Redwood City — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the Redwood City Zoning Ordinance treats parking, loading, and bicycle parking for land-use and development decisions. It summarizes the City’s off‑street parking numbers, space dimensions, location rules, loading requirements, bicycle-parking rules, and special rules for mixed‑use, downtown, and waterfront areas, and points you to the controlling ordinance sections for verification. Read this as zoning guidance only — building standards (Title 24), permits, and housing law live on other pages linked below.

First‑use links to related topics used in this page: the city’s zoning & planning overview, the Redwood City Zoning pages where “parking” rules live, the City’s Development Standards for dimensional context, the Design Review process where parking layouts can be reviewed, Overlay Districts that can change parking rules, the ADU guidance (affects single‑family parking), and the state California Building Standards Code (building vs. zoning split).

Key ordinance foci are Article 30 (Off‑Street Parking and Loading) and related district sections (for bicycle parking and waterfront design). See Source References at the end for exact citations.

Core rules (plain statements tied to code)

• Required parking counts for most land uses are set in Article 30 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading; the general schedule is in § 30.5 (outside Downtown and mixed‑use districts) and mixed‑use rules are in § 30.4.

• Common residential minima:

  • Single‑family dwellings: 2 spaces per unit (can be covered or uncovered) — § 30.5.A.1.
  • SB 9 projects: 1 off‑street parking space per unit (special sizing rules for uncovered driveway parking apply) — § 30.5.A.2.
  • Mixed‑use residential in mixed‑use districts: generally 1 space per dwelling unit (exceptions for SROs, group homes) — § 30.4.B.

• Parking space size and layout: standard space = 8.5 ft × 18 ft minimum; SB 9 driveway/uncov. stall length is 20.5 ft; layout and aisle dimensions follow the City engineering standards — § 30.6.

• Parking location on site: In any R District, required covered parking for multifamily, duplex, or single‑family units shall not be located in a required front yard or a side yard that fronts a street on corner lots — § 30.16.C.

• Off‑site parking: The Zoning Administrator may permit required parking to be on non‑adjacent parcels within 400 feet (or up to 900 feet for employee parking), with an application and findings — § 30.16.A.

• Loading: Buildings > 4,000 sq ft for retail/warehousing/hotel/etc. must provide loading per the table in § 30.8 (e.g., 1 loading area for 4,000–9,999 sq ft; standard berth size 12 ft × 45 ft, 15 ft vertical clearance).

• Bicycle parking: Waterfront/large project standards and the general bicycle rules require secure bicycle parking: residential = 1 secure bicycle space per 3 dwelling units; commercial = secure bicycle parking equal to 5% of vehicular parking or minimums stated; acceptable secure options and visitor racks are described — see § 57.6 (waterfront) and § 53.6 / § 54.6 as applicable; Article 30 cross‑references bicycle requirements to district sections.

• Improvements, surfacing, screening, and landscaping for parking: Off‑street parking must be paved or otherwise constructed to Engineering Division standards; setbacks/landscaping from streets and buildings are required (e.g., 2 ft landscape setback where parking is between building and street; 6 ft separation between parking and buildings) — § 30.18 and related district design regs § 54.6 / § 53.6.

• Shared parking, in‑lieu and parking studies: Shared‑use parking is allowed when demonstrated by a parking study; the City allows reductions via parking assessment districts or in‑lieu arrangements — § 30.4.F, § 30.17, and § 30.3 references.

District-by-district breakdown (how parking rules are applied)

Note: the Zoning Ordinance organizes development standards by district; below are the most decision‑relevant districts and how parking is applied. Always confirm the underlying district on the parcel and check special overlays.

R Districts (e.g., R-1, R-2, R-3)

• Purpose and typical uses: single‑family and low‑density multi‑family residential; see district use tables (district-specific pages). Verify the exact R‑subdistrict on a parcel. See zoning overview. Redwood City Zoning
• Parking rules: Single‑family: 2 spaces per unit (covered or uncovered); SB 9 projects: 1 space/unit — § 30.5.A.1–2. Tandem allowed for unit‑specific parking.
• Dimensional / location limits: Required covered parking in R Districts cannot be in a required front yard or fronting side yard for corner lots — § 30.16.C. Site layout, driveway widths and turning movements are controlled by § 30.9 and § 30.6.
• Where this applies: all parcels designated an R District on the zoning map; check overlays that may modify parking (see Overlay Districts). Redwood City Overlay Districts

Multi‑Family / Higher‑density Residential (e.g., R-3 / multi‑family)

• Purpose: apartment and multi‑family housing. Parking requirement follows § 30.5 or § 30.4 when in mixed‑use districts.
• Typical standard: mixed‑use and multifamily often have 1–2 spaces per unit depending on district and unit type; if in a mixed‑use district use § 30.4.B. Secured bicycle parking 1 per 3 units applies (see § 57.6 / § 53.6).

CN — Neighborhood Commercial / Commercial Zones

• Purpose and typical uses: retail, services, small offices.
• Parking rules: commercial minimums come from § 30.5; special allowances exist for substituting bicycle parking for some required automobile spaces (specific percentages and limits appear in Article 30—confirm for the CN zone) — see § 30.6 and related subsections.
• Practical note: the Zoning Administrator may permit flexibility (shared parking, substitutions) when findings are made and when a parking study supports the reduction.

Mixed‑Use Zoning Districts

• Purpose: combine residential and commercial uses to promote activity and transit orientation.
• Parking rules: mixed‑use rules override some Article 30 numbers; § 30.4 sets residential at 1 space per dwelling unit (exceptions for SROs/group homes), requires bicycle parking be determined by the underlying district sections, allows shared parking, and requires parking studies for marinas and shared arrangements.

Downtown Parking Zone

• Purpose: specialized downtown rules (often reduced parking requirements to support walkable/transit‑oriented development).
• Parking rules: Downtown rules are in § 30.2 and related text. The Downtown Parking Zone has its own schedule and exemptions; review § 30.2 directly for numbers and any in‑lieu fee options. Verify with the City for parcel‑specific applicability.

Waterfront / Waterfront Overlay (Article 57 and § 57.6)

• Purpose: waterfront redevelopment, public access, Bay Trail integration.
• Parking rules: vehicular parking, access and loading must follow Article 30 but waterfront adds public‑parking availability requirements and bicycle parking minima; residential bicycle parking = 1 secure bicycle space per 3 units; commercial bicycle parking = 5% of vehicular parking or other minima — § 57.6. Guest/unassigned parking along the waterfront is expected to be available to the public.

Quick Reference Table (decision‑relevant standards)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a typical project)

• Confirm zoning district and any overlays on the parcel (verify if Downtown Parking Zone or waterfront overlays apply). Verify with the jurisdiction.
• Prepare site plans showing number and dimensions of all proposed off‑street parking spaces and loading berths sized per § 30.6 and § 30.8.
• Show vehicle access and aisle geometry consistent with § 30.9 and Engineering Standards (turning movements, curb cuts).
• Provide secure bicycle parking meeting the residential and commercial minima in § 57.6 / district sections § 53.6 / § 54.6.
• Provide landscape buffers, screening and barriers for parking per § 30.18 and district design rules § 54.6.
• If relying on shared parking, reductions, or an off‐site parking lot, include a parking study and formal application to the Zoning Administrator (see § 30.4.F, § 30.16.A, § 30.17).
• If the project proposes fewer than the required spaces (including substitution for bicycle parking), prepare findings and evidence per the Zoning Administrator/Review Authority standards.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Redwood City’s zoning code requires most new buildings to provide off‑street parking, sized and located per Article 30: single‑family homes usually need 2 spaces, smaller infill/SB9 units have special one‑space rules, mixed‑use projects usually provide 1 space per unit, and bicycle parking and loading berths are also required by formula. The Zoning Administrator can allow shared or off‑site parking with a parking study and findings; waterfront and downtown areas have separate supplements. Always check the exact district and overlay and include a parking plan with your permit application (§ 30.5, § 30.6, § 30.8, § 30.16, § 30.18).

Information Gaps

• Exact Downtown Parking Zone numeric schedule and any downtown in‑lieu fee amounts: Not found in retrieved materials (see § 30.2 referenced in the index; obtain § 30.2 text from the full zoning code or Planning).
• Full text for the CN zone bicycle substitution percentages and the exact subsection number for that allowance as applied to CN: some excerpts reference the allowance but the precise subsection citation was not fully captured here — Verify with the zoning code text.
• District‑specific parking rates for every commercial use (e.g., restaurants, offices) are listed in Article 30 tables not fully reproduced in the retrieved snippets: confirm exact numbers in § 30.5 and § 30.4.

Source References

• Redwood City Zoning Ordinance — Article 30, Off‑Street Parking and Loading: § 30.1 – § 30.18, including Required Number of Parking Spaces § 30.4, § 30.5, Size and Spaces § 30.6, Loading § 30.8, Access § 30.9, Location § 30.16, Exceptions § 30.17, Improvements § 30.18. (See excerpts)
• Waterfront design and bicycle parking minima: § 57.6 (Vehicular and Bicycle Parking) — waterfront/open‑space cross‑refs.
• Parking design / landscape set‑backs and bicycle detail: district design sections § 53.6 / § 54.6 (site design and parking integration).
• Zoning Ordinance index and ordinance amending history (for context on recent amendments).

Retrieved passages

• Redwood City Zoning Code (Section 30.5) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (Article 30) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (Section 30.18) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Redwood City Zoning Code (Section 57.7) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Redwood City Zoning Ordinance — Article 30, Off‑Street Parking and Loading: **§ 30.1 – § 30.18**, including Required Number of Parking Spaces **§ 30.4**, **§ 30.5**, Size and Spaces **§ 30.6**, Loading **§ 30.8**, Access **§ 30.9**, Location **§ 30.16**, Exceptions **§ 30.17**, Improvements **§ 30.18**. (See excerpts) (Article 30)
• Waterfront design and bicycle parking minima: **§ 57.6** (Vehicular and Bicycle Parking) — waterfront/open‑space cross‑refs. (§ 57.6)
• Parking design / landscape set‑backs and bicycle detail: district design sections **§ 53.6** / **§ 54.6** (site design and parking integration). (§ 53.6)
• Zoning Ordinance index and ordinance amending history (for context on recent amendments).
• RedwoodCity_ZoningCode.md

• Official Redwood City code library