Local zoning · Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa — Parking

Parking under the Santa Rosa local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how Santa Rosa's Zoning Code (Title 20) controls parking, loading, and bicycle parking for development and changes of use. The City’s off‑street vehicle and bicycle parking standards are in Chapter 20‑36 and the required parking by use is set by Table 3‑4 (Number of parking spaces required) under § 20‑36.040; bicycle standards are in § 20‑36.090 and parking adjustments are in § 20‑36.050. The standards are applied together with site/district development standards (for example, Tables in Chapter 20‑30) and Design Review requirements (see § 20‑52.030) .

(First mentions: Santa Rosa Zoning, parking, design review, overlays, Development Standards, ADUs, California Building Standards Code are linked inline to the local GoCodebook menu.)

  • Santa Rosa Zoning: /us/california/santa-rosa/zoning
  • parking (contextual link to the Zoning overview): /us/california/santa-rosa/zoning
  • design review: /us/california/santa-rosa/design-review
  • Overlay Districts: /us/california/santa-rosa/overlay-districts
  • Development Standards: /us/california/santa-rosa/development-standards
  • ADUs: /us/california/santa-rosa/adu
  • California Building Standards Code: /us/california/building-codes
  • Landscaping and Screening: /us/california/santa-rosa/landscaping-and-screening

Key code hooks (short)

  • Purpose and scope of parking & loading: § 20‑36.010 (Chapter header) .
  • Minimum parking by land use (Table 3‑4): § 20‑36.040 (see Table 3‑4) .
  • Adjustments, shared parking, and alternative methods: § 20‑36.050 (adjustments) and related Downtown/North Station Area flexibility .
  • Bicycle parking requirements & design standards: § 20‑36.090 .
  • Parking design, surfacing, aisles, striping, landscaping, lighting: Chapter 20‑36 design subsections (see Table 3‑6 for aisle/drive widths and parking design paragraphs) and Chapter 20‑34 for landscaping; outdoor lighting reference § 20‑30.080 .
  • Disabled (accessible) parking: compliance with Title 24 (Uniform Building Code / California Building Standards Code) with minima reflected in Code tables (table references in Chapter 20‑36) .

District-by-district snapshot (what changes between zones)

Below are the Santa Rosa districts most relevant to parking calculations or where the Code explicitly modifies or relaxes parking requirements. Each subsection lists the district name, what it’s for, typical uses, the parking implications under Title 20, and where the district normally applies.

R-1 (Single-Family Residential)

  • Purpose/uses: Single‑family detached homes and accessory uses; typical allowed uses are home residences and permitted accessory structures. See underlying R‑district tables in Chapter 20‑20/20‑30.
  • Parking implication: Single‑family dwellings are expected to meet private garage/driveway standards (driveways and garage space counted toward off‑street parking). Driveway/garage dimensions and driveway access rules (curb cut limits, driveway apron clearance, and that parking shall not be in required front/street‑side setbacks) are applied from Chapter 20‑36 and short-term rental parking rules where applicable (see Short‑Term Rentals, § 20‑XX—Short‑Term Rental provisions) .
  • Where it applies: City residential neighborhoods zoned R‑1 (see the Zoning Map) — verify map designation with the City Planning counter. Verify with the jurisdiction.

RM / Multifamily (e.g., RM, R‑3 types)

  • Purpose/uses: Multifamily housing (apartments, duplexes, townhomes).
  • Parking implication: Multifamily projects have parking requirements expressed per unit and often include long‑term bicycle parking expectations. In station-area variants the per‑unit parking minimums may be reduced (see DSASP / North Station exceptions below). See Table 3‑4 and § 20‑36.040 and the bicycle rules in § 20‑36.090 .
  • Where it applies: Properties zoned RM per the Zoning Map; planned developments may alter driveway depth and garage/drive arrangements per Chapter 20‑36 (driveway/aisle standards) .

CO / CN / CG (Office, Neighborhood Commercial, General Commercial)

  • Purpose/uses: Office, retail, service, and other commercial uses (Tables identify permitted uses per district).
  • Parking implication: Retail/service parking ratios and maximum lot coverage/height interplay are set in the CO/CN/CG development standard table; parking minimums come from Table 3‑4 (§ 20‑36.040) and the district development table notes “Parking—See Chapter 20‑36” (Table 2‑7) . Typical examples: many retail and service uses use 1 space per 250 sf or the specific use entry in Table 3‑4; restaurants and shopping centers have dedicated ratios in Table 3‑4 (see table below).
  • Where it applies: Commercial corridors and nodes per the Zoning Map; Active Ground Floor overlays restrict surface parking between sidewalk and building (see overlay rules) .

CMU / SMU / MMU / NMU (Commercial Mixed‑Use districts)

  • Purpose/uses: Mixed‑use corridors and nodes intended for blended residential and commercial.
  • Parking implication: These districts often have reduced or no minimums for certain residential and nonresidential uses within Downtown/North Station Area or Active Ground Floor areas — see specific lines in Table 3‑4 and the DSASP/North Station Area notes in the Table. Alternative parking methods (tandem, lifts, unbundled parking, shared parking, payment in‑lieu) are expressly encouraged under the Station Area guidance and § 20‑36.050; parking maxima may apply in some design site tables (see Table 2‑23/MMH) .
  • Where it applies: Mixed‑use zoning districts and Station Area Specific Plan areas (see the Zoning Map and station plan boundaries) .

Downtown Station Area Specific Plan (DSASP)

  • Purpose/uses: Higher‑density, transit‑oriented downtown uses; special urban design and parking rules.
  • Parking implication: DSASP entries in Table 3‑4 show “No minimum” for many residential and nonresidential uses and set bicycle parking rates separately (e.g., nonresidential: no minimum vehicle spaces; 1 bicycle space per 5,000 sf) — see § 20‑36.040 and the Table 3‑4 DSASP notes. Alternative parking approaches and shared parking are encouraged under the DSASP and related design guidelines .
  • Where it applies: The DSASP boundary (maps in Chapter 3 of the Zoning/Specific Plan materials) — use Table 3‑4 DSASP rows to determine required parking .

North Santa Rosa Station Area Specific Plan

  • Purpose/uses: Transit‑oriented growth in North Santa Rosa.
  • Parking implication: Table 3‑4 contains North Station Area minimums (example: multifamily attached: 1.5 spaces per unit minimum, bicycle 1 per 4 units if no private bike storage). The Code encourages alternative parking approaches within the North Station Area and allows shared parking or other reductions with study/approval § 20‑36.050 .
  • Where it applies: Properties inside the North Station Area boundary; use Table 3‑4 North Station entries to calculate requirements.

PI / OS / Industrial & Public Institutions

  • Purpose/uses: Public institutions, parks/open space and industrial uses.
  • Parking implication: PI and OS tables in Chapter 20‑30 refer parking back to Chapter 20‑36 with site‑specific adjustments allowed by CUP or MUP; industrial uses often have space per square foot calculations in Table 3‑4 (for example, manufacturing uses use per‑sf ratios or CUP determinations) .
  • Where it applies: PI and OS zoned properties per the Zoning Map.

Note: Each district’s development standards tables instruct “Parking—See Chapter 20‑36” — use § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4) as primary source for counts and § 20‑36.050 for adjustments/shared parking; site design standards (setbacks, driveway access) are in Chapter 20‑30 (e.g., setback measurement § 20‑30.110) .

Decision‑relevant quick table (common uses)

Use (typical) Typical off‑street vehicle requirement (from Table 3‑4) Bicycle / other Code reference
Single‑family detached home Garage/driveway counts; driveway/garage standards (driveway aprons, setback limits) N/A (residential long‑term bike storage guidance) § 20‑36 (parking design); Short‑Term Rental rules where applicable
Multifamily (standard) See Table 3‑4: commonly 1.5–2 spaces per unit (varies by plan/district) Long‑term bike parking; ratio often 1 per 4 units or as in Table 3‑4 § 20‑36.040; § 20‑36.090 (bicycle)
Office / Professional 1 space per 250 sf (typical – see the specific Table 3‑4 line) 1 per 5,000 sf (typical) § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4)
Retail / Shopping center Retail: 1 per 250 sf; Shopping center also 1 per 250 sf (gross leasable area) 1 per 5,000 sf § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4)
Restaurant (table service) 1 space per 3 dining seats (or listed formula in Table 3‑4) 1 per 4,000 sf § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4)
Downtown Station Area non‑residential No minimum vehicle spaces for many uses; bicycle 1 per 5,000 sf Station Area table in Table 3‑4 § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4)
Loading spaces Determined by review authority from Table 3‑8 (loading table) or Director determination for unlisted uses N/A Chapter 20‑36 (loading) — see Table 3‑8 and loading subsections

(Always confirm the exact row in Table 3‑4 for the specific use and project; where uses are not listed the Director may require a parking study — see § 20‑36.040(F)) .

Design & technical requirements (highlights)

  • Parking spaces must be permanent, marked, and maintained for the use they serve; temporary reductions may be approved for seasonal uses (Chapter 20‑36) .
  • Driveways: minimum aisle widths (typical 12 ft for one‑way; 20 ft for two‑way) and parking aisle/driveway dimensions are specified in Table 3‑6 and text in Chapter 20‑36; driveway curb cuts limited (residential max 24 ft, nonresidential 35 ft unless modified) and curb cut spacing rules apply .
  • Surfacing and striping: surfaces must be paved and dust free; striping (4‑inch lines) and directional markings required except for single‑family detached parking; wheel stop use is restricted (see Chapter text) .
  • Landscaping: parking lots (except single‑family detached) must provide landscaped areas and comply with the City’s Design Guidelines and Chapter 20‑34 planting/maintenance rules; up to two feet of stall depth may be landscaped with a bumper overhang allowance in certain circumstances .
  • Bicycle parking: nonresidential developments must provide a minimum of two short‑term and one long‑term bicycle spaces, with at least 25% long‑term when bike parking is based on floor area; design standards (rack type, anchoring, security) are in § 20‑36.090 .
  • Disabled parking: minimums follow Title 24 / UBC requirements (the Code references Title 24, Part 2, Section 1129B) and Table 3‑5 sets local minimum numbers; accessible spaces must be on the shortest accessible route to an entrance .
  • Loading: loading spaces must be permanent and the number is determined from Table 3‑8 or by Director review; combined tenant/shared loading is allowed when functions permit .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

  • Identify the exact land use classification and find the matching row in Table 3‑4 to calculate required vehicle and bicycle spaces (§ 20‑36.040) .
  • If in Downtown Station Area or North Santa Rosa Station Area, confirm whether the DSASP/North Station rows apply (these often have different minima) .
  • Provide site plan showing permanent marked parking stalls, aisle widths, driveways and curb cut dimensions per Chapter 20‑36 (including Table 3‑6) and surfacing/striping details .
  • Include bicycle parking details (short‑term racks and long‑term storage), locations (short‑term within 50 ft of entrance), and rack type per § 20‑36.090 .
  • Show accessible/disabled stalls and route to accessible entrances per Title 24 and the Code’s disabled parking table .
  • Show landscaping islands/trees in parking as required by Chapter 20‑34 and Chapter 20‑36; illustrate stormwater/NPDES controls where applicable .
  • If requesting less parking, shared parking, tandem, or other alternatives, submit a parking study and apply under § 20‑36.050 (Adjustments) or the Minor CUP process as required .
  • Confirm any overlay or design review requirements (Active Ground Floor Overlay, -SA combining district, Historic overlay) and address visibility of loading/service areas and location of surface parking in front of buildings as required (see overlays and design review) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Which Table 3‑4 row applies to a particular mixed or novel use Table 3‑4 lists many uses; unlisted uses are decided by the Director and may trigger a required parking study Verify with Planning Director; the Code allows Director determination and a parking study under § 20‑36.040(F)
Station Area / Specific Plan exceptions DSASP and North Station Area have special rows and encourage alternative parking — using wrong row can over‑ or under‑require parking Confirm the parcel is inside the specific plan boundary and use the DSASP / North Station rows in Table 3‑4
Bicycle parking counts vs. configuration (short vs. long term) Bicycle ratios depend on whether count is by floor area or employees and the mix affects long‑term/short‑term split Follow § 20‑36.090 for required proportions and rack design; confirm proposed mix with staff
Loading space table mapping (Table 3‑8) and number required Loading is determined by Table 3‑8 or Director — ambiguous for new/unique industrial/service uses Confirm loading requirement early; Director may require a loading study (see loading provisions in Chapter 20‑36)
Frontage overlays and active ground floor rules Active Ground Floor Overlay prohibits surface parking between sidewalk and building and requires loading screened from streets Verify overlay applicability and apply overlay standards and design review per overlay rules § references in overlay material

Plain‑English summary

Santa Rosa’s zoning rules require most projects to provide off‑street vehicle and bicycle parking according to the use‑based table in § 20‑36.040 (Table 3‑4), allow the Director and review authorities to adjust requirements or accept shared/alternative parking (see § 20‑36.050), and impose design, surfacing, landscaping, accessible, and bicycle‑parking standards elsewhere in Chapter 20‑36 and related development standards; specific plan areas (Downtown, North Station) often have lower vehicle minima and promote alternatives — always check the Table 3‑4 row for your exact use and property location before designing your site plan .

Source References

  • Title 20 Zoning — Chapter header and parking chapter: Chapter 20‑36 (Parking and Loading Standards), § 20‑36.010–§ 20‑36.100.
  • Number of parking spaces required and Table 3‑4: § 20‑36.040, Table 3‑4—Automobile and Bicycle Parking Requirements by Land Use Type.
  • Adjustments to parking requirements/shared parking: § 20‑36.050 (Adjustments to parking requirements).
  • Bicycle parking requirements and design standards: § 20‑36.090.
  • Parking design rules (driveway widths, striping, surfacing, landscaping): Chapter 20‑36 design subsections and Table 3‑6; landscaping reference Chapter 20‑34 and outdoor lighting § 20‑30.080.
  • Disabled parking and Title 24 reference: Title 24 compliance language and Table 3‑5 (disabled parking minima); the Code references Title 24 Part 2 Section 1129B.
  • Station Area special rules and alternative parking encouragement: Table 3‑4 DSASP/North Station entries; alternative parking methods discussion (see Table notes and § 20‑36.050).
  • Loading standards and Table 3‑8 guidance: loading subsections of Chapter 20‑36 and Table 3‑8.
  • Zoning code title and administration references (Design Review cross‑references): Title 20 Zoning Code and § 20‑52.030 (Design Review cross‑reference in the Zoning Code).

Information Gaps / Items to verify with the City

  • Exact section number that contains the formal loading subsection mapping to Table 3‑8 (the Code references Table 3‑8 in the Chapter text but the precise § for the loading subsection header was not displayed in the retrieved excerpts). Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction. .
  • Any local changes after the latest ordinance excerpts (ordinances show amendments as recent as late 2024/early 2025 in the materials). Confirm the most recent adopted ordinance text with City planning staff or eCode. .
  • Parcel‑level applicability of Station Area exceptions and overlay boundaries — check the official Zoning Map and Specific Plan maps at planning counter. Not fully determinable from the excerpted tables alone. Verify with the jurisdiction. .

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code (Chapter 20-36) High relevance
  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance
  • CBC § 20 (Section 2030.080) High relevance
  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code (Chapter or) High relevance
  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code High relevance
  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code (Section 20-52.040) High relevance
  • Santa Rosa Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
  • CBC § 1 (§ 1) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What code section sets the number of required parking spaces in Santa Rosa?

The required minimum vehicle and bicycle parking counts are set by Table 3‑4 in the Zoning Code; see § 20‑36.040 (Number of parking spaces required), which instructs application of the table and how to treat fractional results and unlisted uses .

Are there reduced or no minimum parking requirements downtown in Santa Rosa?

Yes. The Downtown Station Area Specific Plan rows in Table 3‑4 show “No minimum” vehicle parking for many uses and set bicycle rates separately; use the DSASP rows in § 20‑36.040 for properties inside the Downtown Station Area boundary .

How does Santa Rosa handle bicycle parking requirements?

Bicycle parking is governed by § 20‑36.090: multifamily and nonresidential projects must provide bicycle parking with minimum short‑ and long‑term ratios (e.g., at least two short‑term and one long‑term for new nonresidential developments) and device/design standards (frame support in two places, ability to secure frame and one wheel, anchoring, etc.) .

Can a project use shared parking or pay in‑lieu of providing on‑site spaces?

Yes. The Code allows adjustments and shared parking arrangements under § 20‑36.050; projects may submit a parking study to justify reductions, shared parking, or alternative methods (tandem, lifts, unbundled parking, transit incentives), especially within Station Areas .

What are the rules for accessible (disabled) parking?

Accessible parking must comply with the referenced California Building Standards Code / Title 24 (Uniform Building Code) requirements; the Zoning Code cites Title 24 Part 2 (Section 1129B) and provides a local table (Table 3‑5) setting minimum numbers and dispersion rules (closest accessible route, dispersed where multiple entrances exist) — see Chapter 20‑36 text and the disabled parking table .

Do parking design and landscaping rules apply to single‑family homes?

Most surfacing, striping, and parking lot landscaping requirements explicitly exclude single‑family detached dwellings (Chapter 20‑36 notes many design provisions are “except single‑family detached”); however driveway, curb cut, setback and frontage rules still apply and Short‑Term Rental rules impose specific driveway/space dimension requirements where applicable .

If my use is not listed in Table 3‑4, how is required parking determined?

If a use is not listed, the Director determines parking using similar Table 3‑4 uses as a guide and can require a parking study paid for by the applicant; see § 20‑36.040(F) for the Director’s authority and methodology .

Are tandem parking and parking lifts allowed in Santa Rosa?

Yes — especially as alternative parking methods within the Downtown and North Station Area Specific Plan boundaries; the Code explicitly lists tandem parking, garage lifts, and unbundled parking among encouraged alternatives and notes that a parking study may be required when proposing shared or in‑lieu arrangements (§ 20‑36.050 and Station Area guidance) .

Where are driveway width and curb cut limits summarized?

Driveway width and aisle minimums are in Chapter 20‑36 (minimum aisle 12 ft one‑way, 20 ft two‑way; curb cut maxima commonly 24 ft for residential and 35 ft for nonresidential unless modified) and additional curb cut rules (spacing, percent of frontage) are in drive/access subsections of Chapter 20‑36 .

Do ADUs have separate parking rules?

ADU rules interact with local parking rules and state ADU law; check the local ADU page for the city’s ADU parking policy and cross‑check with Table 3‑4 and any California ADU law preemptions. The Santa Rosa ADU summary and the Zoning Code must both be reviewed; where the local Code is silent the state ADU law controls. Verify with the City’s ADU guidance and Table 3‑4 entries. (See Santa Rosa ADUs and California ADU law) .

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