Red Bluff — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Red Bluff's zoning ordinance requires for parking, loading and bicycle parking. The rules live in Article XXIII (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) and are applied across residential, commercial, industrial and public districts; local district tables reference Article XXIII for minimums and design standards. Key local rules: off‑street parking is mandatory for new or expanded buildings, vehicle parking location and surfacing are regulated, certain historic and ADU situations have exceptions, and bicycle and disabled parking have separate standards. See the city's zoning chapter and development standards for plan/submittal details. parking

(First-time readers: link targets used in this page point to Red Bluff zoning and related menu pages.)

How the ordinance is organized (quick)

• Article XXIII (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) contains the controlling rules: § 25.215 through § 25.231.
• Each zoning district's lot standards tables (residential, commercial, industrial, public) call out parking and defer to Article XXIII; see e.g. § 25.53 (residential) and § 25.80 (commercial).

Note: This page links to the Red Bluff zoning menu and related pages for planning, review and development topics: Red Bluff Zoning, Red Bluff Development Standards, Red Bluff Design Review, Red Bluff Overlay Districts, Red Bluff ADUs, California Building Standards Code, Red Bluff Landscaping and Screening.

Controlling local rules (plain list)

• Off‑street parking is required for all new buildings and for additions increasing units, seating, or floor area: § 25.216.
• The number of spaces is the chart in § 25.217 (the Off‑Street Parking Requirements chart); uses not listed are decided by the Community Development Director based on a comparable use: § 25.217(A–B).
• Certain uses must provide covered spaces (garage/carport): § 25.218 (the garage/carport must accommodate the minimum required spaces).
• Required parking for commercial/industrial uses must be on the same lot or secured within 300 feet of the use; residential parking must be on the same lot: § 25.220.
• Paving, shading and landscaping standards for parking lots are in § 25.223 (paving spec, tree wells, 8% minimum landscaping of gross parking area, screening adjacent to residential).
• The Planning Commission can reduce required parking: § 25.224.
• Historic district exceptions: § 25.226 (historic commercial exceptions) and § 25.227 (historic residential exception to covered parking).
• Disabled parking must comply with the California Building Standards (Title 24) accessibility rules: § 25.228; see also the state code for design and counts.
• Bicycle parking is encouraged; required for certain uses and must be conveniently located and protected from damage/theft: § 25.229.
• Stacked/tandem parking and drive‑through/aisle limits are regulated and may require Technical Advisory Committee approval: § 25.230.
• Loading: commercial, industrial and institutional uses must provide off‑street loading adequate for their needs and not in public right‑of‑way: § 25.231.

District-by-district breakdown

The zoning chapter ties district lot standards to Article XXIII for parking. Below are Red Bluff districts that most commonly affect parking; each subsection gives the local purpose, typical uses, key dimensional/parking notes, and where that district applies.

R-1 (single‑family residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: R-1 is for conventional single‑family housing; see residential use listings in the residential zones matrix. R-1 is applied where single‑family development is intended. § 25.53 and § 25.47.
• Key dimensional standards: front yard 20 ft, side yard 5 ft, lot area 6,000 sq ft typical per the table in § 25.53. Parking (Minimum) shown in that table and subject to Article XXIII — historically the local rule is generally two covered spaces per dwelling unit (note 2 to the table). § 25.53 and § 25.217/§ 25.218.
• Where it applies: city residential neighborhoods; see the zoning map. Verify specific parcel zone boundaries with the Community Development Department.

R-2 / R-3 / R-4 (multi‑family/residential)

• Purpose / typical uses: R-2, R-3, R-4 allow two‑family and multi‑family housing and related accessory uses; see the use/permit matrix and § 25.52/§ 25.53.
• Key parking points: the table in § 25.53 lists parking minimums; multi‑family is typically 1 covered + 1 uncovered per dwelling unit plus 1 visitor space per 5 units (see chart). Off‑street parking must meet Article XXIII. § 25.53; § 25.217.
• Where it applies: apartment and mixed‑use residential neighborhoods.

HR (Historic Residential)

• Purpose: HR protects historically significant residences; see § 25.45.
• Parking impact: historic areas have targeted exceptions — § 25.227 allows required parking spaces to be uncovered if accessed from an alley and screened from public view (exception to covered parking). For commercial historic areas see § 25.226 for other off‑street exceptions.

C‑1 / C‑2 / C‑3 / FC / HC (Commercial districts)

• Purpose / typical uses: C‑1 neighborhood commercial; C‑2 central business; C‑3 general commercial; FC freeway‑oriented; HC historic commercial. See chapter commercial zone tables § 25.79 and commercial lot standards § 25.80.
• Key dimensional/parking notes: commercial lot standards reference that parking and loading are use‑driven and governed by Article XXIII (note 2 to § 25.80 table). Minimum setbacks vary (e.g., front yard 5 ft usually), and parking lot landscaping/shade is required by § 25.223. § 25.80; § 25.223; § 25.217.

M‑1 / M‑2 / P‑I (Industrial / Planned Industrial)

• Purpose / typical uses: light to general industrial, warehousing, equipment yards; see industrial lot standards § 25.93 and zone descriptions (e.g., § 25.83–§ 25.85). Off‑street parking is required and governed by Article XXIII. § 25.87 states industrial parking must comply with Article XXIII.

Public Districts (A‑V airport; P‑A public agency)

• Purpose / typical uses: public uses, airports, agency properties. Lot tables in § 25.104 call out parking and reference Article XXIII. § 25.99 requires off‑street parking per Article XXIII.

Practical note: All district tables point to Article XXIII for the final parking count and design; always consult § 25.217 and the Off‑Street Parking Requirements chart for the specific use.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before a permit will be issued)

• Demonstrate off‑street parking meets the numeric standards for the proposed use per § 25.217 (or obtain determination from the Community Development Director for unlisted uses).
• Provide required covered spaces where the use triggers the covered requirement and size the garage/carport to fit those spaces per § 25.218.
• Show parking location: on‑site or secured within 300 ft for commercial/industrial uses; residential parking must be on the same lot per § 25.220.
• Submit parking lot design: paving detail, striping, tree wells and minimum 8% parking area landscaping, screening where adjacent to residential per § 25.223. Link to Red Bluff Development Standards for drawing references.
• Provide disabled parking in compliance with Title 24 accessibility standards per § 25.228 and the California Building Standards Code. California Building Standards Code (/us/california/building-codes).
• Provide bicycle parking if the use is on the list or the Community Development Department requires it; show locations and rack details per § 25.229.
• Show off‑street loading dimensions and locations for commercial/industrial/institutional uses per § 25.231.
• If requesting stacked/tandem parking, or drive‑through layout changes, obtain Technical Advisory Committee approval per § 25.230.
• If seeking a parking reduction or different arrangement (including use of residential property for commercial parking), include findings/applications for Planning Commission per § 25.224 and § 25.221.
• For ADUs: apply ADU parking rules (local ADU provisions reference state ADU law and limit parking to no more than 1 space per unit/bedroom and enumerate exemptions). See local ADU rules and state guidance and the Red Bluff ADU page.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

If you build or change a use in Red Bluff, you must provide off‑street parking sized by the use chart in § 25.217 (or the Community Development Director will set the number if your use isn’t listed), put most commercial parking on the same lot or within 300 feet, meet paving/landscaping/disabled access rules, and follow special ADU and historic‑district exceptions when they apply; the controlling rules are in Article XXIII (§ 25.215–§ 25.231) and the district lot tables reference that article.

Source References

• Article XXIII — Off‑Street Parking and Loading, § 25.215–§ 25.231 (requires off‑street parking; numbering, covered spaces, location, paving, reductions, disabled & bicycle parking, stacked parking, loading). § 25.215 – § 25.231.
• Parking requirements chart and specific use ratios; incorporated into § 25.217 (Off‑Street Parking Requirements chart). § 25.217.
• Residential lot standards and parking notes (R‑districts), § 25.53 (table and note about generally two covered spaces per unit). § 25.53.
• Commercial lot standards referencing parking, § 25.80 (commercial lot table and note pointing to Article XXIII). § 25.80.
• Paving, landscape and screening requirements for parking areas, § 25.223. § 25.223.
• Covered parking exception for historic residential districts, § 25.227. § 25.227.
• Disabled parking direction to state code (Title 24), § 25.228. § 25.228.
• Bicycle parking encouragement / required uses, § 25.229. § 25.229.
• Stacked parking and drive‑through regulations, § 25.230. § 25.230.
• Loading areas requirement, § 25.231. § 25.231.
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) parking rules referenced in the zoning text (local ADU provisions) and state ADU guidance (California ADU handbook). Local ADU parking paragraphs; see ADU provisions in the zoning text (parking limits and exemptions) and state ADU guidance.
• California Building Standards (Title 24) accessibility requirements cited by local code via § 25.228 (for disabled parking design).

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 25.215 (§ 25.215) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.23.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.22.1) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 25.80 (§ 25.80) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.74) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.25.217) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.09.40) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.192) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.221) High relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.23.46) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (ARTICLE XXII) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (section shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 66322) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.53) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.25.208) Medium relevance show source text
• Red Bluff Zoning Code (§ 25.239) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Article XXIII — Off‑Street Parking and Loading, **§ 25.215–§ 25.231** (requires off‑street parking; numbering, covered spaces, location, paving, reductions, disabled & bicycle parking, stacked parking, loading). **§ 25.215** – **§ 25.231**. (Article XXIII)
• Parking requirements chart and specific use ratios; incorporated into **§ 25.217** (Off‑Street Parking Requirements chart). **§ 25.217**. (§ 25.217)
• Residential lot standards and parking notes (R‑districts), **§ 25.53** (table and note about generally two covered spaces per unit). **§ 25.53**. (§ 25.53)
• Commercial lot standards referencing parking, **§ 25.80** (commercial lot table and note pointing to Article XXIII). **§ 25.80**. (§ 25.80)
• Paving, landscape and screening requirements for parking areas, **§ 25.223**. **§ 25.223**. (§ 25.223)
• Covered parking exception for historic residential districts, **§ 25.227**. **§ 25.227**. (§ 25.227)
• Disabled parking direction to state code (Title 24), **§ 25.228**. **§ 25.228**. (Title 24)
• Bicycle parking encouragement / required uses, **§ 25.229**. **§ 25.229**. (§ 25.229)
• Stacked parking and drive‑through regulations, **§ 25.230**. **§ 25.230**. (§ 25.230)
• Loading areas requirement, **§ 25.231**. **§ 25.231**. (§ 25.231)
• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) parking rules referenced in the zoning text (local ADU provisions) and state ADU guidance (California ADU handbook). Local ADU parking paragraphs; see ADU provisions in the zoning text (parking limits and exemptions) and state ADU guidance.
• California Building Standards (Title 24) accessibility requirements cited by local code via **§ 25.228** (for disabled parking design). (Title 24)
• RedBluff_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Red Bluff code library