Ross — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Town of Ross zoning ordinance requires about parking (off-street vehicle parking, loading, and bicycle/ancillary parking where the ordinance specifies it). It pulls the Ross code definitions and the minimums that apply in the town’s residential and commercial districts, how parking is treated for ADUs, and where the town uses discretionary findings (nonconformity / exception / use-permit) to require additional or covered spaces. Read this as a Ross‑specific guide; confirm parcel-specific requirements with the Planning & Building Director. For the town’s zoning context see the Ross Zoning page and for technical development rules see the Ross Development Standards page.

Key takeaways up front:

• A parking space in Ross is defined as 9 ft × 18 ft (§ 18.12.270) .
• Residential minimums in the R‑1 B districts are set at per‑lot/lot‑area rules (see § 18.32.040) and the town has additional one‑space‑per‑unit rules in some commercial/mixed districts (§ 18.20.025; § 18.24.040) .
• ADUs are generally limited to one additional off‑street space per ADU but parking can be waived in the listed circumstances (§ 18.42.055) .
• Nonconforming/exception permits may require covered parking or extra spaces based on floor area or bedrooms (§ 18.52.040) .

Definitions & base rules (what the code actually says)

• Parking space — “land or space with a minimum standard dimension of nine (9) feet wide by 18 feet long” (covered or uncovered). See § 18.12.270 for the definition and how enclosed spaces are treated.

• Off‑street parking minimums (R‑1 / residential B districts) — Chapter rules for the R‑1 B family of districts set parking by lot‑area bands and by required minimum spaces on lots; see § 18.32.040 for the minimum automobile parking regulations that apply to R‑1:B districts. The ordinance also contains other R‑1 dimensional standards referenced alongside parking rules (setbacks, lot width) — verify the specific :B suffix for your parcel (R‑1:B‑6, B‑10, B‑A, etc.) when applying § 18.32 standards.

• C‑L (Local Service Commercial) district — Multi‑family uses require a minimum of one auto parking space per dwelling unit in addition to the off‑street parking required by § 18.20.070; § 18.20.070 establishes a standard of one off‑street space per 250 sq ft net rentable floor area when new buildings or structural alterations occur. See § 18.20.025 and § 18.20.070.

• Community Cultural (C C) district — Has a district‑specific parking rule: minimum parking is stated in § 18.28.070 (note: that section also caps uncovered/residential spaces in some circumstances). See § 18.28.070 for the Community Cultural parking formula.

• C‑D / Special Civic — The special civic combining district requires that off‑street parking “to be provided is adequate” as a finding for plan approval; multifamily in the C‑D district has minimum of one auto parking space per dwelling unit in § 18.24.040(b). Use permits for specific civic uses will reference off‑street parking adequacy as a required finding.

• Nonconforming / Minor nonconformity / Exception filings — When a project proceeds via a nonconformity permit or certain exceptions, the town explicitly requires the site to have “adequate parking,” which the code defines to mean at least the minimum number required in the zoning district (covered or not). The Town Council may require covered parking and may require additional parking where attic/basement or other floor‑area changes increase demand; the ordinance supplies a small table (1,300–3,300 sq ft = 3 spaces; over 3,300 = 4 spaces) used as an upper‑bound in those discretionary findings. See § 18.52.040 (nonconformity permit findings) and the minor nonconformity provisions in § 18.52.045.

• ADU parking — Ross follows the state‑aligned approach in its ADU chapter: one off‑street parking space per ADU is required in addition to the primary unit parking, but the code lists statutory exemptions (within 1/2 mile of transit, located in historic district, part of primary residence/accessory structure, on‑street permit not offered to ADU occupant, car‑share space within one block, simultaneous new primary dwelling permit, etc.). Tandem parking is allowed. See § 18.42.055(1).

• Loading / accessible / building‑code technical requirements — The zoning ordinance sets land‑use parking numbers; design/accessible dimensions and loading/pull‑up requirements are governed by the adopted California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Ross requires projects to comply with the adopted Building Code but the technical parking construction dimensions (accessible stalls, loading bay dimensions, EV readiness, etc.) come from the California Building Standards Code (see references to compliance in the ADU chapter and design review submittal requirements). See § 18.42.055 and the code adoption notes in design review and ADU chapters; technical details are in the California Building Standards Code.

(Links used in this page for related topics: Ross Zoning, Ross Development Standards, Ross Design Review, Ross Overlay Districts, Ross ADUs, California Building Standards Code.)

District‑by‑district breakdown (practical summary)

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residence and the R‑1:B series)

• Purpose & where it applies: the R‑1 family of districts (R‑1:B‑6, B‑10, B‑15, B‑20, B‑A, etc.) covers single‑family parcels across Ross; the exact :B suffix sets lot area and yard requirements. See the R‑1 tables in Chapter 18.32 and Chapter 18.16 for yard rules.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, certain accessory uses.
• Key parking rule: Chapter § 18.32.040 establishes the minimum automobile parking regulations for R‑1:B districts (three or four‑space minimums on larger lots depending on lot area tiers and requirements for enclosed spaces on some lot sizes). Verify the :B suffix for your parcel to apply the correct lot‑based rule.
• Practical note: Nonconformity and exception approvals reference these minima when assessing “adequate parking”; the Council may require covered parking where standards are unmet (see § 18.52.040).

C‑L (Local Service Commercial)

• Purpose & where it applies: central/commercial nodes intended for mixed uses; see § 18.20.020‑030.
• Typical permitted uses: mixed residential + retail/service, offices, restaurants (with use permits for some uses).
• Key parking rule: § 18.20.025 requires a minimum of one auto parking space per dwelling unit, in addition to the off‑street parking formula in § 18.20.070; § 18.20.070 sets one space per 250 sq ft net rentable area for new buildings/structural alterations. This means a mixed project must account for both dwelling unit spaces and the commercial floor‑area standard.
• Practical note: Projects with first‑floor residential fronting the street have special constraints; parking calculations must be shown on design and use‑permit materials.

C‑D / Special Civic (C‑D)

• Purpose: public/quasi‑public land uses (town hall, library, schools, parks, public parking lots).
• Parking rule: Civic/municipal approvals require the town to find that off‑street parking provided is adequate; for multifamily or transitional housing the district imposes minimum of one auto parking space per dwelling unit (see § 18.24.040(b)).
• Practical note: Civic projects are reviewed by the council; parking is a discretionary finding and can be conditioned.

Community Cultural (C C)

• Purpose: cultural, museums, community centers on large lots; see Chapter 18.28.
• Parking rule: § 18.28.070 contains a district‑specific parking minimum that ties parking to building land coverage and places limits on uncovered residential spaces. Confirm this formula when proposing residential or event uses.

ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)

• Rule summary: Ross requires one off‑street parking space per ADU in addition to required parking for the primary unit, but expressly lists exemptions that mirror state ADU law (transit proximity, historic districts, ADU inside primary residence or accessory structure, on‑street permit limitations, car‑share near the ADU, simultaneous new primary dwelling application). Tandem parking is allowed. See § 18.42.055(1) for the list of exemptions and rules.
• Practical note: If your ADU qualifies for an exemption, the town may not require an off‑street space. Always show existing and proposed parking on the ADU submittal; the ADU chapter is ministerial but must include the required findings and documentation.

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a typical residential or ADU application)

• Show existing and proposed parking count on the site plan using 9′ × 18′ boxes and label covered vs uncovered (§ 18.12.270).
• Apply the district standard: demonstrate meeting R‑1 or C‑L district minima (or show exemption/justification) — cite § 18.32.040 or § 18.20.025 / § 18.20.070 as applicable.
• For an ADU: include the ADU parking calculation and any exemption claim (transit distance, historic district, part of primary, car‑share, on‑street permit availability) and show tandem layout if used (§ 18.42.055).
• If relying on a nonconformity/exception or design review: prepare to demonstrate “adequate parking” and note that the Town Council can require covered parking or extra spaces (see nonconformity findings and the 3/4 space table).
• Call out compliance with the California Building Standards Code for accessible stalls, loading, EV readiness, and other technical items — provide the required building‑code‑level drawings and notes.
• If applying for a use permit, nonconformity permit, or minor exception, include parking evidence (counts, photos, shared parking agreements where claimed) so staff/council can make the required findings (§ 18.48 / § 18.52).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Ross’s zoning code establishes simple parking building blocks: a parking stall is 9×18 ft, residential and commercial districts set minimums by district tables or formulas, ADUs typically require one extra off‑street space unless they fall into a statutory exemption, and discretionary permits (nonconforming or exceptions) can force covered parking or a small increase in spaces based on floor area — so always show existing/proposed parking on plans and confirm the exact district rule for your parcel.

Source References

• § 18.12.270 (Parking space definition)
• § 18.32.040 (Minimum automobile parking regulations for R‑1:B districts)
• § 18.20.025 and § 18.20.070 (C‑L district parking and off‑street formula)
• § 18.28.070 (Community Cultural district parking rules)
• § 18.24.040(b) (Civic district — 1 space per dwelling unit for multifamily)
• Chapter 18.42 / § 18.42.055(1) (ADU parking requirements and exemptions)
• Chapter 18.52 / § 18.52.040 (Nonconformity permit findings including “adequate parking” and the 3/4 space table)
• Chapter 18.41 (Design review submittal requirements — show parking on plans)
• Ross municipal code files used (consolidated chapters provided in the uploaded materials) — local ordinance excerpts as cited above.

Retrieved passages

• CRC § 18.41.100 (Section 18.41.100) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§10) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (Section 66323) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• CPC § 1280 High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§3) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (Chapter 18.41) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§10) High relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§4) Medium relevance show source text
• CRC § 18.41.100 (chapter in) Medium relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§10) Medium relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (Section 18.28.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (§6) Medium relevance show source text
• Ross Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 18.12.270** (Parking space definition) (§ 18.12.270)
• **§ 18.32.040** (Minimum automobile parking regulations for R‑1:B districts) (§ 18.32.040)
• **§ 18.20.025** and **§ 18.20.070** (C‑L district parking and off‑street formula) (§ 18.20.025)
• **§ 18.28.070** (Community Cultural district parking rules) (§ 18.28.070)
• **§ 18.24.040(b)** (Civic district — 1 space per dwelling unit for multifamily) (§ 18.24.040)
• **Chapter 18.42 / § 18.42.055(1)** (ADU parking requirements and exemptions) (Chapter 18.42)
• **Chapter 18.52 / § 18.52.040** (Nonconformity permit findings including “adequate parking” and the 3/4 space table) (Chapter 18.52)
• **Chapter 18.41** (Design review submittal requirements — show parking on plans) (Chapter 18.41)
• Ross municipal code files used (consolidated chapters provided in the uploaded materials) — local ordinance excerpts as cited above.
• Ross_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Ross code library