Pico Rivera — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes off-street parking, loading and bicycle parking requirements found in the Pico Rivera zoning code (Title 18) and related development provisions. The controlling rules are contained in the off-street parking and loading chapter (Table 18.44.040 and Notes) and related development standards for larger nonresidential projects; where applicable the zoning administrator or planning commission may modify requirements. Key citations: § 18.44.040, § 18.44.050, and § 18.47.050.

Note: this page stays focused on local zoning rules for parking (where to provide it, how many spaces, sizes, landscaping, loading and bicycle parking). For building-code technical standards (accessible stalls, EV ready wiring, detailed means-of-egress), consult the California Building Standards Code.

First mention links: the term parking below links to the city's zoning page that contains the off-street rules; other related topics are linked inline to the local menu pages: see Pico Rivera Zoning, Pico Rivera Development Standards, Pico Rivera Design Review, Pico Rivera Overlay Districts, Pico Rivera ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code.

Controlling local rules — quick orientation

• The off-street parking and loading rules are adopted as Table 18.44.040 (the Parking & Loading Chart) with explanatory numbered notes in § 18.44.050; use the chart to read requirements by land use and zone.
• General development standards affecting parking layout, landscaping and bicycle parking appear in the development standards and "large project" rules in § 18.47.050 and related notes.
• The zoning administrator can determine parking for unspecified uses or waive/modify requirements in limited circumstances; determinations are written.

District-by-district breakdown (parking focus)

Below are the key Pico Rivera zoning districts that appear in the parking chart and the parking-specific rules that apply in each. For each district I note the usual kinds of uses, the parking metric from the chart, and special notes to watch for in § 18.44.050.

• When the text cites a table entry or chart that differs by zone, the controlling references are § 18.44.040 (Table 18.44.040) and the chart notes in § 18.44.050.

R-E (Residential Estate), S-F (Single-Family), R-I (Residential-Infill), PUD (Planned Unit Dev.)

• Typical uses: single-family homes, accessory guesthouses, low-density residential.
• Key parking rule: Two parking spaces in a garage per dwelling unit for single-family and duplexes; guesthouse requires one garage or carport attached to the guesthouse. For multi-family in these zones the chart references the residential standard. See § 18.44.040.
• Location: Required residential parking must be located on the same lot as the dwelling; front-yard parking and parking of larger commercial vehicles in front yards is restricted (driveway exceptions and expansion rules reference § 18.54.060). See § 18.44.050 (Note 2).
• Practical: driveways may be widened up to 30 ft but not exceed 50% of frontage; existing driveway expansions and conversion rules are governed by § 18.54.060 (verify with zoning admin).

R-M (Multiple-Family Residential)

• Typical uses: apartments, condominiums, multiunit housing.
• Key parking rule: Two parking spaces in a garage or carport per dwelling unit; for apartment complexes of 8+ units there are guest parking requirements (one open guest space per 8 units or fraction thereof). See § 18.44.040.
• Special: compact parking rules (max 25% of required parking can be compact for residential, assigned to residents) and surfacing/landscape/wall separation rules apply. See § 18.44.050 Notes 13–15 and 23.

P-A (Professional/Administrative), C-N (Neighborhood Commercial), C-M (General Commercial), C-C / C-G (Commercial), CTP (Transit/Commercial)

• Typical uses: retail, offices, restaurants, small- to medium-scale commercial.
• Key parking metrics (examples from Table 18.44.040): Retail/most commercial: 1 open parking space per 250 sq ft net building area; other commercial uses have use-specific ratios in Table 18.44.040. See § 18.44.040.
• Bicycle parking: nonresidential development ≥50,000 sq ft and larger projects have bicycle parking and transportation-information requirements; general bicycle parking rule for large nonresidential projects is 4 bicycles per first 50,000 sq ft, plus 1 per additional 50,000 sq ft (round up at 0.5). See § 18.47.050(B)(3).
• Compact stalls: compact stalls minimum 7.5 ft × 15 ft, max 25% allowed for commercial/industrial uses. See Note 23.

I-L (Light Industrial), I-G (General Industrial), IPD (Industrial Planned Development)

• Typical uses: warehousing, light manufacturing, industrial service.
• Loading: industrial uses follow the loading-space table (Note 17): minimum number of commercial/industrial loading spaces is based on gross building floor area (e.g., 1 loading space for 3,500–20,000 sq ft industrial; scale up per table). Required loading spaces must be on the same lot and, where abutting an alley, access should be from the alley. See § 18.44.050 (Note 17) and the loading table.
• Surfacing/curbs/walls/light: all parking areas must be paved and drained; parking areas abutting residential zones require a 6‑ft masonry wall between them (reduced to 42 inches when abutting a required front or side yard). See § 18.44.050 Notes 13–14.

SP400 / Specific Plan Areas and Overlay Zones (e.g., M-U Overlay)

• Where a specific plan applies (e.g., SP400) the specific plan document and Table C can have modified parking rules; the zoning code points developers to those specific plan tables for parking and development standards. See § 18.19.030 and § 18.33.030.
• Mixed-use overlay developments follow either overlay alternatives or the base zone standards — consult the overlay chapter and the parking chart. See § 18.33.030.

Most decision-relevant standards (quick table)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy when submitting a project with parking implications)

• Identify the zone for the parcel and pull the applicable row/column in Table 18.44.040 to calculate required spaces (§ 18.44.040).
• Show required parking spaces, guest spaces, and loading spaces on the site plan; show dimensions and that parking is on the same lot or document a recorded covenant if within 300 ft per § 18.44.050 (Note 2).
• Provide surfacing, drainage, curbs, wheel stops, and walls details per Notes 13–15 (paving, 6‑ft masonry wall where parking abuts residential, lighting directed away from dwellings).
• Demonstrate landscaping of at least 3% of parking area in planting islands with irrigation (Note 18).
• If compact stalls are proposed, show stall sizes (7.5×15 ft) and confirm compact stalls do not exceed 25% of required parking (§ 18.44.050, Note 23).
• For nonresidential projects ≥50,000 sq ft, show bicycle parking counts, rideshare/car‑pool spaces and transportation information board location; for ≥100,000 sq ft additional transit/bus/vanpool measures required (§ 18.47.050).
• Calculate and show loading spaces per the loading table (Note 17) with dimensions and access (10×40 min, 14 ft clearance for commercial loading).
• If a use is not listed, request written determination from the zoning administrator (Note 4).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Pico Rivera requires most developments to provide permanent, on‑site off‑street parking and loading according to the city chart (Table 18.44.040); common rules include two garage spaces per single‑family unit, two spaces per multi‑family unit, typical 1 per 250 sq ft for retail, mandatory loading counts tied to building size, minimum paving/drainage and 3% landscaping in parking areas, and bicycle parking and rideshare measures for large nonresidential projects — see § 18.44.040, § 18.44.050, § 18.47.050 for details. Verify ADU, accessible, and EV requirements with the city because state rules or specific plans may modify local expectations.

Source References

• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Off‑Street Parking and Loading: § 18.44.040 (Table 18.44.040) and directions/notes § 18.44.020–18.44.050.
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Special use conditions and chart notes: § 18.44.050 (Notes on parking location, loading, surfacing, landscaping, compact stalls, etc.).
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Loading space sizes and table (Note 17 and associated table).
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Development standards for large nonresidential projects (bicycle parking, rideshare/vanpool, transportation board): § 18.47.050.
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Driveway/drive approach and residential driveway expansion rules: § 18.54.060 (referenced in parking notes).
• For planning, zoning and related menu pages used in navigation/links: Pico Rivera Zoning, Pico Rivera Development Standards, Pico Rivera Design Review, Pico Rivera Overlay Districts, Pico Rivera ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Pico Rivera Zoning Code (chapter and) High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code (chapter is) High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code (chapter indicate) High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code (§ 9208.03) High relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code (section and) Medium relevance show source text
• Pico Rivera Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Off‑Street Parking and Loading: **§ 18.44.040** (Table 18.44.040) and directions/notes **§ 18.44.020–18.44.050**. (§ 18.44.040)
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Special use conditions and chart notes: **§ 18.44.050** (Notes on parking location, loading, surfacing, landscaping, compact stalls, etc.). (§ 18.44.050)
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Loading space sizes and table (Note 17 and associated table).
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Development standards for large nonresidential projects (bicycle parking, rideshare/vanpool, transportation board): **§ 18.47.050**. (§ 18.47.050)
• Pico Rivera Municipal Code — Driveway/drive approach and residential driveway expansion rules: **§ 18.54.060** (referenced in parking notes). (§ 18.54.060)
• For planning, zoning and related menu pages used in navigation/links: Pico Rivera Zoning, Pico Rivera Development Standards, Pico Rivera Design Review, Pico Rivera Overlay Districts, Pico Rivera ADUs, California Building Standards Code.
• PicoRivera_ZoningCode.md

• Official Pico Rivera code library