Marina — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Marina Municipal Code (Title 17 Zoning) says about parking, off‑street loading, and bicycle parking standards that control development in Marina. It explains the numeric parking formulas, general design rules (dimensions, paving, maneuvering), airport/airport‑business park exceptions, and the city’s allowance for shared/managed parking programs, all grounded in the local code. For broader process topics referenced below (zoning maps, design review, ADUs, state building code) see Marina’s site links: Marina Zoning, Marina Development Standards, Marina Design Review, Marina Overlay Districts, Marina ADUs, and California Building Standards Code.

Key citywide rules (short list)

• Required parking amounts are prescribed by use type (residential, commercial, industrial, public assembly) and are collected in the parking chapters § 17.41.210 and § 17.44.030–070.
• A standard required parking space is 9 ft × 19 ft. § 17.44.070(D).
• Required parking may not be placed in required front or side yards; driveways are similarly limited (with federal/state ADA exceptions). § 17.44.070(B).
• All parking areas and driveways must be paved and maintained to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. § 17.44.070(C).
• Truck loading, loading dimensions, and location rules are required (loading to rear/side, within-site maneuvering). § 17.28.040(5–9) and § 17.44.030(I).
• The Planning Commission (or Council on appeal) can approve reduced or shared parking through a Parking Demand Management Program (shared parking, off‑site parking within set distances, valet/staffed programs, transit/vanpool programs). § 17.44.070(E) and related shared‑parking paragraphs.

District-by-district breakdown

Below are Marina’s primary zoning districts where parking rules are applied. Each subsection states the district name (bold), a brief purpose note, the parking rule(s) that specifically apply to that district or use, and where in the code to read the controlling standard.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: single‑family homes (see Chapter 17.14 for district rules).
• Parking requirement: Single‑family dwellings must provide two parking spaces, which must be in a garage. § 17.41.210(B)(1).
• Design notes: Required parking may not be in required front or side setback (except ADA spaces where necessary); driveway and paving rules apply § 17.44.070(B–C).

R-2 / R-3 / R-4 (Duplex, Limited & Multiple‑Family Residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: multifamily housing; see Chapters 17.16, 17.18, 17.20.
• Parking requirements: Duplex: two spaces per dwelling unit, one covered. Multi‑family rules scale by unit size—e.g., one‑bedroom = one covered space per unit plus visitor ratios; two‑bedrooms = 1.5 spaces per unit, etc. § 17.41.210(B)(2–4).
• Visitor parking: 20% of required spaces (but at least one) must be unreserved and signed for visitors. § 17.41.210(B)(4)(e).

C‑R / C‑1 / C‑2 (Commercial / Mixed Use / Retail / General Commercial)

• Purpose / typical uses: retail, offices, mixed commercial/residential (see Chapters 17.21, 17.22, 17.24).
• Parking formulas: Retail generally 1 space / 275 sf; offices and service establishments 1 / 300 sf; restaurants 1 / 60 sf dining area; taverns 1 / 4 seats; take‑out food establishments use a specific base + area formula. Loading: 1 loading space / 5,000 sf for many retail uses. § 17.44.030 (commercial formulas).

BP / P / Airport Business Park (A‑1, A‑2, A‑3)

• Purpose / typical uses: Airport and business park zoning to support aviation uses and compatible industries; see § 17.28.010 for intent. § 17.28.010 emphasizes adequate off‑street parking and truck delivery allowances.
• Special airport parking rules: Aviation uses have tailored rates (e.g., 1 space per 4 private aircraft; 1 per 350 sf office-type space; 1 per 1,000 sf maintenance). Required parking may be located within required setbacks when consistent with Airport Guidelines; off‑site parking may be used if within 700 feet and reserved for the site via binding contract. § 17.28.040(2–4).

M / Industrial

• Purpose / typical uses: industrial, manufacturing, warehousing; see Chapter 17.30.
• Parking formulas: Industrial parking is 1 space per 3 employees on the largest shift, with a floor‑area minimum of 1 space / 1,000 sf. Truck parking/loading: at least 1 space per establishment and 1 per 5,000 sf to a maximum of four. § 17.44.060.

Notes: Where a district’s chapter contains supplemental parking text (for example, the C‑R chapter references parking in its table of contents), the city defaults to the formulas and general requirements in Chapter 17.44 unless a chapter explicitly modifies them. § 17.28.040(A)(1) (airport chapter cross‑reference).

Most decision‑relevant numeric/operational standards (table)

Information Gaps (what the code excerpts did not clearly state)

• A consolidated, citywide bicycle parking schedule (number of bicycle spaces required per land use) is Not found in retrieved materials. The code requires bicycle parking for certain conversion agreements and residential hotels but lacks a general numeric table in the retrieved excerpts.
• Detailed design standards (ramp slopes for ADA spaces, aisle widths for compact vs. standard spaces, EV‑charging requirements) are Not found in retrieved materials; these details may be in separate municipal standards, engineering standards, or building codes.
• Modern ADU parking exceptions or state ADU minimums (post‑2017 AB/SB law changes) are Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the city on ADU‑specific parking relief. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist (what an applicant must demonstrate)

• Calculate required vehicle parking using the formulas in § 17.41.210 and § 17.44.030–060, and show visitor parking where required.
• Dimension each required space at 9 ft × 19 ft (or supply a Parking Demand Management Program justification for smaller dimensions). § 17.44.070(D–E).
• Locate required spaces outside required front/side yards unless ADA or specific district exception applies; show driveway access and turning movements that allow forward exit. § 17.44.070(B) and § 17.44.070(A)(1).
• Show that all parking surfaces and driveways are permanently paved and note City Engineer approval. § 17.44.070(C).
• Provide required loading spaces per use (e.g., 1 / 5,000 sf for many retail uses) and show loading areas located to rear/side and within the site for maneuvering. § 17.44.030(I) and § 17.28.040(5–9).
• If proposing reduced parking, shared parking, off‑site parking, or smaller spaces, submit a Parking Demand Management Program consistent with § 17.44.070(E) (program, distances, covenants).
• For Airport/Business Park projects, confirm Airport Guidelines consistency and any allowable setback encroachments (see § 17.28.040).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Marina’s zoning code sets parking minimums by use (two garage spaces for a single‑family home; formulas for multi‑family, retail, restaurants, industrial, etc.), requires standard space size 9×19 ft, prohibits required parking in most front/side setbacks, and mandates paved, on‑site maneuvering and loading areas; the Planning Commission can allow shared or reduced parking under a formal Parking Demand Management Program. § 17.41.210; § 17.44.030–070; § 17.28.040.

Source References

• Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — Parking Requirements chapter § 17.44.030–070 (general rules, use formulas, parking demand management)
• Marina Municipal Code — Residential & Coastal parking formulas § 17.41.210 (residential, guest parking, multi‑family details)
• Marina Municipal Code — Airport & Business Park intent and parking/loading special rules § 17.28.010 and § 17.28.040 (aviation parking formulas; off‑site distances)
• Marina Municipal Code — Planned development alternative parking and shared usage rules § 17.06.120 (alternative development regs for C‑R/C‑1/C‑2 PDs)
• Marina Municipal Code — Definitions and Table of Contents (district chapter listings, Title 17 TOC) § 17.04 and Table of Contents (Title 17 chapters list)

Retrieved passages

• Marina Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 1 (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Marina Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Marina Municipal Code, Title 17 ZONING — Parking Requirements chapter **§ 17.44.030–070** (general rules, use formulas, parking demand management) (Title 17)
• Marina Municipal Code — Residential & Coastal parking formulas **§ 17.41.210** (residential, guest parking, multi‑family details) (§ 17.41.210)
• Marina Municipal Code — Airport & Business Park intent and parking/loading special rules **§ 17.28.010** and **§ 17.28.040** (aviation parking formulas; off‑site distances) (§ 17.28.010)
• Marina Municipal Code — Planned development alternative parking and shared usage rules **§ 17.06.120** (alternative development regs for C‑R/C‑1/C‑2 PDs) (§ 17.06.120)
• Marina Municipal Code — Definitions and Table of Contents (district chapter listings, Title 17 TOC) **§ 17.04** and Table of Contents (Title 17 chapters list) (chapter listings)
• Marina_ZoningCode.md