Parking spaces required for homes in Rancho Santa Margarita

Each rule below links to the section of the Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Rancho Santa Margarita's code says

Rancho Santa Margarita code What Rancho Santa Margarita's code adds
Garage and covered spaces	At least 10 feet wide and 20 feet long of unobstructed area. Applies: Each required covered off-street parking space for single-family dwellings. § 9.06.060 · code text Each required covered off-street parking space for single-family dwellings shall be in a garage or carport a minimum of ten feet in width and 20 feet in length of unobstructed area. 9 feet wide and 18 feet long of unobstructed area. Applies: Garages or carports containing two or more side-by-side parking spaces. § 9.06.060 · code text In garages or carports containing two or more side-by-side parking spaces, the required minimum width may include the exterior walls or supports of the structure, provided minimum unobstructed dimensions of nine feet in width and 18 feet in length are met.
Guest parking	0.5 space per dwelling unit for visitor parking. Applies: Multi-family studios. § 9.06.050 · code text One covered off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit; and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking 0.5 space per dwelling unit for visitor parking. Applies: Multi-family one-bedroom units. § 9.06.050 · code text Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking 1 space per dwelling unit for visitor parking. Applies: Multi-family two-bedroom units. § 9.06.050 · code text Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and One spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking. 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit for visitor parking. Applies: Multi-family units with three or more bedrooms. § 9.06.050 · code text Three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking. 0.5 space per dwelling unit for visitor parking. Applies: Senior apartments (age-restricted). § 9.06.050 · code text One off-street parking space per dwelling unit and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking
Spaces per apartment or condo	1 covered off-street parking space per dwelling unit. Applies: Multi-family studios. § 9.06.050 · code text One covered off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit; and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking 2 off-street spaces per dwelling unit. At least 1 per unit in a garage or covered space. Applies: Multi-family one-bedroom units. § 9.06.050 · code text Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking 2 off-street spaces per dwelling unit. At least 1 per unit in a garage or covered space. Applies: Multi-family two-bedroom units. § 9.06.050 · code text Two off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and One spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking. 3 off-street spaces per dwelling unit. At least 1 per unit in a garage or covered space. Applies: Multi-family units with three or more bedrooms. § 9.06.050 · code text Three off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit, at least one space per dwelling unit shall be in a garage or a covered space; and 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking. 1 off-street parking space per dwelling unit. Applies: Senior apartments (age-restricted). § 9.06.050 · code text One off-street parking space per dwelling unit and 0.5 spaces per dwelling unit visitor parking 1 off-street parking space. Applies: Affordable housing development projects with 0 to 1 bedrooms. § 9.06.050 · code text 0—1 bedrooms \| 1 off-street parking space 2 off-street parking spaces. Applies: Affordable housing development projects with 2 to 3 bedrooms. § 9.06.050 · code text 2—3 bedrooms \| 2 off-street parking spaces 2.5 off-street parking spaces. Applies: Affordable housing development projects with 4 or more bedrooms. § 9.06.050 · code text 4 or more bedrooms \| 2.5 off-street parking spaces
Spaces for a single-family home	2 off-street parking spaces in a garage per dwelling unit. Applies: Single-family detached dwellings, duplexes, and townhomes sharing a common wall. § 9.06.050 · code text Two off-street parking spaces in a garage per dwelling unit. 1 additional parking space within 200 feet of the dwelling. Applies: New development projects where the dwelling has less than an 18-foot setback from the back of curb or sidewalk closest to the garage or carport. § 9.06.050 · code text For new development projects, those dwellings having less than 18-foot setback from the back of curb or sidewalk, whichever is closest to the garage or carport, shall provide one additional parking space within 200 feet of the dwelling.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces does a home need in Rancho Santa Margarita?

Rancho Santa Margarita's code: At least 10 feet wide and 20 feet long of unobstructed area. (Each required covered off-street parking space for single-family dwellings.) (§ 9.06.060); 9 feet wide and 18 feet long of unobstructed area. (Garages or carports containing two or more side-by-side parking spaces.) (§ 9.06.060).

Parking spaces required for homes in Rancho Santa Margarita

What Rancho Santa Margarita's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Rancho Santa Margarita property

More on building on your lot in Rancho Santa Margarita