Local zoning · Long Beach

Long Beach — Parking

Q: How many parking spaces does a typical one‑bedroom apartment need?

Use Table 41‑1A: typical rates are 1.5 spaces per unit for a one‑bedroom under the standard table; coastal‑zone and program exceptions may change that figure (consult Table 41‑1A and § 21.41.216) .

Q: Are tandem spaces allowed for required residential parking?

Tandem parking is generally prohibited for required residential parking, with narrow exceptions: valet (site plan review), certain low‑income project units, and provisions for ADU/garage conversions; for ADUs, up to 3 spaces may be tandem (§ 21.41.233) .

Q: What are the minimum stall dimensions and aisle widths I must use?

Minimum stall sizes are in Table 41‑2: Compact 8'×15' , Standard 8'6"×18' , with aisle widths and special smaller radii allowed in specific R‑subzones; consult Table 41‑2 and Table 41‑3 and § 21.41.235/243 when designing a layout .

Q: Are there parking reductions for downtown or special districts?

Yes — the City maintains a Parking Exempt Area (map on file) and recognizes parking districts and PD/SP plans that can supersede the standard requirements. Each map/plan has its own applicability and exceptions — check § 21.41.175, § 21.41.180 and § 21.41.224 for details .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Long Beach Zoning Regulations (Title 21) require for off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking and related lot design. It pulls the operative rules from the City’s parking chapter (Division II of Chapter 21.41) and related sections so you can see how many spaces, what sizes, and what exceptions or reductions might apply in common districts. For related project controls see the city’s pages on Long Beach Zoning, Long Beach Development Standards, Long Beach Design Review, Long Beach Overlay Districts, and Long Beach ADUs; building-access and construction details remain governed by the California Building Standards Code.

How the code is organized (quick)

The parking rules live primarily in Chapter 21.41, Division II — Off‑Street Parking and Loading. Applicability and minimums are mandatory for "all proposed and established land uses" (§ 21.41.120) .
Numerical requirements are given in tables (Table 41‑1A/B/C for uses; Table 41‑2 for stall sizes; Table 41‑3 for turning radii) referenced in § 21.41.216 and related figures/tables .
The code contains built‑in reduction and flexibility mechanisms (Administrative Use Permit, Parking Management Plans, shared parking, parking studies, Transportation Demand Management) at § 21.41.223 .

Decision‑relevant standards (table)

Topic	Key rule / value	Code Reference
Applicability — who must provide parking	All new construction and new uses must provide required off‑street parking and loading (§ 21.41.120, § 21.41.160)	§ 21.41.120; § 21.41.160
Residential parking (typical)	See Table 41‑1A: e.g., 1.5 spaces/unit for 1‑bedroom (varies by coastal zone/units); guest parking 1/4 units	§ 21.41.216; Table 41‑1A
Minimum stall sizes	Compact: 8' × 15'; Standard: 8'6" × 18'; handicapped 14' × 18' (see Table 41‑2)	Table 41‑2 (§ 21.41.235/21.41.243)
Turning radii & layout	24' minimum aisle/turn radius for standard 90° stalls (exceptions for some R‑1/R‑2 subzones); continuous circulation required for lots ≥100 spaces	§ 21.41.243; Table 41‑3
Bicycle parking / TDM credit	Bicycle parking may substitute for auto spaces under an approved TDM/parking management plan (short‑term or long‑term substitution limits: up to 20% or 30% depending on use)	§ 21.41.223.D.1.a
Tandem parking (residential)	Generally prohibited for required spaces, with limited exceptions (valet, low‑income units, ADU conversions). ADU tandem may allow up to 3 tandem spaces.	§ 21.41.233
Electric vehicle (EV) ready/installed	EV rules cross‑referenced to LBM CMC Chapter 18.47; coastal zone multifamily/hotel projects ≥3 units require 25% EV‑capable and 5% installed chargers	§ 21.41.232
Parking lot improvements	Paving depth minimum 3½" asphalt (or equivalent); marking, wheel‑stops, screening, and landscaping standards specified (§ 21.41.263, §21.41.261, §21.41.266)	§§ 21.41.261, 21.41.263, 21.41.266
Parking Exempt Area	Certain downtown/other mapped areas may be exempt from minimum parking and/or loading requirements — see the Parking Exempt Area Map and § 21.41.175/180	§ 21.41.175; § 21.41.180
Loading minimums	Loading minimums may also be exempt inside the Parking Exempt Area with specific exceptions (hotels, large retail, schools, etc.)	§ 21.41.185

District‑by‑district breakdown (what changes by zone)

Below are the Long Beach zoning districts that most often produce different parking treatment. Each subsection summarizes the parking implications tied to that district in the zoning code.

R‑1 (Single‑family Residential)

Purpose/typical uses: single‑family dwellings. Required parking for dwelling units must be provided on the same site and “within an enclosed garage” in all residential districts unless an exception is authorized (§ 21.41.213) .
Key standards: residential parking minimums come from Table 41‑1A (§ 21.41.216) and garage requirements referencing Section 21.31.245 (garage) apply in R‑1 .
Where it applies: citywide R‑1 parcels per zoning map (verify parcel zoning).

R‑2 (Two‑family Residential)

Purpose/typical uses: duplexes, small multifamily. Same residential parking table and enclosed garage requirement apply; some R‑2 subzones (R‑2‑S, R‑2‑I) get slightly different aisle/turn radii allowances in the stall tables (see Table 41‑2) .
Dimensional nuance: some R‑2 subzones permit narrower aisles/turn radii noted in Table 41‑3 .

R‑3 and R‑4 (Multifamily)

Purpose/typical uses: higher density apartments, mixed residential. Same basic required counts (Table 41‑1A) but design controls for parking structures and screening are stricter: parking lots/structures facing a public street must be screened (solid wall 5' in R‑3/R‑4 zones) (§ 21.41.266.F) .
Tandem: residential tandem rules apply statewide (tandem generally prohibited for required parking except listed exceptions) (§ 21.41.233) .

CNP (Central Neighborhood/Coastal Neighborhood — as codified)

Purpose/typical uses: neighborhood commercial/coastal uses. Special parking reduction rules for the CNP district exist (see § 21.41.226) — in certain coastal subareas (Area D) parking may be one‑half the standard (with listed exceptions for restaurants) .
Practical note: project location inside CNP coastal Area D can change required counts substantially — verify coastal subarea mapping.

IM / IG (Industrial/Manufacturing)

Purpose/typical uses: industrial, manufacturing, warehousing. Tandem and backing rules are more permissive in some small industrial lots (backing into the street allowed on lots ≤5,000 sq ft in IM/IG with approvals) (§ 21.41.243.H) .
Industrial tandem: allowed for employee long‑term parking, subject to limits (no more than 2 in tandem, ≤25% of required spaces) (§ 21.41.235) .

Planned Development (PD), Specific Plan (SP) and Special Districts

Many PDs/SPs carry their own parking tables; the Zoning Regulations say parking requirements in those PD/SP documents or certified plans control unless superseded (§ 21.41.216; also check PD/SP text) .
Micro‑unit, EDB, and other special program rules: certain programs (e.g., Micro‑Units, Economic Development bonus projects) carry alternate parking ratios and TDM requirements spelled out in the specific PD/SP or program sections (§ 21.68 and PD language) .

Practical guidance / synthesis (what most applicants should know)

Start with Table 41‑1A/B/C: required counts are use‑specific and added across multiple uses on the same parcel (§ 21.41.216) .
For housing projects, plan for required parking to be on‑site and, in residential zones, inside an enclosed garage unless a discretionary exception is granted (§ 21.41.213) .
If your site is in the city’s Parking Exempt Area or a certified parking district, minimums may be reduced or eliminated — but the Exempt Area is map‑based and specific exceptions apply (hotels, large retail, medical, supermarkets, etc.) (§ 21.41.175, § 21.41.180, § 21.41.185) .
Bicycle parking can be used as a partial substitute for auto spaces as part of a Parking Management Plan / TDM, but substitution limits and permanence (recorded covenant) apply (§ 21.41.223) .
EV readiness/installed chargers are required in certain projects and cross‑reference City EV rules (Chapter 18.47) and special coastal zone rules (§ 21.41.232) .
Site design details (stall size, aisles, turning radii, screening, paving) are prescriptive — use the figures and tables in Chapter 21.41 when preparing a plot plan for building permit (§§ 21.41.243, 21.41.261–269) .

Checklist

Confirm zoning for the parcel and any overlay (coastal, PD, SP) that might alter rates (verify CNP, Parking Exempt Area) (§ 21.41.226; § 21.41.180)
Prepare a plot plan showing all proposed parking/loading, driveways, curb cuts, and adjacent right‑of‑way (required with building permit) (§ 21.41.140)
Calculate required spaces from Table 41‑1 (residential, commercial, institutional) and include guest/employee counts where required (§ 21.41.216)
Provide required stall sizes, aisle widths and turning radii per Tables 41‑2 and 41‑3 (§ 21.41.235; § 21.41.243)
If seeking a reduction, prepare a Parking Management Plan, Shared Parking Agreement or Parking Study (AUP/recorded covenant may be required) (§ 21.41.223)
Include bicycle parking / TDM measures if relying on substitute credits (§ 21.41.223.D)
Comply with EV space/charger requirements and ADA/accessible upgrades where applicable (§ 21.41.232; § 21.41.223.D.1.f)
Ensure parking lot paving, marking and screening meet the specified standards and that any removed driveways are restored per § 21.41.190 if parking is removed under exemptions

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Parking Exempt Area boundaries	Exemption can eliminate minimums — but exceptions apply and map controls eligibility	Confirm whether parcel is inside the official Parking Exempt Area Map held by the Department of Community Development (§ 21.41.180)
Coastal zone special rules	Coastal projects (and CNP Area D) may use different ratios or tandem permissions	Check coastal area designations and § 21.41.226 coastal subarea rules before relying on reduced ratios
ADU / garage conversion impacts	Converting garage to an ADU may trigger parking replacement or exemptions; ADU tandem allowances differ	Verify ADU treatment and the specific exemptions/requirements (tandem allowances up to 3 for ADUs in § 21.41.233 and driveway replacement exception in § 21.41.190)
Use‑specific counts	Table 41‑1 has many use categories (retail, restaurant, medical) — mis‑classifying use changes required counts	Use the exact use definition and Table 41‑1 entry and confirm with Planner; fractional results round up (§ 21.41.216)
Reliance on TDM / bicycle credits	Credits require an approved Parking Management Plan and recorded covenant; not automatically granted	If proposing substitutions, prepare TDM commitments and anticipate recorded covenants per § 21.41.223.A and D
Nonconforming parking situations	Existing legal nonconforming parking has restrictions on reduction and reuse	Check § 21.41.206 and Chapter 21.27 (Nonconformities) for limits and required findings

Plain‑English summary

Long Beach requires off‑street parking and loading per Chapter 21.41; count required spaces from the City’s parking tables, meet stall/aisle/surface and screening standards, and use the City’s formal processes (AUP, parking study, or recorded agreements) if you want reductions or substitutions like bike parking or shared parking. Verify whether the parcel sits in special areas (Parking Exempt Area, coastal subareas or PD/SP) before assuming reductions (§ 21.41.216; § 21.41.223; § 21.41.175) .

Source References

Division II, Chapter 21.41 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading (applicability, minimums, tables and figures): see §§ 21.41.120, 21.41.140, 21.41.160, 21.41.216 (Table 41‑1A/B/C) .
Parking Exempt Area and exemptions: §§ 21.41.175, 21.41.180 .
Loading exemption and driveway/curb replacement rules: §§ 21.41.185, 21.41.190 .
Parking adjustments, shared parking, Parking Management Plans and TDM (bicycle substitution): § 21.41.223 and subsection D.1.a .
Tandem parking, stall sizes and layout: §§ 21.41.233, 21.41.235, Table 41‑2 and Table 41‑3 (stall sizes and turning radii) .
Parking lot improvements, markings, paving, screening: §§ 21.41.261, 21.41.263, 21.41.266 .
Electric vehicle spaces and chargers: § 21.41.232 (cross‑reference to LBM CMC Chapter 18.47) .
Special program reductions (Micro‑Units, EDB): PD/SP text and § 21.68.090 / PD language (see program tables) .

Sources

Retrieved passages

Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 8) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 21.44) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 21.51) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.34) High relevance
Long Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 21.64) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Long Beach code library

Frequently asked questions

Do I always have to provide off‑street parking for a new use in Long Beach?

In general, yes — all new construction and new uses must provide off‑street parking and loading per Chapter 21.41; required counts come from Table 41‑1 unless you qualify for a reduction mechanism or the site is in a mapped Parking Exempt Area (§ 21.41.120; § 21.41.216; § 21.41.175) .

How many parking spaces does a typical one‑bedroom apartment need?

Use Table 41‑1A: typical rates are 1.5 spaces per unit for a one‑bedroom under the standard table; coastal‑zone and program exceptions may change that figure (consult Table 41‑1A and § 21.41.216) .

Can I substitute bicycle parking for vehicle parking?

Yes, but only as part of an approved Parking Management Plan / TDM strategy and within specific substitution limits (e.g., one short‑term bike space can replace one auto space for some retail uses up to a 20% cap; long‑term bike credits for other uses up to 30%) (§ 21.41.223.D.1.a) .

Are tandem spaces allowed for required residential parking?

Tandem parking is generally prohibited for required residential parking, with narrow exceptions: valet (site plan review), certain low‑income project units, and provisions for ADU/garage conversions; for ADUs, up to 3 spaces may be tandem (§ 21.41.233) .

What are the minimum stall dimensions and aisle widths I must use?

Minimum stall sizes are in Table 41‑2: Compact 8'×15', Standard 8'6"×18', with aisle widths and special smaller radii allowed in specific R‑subzones; consult Table 41‑2 and Table 41‑3 and § 21.41.235/243 when designing a layout .

Are there parking reductions for downtown or special districts?

Yes — the City maintains a Parking Exempt Area (map on file) and recognizes parking districts and PD/SP plans that can supersede the standard requirements. Each map/plan has its own applicability and exceptions — check § 21.41.175, § 21.41.180 and § 21.41.224 for details .

Do I need to provide loading spaces for my new retail store?

Loading rules are part of Chapter 21.41; loading minimums can be exempt inside the Parking Exempt Area but important exceptions exist (hotels, large retail, medical, schools, etc.). See § 21.41.185 for the loading exceptions and required substitution process for curb loading if needed .

What EV charging requirements apply?

The zoning code directs projects to comply with the City’s EV requirements (Chapter 18.47 of the LBM CMC); additionally, coastal multifamily/hotel buildings with three or more units must provide EV‑capable spaces equal to 25% of parking and have 5% of spaces with chargers installed (§ 21.41.232) .

If I remove required parking under a parking‑reduction program, do I have to do anything to existing driveways?

Yes — when required parking or loading spaces are completely removed under the authority of permitted reductions, associated driveways and paved areas must be removed and restored with landscaping and curb reconstruction as required (§ 21.41.190), except for certain ADU/SB9 conversions which are exempt from that driveway removal provision (§ 21.41.190) .

Can a shared parking agreement eliminate the need for new parking on my site?

A recorded shared parking agreement can reduce the required number of spaces if demonstrated (hours of peak demand do not overlap or partially overlap) and the agreement is acceptable to the Zoning Administrator; a covenant recorded with the City is typically required (§ 21.41.223.B) .

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