street and building (avoid street‑facing lots), pedestrian access from parking to entries, and screening/landscape minimums (trees and perimeter screening). § 17.32.070; § 17.30 (landscaping).

DMU, MCE, MCO (Mixed‑Use / Downtown)

• Purpose / typical uses: Pedestrian‑oriented mixed uses and downtown‑scale development. See Table 2‑9 and Downtown Mixed Use Design Guidelines. § 17.22.040 — § 17.22.050.
• Parking standard: Table 2‑9 explicitly says "Parking — As required by Chapter 17.32 (Parking and Loading)" and downtown guidelines encourage parking behind buildings and allow parking reductions/waivers at the director’s discretion. § 17.22.040.
• Special guidance: Mixed‑use projects must provide secure residential parking separate from commercial parking; bicycle parking is required in visible, well‑lit locations; parking may be reduced with shared arrangements. § 17.22.040; § 17.32.090.

M, BP (Industrial / Business Park)

• Purpose / typical uses: Manufacturing, warehousing, business park uses. See Table 2‑11 (Industrial District General Development Standards). § 17.24.040.
• Parking standard: Table 2‑11 points to the parking chapter: "Parking — As required by Chapter 17.32." Heavy industrial uses should also follow loading standards (§ 17.32.100) and special use sections (e.g., mini‑storage, vehicle storage) that add setbacks, screening and separation requirements. § 17.24.040; § 17.32.100; § 17.36.170.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards

Checklist

• Identify the proposed land use category and find its parking ratio in Table 3‑1; document gross floor area per § 17.32.040.
• Design bicycle parking to meet § 17.32.090 counts and device/installation standards; note possible auto‑stall reduction per that section.
• Size and locate loading spaces per § 17.32.100 (12' x 45' min; screened; rear two‑thirds preferred).
• Confirm accessible parking layout matches the California Building Standards Code and § 17.32.060. Link to California Building Standards Code.
• Provide required landscaping/screening around parking per Chapter 17.30 and site design guidance in § 17.32.070. See Landscaping and Screening.
• Check for district‑specific guidance (e.g., downtown DMU/MCO allowances or waivers) in § 17.22.040 and Table 2‑9.
• If requesting fewer spaces, compile quantitative justification and request a use permit / shared parking approval under § 17.32.050.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Lodi’s zoning code requires each use to provide off‑street parking and bicycle parking sized from a city table; design rules control surfacing, landscaping, disabled spaces, and loading docks. Bicycle parking can reduce auto stalls a little, downtown projects can sometimes get parking reductions, and ADUs have special exemptions — always check Table 3‑1 and Chapters 17.32 and 17.36 to confirm counts and process. Verify with the Community Development Department for parcel‑specific application.

Information Gaps

• The full content of Table 3‑1 (the complete land‑use by‑use parking ratios) was referenced by § 17.32.040 in the retrieved files but the entire table text was not included in the materials I reviewed. See § 17.32.040 and request the Table 3‑1 page from the City.
• Some district tables are presented as images/tables in the code and specific section numbers for Table 2‑5 (residential) were not explicitly shown as a single § heading in the retrieved snippets; confirm the exact section number for the table in the official online code.

Source References

• Lodi Development Code, Chapter 17.32 (Parking and Loading): purpose, applicability, general parking regulations, minimum counts § 17.32.010 — § 17.32.040.
• Lodi Development Code, § 17.32.050 (Adjustments to parking requirements; shared parking/use permit).
• Lodi Development Code, § 17.32.060 (Disabled/handicapped parking requirements).
• Lodi Development Code, § 17.32.070—§ 17.32.110 (Parking design standards; driveways; bicycle parking § 17.32.090; loading § 17.32.100).
• Residential District General Development Standards (Table 2‑5) and Residential design guidance (Chapter 17.18).
• Mixed‑Use district standards and downtown design guidance (Table 2‑9, § 17.22.040, § 17.22.050).
• Commercial district general development standards (Table 2‑7, § 17.20.040).
• Industrial district general development standards (Table 2‑11, § 17.24.040).
• ADU parking rules (Accessory Dwelling Units), § 17.36.130 (off‑street parking specifics and exemptions).
• Parking facilities / vehicle storage standards, § 17.36.170 (landscape setbacks, screening, separation distance).
• Lodi design and parking lot design guidance (Article 3 site planning and Figure references). § 17.32.110 and supporting design guidance.
• For California accessibility standards referenced for disabled parking, see California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.32) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 2 (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Section 17.14.070) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Section 17.22.050) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Lodi Development Code, Chapter 17.32 (Parking and Loading): purpose, applicability, general parking regulations, minimum counts **§ 17.32.010 — § 17.32.040**. (Chapter 17.32)
• Lodi Development Code, **§ 17.32.050** (Adjustments to parking requirements; shared parking/use permit). (§ 17.32.050)
• Lodi Development Code, **§ 17.32.060** (Disabled/handicapped parking requirements). (§ 17.32.060)
• Lodi Development Code, **§ 17.32.070—§ 17.32.110** (Parking design standards; driveways; bicycle parking **§ 17.32.090**; loading **§ 17.32.100**). (§ 17.32.070)
• Residential District General Development Standards (Table 2‑5) and Residential design guidance (Chapter 17.18). (Chapter 17.18)
• Mixed‑Use district standards and downtown design guidance (Table 2‑9, **§ 17.22.040**, **§ 17.22.050**). (§ 17.22.040)
• Commercial district general development standards (Table 2‑7, **§ 17.20.040**). (§ 17.20.040)
• Industrial district general development standards (Table 2‑11, **§ 17.24.040**). (§ 17.24.040)
• ADU parking rules (Accessory Dwelling Units), **§ 17.36.130** (off‑street parking specifics and exemptions). (§ 17.36.130)
• Parking facilities / vehicle storage standards, **§ 17.36.170** (landscape setbacks, screening, separation distance). (§ 17.36.170)
• Lodi design and parking lot design guidance (Article 3 site planning and Figure references). **§ 17.32.110** and supporting design guidance. (Article 3)
• For California accessibility standards referenced for disabled parking, see California Building Standards Code.
• Lodi_ZoningCode.md

• Official Lodi code library