Local zoning · Redding

Redding — Parking

Q: What are the off‑street parking requirements for a single‑family house in Redding?

A typical single‑family dwelling in Redding requires two covered spaces ; the single‑family parking rule and driveway/yard paving limits are in the off‑street parking schedule and single‑family development rules ( § 18.41.040 and related single‑family provisions). Driveway and front‑yard paving limits are controlled by the single‑family lot rules (see the paved area exceptions) .

Q: How many parking spaces does a 2‑bedroom apartment need in Redding?

The multiple‑family schedule requires 1.75 parking spaces per 2‑bedroom unit (rounded up per the code’s fractional‑space rule). Guest spaces and RV spaces may also be required per the Schedule in § 18.41.040 ; compute per Schedule 18.41.040‑A and round fractions up per § 18.41.030 .

Q: What are Redding’s stall and aisle dimension requirements?

Use the angle‑by‑angle tables in Schedule 18.41.070‑A (codified at § 18.41.070 ) for stall widths/lengths and aisle widths; the schedule provides large and small car tables and interpolation rules where your angle is not listed (for example, 90° large car: 10' × 18' with 23' aisle in one variant) .

Q: Does the Downtown Specific Plan change parking requirements?

Yes — the code explicitly states that the off‑street parking requirements listed in § 18.41.040 shall not apply in the Downtown Core District as defined by the Downtown Specific Plan; however other chapter requirements still apply and installing more than 50% of otherwise‑required spaces without a Site Development Permit is regulated ( § 18.41.040(L) ) .

Q: How many accessible/ADA stalls do I need?

Provide the minimum number of accessible spaces set out in Schedule 18.41.170‑A (codified at § 18.41.170 ); that schedule sets counts by the total number of stalls and requires at least one van‑accessible space for each eight accessible spaces (and other dimensional requirements consistent with the California Building Standards Code) .

Q: Does Redding require parking lot landscaping?

Yes. Chapter 18.41 requires parking‑lot landscape and Chapter 18.47 sets landscape installation/minimums by district; parking‑lot landscape required by Chapter 18.41 does not count toward district landscape minimums in § 18.47.050 — show both on your landscape/parking plan .

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

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Redding regulates parking (off-street parking, loading, dimensions, surfacing, and bicycle parking) in the local zoning ordinance (Title 18, Division dealing with off-street parking and related base/overlay district rules). The city’s standards set required counts by use, dimensional rules for stalls and aisles, ADA-accessible stall minimums, loading requirements, surface and landscape requirements, and several place-based exceptions (for example, the Downtown Core District and certain MU overlay areas). The controlling rules live in Chapter 18.41 (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) and related base/overlay chapters; specific provisions are cited below (with exact § citations). For development standards and typical site checklist items see the Redding Development Standards page.

Note: this page stays within the zoning/planning ordinance — it does not interpret Title 24 / building-code technical guidance; for accessibility dimensions you must also consult the California Building Standards Code.

How this page uses the code

All requirements below are grounded in the Redding Municipal Code chapters retrieved from the city's Title 18 materials; every legal requirement below cites the controlling § number from the ordinance (for example, § 18.41.040). See the Source References at the end for the exact ordinance extracts used .

Chapter-level summary (what to read first)

The off-street parking chapter purpose and scope: § 18.41.010 (purpose of Chapter 18.41) .
General computation rules and exceptions (rounding, mixed uses, joint parking, director reductions): § 18.41.030 .
Required off-street parking by use and the schedules: § 18.41.040 (Schedule 18.41.040‑A) — this is the primary citation for how many spaces you must provide for a given use (single-family, multi‑family, retail, restaurant, motel, etc.) .
Space/aisle dimensions and angle tables: § 18.41.070 (Schedule 18.41.070‑A) — stall widths, lengths, and aisle widths by angle, including small/large car tables .
Drive‑through/drive‑up stacking and setbacks: § 18.41.050 (drive‑up facilities and required reservoir/stacking spaces) .
ADA / accessible parking minima and van‑accessible rules: § 18.41.170 (Schedule 18.41.170‑A) .
Off‑street loading rules: § 18.41.210 (one loading space for ≥10,000 sq ft; one additional per 40,000 sq ft) .
Surfacing and paving: § 18.41.080 (paving, permeable options, gravel exceptions by permit) .
Bicycle parking requirement reference: the code requires compliance with CalGreen short‑ and long‑term bicycle parking requirements (Section 5.106.4 of the California Green Building Standards Code) — local reference in the parking chapter (see the bicycle-parking clause under the parking schedule) § 18.41.040 (and related subsections) .
Place-based exceptions (Downtown, Parkview MU corridor, historical blocks): See the Downtown exception in § 18.41.040, subsection L (off‑street requirements may not apply in Downtown Core per the Downtown Specific Plan; reduced parking rules for MU areas) .

District‑by‑district breakdown (where parking rules interact with zoning)

Note: each district name below is shown in the code. Where a district has special parking rules, the controlling § is cited.

RS3.5, RS-4, RM-6, RM-9

Purpose / where it applies: these districts are identified in the small‑lot subdivision rules; the small‑lot subdivision regulations permit infill small-lot single‑family housing in RS3.5, RS‑4, RM‑6, and RM‑9 areas. See § 18.31.050 for applicability and reduced development standards .
Typical permitted uses: small‑lot single‑family, duplexes, and low‑density multi‑family where allowed by the base rules (see Schedule references in Title 18).
Parking specifics: two garage spaces per residential unit for small‑lot subdivisions, with limited allowances where detached garages take access from the rear (Schedule and text in § 18.31.050(D)(4)) .
Key dimensional standards affecting parking: reduced setbacks under the small‑lot schedule (see Schedule 18.31.050‑A inside § 18.31.050) and maximum site coverage limits that include parking and driveways; those standards determine whether on‑site stalls can fit without a zoning exception .

MU (Mixed‑Use Overlay)

Purpose / where it applies: MU overlay districts are processed under Chapter 18.54; development standards for an MU parcel are controlled by the applicable MU plan or document and may supersede base regulations where stated; where the MU plan is silent, base code provisions apply (§ 18.54.050) .
Typical permitted uses: mixed residential and commercial uses per the MU plan; land use tables for residential and commercial refer to the base RM/office/commercial schedules (§ 18.54.040) .
Parking specifics: the planning commission may approve deviations to parking (and density, setbacks, height) as part of an approved Mixed‑Use Development Plan; reductions are allowed when findings are met (see § 18.54.050 and cross‑reference to § 18.41.040 for off‑street parking requirements) .
Practical: Mixed‑use projects must submit a circulation plan and parking analysis with the mixed‑use plan (see § 18.54.030) .

Downtown Core District (Downtown Specific Plan area)

Purpose / where it applies: the Downtown Core District provisions are in the Downtown Specific Plan; Title 18 parking chapter contains an explicit exception (no automatic application of § 18.41.040 in specific Downtown areas) § 18.41.040(L)(1‑3) — conversion of certain historic buildings and some downtown mixed‑use areas are exempted or permitted special treatment for off‑street parking counts .
Parking specifics: in the Downtown Core District the off‑street parking requirements of § 18.41.040 may not apply; if the owner installs parking it must follow other chapter standards; installing more than 50% of the normally required spaces without a Site Development Permit is restricted (§ 18.41.040(L)(1)) .
Practical: verify whether your parcel sits inside the Downtown Specific Plan boundaries (Downtown Core vs. Mixed‑Use subareas) — the parking rules change materially if it does.

GO (General Office) and other commercial zones with landscape minimums

Purpose / where it applies: GO appears in the surface/landscape scheduling and in development standards; landscape minimums by district are in § 18.47.050 and Schedule 18.47.050‑A (for example, GO minimum landscape percentage is specified) .
Parking interaction: parking areas and required parking lot landscape are separate obligations; parking lot landscaping required by Chapter 18.41 does not count toward the minimum landscape percentages in § 18.47.050 (see § 18.47.050(A)(3)) .
Practical: plan parking layout and the required perimeter/island landscaping together — each chapter imposes independent obligations.

Planned (residential) development and multi‑family (RM) districts

Parking rates: Planned (residential) development typical rule: 2 covered spaces per unit, plus guest and RV spaces as specified — see Schedule 18.41.040‑A entries for planned developments and multiple‑family unit rates (e.g., 1.5 / 1.75 / 2 spaces per unit depending on bedrooms) § 18.41.040 and Schedule entries .
Reductions: developments serving low/moderate‑income seniors may have parking reduced to one‑half per unit with a site development permit/use permit (§ 18.41.040(N)) .
Practical: bedroom mix controls required parking for multi‑family projects — count potential bedrooms per the code's bedroom definition when calculating required spaces (§ 18.41.030(C)) .

Quick decision‑relevant standards (table)

Project item / Use	Required minimum	Code reference
Single‑family dwelling	2 covered spaces	§ 18.41.040 (Schedule 18.41.040‑A)
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)	1 uncovered space (subject to locational exceptions such as transit proximity; see ADU rules)	§ 18.43.140 (ADU parking rules; § 18.43.140.C.7 referenced)
Multiple‑family dwelling	1.5 / 1.75 / 2 spaces per 1/2/3‑bedroom + guest spaces (see schedule)	§ 18.41.040 (Schedule)
Retail (enclosed)	1 per 300 sf (single‑tenant ≥10,000 sf) or 1 per 250 sf (smaller single tenant & multi‑tenant)	§ 18.41.040 (Schedule)
Sit‑down restaurant	1 per 3 seats (indoor seats; up to 30% outdoor seats may be excluded)	§ 18.41.040 (Schedule)
Drive‑through / fast food	1 per 75 sf of gross floor area; required reservoir/stacking per § 18.41.050	§ 18.41.040 & § 18.41.050
Loading (non‑residential ≥10,000 sf)	1 off‑street loading space, +1 per additional 40,000 sf	§ 18.41.210
ADA / accessible stalls	Schedule 18.41.170‑A (min. accessible spaces by total provided; van accessible requirements)	§ 18.41.170
Stall dimensions & aisles	Stall widths/lengths and aisle widths set by angle in Schedule 18.41.070‑A (e.g., 90° large car 10'×18' with 23' aisle)	§ 18.41.070
Bicycle parking	Comply with CalGreen short‑ and long‑term bike parking (Section 5.106.4) — city references that requirement in local parking chapter	§ 18.41.040 (bicycle parking clause; references CalGreen)
Surfacing	Paved with AC or PCC; permeable turf block allowed up to 10% for retail/industrial with director approval; gravel only by site development permit for specific uses	§ 18.41.080

(See code text and schedules for full lists of uses and the complete schedule entries in § 18.41.040 and the associated tables) .

Practical guidance / synthesis

Start with Schedule 18.41.040‑A: compute required spaces by use (bedroom counts control multi‑family numbers; fractional results round up) — see § 18.41.040 and § 18.41.030(C) for bedroom definition and rounding rules .
Dimension the stalls and travel aisles to the angles you will use; the code supplies interpolation rules if you use non‑standard angles (§ 18.41.070(C)) .
Include required accessible stalls per § 18.41.170 and check signage/van‑accessible layout against the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — the local code requires compliance and cross‑references Cal‑Code accessibility rules .
If your project is downtown, in an MU overlay, or in a historic conversion, read the place‑based exceptions — the downtown core may be exempt from the chapter’s standard counts, but other parking design rules still apply and installation of more than 50% of required spaces is regulated (§ 18.41.040(L)) .
Bicycle parking is enforced by reference to the California Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen) short‑ and long‑term bike parking rules; provide the CalGreen‑required count and rack type in your site plan and building permit materials (local code citation in the parking chapter) § 18.41.040 .
Expect the director to have discretionary authority to approve limited reductions or authorize off‑site parking (e.g., up to 30% off‑site for nonresidential uses within 400 ft by site development permit — see § 18.41.030(J)) .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Produce a parking tabulation using Schedule 18.41.040‑A (show use(s), area/bedroom count, required spaces) § 18.41.040
Show stall dimensions, angles, and aisle widths per Schedule 18.41.070‑A and indicate interpolations if used § 18.41.070
Show required ADA/accessible stalls and van‑accessible layouts per Schedule 18.41.170‑A § 18.41.170
If drive‑through/stacking is proposed, show reservoir lengths and setbacks per § 18.41.050 and § 18.43.080
Provide surfacing detail (AC or PCC) and note any permeable paving or gravel exceptions with justification per § 18.41.080
Bicycle parking: provide CalGreen short‑ and long‑term counts and rack details (code references CalGreen § 5.106.4) § 18.41.040
Show landscape islands/perimeter landscape required by Chapter 18.41 and demonstrate how parking‑lot landscape is provided separate from landscape minima in § 18.47.050
If proposing parking reductions, off‑site parking, or exemptions (Downtown/MU), include analysis and legal instruments/agreements and request the appropriate Site Development Permit / Zoning Exception (see § 18.41.030(G) and § 18.41.040(L))

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Downtown Core and historic area exceptions	The Downtown exception may relieve the numeric parking requirement in certain parcels — projects can be denied if the wrong standard is applied	Confirm parcel location relative to the Downtown Specific Plan and apply § 18.41.040(L); verify with the planning division
Bicycle parking counts rely on CalGreen	Redding references CalGreen for short/long‑term bike parking rather than containing numeric local counts	Provide CalGreen § 5.106.4 calculation and cite local code (§ 18.41.040) — also confirm edition/year of CalGreen used by the city
ADU parking exceptions (transit proximity, historic districts)	ADU required parking can be waived in specified conditions — omitting this check may result in over‑parking or unnecessary work	Verify ADU-specific exceptions in § 18.43.140 (e.g., transit within 0.5 mile; historic district exceptions) and confirm parcel status with planning
Director discretion / zoning exception authority	The director may reduce parking counts or dimensions up to certain limits (e.g., 10% reductions) — but this is discretionary and may require findings/notice	When proposing reductions cite § 18.41.030(H) and prepare justification and public‑notice materials; verify appeal processes
Surfacing / permeable paving allowances	Local code allows limited permeable paving (retail/industrial 10%) or gravel by permit; misapplication can lead to noncompliance or environmental issues	Show surfacing plan and cite § 18.41.080, and coordinate with the city engineer and stormwater (Chapter 14.19)

Plain‑English summary

Redding’s zoning code requires you to provide a specific number of off‑street parking spaces per use (tables in § 18.41.040), build stalls and aisles to the dimension tables in § 18.41.070, provide ADA stalls per § 18.41.170, and meet surfacing and landscape rules; downtown and some mixed‑use areas are eligible for reduced or different treatment — always confirm the parcel’s district and get any required site development permits for reductions or off‑site arrangements .

Source References

Chapter purpose and scope: § 18.41.010 (Purpose of off‑street parking and loading chapter)
General provisions, rounding, bedroom counting, joint parking, director reductions: § 18.41.030
Off‑street parking counts and Schedule 18.41.040‑A (use tables including single‑family, ADU, multi‑family, retail, restaurant, motel): § 18.41.040 and Schedule entries
Bicycle parking cross‑reference to CalGreen: bicycle parking clause in parking schedule (local code referencing CalGreen § 5.106.4) § 18.41.040
Drive‑through/drive‑up facility dimensions and stacking: § 18.41.050 (Drive‑up facilities)
Parking stall/aisle dimensions and Schedule 18.41.070‑A: § 18.41.070
ADA accessible parking minimums and van accessible rules: § 18.41.170 (Schedule 18.41.170‑A)
Off‑street loading requirements: § 18.41.210
Surfacing / paving rules: § 18.41.080
Downtown exception & MU reductions: § 18.41.040(L) and Chapter 18.54 (MU overlay development standards)
Small‑lot subdivision (RS3.5, RS‑4, RM‑6, RM‑9) and small‑lot parking standards: § 18.31.050
ADU parking exceptions and locational rules (transit proximity, historic district exceptions): § 18.43.140 (ADU rules / parking)
Landscape and parking landscaping interaction: § 18.47.050 (landscape installation requirements; parking landscapes not counted toward district minima)

Sources

Retrieved passages

CFC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance
CBC § 2 (§ 2) High relevance
CFC § 070 High relevance
Redding Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (chapter applicable) Medium relevance
CBC § 2 (§ 2) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (chapter are) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (Section 18.41.040) High relevance
Redding Zoning Code (title report) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (Section 18.41.170) Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code Medium relevance
Redding Zoning Code (section do) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Redding code library

Frequently asked questions

What are the off‑street parking requirements for a single‑family house in Redding?

A typical single‑family dwelling in Redding requires two covered spaces; the single‑family parking rule and driveway/yard paving limits are in the off‑street parking schedule and single‑family development rules (§ 18.41.040 and related single‑family provisions). Driveway and front‑yard paving limits are controlled by the single‑family lot rules (see the paved area exceptions) .

How many parking spaces does a 2‑bedroom apartment need in Redding?

The multiple‑family schedule requires 1.75 parking spaces per 2‑bedroom unit (rounded up per the code’s fractional‑space rule). Guest spaces and RV spaces may also be required per the Schedule in § 18.41.040; compute per Schedule 18.41.040‑A and round fractions up per § 18.41.030 .

Do I need bicycle racks for my commercial project in Redding?

Yes. Redding’s parking chapter requires projects to comply with short‑term and long‑term bicycle parking per the California Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen § 5.106.4); the local code references that requirement in § 18.41.040 (projects must show compliance in submittals) — supply count, rack type, and location on your site plan .

What are Redding’s stall and aisle dimension requirements?

Use the angle‑by‑angle tables in Schedule 18.41.070‑A (codified at § 18.41.070) for stall widths/lengths and aisle widths; the schedule provides large and small car tables and interpolation rules where your angle is not listed (for example, 90° large car: 10' × 18' with 23' aisle in one variant) .

Can I reduce required parking in Redding?

Possibly. The director can approve reductions for joint parking, unique parking demand, or dimensional reductions (typically limited to specified percentages) under the code (§ 18.41.030(G), (H) and related exception rules). Reductions tied to MU plans, downtown exemptions, or specific findings may be approved by the planning commission or via a site development permit — include operational evidence and binding agreements when seeking reductions .

Are there special rules for drive‑through restaurants and stacking?

Yes. Drive‑through or drive‑up facilities must provide stacking/reservoir spaces and meet width/radii/setback standards in § 18.41.050 and related drive‑through-specific sections; required reservoir spaces can also count toward required parking in some cases but do not justify parking reductions except as allowed by the schedule †(§ 18.41.050, § 18.43.080) .

Does the Downtown Specific Plan change parking requirements?

Yes — the code explicitly states that the off‑street parking requirements listed in § 18.41.040 shall not apply in the Downtown Core District as defined by the Downtown Specific Plan; however other chapter requirements still apply and installing more than 50% of otherwise‑required spaces without a Site Development Permit is regulated (§ 18.41.040(L)) .

How many accessible/ADA stalls do I need?

Provide the minimum number of accessible spaces set out in Schedule 18.41.170‑A (codified at § 18.41.170); that schedule sets counts by the total number of stalls and requires at least one van‑accessible space for each eight accessible spaces (and other dimensional requirements consistent with the California Building Standards Code) .

Is on‑street parking counted toward required parking?

On‑street parking may count toward visitor parking for planned developments or condominiums under specific conditions (e.g., an 8' parking lane, uninterrupted 22' length, adjacent public sidewalk) — see § 18.41.040 (visitor parking clause) for the details and qualifying conditions .

Does Redding require parking lot landscaping?

Yes. Chapter 18.41 requires parking‑lot landscape and Chapter 18.47 sets landscape installation/minimums by district; parking‑lot landscape required by Chapter 18.41 does not count toward district landscape minimums in § 18.47.050 — show both on your landscape/parking plan .

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