Local zoning · San Leandro

San Leandro — Parking

Q: What parking counts apply to a new three‑unit apartment building in San Leandro?

Use the off‑street parking schedule in § 4.08.108 to find the multi‑family matrix by bedroom count and then add any district/sub‑area adjustments (B‑TOD, DA, SA). Multi‑family counts vary (example entries show Studio/1‑BR: 1.0 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit as a typical baseline, with subarea exceptions). Always confirm the exact matrix row for your unit types and the parcel’s district/subarea.

Q: Do I need to provide bicycle parking for my commercial tenant space?

Yes. The code requires short‑term and long‑term bicycle parking per § 4.08.128 ; short‑term is often a percentage of auto parking (commonly 5% , min 1) while long‑term minimums and design (covered, lockable options) depend on district and use. Confirm exact counts for your use and district.

Q: What must I submit before constructing a parking lot for a retail development?

For nonresidential uses you must submit a Parking Area Plan showing landscaping, planting plan, screening/fencing, layout/striping, lighting, bumpers, drainage and irrigation, per § 4.08.168 . The City will compare the plan against the parking standards and design requirements.

Q: How are loading berths handled for retail or industrial buildings?

Loading berths follow the loading schedule referenced in § 4.08.108 and must generally be located on site or on an adjoining site with alley access preferred; loading areas must be accessible without trucks backing across a street property line unless approved, and visible loading must be screened (except in the I district). See § 4.08.164 .

Q: Can I reduce the required parking by proposing shared parking or a transportation demand management plan?

Yes — the ordinance allows shared/collective parking and reduced parking through administrative or Major Site Plan Review where findings about reduced demand can be made; the review authority will consider survey data and peak demand timing (see § 4.08.112 and § 4.08.116 ). Be prepared to supply parking studies.

Parking under the San Leandro 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 San Leandro regulates parking and related facilities under the local zoning code. It covers required off‑street vehicle parking and loading, bicycle parking, design and screening rules, transit-proximity exceptions, and administrative options such as reduced requirements or in‑lieu payments as set out in the City’s zoning regulations. For development standards that interact with parking (setbacks, frontage limits, EV stalls, etc.) see San Leandro’s Development Standards. The zoning rules discussed below are in Title 4 (Regulations Applying in All or Several Districts) and related base/overlay district rules; confirm parcel-specific application with the City.

Key controlling rules are the off‑street parking and loading chapter § 4.08.100 – § 4.08.168 (parking counts, loading, bicycle parking, design standards) and several district-specific adjustments in Title 2 and Title 3. See § 4.08.108 for the parking schedule and § 4.08.128 for bicycle parking requirements.

How this page links into other San Leandro resources

First mention of parking above links to the city zoning pages because parking is regulated through zoning: San Leandro Zoning.
Read about design review when parking changes involve building or façade work at San Leandro Design Review.
Overlays that change parking minimums (for example BART-area exceptions) live at San Leandro Overlay Districts.
Rules for ADUs that affect parking are summarized at San Leandro ADUs.
For building/safety standards that apply to parking structures and accessibility (not zoning), consult the California Building Standards Code.

District-by-district breakdown (San Leandro‑specific)

Below are the districts explicitly referenced by the parking and related rules in the retrieved San Leandro zoning materials. Each subsection lists what the retrieved ordinance actually states about parking in that district. Where the City’s land‑use or purpose text for the district is not contained in the retrieved snippets, I note that as "Not found in retrieved materials" — verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑level questions.

Note: many parking quantities are established by use classification in § 4.08.108 (the table) and then modified for particular districts or subareas; cite numbers below come directly from that schedule and district adjustments.

B‑TOD (Broadway Transit‑Oriented District and Sub‑Areas)

Purpose: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the City’s Title 3 overlay and B‑TOD map.
Typical permitted uses: Residential and mixed uses are referenced in the parking schedule (multi‑family, offices, commercial). See B‑TOD entries in the parking table.
Key parking features and standards:
- Residential parking minimums/maximums are adjusted by B‑TOD sub‑areas (examples: ≤ 0.50 mile to BART: 0 minimum, Sub‑Area 1 maximum 1.0 space/unit) — these transit‑area exceptions are recorded in § 4.08.104 and the BART table.
- Bicycle parking: short‑term and long‑term rates for B‑TOD: short‑term and long‑term minimums vary (e.g., long‑term for multi‑family in B‑TOD Sub‑Area 1 is one long‑term bicycle parking space per bedroom). See § 4.08.128.

Where it applies: B‑TOD sub‑areas near transit stations; verify the precise sub‑area that applies to your parcel in the overlay map. Not all B‑TOD provisions are printed in the retrieved snippets — check the overlay map and Title 3. Verify with the jurisdiction.

DA (Downtown/Designated Activity districts, including DA‑6)

Purpose and permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials here; consult Title 2 DA district definitions for full use tables.
Key parking features and standards:
- DA districts have adjusted parking rates in the general parking table (e.g., some uses have alternate ratios under DA rules) and specific BART/transit exceptions apply to DA districts. See § 4.08.108 and the BART table.
- DA‑6 and B‑TOD Sub‑Area 1 are called out together for long‑term bicycle parking: a minimum of one long‑term bicycle parking space per bedroom for multi‑family in those areas.
- EV readiness/charging: the DA District (and SA) require a minimum share of EV charging stalls for certain developments (example: 15% of spaces in DA and SA per the DA/SA district design rules). See Title 2 development rules referenced in § 4.04.336.

Where it applies: DA districts are downtown/dense areas; check your parcel’s base district in Title 2. Verify with the jurisdiction.

SA (Special Area Districts)

Purpose and permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials. See Title 2 zoning for complete list.
Key parking features and standards:
- SA districts appear in the parking schedule and in bicycle parking rules (long‑term bike count differs by SA vs other districts).
- EV charging requirement: DA and SA Districts require at least 15% of parking spaces to be EV charging stations in certain situations per development rules.

Where it applies: parcels zoned SA — verify with the City.

PS (Public/Semi‑Public District)

Purpose and permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials here.
Key parking features:
- PS Districts are referenced in the bicycle parking long‑term rules for multi‑family (e.g., certain PS subareas follow B‑TOD/DA‑6 rules). See § 4.08.128.

Where it applies: properties zoned PS; confirm exact standards in Title 2/overlay text.

I (Industrial) district

Purpose and permitted uses: Industrial uses; see Title 2 specifics.
Key parking/ loading notes:
- The screening requirement for loading areas excludes the I district — i.e., except in an I district, a loading area visible from a street must be screened on three sides by a fence/wall/hedge at least six feet high. See § 4.08.164(B).
- Industrial districts are also subject to off‑site performance standards for loading activity near residential districts (noise/time limitations); see Title 2 / specific industrial regs.

Residential district parking (single‑family, two‑family, multi‑family)

Purpose and permitted uses: Standard residential uses; full use lists in Title 2. Not all purpose text found in the retrieved snippets.
Key parking standards (from the off‑street parking schedule in § 4.08.108):
- Single‑Family Dwelling: 2 covered spaces per unit; additions creating >4 bedrooms or >4,000 sq ft trigger one additional (may be uncovered/tandem if 30 ft behind front property line).
- Two‑Family Dwelling: table shows 2 including 1 covered (variations for different subareas and tandem options are noted).
- Multi‑Family / Mixed‑Use (3+ units): counts vary by unit size and district; examples in the table: Studio/1‑BR: 1.0 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit (subject to subarea exceptions) and Two‑Bedroom: 2.0 covered + 0.25 uncovered (see § 4.08.108 for the full matrix and subarea adjustments).

Verify the exact matrix entry for your use and district in § 4.08.108; fractional results follow the rounding rule that fractions of 0.5 or greater require an additional full space.

Key standards and decision‑relevant rules (table)

Topic	Rule / Typical value	Code Reference
Off‑street parking schedule (residential, commercial, industrial)	Detailed, use‑by‑use table; e.g., Single‑family: 2 covered/unit; multi‑family varies by unit type and district (see full matrix)	§ 4.08.108
Transit‑proximity exception (within 1/2 mile of major transit stop)	Off‑street parking not required unless state law authorizes otherwise; BART parcels have special min/max table	§ 4.08.108; § 4.08.104 (BART table)
Bicycle parking — short‑term	Minimum = at least 5% of automobile requirement (min 1) for many commercial & multi‑family uses; district exceptions for B‑TOD	§ 4.08.128(A)
Bicycle parking — long‑term	E.g., B‑TOD Sub‑Area 1, DA‑6, PS: 1 long‑term space per bedroom; other areas vary (1 per unit or 1 per 2 units)	§ 4.08.128(C)
Loading area location & screening	Loading must be on site or adjoining; accessible without trucks backing across a street; visible loading areas must be screened (except in I district)	§ 4.08.164
Parking area plan (nonresidential or MF >4 units)	Parking Area Plan required before construction; must show landscaping, striping, lighting, drainage, irrigation	§ 4.08.168
Reduced parking / shared parking	Allowed via Major Site Plan Review with findings; collective/shared parking allowed with conditions	§ 4.08.112; § 4.08.116
Parking in‑lieu	City may allow cash payments in designated parking districts for nonresidential uses	§ 4.08.120
Handicapped parking	Must comply with California Code of Regulations and Vehicle Code signage	§ 4.08.124
Parking area design & maintenance	Paving, drainage, wheel stops, lighting, signage required; additional design standards for parking structures	§ 4.08.160
Parking frontage visibility limit	Above‑ground parking/carports/garages visible from the street shall not exceed 40% of any public street frontage (administrative exception possible)	§ 4.04.336
EV charging (DA & SA districts)	Minimum 15% of parking spaces shall be EV charging stations (per district development rules)	§ 4.04.336

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

The base numeric requirements live in § 4.08.108; always start by finding the use classification in that table and then apply any local district (B‑TOD, DA, SA, PS, DA‑6) adjustments.
Transit‑proximate projects can sometimes avoid vehicle parking minimums (see the one‑half mile/major transit stop rule and the separate BART parcel table) — but that exception is statutory and limited; double‑check whether Government Code or PRC provisions affect your site. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Bicycle parking standards are prescriptive: dimensions, anchoring, spacing, and proximity (within 100 feet of the main entrance) are in § 4.08.128; long‑term bike parking may require covered, lockable solutions.
If your project is nonresidential or a multi‑family development with more than 4 units you must submit a Parking Area Plan before constructing parking (see § 4.08.168).

Checklist

Identify parcel base district and any overlay (B‑TOD, DA, SA, PS, I) — verify district map with City. (Title 2 / overlay maps)
Determine applicable use classification and find required spaces in § 4.08.108.
Confirm whether parcel lies within one‑half mile of a major transit stop or falls under BART parcel rules (transit exemptions / BART table).
For multi‑family (>4 units) or nonresidential parking, prepare and submit a Parking Area Plan per § 4.08.168.
Provide required bicycle parking (short‑term and long‑term) per § 4.08.128, with racks/lockers, anchoring and dimensions.
Ensure loading spaces meet § 4.08.164 location, access, and screening rules.
Include accessible/disabled stalls to meet state accessibility regs and Vehicle Code signage as required by § 4.08.124.
If seeking reduced parking, shared parking, or in‑lieu payments, prepare supporting data and apply under § 4.08.112, § 4.08.116, § 4.08.120.
For developments in DA/SA check EV charging requirements (15% minimum per district rule).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Transit‑area exemptions and BART parcel rules	Off‑street parking minima may be reduced or eliminated, affecting project parking supply and financing	Confirm whether the parcel is within 1/2 mile of a “major transit stop” or meets the BART parcel criteria in § 4.08.104 and the BART table.
District/sub‑area variations (B‑TOD sub‑areas, DA‑6, SA)	Same use can have different parking/bike requirements depending on subarea	Identify the exact overlay/sub‑area applicable to your parcel; district maps and the Title 2/3 overlay text are required. Not fully printed in retrieved snippets — Verify with the jurisdiction.
Bicycle parking design specifics	Noncompliant racks/locker sizing or siting can lead to rejection of building permits or site plan	Follow the dimensions and anchoring details in § 4.08.128; if the required secure parking is not visible from main entrance, signage is required.
Loading access / backing across streets	Unsafe/infeasible truck access can make planned loading berths non‑compliant	Confirm alley access and turn‑around feasibility; exceptions may be approved by the Zoning Enforcement Official § 4.08.164.
City Engineer parking specifications	Some technical parking/drive aisle dimensions may be maintained outside the zoning text	Request the City Engineer’s parking specifications (available at Development Services) — Other Parking Specifications are referenced in § 4.08.108(J).

Plain‑English Summary

San Leandro’s zoning ordinance sets required off‑street vehicle parking by use (see § 4.08.108), requires submission of a parking plan for nonresidential projects and larger multifamily developments, mandates bicycle parking (short‑ and long‑term) with dimensional and anchoring standards, and controls loading, screening and design for parking areas; there are special transit‑area and district adjustments (for B‑TOD, DA, SA, etc.), plus avenues to reduce parking or pay in‑lieu under prescribed findings.

Source References

San Leandro Code — Chapter 4.08 Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations (including § 4.08.100, § 4.08.104, § 4.08.108, § 4.08.116, § 4.08.120, § 4.08.124, § 4.08.128, § 4.08.160, § 4.08.164, § 4.08.168) — see the zoning code excerpts in the provided materials.
BART / transit‑area parking table and special rules (parking requirements for certain properties near BART) — § 4.08.104 (BART table).
Parking frontage, garage design, EV charging and other district development rules referenced from Title 2 / development standards (example § 4.04.336 for frontage/EV rule).
Note about City Engineer parking specifications referenced in § 4.08.108(J) — a copy is available for review at Development Services per the ordinance.

Sources

Retrieved passages

San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 4.08.108) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 4.08.160.) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 4.08.104) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (chapter may) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (chapter by) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (§ 4.08.120) High relevance
San Leandro Zoning Code (Article III.) High relevance

Cited sections

Official San Leandro code library

Frequently asked questions

What parking counts apply to a new three‑unit apartment building in San Leandro?

Use the off‑street parking schedule in § 4.08.108 to find the multi‑family matrix by bedroom count and then add any district/sub‑area adjustments (B‑TOD, DA, SA). Multi‑family counts vary (example entries show Studio/1‑BR: 1.0 covered + 0.5 uncovered per unit as a typical baseline, with subarea exceptions). Always confirm the exact matrix row for your unit types and the parcel’s district/subarea.

Do I need to provide bicycle parking for my commercial tenant space?

Yes. The code requires short‑term and long‑term bicycle parking per § 4.08.128; short‑term is often a percentage of auto parking (commonly 5%, min 1) while long‑term minimums and design (covered, lockable options) depend on district and use. Confirm exact counts for your use and district.

If my site is within 1/2 mile of a BART station, do I still need car parking?

San Leandro’s zoning provides transit‑area exceptions: development projects within one‑half mile of a major transit stop may not be required to provide off‑street parking (subject to state law and local BART parcel rules). The BART parcel table in § 4.08.104 lists specific minimums/maxima for parcels meeting those criteria — verify applicability for your parcel.

Can the City accept payment instead of building the required parking?

Yes — in designated parking districts the City can accept a cash in‑lieu payment for nonresidential parking requirements, subject to prior approval and limitations established by the City (see § 4.08.120). Expect the City to consider land/improvement cost estimates and caps on the percentage allowed.

What must I submit before constructing a parking lot for a retail development?

For nonresidential uses you must submit a Parking Area Plan showing landscaping, planting plan, screening/fencing, layout/striping, lighting, bumpers, drainage and irrigation, per § 4.08.168. The City will compare the plan against the parking standards and design requirements.

Are there rules about how much of my street frontage can be a visible garage or surface parking?

Yes — the code limits above‑ground parking areas (open parking, carports, garages visible from the street) to no more than 40% of any public street frontage unless an Administrative Exception is granted; garage doors on street‑facing frontages must be recessed and artistically broken up to avoid a massive appearance. See § 4.04.336.

How are loading berths handled for retail or industrial buildings?

Loading berths follow the loading schedule referenced in § 4.08.108 and must generally be located on site or on an adjoining site with alley access preferred; loading areas must be accessible without trucks backing across a street property line unless approved, and visible loading must be screened (except in the I district). See § 4.08.164.

Can I reduce the required parking by proposing shared parking or a transportation demand management plan?

Yes — the ordinance allows shared/collective parking and reduced parking through administrative or Major Site Plan Review where findings about reduced demand can be made; the review authority will consider survey data and peak demand timing (see § 4.08.112 and § 4.08.116). Be prepared to supply parking studies.

Do San Leandro rules require EV charging for new developments?

Development rules in district chapters (DA and SA are specifically cited) require a minimum share of EV charging — for example, certain DA and SA district rules specify 15% of parking stalls be EV charging stations for applicable projects; check § 4.04.336 and district development standards for the exact trigger and scope.

Where can I find the technical parking stall and aisle dimensions?

The zoning text references that specific stall/aisle dimensions and technical parking specs are maintained by the City Engineer and are available for review at the Development Services counter (see § 4.08.108(J)). The ordinance requires compliance with those specifications.

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