Ridgecrest — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Ridgecrest municipal zoning ordinance and the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan require for parking, off‑street parking, loading, and bicycle accommodations. It pulls the City of Ridgecrest zoning rules (Chapter 106) and the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan that modify or supplement Chapter 106; where a rule is only in the Specific Plan that is explicitly noted. For buildable projects verify parcel-specific application with the City — some reductions, joint/ shared parking, and design details are discretionary. See the city's zoning menu for more context on Ridgecrest Zoning and Ridgecrest Development Standards.

Key citywide rules (what controls parking in Ridgecrest)

• Basic off‑street parking ratios for residential and common use types are codified in § 106-367 through § 106-375 of Chapter 106 (Zoning). These are the starting point for every district. § 106-367 contains the Residential Off‑Street Parking table.
• Commercial/industrial parking schedules are in § 106-372 (commercial/industrial/special office uses) and related subsections (§ 106-373, § 106-374).
• The code regulates accessory vehicle storage in residential zones (weight/size limits for commercial vehicles) in § 106-378.
• Site design rules (paving, curbs/wheel stops, compact spaces, dimensions, lighting) and some specific plan parking rules appear in the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan; the Specific Plan supplements or replaces municipal code rules inside its boundary. The Specific Plan specifies paving, stall sizes, compact/ RV stall sizes, and lighting standards (see the Specific Plan chapters on Parking and Loading).

(First internal links used above: Ridgecrest Zoning and Ridgecrest Development Standards.)

District-by-district breakdown (how parking rules apply by district)

Note: the city lists its zone classifications in § 106-285; district regulations appear in Article IV and specific district sections (R, CN, CG, PO, M-1, M-2, MH). Use the district subsection below together with the general parking tables in § 106-367—§ 106-374 for precise required counts.

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: single‑family homes, accessory dwellings and limited accessory structures. See the R districts list in § 106-285.
• Parking requirements: residential parking counts come from § 106-367: Two open or enclosed spaces for single‑family detached dwellings. Guest‑parking exceptions apply to small projects (see table).
• Other controls: parking in front setbacks is limited; garages/carports that take direct street access must provide minimum driveway depth as stated in the applicable yard/garage rules (see R district yard provisions in Article IV). Verify front‑setback parking allowances with site plan; driveway width minimums and setback parking limits are enforced in the district rules. Not all setback text for every R district includes a separate § that changes the parking count — confirm with the district section.

R-2 / R-3 / R-4 (Multifamily Residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: multiunit housing. See zone list in § 106-285.
• Parking requirements: § 106-367 sets multifamily rates by bedroom count: 1.5 spaces/unit (1‑bed), 2 spaces/unit (2‑bed), 2.5 spaces/unit (3+ beds). Guest parking: one guest space per five units (projects with four or fewer units are exempt).
• Design/operation notes: onsite circulation, driveway widths, and tandem parking rules (employee‑only tandem allowed by director) are enforced; compact space limits (max 20% of required spaces) and compact dimensions are set in the code/specific plan.

CN (Neighborhood Commercial)

• Purpose & typical uses: small retail and service uses serving nearby neighborhoods. See district listing § 106-285 and CN district section (Article IV).
• Parking requirements: for uses permitted in CN the baseline is in the commercial table: one parking stall per 300 sq ft of gross floor area for most CN/CS/CG uses unless otherwise specified in § 106-372. For some PO uses the ratio differs (see PO row).

CG (General Commercial) — where most larger retail sits

• Purpose & typical uses: central trading district, larger retail and indoor commercial uses. See § 106-327 for the CG district description.
• Parking requirements: many CG uses follow one stall per 300 sq ft (see § 106-372), with special rules for auto sales, nurseries, assembly uses, restaurants, etc., listed in the same subsection. Large‑format or unique uses may have higher or custom requirements assigned during site plan review.

PO (Professional Office)

• Purpose & typical uses: professional and medical offices; § 106-325 describes the PO district and intent.
• Parking requirements: when office uses are present, apply the commercial/special office schedule in § 106-372 and § 106-373 (medical office specifics: three spaces per doctor/practitioner plus one per employee).

M-1 / M-2 (Industrial)

• Purpose & typical uses: light and heavy industrial uses. Industrial parking ratios are treated separately in § 106-372 (e.g., for M1/M2 uses the code allows one space per 500 sq ft or one per employee on largest shift, whichever is greater). Heavy vehicle storage and vehicle display have additional surfacing and screening requirements.

MH (Mobilehome Park)

• Purpose & typical uses: mobilehome park rules in § 106-322 set specific vehicle parking and internal circulation standards. Two on‑site parking spaces per mobilehome space and one guest space per five spaces are required; internal streets must be paved and provide adequate turning radii.

Most decision‑relevant numeric standards (quick table)

Practical guidance / interpretation highlights

• Start with the use‑specific table in § 106-367—§ 106-374 to compute required stalls for your proposed use; the table controls unless the Specific Plan for a site says otherwise.
• The Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan can and does set different stall sizes, ratios, and design rules inside its boundary (e.g., 10' x 20' stalls, compact limits, required commercial bicycle racks). When your parcel sits inside the Specific Plan area, the Specific Plan's standards take precedence for that site.
• The Public Services Director or designee can approve reductions/variations (substantial conformance parking study or parking study) and allow joint or shared parking when justified by hours‑of‑operation analysis; expect to submit a parking study to document reductions. Substantial conformance reductions are an administrative path — see the Specific Plan provisions.
• Bicycle parking is not given a universal numeric ratio in Chapter 106; the Specific Plan requires commercial grade bicycle racks close to buildings for the commercial site. If you need code‑level bike parking minimums for a project (e.g., per recent state bicycle parking laws), verify with the City and applicable state rules.

(First natural mention of “design review” and “overlays” below are linked: Ridgecrest Design Review and Ridgecrest Overlay Districts. Also see the municipal link to Ridgecrest ADUs and the state California Building Standards Code.)

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before plan approval)

• Compute required stalls using § 106-367—§ 106-374 for each use on the site and prepare a parking table for plans.
• Show stall dimensions (standard 10' x 20' unless Specific Plan or city standard requires otherwise) and aisle widths on site plan. If inside the Specific Plan area follow its stall sizes and compact limits.
• Provide ADA/handicapped stalls per state rules (the code requires compliance with state regulations — see ADA/Accessible parking references in code). Verify with Building/Accessibility staff.
• If requesting reduced stalls or shared parking, submit a parking study and a joint‑use agreement (if joint parking) — reductions require public services director approval or site plan review.
• Provide loading areas sized and located so on‑site backing/maneuvering is possible (Code and Specific Plan prohibit direct street loading). If the project is in the Specific Plan area follow its loading design and screening rules.
• Show lighting (indirect/hooded), wheel stops or curbs, landscaping buffer and screening for visible loading/outdoor storage.
• Verify whether the parcel sits within the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan; if so, apply Specific Plan parking and loading standards which may supersede Chapter 106.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Ridgecrest's zoning code provides a clear baseline parking table for housing, hotels, medical offices, and most commercial uses (see § 106-367—§ 106-374); the Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan contains detailed design and dimensional rules inside the specific plan area (stall size, compact limits, loading, bicycle racks). If your project needs fewer spaces or shared parking, prepare a parking study for director/commission review; verify ADA and building‑code technical stall layouts with the Building Division.

Source References

• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — Chapter 106 (ZONING), including zone classifications § 106-285 and general provisions.
• Residential off‑street parking requirements and residential parking table — § 106-367.
• Hotel/motel parking — § 106-368.
• Commercial/industrial parking schedules and special uses — § 106-372, medical § 106-373, public buildings § 106-374, access § 106-375.
• Commercial vehicle parking limits in residential districts — § 106-378.
• Parking lot lighting and dimensions — § 106-379 and § 106-380.
• Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan — Parking, Loading, Bicycle racks, stall sizing, compact limits, and truck maneuvering/turning templates (Specific Plan chapters). Not all Specific Plan provisions carry a Chapter 106 § number; see the Specific Plan text.
• California Building Standards (for ADA/technical stall layouts) — California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-20.4) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (chapter become) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-20.3) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-24.3) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-20.13) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 65453) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 65450) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (§ 20-2.5) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (chapter between) Medium relevance show source text
• California Fire Code (Chapter IX) Medium relevance show source text
• Ridgecrest Zoning Code (section or) Medium relevance show source text
• CEC § 1.11 (chapter as) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Ridgecrest Municipal Code — Chapter 106 (ZONING), including zone classifications **§ 106-285** and general provisions. (Chapter 106)
• Residential off‑street parking requirements and residential parking table — **§ 106-367**. (§ 106-367)
• Hotel/motel parking — **§ 106-368**. (§ 106-368)
• Commercial/industrial parking schedules and special uses — **§ 106-372**, medical **§ 106-373**, public buildings **§ 106-374**, access **§ 106-375**. (§ 106-372)
• Commercial vehicle parking limits in residential districts — **§ 106-378**. (§ 106-378)
• Parking lot lighting and dimensions — **§ 106-379** and **§ 106-380**. (§ 106-379)
• Ridgecrest Commercial Specific Plan — Parking, Loading, Bicycle racks, stall sizing, compact limits, and truck maneuvering/turning templates (Specific Plan chapters). Not all Specific Plan provisions carry a Chapter 106 § number; see the Specific Plan text. fileciteturn0file2 (Chapter 106)
• California Building Standards (for ADA/technical stall layouts) — California Building Standards Code.
• Ridgecrest_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md

• Official Ridgecrest code library