San Bernardino — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of San Bernardino regulates parking, off‑street loading, and bicycle parking in its Development Code (commonly referenced as the local zoning rules). Key rules live in the Off‑Street Parking Standards (Chapter 19.24) and Off‑Street Loading Standards (Chapter 19.26), while required parking ratios by zone appear in the Transit Overlay parking table and related zone chapters; see § 19.24, § 19.26, and § 19.19‑A.080 for the controlling text. For related site rules (setbacks, landscaping, review) consult the City’s San Bernardino Development Standards, Design Review, and Overlay Districts pages when assembling a submittal. Also check California accessibility and building rules in the California Building Standards Code.

What the code actually requires (short list)

• Off‑street parking design and construction standards: Chapter § 19.24 (surfacing, striping, slopes, wheel stops/curbing, driveway widths, tandem rules) .
• Required number of off‑street loading spaces and design minimums: § 19.26.030 and § 19.26.040 (dimensions, access, screening, surfacing, security) .
• Zone‑level parking ratios (most uses) are listed in the Transit Overlay’s required on‑site parking Table 19‑A.02, referenced in § 19.19‑A.080 (this table lists ratios for CG‑1, CG‑2, CR‑1, CR‑2, RH, RL, RS, RU, IH, OIP, etc.) .
• Transportation control measures (bike parking, preferred commuter parking, passenger loading thresholds) are addressed in the property development standards chapter § 19.20 (TCM subsection) and require bicycle parking, vanpool spaces, showers under certain thresholds, and passenger loading for large projects .
• Adaptive reuse conversions (specific downtown overlay) have a separate parking rule: one parking space per residential unit plus one guest space per five units; tandem allowed; see § 19.19‑B.040 .

District‑by‑district breakdown (selected, decision‑relevant zones)

Note: the Development Code contains many zones; below are those most commonly encountered for parking decisions. Where the ordinance text is explicit the specific controlling section is cited. Where the ordinance did not provide a particular item in the retrieved materials I note that explicitly.

RS — Residential Suburban

• Purpose (brief): suburban single‑family residential pattern (see Residential Zones chapter). Not fully reproduced in retrieved excerpt.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings (verify with the underlying zone chapter). Not found in retrieved materials.
• Parking requirement: 2 spaces per unit (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Where it applies: standard RS parcels citywide per Residential Zones map (see § 19.04 and the zoning map). Verify with the jurisdiction.

RU — Residential Urban

• Purpose: higher‑density urban residential pattern (see Residential Zones chapter). Not fully reproduced in retrieved excerpt.
• Parking requirement: 1 space per unit (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Notes: guest parking standards of the underlying zone apply; on‑street guest parking may be considered per the Code .

RH — Residential High

• Parking requirement: 1 space per unit (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Other unit/height/density rules are in the Residential Zones chapter; verify project‑specific density allowances.

CG‑1 — Commercial General

• Purpose/uses: general retail and service uses (see Commercial Zones chapter). Not fully reproduced in retrieved excerpt.
• Parking requirement: 1 space per 300 sq. ft. of leasable area (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Development controls: site design, access, landscaping and loading rules apply under Chapters § 19.20 and § 19.24 .

CR‑2 — Commercial Regional (Downtown)

• Parking requirement: 1 space per 500 sq. ft. (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Transit/Downtown overlay guidance encourages locating surface parking to rear/side and lining parking structures with active uses — see Transit Overlay guidance in § 19.19‑A .

IH — Industrial Heavy

• Parking requirement: 1 space per 1,230 sq. ft. of gross floor area (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Loading: freight/equipment loading required for industrial uses; see § 19.26.030 and design minima in § 19.26.040 .

OIP — Office Industrial Park

• Parking requirement: 1 space per 350 sq. ft. (Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Driveways and circulation: driveway widths and aisle standards in § 19.24 and Property Development Standards § 19.20 apply .

Transit Overlay (TD / 19.19‑A) — Transit‑oriented Design

• Purpose: promote compact, transit‑oriented development and reduce auto dependency; parking standards are tailored to support transit, pedestrian and bicycle access .
• Required parking: uses take the base zone requirement but the TD includes Table 19‑A.02 and special rules: limit locating surface parking between building face and street; require parking structures to be lined with active uses; screening/landscaping standards for surface lots (see § 19.19‑A and Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Bicycle parking and pedestrian connections are emphasized; see Transit Overlay parking and Property Development Standards for TCM items .

Adaptive Reuse Overlay (19.19‑B)

• Parking for conversions of commercial/office buildings to residential: 1 parking space per residential unit plus 1 guest space per 5 units; tandem allowed; if mixed‑use the commercial component must maintain 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. for the commercial/office portion — see § 19.19‑B.040 .

Quick reference table — selected, decision‑relevant parking standards

Key technical standards (design/construction excerpts)

• Surface grading and slopes: parking areas must generally be ≤ 5% slope and driveways ≤ 8% unless City Engineer approves otherwise (Off‑Street Parking Standards) — see § 19.24 .
• Surfacing: parking areas must be paved — typical minimums described in § 19.24 (e.g., asphaltic concrete over aggregate base; some industrial storage areas may require heavier sections subject to City Engineer) .
• Striping & wheel stops: parking stalls must be striped and maintained; continuous concrete curbing or wheel stops and adjacent landscaping requirements are prescribed in the Off‑Street Parking Standards (see § 19.24). Tandem parking is allowed in limited situations for large developments (limits apply) .
• Accessible / handicapped spaces: design must follow the off‑street parking standards reference § 19.24.050 (consistent with ADA/Title 24 requirements) . Note: the City references California accessibility rules — always coordinate with the California Building Standards Code for technical accessible stall dimensions.
• Loading: freight loading minimums 15 ft width × 19 ft length with 14 ft vertical clearance (minimums, or as determined by Review Authority); passenger loading 10 ft × 20 ft; loading must be on‑site and access often from an alley when available — see § 19.26.040 and § 19.26.030 .

Checklist — what an applicant must provide (preliminary)

• Demonstrate required number of off‑street parking spaces per applicable zone (use Table 19‑A.02 / § 19.19‑A.080) .
• Parking plan showing stall layout, striping, wheel stops/curbs, surfacing section, slopes (≤ 5% desirable), driveway widths (per § 19.24) .
• Loading plan (if commercial/industrial) with access, dimensions, vertical clearance, and screening as required in § 19.26.030–.040 .
• Bicycle parking plan showing count and type (sheltered/secure for offices/multifamily), and any TCM measures required under § 19.20 .
• If in an Overlay (Transit or Adaptive Reuse), submit parking calculations showing compliance with the overlay’s special rules (e.g., § 19.19‑A and § 19.19‑B.040) .
• Landscaping/screening adjacent to surface parking and loading areas per Chapter § 19.28 and Transit Overlay guidelines (verify requirements) .
• If proposing in‑lieu parking, shared parking, or tandem arrangements, provide evidence and agreements per Director/Review Authority standards in the Off‑Street Parking chapter § 19.24 .
• For accessible parking and technical dimensions, cross‑check with the California Building Standards Code and submit final stall/aisle dimensions to Building/Fire for approval.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

San Bernardino’s zoning code requires a specific number of off‑street parking spaces by zoning district (see the Transit Overlay’s Table 19‑A.02), plus local design rules for surfacing, slopes, striping, curbs, accessible spaces, and loading docks; bicycle parking and transit‑friendly measures are required for many developments — consult § 19.24, § 19.26, § 19.19‑A.080, and the Property Development Standards when planning a site .

Source References

• Off‑Street Parking Standards, Chapter § 19.24 (design, surfacing, slopes, striping, tandem rules)
• Off‑Street Parking (handicapped) reference: § 19.24.050
• Off‑Street Loading Standards, § 19.26.030 (number required) and § 19.26.040 (design standards)
• Transit Overlay — Parking Standards / Table 19‑A.02: § 19.19‑A.080 (Required On‑Site Parking table with ratios by zone)
• Transit Overlay guidelines and parking design: § 19.19‑A (Transit Overlay chapter)
• Adaptive Reuse Overlay — parking rules: § 19.19‑B.040 (one per unit + guest)
• Property Development Standards — Transportation Control Measures (bicycle parking, vanpool, showers, loading thresholds): § 19.20 (TCM subsection)
• Related City development chapters cited above are contained in the City of San Bernardino Development Code (file excerpts used here)
• For technical accessible parking and building details, consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and coordinate with Building/Fire permit reviewers.
• Internal guidance pages (for design, development standards, overlays, ADUs referenced earlier): San Bernardino Development Standards, San Bernardino Design Review, San Bernardino Overlay Districts, San Bernardino ADUs, San Bernardino Landscaping and Screening.

Retrieved passages

• San Bernardino Zoning Code (section of) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code (Section 19.02.070) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code (Section 19.24.050) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code (Section 19.24.050) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 2024 High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code (CHAPTER 19.26) High relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code (Chapter 19.22) Medium relevance show source text
• San Bernardino Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Off‑Street Parking Standards, Chapter **§ 19.24** (design, surfacing, slopes, striping, tandem rules) (§ 19.24)
• Off‑Street Parking (handicapped) reference: **§ 19.24.050** (§ 19.24.050)
• Off‑Street Loading Standards, **§ 19.26.030** (number required) and **§ 19.26.040** (design standards) (§ 19.26.030)
• Transit Overlay — Parking Standards / Table 19‑A.02: **§ 19.19‑A.080** (Required On‑Site Parking table with ratios by zone) (§ 19.19)
• Transit Overlay guidelines and parking design: **§ 19.19‑A** (Transit Overlay chapter) (§ 19.19)
• Adaptive Reuse Overlay — parking rules: **§ 19.19‑B.040** (one per unit + guest) (§ 19.19)
• Property Development Standards — Transportation Control Measures (bicycle parking, vanpool, showers, loading thresholds): **§ 19.20** (TCM subsection) (§ 19.20)
• Related City development chapters cited above are contained in the City of San Bernardino Development Code (file excerpts used here)
• For technical accessible parking and building details, consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and coordinate with Building/Fire permit reviewers. (Title 24)
• Internal guidance pages (for design, development standards, overlays, ADUs referenced earlier): San Bernardino Development Standards, San Bernardino Design Review, San Bernardino Overlay Districts, San Bernardino ADUs, San Bernardino Landscaping and Screening.
• SanBernardino_ZoningCode.md

• Official San Bernardino code library