Montague — Parking

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

In Montague’s Title 17 Zoning, “parking” rules are concise and highly use‑specific. The code defines what counts as a parking space, sets targeted requirements for accessory dwelling units and bed‑and‑breakfasts, and treats parking lots as a regulated land use in certain districts. There is no general, citywide off‑street parking schedule by land use in the retrieved materials; most projects rely on the base Montague Zoning districts and any use‑specific standards discussed below.

The single universal baseline is the definition of a “parking space”: at least 9 ft by 20 ft, on the building site or an adjacent lot (§ 17.08.520 ).

Link to related context as you plan parking: start at the Montague zoning & planning overview, then check Montague Development Standards, potential Montague Design Review triggers, Montague Overlay Districts and Montague Historic Preservation if you’re in a historic area, Montague Nonconforming Uses for legacy sites, and Montague Variances and Exceptions if you need relief.

What the Montague code says about parking

• Definition and size

  • A “parking space” means an accessible, usable space at least 9 ft x 20 ft, located on the project site or an adjacent lot (§ 17.08.520 ).

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — citywide rules

  • Maximum requirement: 1 space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less (§ 17.30, Parking subsection “13. Parking” ).
  • Exempt from any parking requirement when the ADU is: within ½‑mile of transit; in an architecturally/historically significant historic district; within or converted from existing space; where on‑street permit parking isn’t offered to the ADU; or when a car‑share is within one block (§ 17.30, “13. Parking” ). These provisions mirror state ADU law; see California ADU law.
  • Location/configuration: ADU parking may be in setbacks or tandem on an existing driveway unless the City makes specific infeasibility or safety findings (§ 17.30, “13. Parking” ).
  • Garage/carport demo for an ADU: no replacement spaces required; any other required on‑site parking for the principal unit may be reconfigured, including tandem or mechanical lifts (§ 17.30, “13. Parking(c)” ).
  • Submittals: the ADU application must include an accurately drawn site plan showing vehicle parking (§ 17.30, “F. Application Procedure” ). For the full ADU program, also see Montague ADUs.

• Bed and Breakfast Inns (B&Bs)

  • Required off‑street parking: 1 space per rental room, in addition to the owner’s existing off‑street parking (§ 17.20.070 ).
  • Policy emphasis: “Adequate and surplus off‑street parking” is a primary concern for B&B approvals (§ 17.20.030(C) ).
  • Zoning eligibility: B&Bs may be considered by Use Permit in R‑1, R‑1A, R‑2, R‑3 (§ 17.20.050 ). Coordinate B&B parking layout with any applicable Montague Design Review process.

• Residential garage conversions

  • If you convert an existing one‑ or two‑family garage or carport, you must provide one alternative off‑street parking space per space converted, paved in concrete or asphalt; its design/location and access require Planning Commission approval (§ 17.54.010 ).

• “Off‑Street Parking” chapter (Title 17, Chapter 17.22)

  • Despite its title, Chapter 17.22 governs parking control around the Fire Department building: emergency‑vehicle‑only areas, city/permit parking lots adjacent to the station, permit issuance, fines, and required signage (§ 17.22.010–.050 ; ). It does not establish citywide private development parking ratios.

• Parking lots as a use

  • In the C‑1 Commercial district, “parking lots” are allowed by Use Permit (§ 17.16.090(C)(2) ).
  • In R‑1 Single‑family Residential, “landscaped public or private parking lots” may be allowed by Use Permit only when the lot is adjacent to C or M districts (§ 17.16.030 ).
  • C‑2 General Commercial imports all uses from C‑1, so parking lots may likewise be considered by Use Permit (§ 17.16.100 ).

• Historic district note

  • ADUs in an architecturally and historically significant district are exempt from parking; verify any local historic overlay and review path under Montague Historic Preservation and Montague Overlay Districts before relying on the exemption (§ 17.30, “13. Parking” ).

• Accessibility and striping

  • Accessible stall counts, layout, slopes, and signage are addressed by the California Building Standards Code (Title 24), not the zoning code. The zoning excerpts retrieved here do not duplicate those standards. Use zoning to determine whether/where parking is required; use Title 24 for design.

District-by-district: parking‑relevant takeaways

Montague’s districts are designated in § 17.12.010; only the items below surfaced parking‑specific rules in the retrieved text (§ 17.12.010 ).

• R‑1 — Single-family Residential

  • Parking as a standalone use: landscaped public or private parking lots may be approved by Use Permit when adjacent to C or M districts (§ 17.16.030 ).
  • Typical residential extras: ADUs are permitted per Chapter 17.30 (see ADU parking above) (§ 17.16.030 ).
  • B&B eligibility: allowed by Use Permit; parking is 1 space per rental room (§ 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 ).
  • Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• R‑1A — Expanded Single-family Residential

  • B&B eligibility: allowed by Use Permit; same parking rule as above (§ 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 ).
  • Other parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• R‑2 — Medium Density Residential

  • B&B eligibility: allowed by Use Permit; 1 space per rental room (§ 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 ).
  • Other parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• R‑3 — High Density Residential

  • B&B eligibility: allowed by Use Permit; 1 space per rental room (§ 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 ).
  • Other parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• C‑1 — Commercial

  • Parking lots as a principal use: allowed by Use Permit (§ 17.16.090(C)(2) ).
  • Other district parking ratios: Not found in retrieved materials.

• C‑2 — General Commercial

  • Imports all C‑1 uses; parking lots therefore allowed by Use Permit (§ 17.16.100 ).
  • Other district parking ratios: Not found in retrieved materials.

• M — Manufacturing

  • Parking as a listed use: Not found in retrieved materials; note that R‑1 may allow landscaped parking lots adjacent to M by Use Permit (§ 17.16.030 ).

• R‑AG‑2½ — Residential‑Agricultural

  • Parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

• MH — Mobile Home Overlay

  • Parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.

Key parking standards and where they live

Information Gaps

• General off‑street parking minimums by land use (e.g., retail, office, multifamily) — Not found in retrieved materials.
• On‑site loading space standards — Not found in retrieved materials.
• Bicycle parking requirements — Not found in retrieved materials.
• District‑specific parking ratios (beyond the items above) — Not found in retrieved materials.
• Any citywide parking lot design/landscaping standards — Not found in retrieved materials. See Montague Landscaping and Screening and confirm applicability.

Checklist

• Confirm how many spaces your use actually requires under the Montague code (e.g., ADUs, B&Bs) and whether any ADU exemptions apply (§ 17.30; § 17.20.070 ; ).
• Lay out spaces at least 9 ft x 20 ft and note if any space is on an adjacent lot (§ 17.08.520 ).
• For ADUs, decide if tandem or setback parking is needed; document how exemptions are met (§ 17.30, “13. Parking” ).
• For B&Bs, add 1 off‑street space per rental room and keep owner parking intact (§ 17.20.070 ).
• For residential garage conversions, show one paved replacement space per stall and obtain Planning Commission approval of design/location (§ 17.54.010 ).
• If proposing a parking lot as a principal use, verify district and pursue a Use Permit where required (e.g., C‑1; certain cases at R‑1 edges) (§ 17.16.090; § 17.16.030 ; ).
• If near the fire station area, heed posted restrictions established in Chapter 17.22 (§ 17.22.010–.050 ; ).
• Coordinate with Montague Design Review if your project’s scope triggers it; if standards are unclear, Verify with the jurisdiction.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Montague’s zoning code keeps parking simple: use the 9x20 ft space size, follow the targeted ADU and B&B rules, and remember that standalone parking lots usually need a Use Permit in commercial areas (and sometimes at the residential edge). There isn’t a published, citywide parking ratio table for every land use in the materials we retrieved—so confirm expectations with Planning if your project isn’t an ADU, B&B, or garage conversion.

Source References

• § 17.08.520 (Parking space definition)
• § 17.20.030(C); § 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 (B&B parking policies and ratios)
• § 17.22.010–.050 (Fire Department parking controls; chapter scope)
• § 17.30, “13. Parking” and “F. Application Procedure” (ADU parking rules and submittal contents)
• § 17.54.010 (Residential garage conversion: replacement parking)
• § 17.12.010 (Districts designated)
• § 17.16.030 (R‑1: landscaped parking lots by Use Permit when adjacent to C or M)
• § 17.16.090(C)(2) (C‑1: parking lots by Use Permit)
• § 17.16.100 (C‑2: includes C‑1 uses)

Retrieved passages

• Montague Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 2 (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 2 (Title 17) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (chapter is) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30.) Medium relevance show source text
• Montague Zoning Code (§ 17.16.010) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 17.08.520 (Parking space definition) (§ 17.08.520)
• § 17.20.030(C); § 17.20.050; § 17.20.070 (B&B parking policies and ratios) (§ 17.20.030)
• § 17.22.010–.050 (Fire Department parking controls; chapter scope) (§ 17.22.010)
• § 17.30, “13. Parking” and “F. Application Procedure” (ADU parking rules and submittal contents) (§ 17.30)
• § 17.54.010 (Residential garage conversion: replacement parking) (§ 17.54.010)
• § 17.12.010 (Districts designated) (§ 17.12.010)
• § 17.16.030 (R‑1: landscaped parking lots by Use Permit when adjacent to C or M) (§ 17.16.030)
• § 17.16.090(C)(2) (C‑1: parking lots by Use Permit) (§ 17.16.090)
• § 17.16.100 (C‑2: includes C‑1 uses) (§ 17.16.100)
• Montague_ZoningCode.md