Paradise — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains Paradise’s local rules for off‑street parking, loading, facility design and exceptions, as codified in Title 17 (the town zoning ordinance), primarily in Chapter 17.38 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations. It summarizes who must provide parking, minimum counts by use, design/dimensional standards, exception paths (administrative permit, mixed‑use adjustments, in‑lieu fees), and where to verify parcel‑specific outcomes. For the town’s zoning map and district rules see the Paradise Zoning overview and the Paradise Development Standards.

Controlling local ordinance and structure

• Title: Town of Paradise — Title 17 (Zoning). The parking rules live in Chapter 17.38 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations (see § 17.38.100 et seq.) .
• Design & dimension rules are in § 17.38.900 (facility design standards) .
• Loading rules are in § 17.38.800 .
• Administrative/relief mechanisms: parking reductions/permits (§ 17.38.350), off‑site parking (§ 17.38.500), mixed‑use adjustments (§ 17.38.600) and in‑lieu fees for some commercial zones (§ 17.38.950) .

District‑by‑district guidance (how parking rules are applied across Paradise’s zones)

Note: The off‑street parking requirements in Paradise are use‑based (tables in § 17.38.1000) rather than purely zone‑by‑zone numeric parking ratios. Below each district entry shows the district’s typical uses and how the Town’s parking rules apply in practice.

Residential districts — RR‑1, RR‑2/3, RR‑1/2, TR‑1, TR‑1/2, TR‑1/3, M‑F

• Purpose & common uses: single‑family, rural residential, townhomes, and multifamily uses (the M‑F zone for multi‑family). Zoning map application rules are in Title 17 (e.g., § 17.05.300) .
• Applicable parking rules:
  • Single‑family, two‑family: 2 spaces per dwelling (Table in § 17.38.1000) .
  • Multiple‑family dwellings: tiered ratio by unit size — 1.2/unit (<700 sf), **1.5/unit** (700–1,200 sf), **1.8/unit** (>1,200 sf) (§ 17.38.1000) .
  • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs): Town’s ordinance defers to state ADU rules for many limits; Paradise’s parking chapter lists accessory/secondary dwelling ratios (e.g., 1 per unit or per bedroom rules appear in § 17.38.1000 for secondary/ accessory dwellings) — but state ADU law also restricts local parking conditions; see Paradise ADU guidance and the California ADU law for statutory limits. Where the local code references ADU parking specifics, consult § 17.38.1000 and the ADU chapter (Not all ADU parking exemptions are restated in Title 17) .
• Mobile home parks: minimum 2 parking spaces per dwelling (1.5 for senior/disabled parks) and at least one space “on or immediately adjacent” to each mobile home site (§ 17.34.300(C)) .

Commercial districts — C‑C (community‑commercial), C‑S (community‑service), C‑B, N‑C, C‑F

• Purpose & common uses: retail, services, community facilities and commercial services. See zoning maps and use lists in Title 17 for each zone (e.g., permitted uses vary by zone) .
• Applicable parking rules:
  • Commercial uses have specific ratios in § 17.38.1000 (examples: automotive sales 1 per 750 sf + 1 per 2 employees, business service 1 per 400 sf, agricultural service 1 per 350 sf — consult the full table in § 17.38.1000) .
  • In‑lieu payment option: within portions of C‑C and C‑S, applicants may pay an in‑lieu fee instead of providing spaces on‑site, subject to Council resolution and public hearing (§ 17.38.950) .
  • Minimum: a new commercial/industrial or multiple‑family use must provide at least 4 off‑street spaces unless otherwise provided (§ 17.38.300(B)) .

Industrial / Service district — I‑S

• Purpose & common uses: light industrial, storage, service uses.
• Applicable parking & loading: use‑based parking ratios in § 17.38.1000 apply. Industrial or warehousing uses that meet size thresholds must provide loading as required by § 17.38.800 (see loading triggers below) .

Overlay and special districts

• Where a combining or overlay zone is applied, base zone parking rules still apply unless the overlay or a specific chapter modifies them. Consult the Paradise Overlay Districts page and Chapter 17.29/17.31 references in the code for combining zones (§ 17.05.300) .
• Note: in some overlays (e.g., historic areas, special design districts) the Town may require design review; parking layout and landscaping will be reviewed under Paradise Design Review and Paradise Landscaping and Screening standards when applicable (see § 17.38.900 on landscaping in parking areas) .

Core parking standards & quick table

Decision‑relevant rules you will check on any Paradise project.

Practical guidance & interpretations

• Start by identifying the proposed use and then apply the use‑based table in § 17.38.1000; the code ties parking to use and floor area/capacity, not to zone per se, although some zones (C‑C, C‑S) have policy tools (in‑lieu fees) .
• If your site cannot physically fit required spaces, the Planning Director may approve off‑site parking or a reduction (up to 20%) via administrative permit; reductions require written findings about demand, hours, transit proximity, and other factors (§ 17.38.500, 17.38.350) .
• Parking stalls and circulation must meet the facility design dimensions in § 17.38.900; the Town Engineer can authorize minor adjustments to layout but will expect compliance with the listed stall sizes and internal circulation rules .
• For accessible/handicapped stalls, the code defers to the state code; reference the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and comply with section cited in § 17.38.700 .
• If your project will be subject to design review (historic or commercial corridors), parking layout, surfacing and landscaping will be evaluated under the Town’s design review rules and the Paradise Design Review and Paradise Landscaping and Screening policies .
• For ADUs: local code lists accessory/secondary dwelling parking in the table but state ADU restrictions can override or limit local parking demands — consult the Town’s ADU page and state law before assuming additional spaces are required; see Paradise ADUs and California ADU law .

Checklist

• Confirm the proposed land use and applicable use classification in Title 17 (assigning correct row in § 17.38.1000) .
• Calculate required spaces (apply fraction rules in § 17.38.300(A)) and check the minimum 4‑space rule for new commercial/multi‑family uses (§ 17.38.300(B)) .
• Prepare site plan showing stall dimensions, circulation, accessible stalls per Title 24 (referenced by § 17.38.700) and comply with § 17.38.900 design dimensions .
• If reducing required spaces (≤20%) or using off‑site parking, prepare findings and narrative per § 17.38.350 and/or § 17.38.500 .
• If in a C‑C or C‑S area and interested in an in‑lieu fee instead of stalls, confirm Council’s current fee/resolution and timing per § 17.38.950 .
• Show landscaping (interior/perimeter) where ≥12 spaces, per § 17.38.900(D); coordinate with design review when applicable .
• For loading needs, confirm building gross floor area against thresholds in § 17.38.800 (≥ 15,000 sf triggers one loading space) .
• If unsure or parcel‑specific (setbacks, flexibility), consult the Planning Director; apply for administrative permit or variance per § 17.45.240 / 17.45.300 as needed .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Paradise’s parking rules live in Chapter 17.38 of Title 17: count required spaces by use (table in § 17.38.1000), design them to laid‑out dimensions in § 17.38.900, provide loading when buildings meet the square‑foot thresholds in § 17.38.800, and use the Planning Director’s administrative permit, mixed‑use adjustments, off‑site parking, or Council‑approved in‑lieu payments in limited commercial zones if you can’t meet the on‑site numbers. Always confirm ADU parking against state ADU law and check with the Town to verify overlay or parcel‑specific rules (§ 17.38.1000, § 17.38.900, § 17.38.800, § 17.38.350, § 17.38.950) .

Source References

• Town of Paradise, Title 17 — Chapter 17.38, Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations: purpose, basic rules and schedule (§ 17.38.100, 17.38.200, 17.38.300)
• Parking requirements table and use ratios (§ 17.38.1000)
• Facility design standards and dimensions (§ 17.38.900)
• Off‑street loading rules (§ 17.38.800)
• Exceptions, reductions and administrative permit standards (§ 17.38.350)
• Off‑site/remote parking procedures (§ 17.38.500) and mixed‑use adjustments (§ 17.38.600)
• Handicapped parking reference to Title 24 (§ 17.38.700) — see the California Building Standards Code for the state technical rules
• In‑lieu parking payments for C‑C and C‑S (§ 17.38.950)
• Mobile home park parking rules (§ 17.34.300(C))
• Variance procedures affecting parking (§ 17.45.300) and administrative permit process (§ 17.45.245)

Retrieved passages

• Paradise Zoning Code (§2) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (Chapter 17.38) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (Section 17.38.500) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (§2) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (§5) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Paradise Zoning Code (§ 5) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Town of Paradise, Title 17 — Chapter 17.38, Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations: purpose, basic rules and schedule (§ **17.38.100**, **17.38.200**, **17.38.300**) (Title 17)
• Parking requirements table and use ratios (§ **17.38.1000**)
• Facility design standards and dimensions (§ **17.38.900**)
• Off‑street loading rules (§ **17.38.800**)
• Exceptions, reductions and administrative permit standards (§ **17.38.350**)
• Off‑site/remote parking procedures (§ **17.38.500**) and mixed‑use adjustments (§ **17.38.600**) fileciteturn0file8turn0file5
• Handicapped parking reference to Title 24 (§ **17.38.700**) — see the California Building Standards Code for the state technical rules (Title 24)
• In‑lieu parking payments for **C‑C** and **C‑S** (§ **17.38.950**)
• Mobile home park parking rules (§ **17.34.300(C)**)
• Variance procedures affecting parking (§ **17.45.300**) and administrative permit process (§ **17.45.245**) fileciteturn0file7turn0file8
• Paradise_ZoningCode.md

• Official Paradise code library