Local zoning · Monrovia

Monrovia — Parking

Q: How many spaces does a new office in Monrovia need?

Office parking is generally 1 space per 250 sq ft as listed in the nonresidential table § 17.24.060 ; you must round fractional spaces up and show stall dimensions and access per § 17.24.070 .

Q: Are there special rules for large shopping centers in Monrovia?

Yes — projects 100,000 sq ft or larger must provide additional TDM and site features (vanpool/carpool zones, pedestrian connections, possible bus‑stop improvements and bicycle access) under § 17.24.170 .

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

Ask a question free See coverage

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

The City of Monrovia requires off-street parking, loading, and bicycle parking per its zoning ordinance (Title 17). Required parking numbers for residential uses are in § 17.24.030 and for nonresidential uses in § 17.24.060; dimensional, surfacing and design standards are in § 17.24.070, location rules in § 17.24.090, and bicycle/TDM requirements in § 17.24.170. These provisions are part of the Comprehensive Zoning Law of the City of Monrovia (Title 17) . For design and accessibility, the code explicitly cross-references the California Building Standards Code for accessible parking stalls (Title 24) and for ADU-related parking the state ADU rules apply (see Sources) .

Note: the first natural mention of related city programs and topics below links to the Monrovia site pages used on GoCodebook: Monrovia Zoning, Monrovia Development Standards, Monrovia Design Review, Monrovia Overlay Districts, and Monrovia ADUs.

How the code is organized (short)

Purpose and applicability: off-street parking required for new buildings, expansions, conversions and intensifications § 17.24.010 and § 17.24.020 .
Separate numeric parking tables for residential and nonresidential uses: § 17.24.030 and § 17.24.060 .
Design, stall dimensions, surfacing, screening, loading and accessibility: § 17.24.070, § 17.24.080, § 17.24.090 .
Bicycle parking and TDM thresholds: § 17.24.170 (bicycle racks, vanpool/carpool zones, transit access measures) .
Procedural relief: minor exceptions and variances may allow limited parking reductions (with caps) under § 17.52.110 and § 17.24.180; loading adequacy is discretionary to the Committee for many commercial/industrial projects § 17.24.070(J) .

District-by-district application — what to check in your zone

The Monrovia zoning map establishes many districts (see the list in § 17.04.030) such as single‑family residential zones (RF, RE, RL), medium/high-density residential (RM3500, RM3000, RH), commercial districts (NC, HCD, CRS, RCC, RCM, O/RD/LM, BE, M), and planned development/specific plan zones (PD, SP) . Parking rules in Chapter 17.24 apply citywide, but certain practical differences and discretionary reviews occur by district:

Residential districts — RF, RE, RL, RM3500, RM3000, RM/RH, RH

Purpose / typical uses: single- and multi-family dwellings as designated by each zone (zoning descriptions are in § 17.04.030). Full permitted-use lists for each district are not contained in the retrieved parking chapter; verify the zone-use tables in the zoning chapter. Not found in retrieved materials for specific use tables per zone .
Key parking rules: Required residential parking tables are in § 17.24.030; required parking must be on the same lot and be located at least 20 feet from a property line adjacent to a public street (§ 17.24.090(A)(1–2)) .
Physical standards: residential driveways/parking are to be paved (concrete or approved alternative), asphalt driveways prohibited, carports/unenclosed spaces must be screened from property lines (except alley abutting) and tandem parking is prohibited for residential required spaces (§ 17.24.050) .
Where it applies: applies throughout the city's residential zones; ADU-specific parking exemptions are controlled largely by state ADU law (see Sources) .

Neighborhood & Downtown Commercial — NC, HCD

Purpose / typical uses: neighborhood retail and historic downtown commercial (see zoning chapters) — check district use lists in zoning for exact permitted uses. Not found in retrieved materials (detailed permitted uses per district) .
Key parking rules: nonresidential parking rates by use are in § 17.24.060 (retail, restaurants, offices, etc.) and design standards in § 17.24.070; where compact stalls or alternate layout proposed, you must still meet the minimum count first and then may use compact stalls per the code (compact stall size specified) .
Special considerations: the HCD (Historic Commercial Downtown) may trigger design review (Monrovia Design Review) and historic review (Monrovia Historic Preservation) for changes to surface parking or new structures — verify whether overlay historic rules affect parking location, paving, or screening. Verify with the jurisdiction; not fully specified in the retrieved parking chapter .

Retail Corridor, Office, Industrial — CRS, RCC, RCM, O/RD/LM, BE, M

Purpose / typical uses: larger retail centers, office/industrial, business enterprise and manufacturing (see zoning code zone list) .
Key parking and loading rules: nonresidential parking counts in § 17.24.060; loading space requirements for commercial/industrial/hotels/hospitals are discretionary—adequate loading to be determined by the Committee; loading must not use a public street or alley and loading doors must be screened (§ 17.24.070(J)) .
Large projects (≥100,000 sq ft) trigger additional TDM/bicycle/vanpool/carpool/sidewalk/bus-stop measures under § 17.24.170 .

Planned Development / Specific Plan — PD, SP

Purpose: project‑level tailored standards; parking requirements of Chapter 17.24 still apply unless the specific plan or PD modifies them. Verify the specific PD/SP text for parking modifications; not found in the parking chapter itself .
Key note: the committee/Planning Commission has discretion to require different loading/parking approaches; variances and minor exceptions are tools (see § 17.52.110 for allowable parking deviations and § 17.24.180 for TDM variances) .

Quick reference table — common required parking counts (decision-relevant)

Use (example)	Required parking	Code reference
Single‑family dwelling	See § 17.24.030 (residential table) — apply residential table per unit	§ 17.24.030
Retail (general)	See table in § 17.24.060 (GFA-based rates)	§ 17.24.060
Restaurants / fast food	Restaurants: per occupant/load; Fast‑food: 1.5 spaces per table or minimum 10 — see notes	§ 17.24.060
Offices	1 per 250 sq ft (typical)	§ 17.24.060
Manufacturing/warehouse	1 per 500 sq ft (or 1/1000 with CUP)	§ 17.24.060
Bicycle parking	4 racks per first 50,000 sq ft, then 1 per additional 50,000 sq ft; enclosed lockers allowed	§ 17.24.170
Accessible stalls	As required by State Code (Title 24)	§ 17.24.080

(Always confirm the precise line-item in § 17.24.030 or § 17.24.060 for your exact use; both sections provide many specific sub‑use rates) .

Design / dimensional highlights (what the site plan must show)

Stall sizes: universal open lot stall 8'‑6" × 18', parking structure stall 9' × 20', compact allowed only after meeting minimum count (compact 7'‑6" × 15') § 17.24.070(A–C) .
Access and maneuvering: stalls must be located so no vehicle must back onto a public street; each space independently accessible with minimum 25 ft unobstructed for universal stalls § 17.24.070(B,D) .
Surfacing: parking surfaces generally must be paved — commercial: asphaltic concrete (minimum 2½" with 1" aggregate) or concrete (3½") — residential driveways/parking have stricter concrete/alt rules and asphalt driveways are prohibited § 17.24.070(I) and § 17.24.050(F)(1–4) .
Striping, car stops/wheel stops, curbs and screening where adjoining residential uses required § 17.24.070(F,G,H) .
Loading: “adequate” loading for commercial/industrial/hotel/hospital projects is to be determined by the Committee and must provide ingress/egress from public street or alley (no loading in the public right-of-way) § 17.24.070(J) .
Accessibility: number/design of accessible stalls must meet the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and are required at building erection/alteration § 17.24.080 .

Checklist — what to include in a parking-related site plan submission

Show zoning district(s) (e.g., RF, NC, RM3500) and reference to zoning map. Verify permitted uses for the district in the zoning chapters .
Calculate required number of parking spaces using § 17.24.030 (residential) or § 17.24.060 (nonresidential) and round up fractional results § 17.24.020(C) .
Dimension every stall and aisle to match § 17.24.070(A–D) (universal/compact/structure sizes and 25 ft maneuvering for universal stalls) .
Show accessible stalls and signage per Title 24 and cite § 17.24.080 .
Provide paving/section notes for driveways and parking areas per § 17.24.070(I) and § 17.24.050(F); show wheel stops and screening where required § 17.24.070(F,H) .
Show loading areas, ingress/egress, screening of loading doors (commercial/industrial: note Committee approval required for adequacy) § 17.24.070(J) .
Include bicycle parking count, type and location per § 17.24.170 (rack vs. locker, proximity to entrances) .
If requesting reduced parking or alternative design, submit a Minor Exception/Variance application per § 17.52.110 (minor exceptions caps) or § 17.24.180 (TDM variances), and demonstrate alternative TDM measures where required .
Check whether your property sits inside an overlay or historic district (Monrovia Overlay Districts) — this can change design or placement rules. Verify with the City.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
ADU parking exemptions	State ADU law may limit local parking conditions (e.g., certain ADUs exempt from parking) — Monrovia code cross-references state law but local specifics not fully shown in parking chapter	Verify ADU parking treatment with Planning or see state ADU rules (Gov. Code) and consult Monrovia ADU policy § 17.24.020(A); confirm locally
Loading “adequate” is discretionary	Loading space adequacy is determined by the Committee, so what the Committee deems “adequate” can vary project-by-project § 17.24.070(J)	Meet with Planning/Committee early; show truck turning templates and proposed schedule of deliveries; request written guidance from the Director
Bicycle parking thresholds	The code’s bicycle standards apply at large thresholds (e.g., 50,000 sq ft increments) and may not be granular for small projects § 17.24.170	For projects smaller than thresholds, verify Director’s expectations for bike parking type/location; consider providing bike parking regardless
Tandem parking allowances	Tandem parking is prohibited for residential required stalls and generally not allowed for nonresidential unless explicitly permitted § 17.24.050(I) and § 17.24.070(M)	If proposing tandem or driveway tandem for ADU, confirm whether state ADU law preempts local rules and check with Planning — “Verify with the jurisdiction.”
Historic/overlay constraints	Overlays or historic district rules can alter design, screening and possibly parking counts or placements; parking chapter doesn’t list overlay exceptions	Check Monrovia Overlay Districts and Monrovia Historic Preservation and consult Planning staff

Plain-English Summary

Monrovia’s zoning code (Title 17, Chapter 17.24) requires off‑street parking, sets numeric parking requirements (residential and nonresidential), dictates stall sizes, surfacing, loading and bicycle parking rules, and allows limited variances; accessible parking follows the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Always confirm special rules for ADUs, historic overlays, or large developments with the Planning Department before finalizing your design § 17.24.010–.190 .

Source References

Monrovia Zoning Ordinance (Title 17), Chapter 17.24 (CHAPTER 17.24 PARKING): § 17.24.010 (Purpose), § 17.24.020 (General), § 17.24.030 (Residential counts), § 17.24.060 (Nonresidential counts), § 17.24.070 (Design), § 17.24.080 (Accessible parking), § 17.24.090 (Location), § 17.24.170 (Bicycle/TDM), § 17.24.180 (Variances), § 17.24.190 (Monitoring) .
Definitions including “Off‑street parking facility,” “Off‑street loading facility,” and “Parking space, automobile”: definitional section of Title 17 § 17.XX (definitions in the zoning compilation) .
Minor exceptions and variances (parking deviations and caps): § 17.52.110 (Minor Exceptions) and § 17.52.120 (Variances) .
State ADU and ADU-parking guidance (summary): California ADU guidance/handbook excerpts (state statutes summarized) — Monrovia must follow state ADU law where it applies; see ADU handbook excerpt .
Source library reference: Monrovia Zoning Code (codelibrary.amlegal.com) — the uploaded Monrovia_ZoningCode.md is from that source .

Sources

Retrieved passages

Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.52.110) High relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (title to) Medium relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.24.070) Medium relevance
CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 17.24.070) Medium relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (§ 66314) Medium relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (CHAPTER 17.04) Medium relevance
Monrovia Zoning Code (section 66323.) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Monrovia code library

Frequently asked questions

What parking standard applies to a single-family home addition in Monrovia?

Additions to a single‑family residence cannot increase living area beyond certain thresholds unless required on‑site parking meets the code; the city requires that a "future garage" location be shown if needed and limits additions if parking is insufficient per § 17.24.020(A) and the residential parking table in § 17.24.030 .

How many spaces does a new office in Monrovia need?

Office parking is generally 1 space per 250 sq ft as listed in the nonresidential table § 17.24.060; you must round fractional spaces up and show stall dimensions and access per § 17.24.070 .

Are compact stalls or tandem parking allowed to meet Monrovia’s required parking?

Compact stalls are permitted only after the minimum count is met and compact stall sizes are specified in § 17.24.070(C); tandem parking is prohibited for residential required parking and not allowed for nonresidential uses except where the code explicitly permits it (tandem is restricted) § 17.24.050(I) and § 17.24.070(M) .

Does Monrovia require bicycle parking for every project?

Large nonresidential developments must provide bicycle parking: 4 bicycle racks per the first 50,000 sq ft and 1 per each additional 50,000 sq ft, with locker/room options allowed; smaller projects should check with the Director for expectations § 17.24.170 .

Who decides if a commercial project needs loading docks and how big they must be?

The Committee (Development Review Committee/Planning Committee) determines adequate loading space for commercial/industrial, hotels and institutions — the code requires appropriate ingress/egress and forbids the use of public streets for loading § 17.24.070(J) .

Can Monrovia reduce parking requirements for an existing business or a redevelopment?

Limited parking reductions may be granted through minor exceptions or variances, but the code caps reductions (for example, nonresidential reductions over 10% are restricted) and requires public notice and findings — see § 17.52.110 (minor exceptions) and § 17.24.180 (variances/TDM) .

Do accessible (disabled) parking spaces follow local or state rules in Monrovia?

Accessible parking counts, dimensions and design must follow the State Code (Title 24); Monrovia requires accessible stalls when buildings are erected or altered per § 17.24.080, and existing accessible stalls must be maintained § 17.24.080 .

If I’m building in an overlay or historic district, can I move required parking into a rear alley?

Overlay or historic district rules can supersede or add conditions — the parking chapter requires parking on the same lot and at least 20 ft from a street property line for residential units § 17.24.090(A), but overlays may impose additional design/review requirements; verify with Planning and check the applicable overlay plan (Monrovia Overlay Districts) .

Are there special rules for large shopping centers in Monrovia?

Yes — projects 100,000 sq ft or larger must provide additional TDM and site features (vanpool/carpool zones, pedestrian connections, possible bus‑stop improvements and bicycle access) under § 17.24.170 .

What drawings/notes will the city inspect before issuing a business license for a new tenant?

The city may inspect required improvements and parking compliance before issuing or renewing a business license; Chapter § 17.24.190 requires inspection to ensure required improvements are provided and maintained . ---

Ask about any Monrovia property

Get a cited, plain-English answer on Monrovia zoning, setbacks, FAR, ADUs and permits — for any address.

Start Free Trial