McFarland Parking — Zoning Ordinance

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

McFarland’s parking rules live in Title 17 Zoning, primarily Chapter 17.144 Automobile Parking Regulations. They apply citywide to new uses, changes of use, expansions, and intensifications, and set minimum off-street parking, loading, design, and bicycle parking standards that work alongside the city’s broader zoning and development standards framework. Where a project goes through design review or a combining/overlay district applies, those approvals can shape layout and screening on top of the base rules.

Core rule in plain English: Each land use must provide on‑site parking per Table 17.144(A), keep it out of front and street‑side setbacks (except single‑family homes), and build lots to the city’s surfacing, aisle, landscaping, and visibility/safety standards (§ 17.144.020; § 17.144.060; § 17.144.080) .

What the code requires citywide

Required space counts by use. Off‑street spaces must be provided “per Table 17.144(A)” (§ 17.144.020) . For common uses, examples from Table 17.144(A) include:
- Eating/drinking (with or without takeout): 1 space per 100 sq ft of dining area; drive‑through restaurants must also queue 4 cars (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
- Fast food: 1 space per 75 sq ft of floor area plus 1 per employee of largest shift; 4‑car queue for drive‑through (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
- Bars/taverns: 1 space per 100 sq ft of floor area (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
- Banks/financial: 1 space per 260 sq ft of floor area; additional for walk‑up/drive‑up ATMs (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
- Hotels/motels: 1 per room, plus 1 per 2 employees per shift, plus 1 per 200 sq ft of banquet/meeting space, plus 50% of spaces otherwise required for accessory uses (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
- Schools: Elementary/junior high 2 spaces per classroom; high school 1 per employee plus 1 per student at full enrollment (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
ADA/accessible spaces. McFarland incorporates state rules; accessible counts follow the California Building Standards Code, and these accessible spaces count toward required totals (§ 17.144.040) .
Loading. Nonresidential uses must provide on‑site loading in addition to required parking; at least 1 space is required up to 25,000 sf GFA, with more as determined by the director; minimum loading bay size is 15' x 20' with 14' clear height, and all loading maneuvers must occur on‑site (§ 17.144.050) .
Location. Required parking must be on the same site; off‑site parking requires a recorded covenant. No parking in front or street‑side setbacks in any zone except single‑family dwellings (§ 17.144.060; see also § 17.134.020.A) .
Shared parking. The planning director may approve up to a 50% reduction when uses have staggered peak hours, with evidence and recorded assurances; on‑street spaces may not be counted (§ 17.144.070) .
Lot design and surfacing. Minimum aisle widths range from 18 ft (45°) to 24 ft (90°); lots need 2" AC over 4" base, clear markings, forward exit, no tandem (except as otherwise allowed for specific uses noted elsewhere), and on‑site maneuvering; see residential and landscaping standards below (§ 17.144.080) .
Landscaping/screening in lots. 5% minimum landscaped area for lots with 6+ spaces; 1 shade tree per 6 spaces; 10' landscaped strip along public ROW; headlight‑glare barrier where diagonal/perpendicular stalls abut a street; 6' masonry wall at residential edges (4' in the front setback segment) (§ 17.144.080.K–O, L; M) .
Bicycle parking. The code provides location/design/security criteria (e.g., within 100 ft of the primary entrance, outside travel paths, well‑lit), allows shared bike parking, and requires permanent maintenance; however, it does not specify a minimum number of bike spaces per use (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A), Bicycle Parking Requirements) .

District-by-district notes

R-1-5 Single-Family Residential

Purpose/use context: Detached homes; front yard landscaping protected from conversion to parking (§ 17.16.150) .
Minimum off-street spaces: The R‑1‑5 chapter says 1 covered + 1 uncovered per dwelling (§ 17.16.130.B) . Elsewhere, the citywide parking chapter states “each residential unit requires two covered spaces” in its residential parking design subsection (§ 17.144.080.H.1.a) — this conflicts and must be confirmed with staff .
Driveway/location: No parking in front or street‑side setbacks except for single‑family; driveway width generally limited to 40% of frontage; minimum 12' driveway approach width for units with street access (§ 17.144.060.C; § 17.16.110; § 17.144.080.H.1.b) .
ADUs: One space per ADU where applicable; tandem allowed on the driveway; several state‑law exceptions eliminate ADU parking (e.g., within ½ mile of transit). Replacement parking not required if a garage/carport is converted to an ADU (§ 17.136.150.E.1–3) . See ADUs for the full cross‑regulatory picture.

R-2 Two-Family and R-3 High-Density Residential

Purpose/use context: Duplexes and multifamily. Parking counts per Table 17.144(A) (§ 17.144.080.H.2.a) .
Access and layout: 12' min driveway approach for ≤4 units; 20' min for 5+ units; no more than ten contiguous single‑loaded stalls; parking must be within 150' of the served unit; long drives (>250') not permitted; landscaped “bulbs” or building breaks required to interrupt long stall runs (§ 17.144.080.H.2.b–h) .

C-O Professional Office

Counts per Table 17.144(A). For banks and similar financial services, use the specific standards (1/260 sq ft; ATM adders) (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
Outdoor operations: Business must be indoors except for off‑street parking and loading, fueling, and similar uses (§ 17.134.020.L.3) .

C-1 Neighborhood Commercial

Counts per Table 17.144(A). Examples: restaurants at 1/100 sq ft of dining area (or 1/75 sq ft for fast food); bars 1/100 sq ft (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
Site design: Must comply with the citywide surfacing, aisle width, landscaping, glare barriers, and screening standards (§ 17.144.080) .

C-2 Commercial

Counts per Table 17.144(A). Hotels/motels must add employee, meeting space, and accessory‑use components to room counts (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .
Cross‑reference: Chapters that govern specific C‑districts reiterate that parking for each use follows Chapter 17.144 (§ 17.82.110) .

M-1 Limited Manufacturing (and M-2 Light, M-3 General Manufacturing)

Counts per Table 17.144(A) (verify ratios for your specific industrial use; not all were retrieved here). All industrial/commercial projects need a 20' minimum drive approach width and 15' vertical clearance (§ 17.144.080.I) .
Truck parking/storage may be a permitted use in M‑1 when screened within a 6' masonry enclosure (see enumerated industrial uses) (§ 17.84.020.B.6.h) .
Loading: On‑site loading space(s) and on‑site maneuvers are mandatory; no loading in the street (§ 17.144.050.B.4) .

P‑D Precise Development Combining District

Parking details (stall counts, circulation, landscape, screening) are locked into the adopted P‑D plan. The submittal must show stall counts, aisle/drive layouts, and a parking ratio metric; revisions require new approvals (§ 17.132.040; § 17.132.030) .

P Automobile Parking Zone

This zone enables open‑air parking lots serving nearby A/E/R‑classified areas. Requires bituminous surfacing or better, 6' masonry walls where abutting residential (4' in the front‑yard segment), and glare‑controlled lighting and visibility controls at entrances/exits (§ 17.104.020.B) .

Design and layout essentials (selected standards)

Topic	Standard	Code Reference
Aisle widths	45°: 18 ft; 60°: 20 ft; 90°: 24 ft	§ 17.144.080.C
Compact spaces	Up to 30% allowed in facilities with 10+ spaces	§ 17.144.030.B
No tandem	Spaces must function independently; tandem not allowed (see ADU exception below)	§ 17.144.080.E
Forward exit	Vehicles must exit to streets in a forward direction (SF/duplex driveway exception)	§ 17.144.080.F
Setback rule	No parking in front/street‑side setbacks except for single‑family dwellings	§ 17.144.060.C; § 17.134.020.A
Off‑site parking	Allowed only with a recorded covenant approved by planning director	§ 17.144.060.B
Shared parking	Up to 50% reduction with evidence and covenants; no on‑street counting	§ 17.144.070
Landscaping	≥5% of parking area; 1 tree/6 spaces; 10' landscaped strip along ROW	§ 17.144.080.L; O
Headlight glare	4' max screen along streets where stalls abut ROW	§ 17.144.080.M
Walls at residential edges	6' masonry wall (4' in front setback depth) where 5+ spaces abut residential	§ 17.144.080.K
Bicycle parking siting	Within 100' of primary entrance; outside travel paths; lit, secure	§ 17.144.020/Table 17.144(A), Bicycle Parking Reqs.
ADA spaces	Provided per state code; count toward total	§ 17.144.040.D
Loading basics	1 space up to 25,000 sf GFA; bay 15' x 20' x 14' clear; on‑site maneuvers	§ 17.144.050.A–B

Note on ADUs and tandem: Although tandem parking is generally prohibited in lots (§ 17.144.080.E), ADUs may provide their required space in tandem on a driveway when applicable (§ 17.136.150.E.1) .

Information Gaps

Full text of Table 17.144(A) for all use categories was not fully retrieved; verify ratios for office, industrial, and any unlisted commercial uses. Not found in retrieved materials.
Minimum quantity of bicycle parking spaces per use is not specified; only siting/design/security criteria appear. Not found in retrieved materials.
Single‑family “covered space” requirement conflicts between chapters (§ 17.16.130.B vs. § 17.144.080.H.1.a). Verify with the jurisdiction.

Checklist

Confirm your use’s parking ratio in Table 17.144(A) and calculate required spaces (§ 17.144.020) .
If proposing shared parking, prepare evidence of staggered peaks and draft the necessary recorded agreements (§ 17.144.070) .
Keep spaces outside front/street‑side setbacks (unless a single‑family dwelling) and on the same site, or record the required off‑site covenant (§ 17.144.060) .
Lay out aisles and stalls to meet width, independence (no tandem), and forward‑exit rules (§ 17.144.080.C–G) .
Provide ADA spaces per state code and integrate them into totals (§ 17.144.040) .
Add loading space(s) and show that all loading maneuvers occur on‑site (§ 17.144.050) .
Meet landscaping, wall, glare‑screen, and lighting orientation standards (§ 17.144.080.K–O, M, N) and coordinate with landscaping and screening .
Site bicycle parking racks within 100' of primary entries and outside travel paths (§ 17.144.020/Table 17.144(A), Bicycle Parking) .
For multifamily/commercial/industrial, use the correct driveway approach widths and internal layout rules (§ 17.144.080.H.2; I) .
If in a P‑D or P zone, make sure the adopted plan/zone criteria for parking/screening are followed (§ 17.132.040; § 17.104.020) .
Submit the required parking lot plan for staff approval (§ 17.144.110, cited in § 17.144.080.H.2.h) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Covered space count for single-family	R‑1‑5 says 1 covered + 1 uncovered; parking chapter says 2 covered	Ask Planning which provision controls today (§ 17.16.130.B; § 17.144.080.H.1.a)
Incomplete access to Table 17.144(A)	Miscounting spaces risks redesign/delay	Confirm your use’s exact ratio with staff or the full code (§ 17.144.020)
Bicycle parking quantity not specified	You may under‑ or over‑provide	Whether the city applies a rule of thumb or case‑by‑case conditions (§ 17.144.020/Table 17.144(A))
Tandem prohibition vs. ADU tandem allowance	Avoid layout conflicts on small lots	Tandem allowed only for ADU parking? Confirm for other contexts (§ 17.144.080.E; § 17.136.150.E.1)
Off‑site/shared parking commitments	Reductions hinge on recorded covenants/evidence	Prepare covenant language and peak‑hour studies early (§ 17.144.060.B; § 17.144.070)
Industrial loading in public ROW	Street loading is prohibited	Show on‑site truck turning templates; keep maneuvers on‑site (§ 17.144.050.B.4)

Plain-English Summary

McFarland expects you to keep parking on your site, out of front/street‑side setbacks (except single‑family homes), and built to specific aisle, surfacing, and landscaping rules. Count spaces using Table 17.144(A), add any required loading, and put bike racks near doors; if you want to share or go off‑site, you’ll need evidence and recorded agreements.

Source References

McFarland Municipal Code Title 17, Chapter 17.144 Automobile Parking Regulations: § 17.144.010; § 17.144.020; § 17.144.030; § 17.144.040; § 17.144.050; § 17.144.060; § 17.144.070; § 17.144.080; § 17.144.110 (as cited) .
Development Standards: § 17.134.020 (setback/parking surfacing and related standards) .
R‑1‑5 Residential: § 17.16.110; § 17.16.130; § 17.16.150 (driveways, off‑street parking, landscaping) .
P‑D Precise Development: § 17.132.030; § 17.132.040 (parking shown in P‑D plans) .
P Automobile Parking Zone: § 17.104.020 (open‑air parking lots and screening) .
M‑1 Limited Manufacturing: § 17.84.020.B.6.h (truck parking/storage as a listed use) .
Cross‑reference within district regs: § 17.82.110 (districts requiring conformance to Chapter 17.144 for parking) .
ADUs: § 17.136.150.E (ADU parking, tandem allowance, and exceptions) .

Sources

Retrieved passages

McFarland Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (Chapter 17.142) High relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
CBC § 17.134.030 (Section 17.134.030) High relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (Section 17.144.110) High relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
McFarland Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official McFarland code library

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces do I need for a restaurant in McFarland?

Use Table 17.144(A): generally 1 space per 100 sq ft of dining area; fast food is 1 per 75 sq ft plus 1 per employee on the largest shift, and drive‑throughs need room to queue 4 cars (§ 17.144.020, Table 17.144(A)) .

Can I put required parking in the front yard?

No. Parking is not allowed in front or street‑side setbacks in any zone, except at single‑family homes. All other uses must keep parking out of those setbacks and on the same site (§ 17.144.060.C; § 17.134.020.A) .

Do accessible (ADA) spaces count toward my total?

Yes. Accessible spaces are required per state code and they count toward your off‑street parking total (§ 17.144.040.D) .

Can different tenants share a parking lot and reduce the total space count?

Possibly. The planning director can approve up to a 50% reduction when peak hours don’t overlap, with evidence and recorded agreements. You can’t count on‑street spaces toward the reduction (§ 17.144.070) .

What are the aisle width and surfacing standards for lots?

Surface with at least 2" asphalt over 4" base; aisles are 18–24 ft depending on stall angle (24 ft for 90°). Provide independent stalls (no tandem) and forward exits to the street (§ 17.144.080.C–G) .

How much landscaping do I need in a parking lot?

At least 5% of the parking area must be landscaped, with 1 shade tree per 6 spaces and a 10' landscaped strip along public ROW. Walls and headlight‑glare screens apply in specified locations (§ 17.144.080.K–O, M) .

What about loading spaces for my commercial or industrial building?

Provide at least 1 on‑site loading space up to 25,000 sf GFA, meet minimum bay dimensions, and keep all loading/maneuvers on‑site; none may occur in the public right‑of‑way (§ 17.144.050) .

Do ADUs require parking and can it be tandem?

ADUs require 1 space where applicable, but many state‑law triggers waive it (e.g., near transit). When required, ADU parking may be tandem on a driveway, and garage/carport conversions don’t require replacement parking (§ 17.136.150.E) .

McFarland — Parking