Local zoning · Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga — Parking

Q: Can I use tandem parking to meet required spaces?

Yes. Tandem parking may be used to satisfy required off‑street parking, but tandem stalls that require backing into a public street are prohibited. See § 17.64.040(7) .

Q: What does the code require for loading docks and trailer parking?

Off‑street loading spaces (non‑customer) must be at least 12 ft × 30 ft × 15 ft clearance; customer loading may be 12 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft . Trailer parking per dock must be 50 ft × 14 ft × 14 ft , and loading areas must be screened and located behind/side of buildings, at least 30 ft from residential lots unless fully enclosed. See § 17.64.100(D) .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Rancho Cucamonga's local parking rules live in the Development Code (Title 17) under the chapter headed "Parking and Loading Standards." The code requires that adequate parking be provided for new and expanded uses, sets detailed dimensional and layout standards, and adds specific rules for loading, bicycle parking, electric-vehicle readiness, and reductions (shared/off-site) of required spaces. See the Development Code purpose and applicability in § 17.64.010 and § 17.64.020 for the scope.

(Links: the word parking below points to Rancho Cucamonga's development-standards page — use that resource as you plan.)

How to read this page

This page summarizes Rancho Cucamonga-specific requirements only (Title 17 / Chapter 17.64). For building-code items (Title 24) see the California Building Standards Code page.
When I say "verify," that means parcel-specific interpretation or exceptions must be confirmed with the City — see the Checklist below.

Key code chapters and sections (short)

Purpose & applicability: § 17.64.010, § 17.64.020.
Plan-check/permits for new or altered lots: § 17.64.030.
Layout, dimensions, aisle grades: § 17.64.040.
Number of spaces & parking table: § 17.64.050 and Table 17.64.050-1.
Reductions/shared/off-site parking: § 17.64.060.
Disabled parking: § 17.64.080.
Parking design & landscaping: § 17.64.090 (plus chapter 17.56 Landscaping).
Loading standards: § 17.64.100.
Bicycle parking: § 17.64.110.
EV readiness / EV parking: § 17.64.120 (referenced throughout).

District-by-district (what matters for parking)

Below are the Rancho Cucamonga districts / project types where the code calls out different expectations. Each subsection gives the purpose, typical uses, parking-focused dimensional or procedural rules, and where the rules are applied (with the controlling § citation).

Single‑Family Residential (single‑family residential development)

Purpose / typical uses: detached single‑family homes and small subdivisions.
Parking requirements & layout highlights: residential driveways must be a minimum 19 ft long; garage stall minimum for a single-car garage is 10 ft by 20 ft; tuck-under parking must be secured garage with doors. Parking lots (non‑applicable to single lots) rules in § 17.64.090 apply where used. At least 50% of dwellings in a new single‑family subdivision must meet one of the code's garage‑location design standards (e.g., detached garage 20 ft behind main dwelling, or garage door setback 10 ft behind main wall).
Where applied: single-family projects and subdivisions; see development standards that supplement chapter 17.64 (example: § 17.120.020 supplements single‑family standards).

Multi‑Family Residential (multi‑family developments)

Purpose / typical uses: apartments, condominiums, senior housing.
Parking requirements: required spaces are listed in Table 17.64.050-1 (per dwelling unit/bedroom or other metric). Bicycle parking rules require long‑term bicycle parking equal to 5% of motor vehicle parking for buildings with >10 tenant‑occupants (minimum one long‑term space) and specific secure facilities are required. Tandem parking may be used to meet the requirement but tandem that forces backing onto a public street is prohibited. Maintenance and lighting requirements for parking areas are listed in § 17.64.090 and multifamily maintenance obligations in § 17.68.050.

Mixed‑Use Zones (MU / mixed‑use projects)

Purpose / typical uses: combination retail/residential/office on the same site.
What is different: mixed‑use projects must submit a parking study prepared by a qualified consultant demonstrating how uses will share/consume parking; the city may accept a shared‑parking approach or reductions based on the study. Mixed‑use projects must also provide EV infrastructure per § 17.64.120. See rules about outdoor dining and drive‑throughs in MU zones (drive‑throughs are restricted and have stacking and setback requirements).

Neo‑Industrial (NI) and Industrial Employment (IE) Zones

Purpose / typical uses: industrial, warehousing, advanced manufacturing, logistics.
Parking expectations: industrial sites must follow Table 17.64.050-1 for employee/warehouse ratios and also must supply a Parking Management Plan as part of site development review for new industrial developments in NI and IE; the Planning Commission approves the parking management plan and the plan must document employee/guest/truck/trailer parking, queuing, and enforcement. Required loading/trailer parking dimensions and screening are strict: trailer stalls 50 ft long by 14 ft wide minimum and off‑street loading spaces have minimum size 12 ft × 30 ft × 15 ft clearance for deliveries (industrial queuing and gate setback rules also apply). Some parking reductions for new industrial uses may be possible via conditional use permit in NI and IE.

Commercial / Shopping Centers

Purpose / typical uses: retail stores, shopping centers, restaurants.
Calculation & table: shopping center parking is calculated from square footage per Table 17.64.050-1 (e.g., many retail and restaurant entries specify X per 1,000 sf). Customer loading spaces for bulky goods require at least two customer loading spaces per establishment or 1 per 40,000 sf, whichever is greater; customer loading must be visible and adjacent to the building. Drive‑throughs are subject to separate standards (stacking, setback 45 ft from curb face in some contexts).

Quick decision table (most relevant numeric standards)

Requirement / item	Key rule / value	Code Reference
Off‑street parking required / method	See Table 17.64.050‑1 — uses listed with per‑unit or per‑1,000 sf metrics; round up fractions	§ 17.64.050
Outdoor parking stall (surface)	9 ft × 17 ft (plus 1 ft overhang) minimum	§ 17.64.040(B)(1)
Indoor / sheltered stall adjacent to column/wall	10 ft × 20 ft	§ 17.64.040(B)(2)
Garage parking (required)	10 ft × 20 ft side‑by‑side stalls	§ 17.64.040(B)(4)
Parking aisle grade max	7%	§ 17.64.040(C)
Loading berth (min)	12 ft × 30 ft, 15 ft vertical clearance (delivery); customer loading may be 12 × 26 × 12	§ 17.64.100(D)
Trailer parking	50 ft × 14 ft × 14 ft (per dock)	§ 17.64.100(D)(4)
Bicycle parking — short‑term	5% of required motor vehicle parking (min 1 rack for 2 bikes); within 30–50 ft of entrance per type	§ 17.64.110(B)(1)
Bicycle parking — long‑term	5% of required motor vehicle parking for buildings with >10 tenants (min 1) — secure, covered options required	§ 17.64.110(B)(2)
Disabled accessible parking	Comply with State/Federal rules; reserved for disabled; may count toward overall requirement	§ 17.64.080
EV charging / readiness	EV charging/infrastructure required for new multi‑family, commercial, mixed‑use, office, industrial per § 17.64.120	§ 17.64.020 referencing § 17.64.120
Location of parking on lot	Parking must be behind or to the side of buildings; parking between building and front/street side property line is prohibited	§ 17.64.090(A)(6)

Original‑language pointers (what the code literally requires)

New buildings and uses must provide parking, loading, and bicycle parking per the chapter (applies to new construction and expansions) — § 17.64.020.
New parking lot design or changes that alter layout, stall count, fire/emergency access, or landscape planters require site development review and building permits — § 17.64.030.
Off‑site/shared parking may be allowed up to 600 ft from the use being served (and cannot be in residential zones for nonresidential uses) and requires recorded agreements; shared reductions must be supported by a parking demand study — § 17.64.060(C) and (G).

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Provide the number of off‑street parking spaces required by Table 17.64.050‑1 (round up fractions) — § 17.64.050.
Include required short‑ and/or long‑term bicycle parking (min 5% of motor vehicle parking where applicable) and show locations/dimensions — § 17.64.110.
Provide required disabled accessible stalls consistent with state/federal law and reserve them for disabled use — § 17.64.080.
Provide loading berths/trailer parking as required for building size/use and show screening/locations behind or beside buildings — § 17.64.100(D).
Show parking stall and aisle dimensions, aisle grades (≤ 7%), vertical clearance (≥ 8 ft for parking; 15 ft for loading) — § 17.64.040, § 17.64.090.
Provide EV‑charging or EV‑ready infrastructure where required (multi‑family, commercial, mixed‑use, industrial) — § 17.64.020 referencing § 17.64.120.
If proposing shared/off‑site parking, include a parking demand study, pedestrian path, lighting, landscaping, and a recorded parking agreement — § 17.64.060(C).
Submit parking lot changes for Site Development Review and building permit if layout/stall count/circulation or emergency access are affected — § 17.64.030.
Include parking lot landscape (trees: 1 per 3 stalls, 10% area minimum) and screening details per § 17.64.090 and Chapter 17.56.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Shared/off‑site parking reductions	Reductions require clear engineering/parking studies and recorded covenants; insufficient documentation can delay approvals	Verify the required scope of the parking demand study and recorded covenant language with Planning — § 17.64.060(C).
Drive‑through stacking and location (MU / restaurants)	Drive‑throughs can block circulation or street traffic if stacking is inadequate — the code requires site‑based stacking analysis	Confirm stacking length and study methodology required by the city for the specific MU site; see § 17.91.040(C) and § 17.91.040(A).
EV infrastructure scope	The code references § 17.64.120 for EV requirements but technical electrical capacity/detail is often handled at building permit review (and can depend on site electrical service)	Verify with Building/Engineering how many EV‑capable/EV‑SE spaces are required and whether immediate chargers or conduit/infrastructure are acceptable — code reference § 17.64.020 referencing § 17.64.120.
ADU parking treatment vs. state law	State ADU law limits local parking requirements for ADUs; local code cross‑references are not exhaustive in the retrieved materials	Check local ADU rules and how Rancho Cucamonga implements state ADU law; state guidance says ADU parking may be limited to one space/unit or bedroom — see the California ADU handbook (state) for details and Verify with the City.
Parcel‑specific exceptions or density bonuses	Certain projects (e.g., State density bonus, TDM‑subject developments) can change required parking	Verify whether density bonus, TDM measures, or conditional use permits reduce parking on a per‑project basis — § 17.64.060 and chapter 17.78 (TDM) apply.

Plain‑English summary

Rancho Cucamonga requires you to provide the number and types of off‑street parking, bicycle parking, and loading spaces shown in Title 17 (Chapter 17.64), laid out to specific dimensions and screened/landscaped as required; mixed‑use, industrial, and large commercial projects must add parking studies, EV readiness, and management plans; and any change that alters parking layout or counts triggers site review and building permits. Always verify parcel‑specific interpretations with the City.

Source References

Rancho Cucamonga Development Code, Chapter 17.64 (Parking and Loading Standards): § 17.64.010, § 17.64.020, § 17.64.030, § 17.64.040, § 17.64.050, § 17.64.060, § 17.64.080, § 17.64.090, § 17.64.100, § 17.64.110, § 17.64.120.
Parking requirement table and use‑specific ratios: Table 17.64.050‑1 (Parking Requirements by Land Use).
Bicycle parking requirements: § 17.64.110.
Disabled accessible parking: § 17.64.080.
Parking design, landscaping and driveway standards: § 17.64.090 and chapter 17.56 (Landscaping Standards).
Drive‑through and MU rules (stacking, setbacks): Chapter 17.91 (Drive‑through design standards) including § 17.91.040.
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) requirements and passenger loading: Chapter 17.78 (TDM).
California ADU and parking state guidance (background/state law): uploaded California ADU handbook.
For building-code (accessibility in parking, detailed stall markings and signage) see the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Link in body to the California Building Standards Code page for technical code compliance.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (section must) High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (section 17.64.060) High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance
CBC § 120.020 High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (section 17.64.060) High relevance
CBC § 4 (§ 4) High relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (section must) High relevance
CFC § 17.109.040 (title 15) Medium relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (chapter regulates) Medium relevance
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance
CBC § 407.2.3 Medium relevance
CGBSC § 5.106.3.1 (Section 5.106.3.1) Medium relevance
CBC § 4 (§ 4) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Rancho Cucamonga code library

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for a standard outdoor parking stall in Rancho Cucamonga?

The Development Code requires a minimum outdoor stall size of 9 ft × 17 ft with a 1 ft overhang for surface parking; sheltered stalls adjacent to columns/walls must be 10 ft × 20 ft. See § 17.64.040(B)(1–2) for stall sizing.

How many bicycle racks do I need for a new commercial building in Rancho Cucamonga?

Short‑term bicycle parking must equal 5% of required motor vehicle parking (minimum one rack capacity for two bikes) and be within visibility distance of the entrance; long‑term bicycle parking (for buildings with >10 tenants) must also equal 5% of motor vehicle spaces (min one). See § 17.64.110(B) for details.

Can I use tandem parking to meet required spaces?

Yes. Tandem parking may be used to satisfy required off‑street parking, but tandem stalls that require backing into a public street are prohibited. See § 17.64.040(7).

What does the code require for loading docks and trailer parking?

Off‑street loading spaces (non‑customer) must be at least 12 ft × 30 ft × 15 ft clearance; customer loading may be 12 ft × 26 ft × 12 ft. Trailer parking per dock must be 50 ft × 14 ft × 14 ft, and loading areas must be screened and located behind/side of buildings, at least 30 ft from residential lots unless fully enclosed. See § 17.64.100(D).

When are off‑site (shared) parking arrangements permitted?

Off‑site parking is allowed when on‑site parking is not feasible; required features include paved pedestrian connection, lighting, landscaping, a recorded parking agreement, and the off‑site lot must be within 600 ft of the use being served (and nonresidential off‑site parking cannot be in a residential zone). The director may allow shared parking reductions based on a parking demand study. See § 17.64.060(C).

Are disabled accessible parking spaces counted toward the overall requirement?

Yes. Disabled accessible parking spaces that meet state/federal standards are reserved for the disabled and may be used to satisfy the overall parking requirement; upgrades to marking/striping must follow state/federal law. See § 17.64.080.

Do I need to include EV charging for a new multi‑family or commercial project?

Yes. The Development Code requires EV charging infrastructure or provision for future EV charging for new multi‑family, commercial, mixed‑use, office, and industrial developments as referenced in § 17.64.020 and implemented in § 17.64.120. Confirm technical electrical requirements with Building/Engineering.

Will a change to parking striping always require review?

Minor maintenance and restriping that do not alter the number or configuration of stalls can be exempt from plan check; but modifications that change layout, number of stalls, or circulation, or affect emergency access require site development review and building permits per § 17.64.030.

Does Rancho Cucamonga impose special parking rules for ADUs?

State ADU law limits how local jurisdictions can require parking for ADUs. The city code references general parking rules, but specific local ADU parking implementation (if any) should be verified with the City; refer to state ADU guidance for the statutory baseline. State ADU guidance notes parking limits to one space per unit or bedroom in many circumstances. Verify with the City for local application.

What parking landscape requirements apply to lots with five or more spaces?

Parking lot landscapes for lots with five or more spaces require tree planting at a rate of 1 tree per 3 parking stalls and a minimum of 10% of the parking area in landscaping; exceptions apply for PV canopies. See § 17.64.090 and chapter 17.56.

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