Seaside — Parking

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page explains how the City of Seaside regulates off‑street vehicle, accessible, bicycle, motorcycle, and loading parking in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 17). It summarizes who must provide parking, how many spaces are required for common land uses, design/lot placement rules, bicycle parking, in‑lieu payment options and where to look for exceptions. The rules sit in Chapter 17.34 (Parking and Loading) of the Zoning Ordinance; see the ordinance text for full tables and figures § 17.34.010–150 .

Note: where this page mentions related topics, see the city guidance on parking, setbacks and development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code for building-code (Title 24) issues that are outside the Zoning Ordinance scope.

Core rules (what the code actually says)

• Off‑street parking and loading is required for every land use and structure (including expansions and changes of use) unless a specific exception applies (for instance city‑provided parking, shared parking authorized by recorded covenant, or a formally established parking district). See § 17.34.020 .

• The number of required spaces is set by Table 3‑8 (parking requirements by land use). If a use is not listed, the Zoning Administrator applies Table 3‑8 standards by analogy and may require a study. See § 17.34.040 and Table 3‑8 .

• Parking improvements must be completed before occupancy (timing), spaces must be permanent and properly maintained, and parking areas cannot be restriped or subdivided to reduce required parking without complying with the code. See § 17.34.020 and § 17.34.030 .

• Accessible parking must meet minimum counts and dimensional standards; small lots need at least one accessible space and larger lots must follow state/federal laws; accessible stalls count toward the minimum requirement. See § 17.34.050 .

• Bicycle parking is required for all nonresidential uses and multi‑family projects: short‑term visitor racks equal to 5% of required vehicle parking (min. one 2‑bike rack), and long‑term secure bicycle parking equal to 5% of required vehicle parking for buildings with more than 10 tenant‑occupants (min. one long‑term space). Dimensions and design criteria are in § 17.34.060 .

• Design and layout rules (stall dimensions, compact limits, aisle widths, curbing, surfacing, maneuvering so vehicles enter/exit in forward direction except alleys, landscaping and stormwater consideration) are in § 17.34.110, § 17.34.120 and related tables (Tables 3‑10 through 3‑13). Compact stalls are limited to 20% of required spaces and special rules apply for grouping and labeling. See § 17.34.110 and § 17.34.120 .

• Loading space requirements and standards for design, surfacing and setbacks appear in § 17.34.130 and accompanying subsections (grading/surfacing approvals by City Engineer). See § 17.34.130 and related subsections .

• The code discourages excessive parking. Providing more than 10% above the Table 3‑8 requirement requires a Minor Use Permit and additional landscaping/amenities. See § 17.34.040.F .

• Parking in‑lieu fees are allowed for commercial land where on‑site parking is infeasible; the code prescribes how the fee is calculated and requires Council resolution to set the per‑space value (code includes an initial $3,000 per space example but requires periodic Council resolution). See § 17.34.140 .

District‑by‑district notes — where parking rules intersect zones

The parking chapter applies city‑wide but the zoning districts set development context. Below are concise, Seaside‑specific summaries showing where parking rules are especially relevant and what typical parking expectations are. For zone names and the adopted Zoning Map see § 17.06.020 and Table 1‑1 (Zones) .

RS‑8 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose/typical uses: RS‑8 is single‑family residential (low density); typical uses are detached single dwellings; accessory units where allowed. See § 17.12 tables and Table 2‑3 .
• Parking: 2 spaces for a new detached single‑family dwelling (at least 1 covered) per Table 3‑8; ADU rules may alter parking (see ADU subsection below). Required residential parking must remain on the same parcel and may be within setbacks per limits in Section 17.30.100 (verify specific exceptions) § 17.34.040; § 17.30.100 .
• Surfacing: RS‑8/RS‑12 required parking areas may use all‑weather surfaces (gravel/decomposed granite) where allowed by the City Engineer § 17.34.110.H.3 .

RS‑12 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose/typical uses: RS‑12 is medium density single‑family; many development standards match RS‑8 (Table 2‑3) .
• Parking: Similar to RS‑8: 2 spaces for typical single‑family new construction (see Table 3‑8 and § 17.34.040) .

RM (Medium‑Density Residential) and RH (High‑Density Residential)

• Purpose/typical uses: RM and RH allow duplexes, apartments and other multi‑family types; RM is medium density, RH higher density. See Table 2‑3 and zone tables § 17.12 .
• Parking: Multi‑family parking requirements are set in Table 3‑8 (varies by number of bedrooms/unit type and guest spaces). Multi‑tenant centers must aggregate spaces for each use; shared parking reductions require approval § 17.34.040 and § 17.34.100 .
• Tandem: Tandem parking is allowed for conforming single‑family dwellings and some small multi‑family projects but is generally prohibited to meet required parking except where expressly allowed (see code for the three allowed instances) § 17.34.110.I .

CMX, CC, CRG, CA, CH (Commercial zones)

• Purpose/typical uses: Commercial mixed‑use (CMX), community/commercial and regional commercial (CC, CRG, CA, CH) cover the city's retail, service, auto and heavy commercial uses. See Table 1‑1 and Chapters 17.12–17.14 for permitted uses .
• Parking: Nonresidential parking requirements (retail, restaurant, office, hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, etc.) are in Table 3‑8. Example: Restaurants often required 1 space per 300 sf (or 1 per 4 seats depending on which yields more); supermarkets and many retail uses fall into separate “groups” in Table 3‑8. Excess parking (>10%) requires Minor Use Permit § 17.34.040 and Table 3‑8 entries .

V‑FO (Fort Ord visitor‑serving)

• Purpose/typical uses: V‑FO targets visitor‑serving uses (hotels, conference centers, restaurants, golf course) on Fort Ord parcels. The district explicitly defers to commercial zone standards where not in conflict, including off‑street parking § 17.14 and V‑FO special provisions § 17.14 / V‑FO .
• Parking: Off‑street parking standards for V‑FO default to commercial Chapter 17.14 and Chapter 17.34 when not in conflict; large hotel/resort projects are expected to supply on‑site parking per Table 3‑8 (or negotiate shared/municipal parking as part of planned developments) § 17.14 .

PI (Public/Institutional), OSR/OSC (Open Space), M (Military), Overlay zones (H1, ORD)

• Purpose/typical uses: Institutional and open space districts are listed in Table 1‑1. Overlay districts (for example H1 Highway 1 Design Overlay) may impose additional design requirements that affect parking location or lot treatment § 17.06.020 and overlay chapters § 17.22 .
• Parking: Institutional/public facilities follow Table 3‑8 standards or a site‑specific standard established in an applicable specific plan; overlay design requirements may modify parking layout and screening (verify with overlay rules) § 17.34.110 and overlay provisions .

Quick reference table — common triggers and where to read the code

Checklist

An applicant should verify and submit the following (minimum):

• Confirm applicable zoning district (RS‑8, RS‑12, RM, RH, CMX, CC, CRG, CA, CH, V‑FO, etc.) and consult Table 1‑1 § 17.06.020 .
• Calculate vehicle parking based on Table 3‑8 and round per code (fractions ≥ 0.5 require an extra space) § 17.34.040 .
• Provide required accessible spaces and include Building Official approval (dimensions per § 17.34.050) .
• Provide bicycle parking (short‑term and long‑term) with dimensions and visibility per § 17.34.060 .
• Submit a parking layout plan showing stall dimensions, aisle widths, surfacing, curbs/wheel stops, lighting, and landscaping that complies with § 17.34.110 and Tables 3‑10 through 3‑13 .
• If proposing shared, off‑site, or municipal parking, provide recorded covenants or agreements as required § 17.34.020.C .
• If proposing a reduction, in‑lieu payment, or excess parking, include supporting analysis and request the appropriate Minor Use Permit/Use Permit or Commission/Council approvals § 17.34.100, § 17.34.140 .
• For ADUs, include ADU checklist and note ADU parking exceptions (see § 17.52.230) .
• Confirm driveway/curb cut requirements and obtain any encroachment permits from Engineering per § 17.34.120 and the Subdivision/Engineering requirements .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Seaside’s zoning code requires most developments to provide off‑street parking and loading on a use‑by‑use basis (see Table 3‑8) and to meet design standards (stall sizes, surfacing, accessible stalls, bicycle parking, and landscaping). Small residential projects typically need two parking spaces; ADUs generally need one (with several exemptions). For mixed or commercial projects, check Table 3‑8 and coordinate shared parking, reductions or in‑lieu fees with the Planning Department. See § 17.34.020–140 for the full rules and the zone tables in Article 2 for how these apply in your district .

Information Gaps

• Current Council resolution setting the up‑to‑date parking in‑lieu dollar amount (the code gives an initial $3,000 example but the active rate is set by resolution). Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction § 17.34.140 .
• Full, unabridged Table 3‑8 in a single extract for every land use (the uploaded excerpts show many entries but not every line). The ordinance contains the full table; consult the official code document for any use not shown here § 17.34.040 .
• Exact municipal parking lot plan or mapped parking districts (the code allows parking districts but the boundaries/establishment and any adopted municipal lot plan are separate documents). Not found in retrieved materials; Verify with the jurisdiction § 17.34.020.D .

Source References

• City of Seaside, Title 17 Zoning Ordinance — Chapter 17.34 (Parking and Loading), § 17.34.010–17.34.150 (applicability, general regs, Table 3‑8 triggers, accessible parking, bicycle parking, design standards, loading, in‑lieu fees). See the ordinance excerpts for § 17.34.020, § 17.34.030, § 17.34.040, § 17.34.050, § 17.34.060, § 17.34.110, § 17.34.120, § 17.34.130, § 17.34.140 .
• City of Seaside, Article 2 / Chapter 17.06 (Zoning Map and Zones) — Table 1‑1 lists zone symbols (RS‑8, RS‑12, RM, RH, CMX, CC, CRG, CA, CH, V‑FO, PI, OSR, OSC, overlays H1, etc.) § 17.06.020 .
• City of Seaside, Chapter 17.12 / Table 2‑3 (Residential zone development standards) — shows where parking is referenced in zone development standards § 17.12.050 .
• City of Seaside, ADU provisions and parking exceptions referenced by Chapter 17.52 (Residential Second Units / ADU rules) § 17.52.230 (off‑street parking for ADUs) .

Retrieved passages

• Seaside Zoning Code (chapter are) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.34.040) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (chapter shall) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 65915) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 14 (section for) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 14 (§ 14) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (§ 10) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Chapter 17.72) High relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.30.070) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 65000) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Article 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Section 17.30.100) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Chapter 17.52) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Chapter 17.04) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (section for) Medium relevance show source text
• Seaside Zoning Code (Article 6) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Seaside, Title 17 Zoning Ordinance — Chapter 17.34 (Parking and Loading), **§ 17.34.010–17.34.150** (applicability, general regs, Table 3‑8 triggers, accessible parking, bicycle parking, design standards, loading, in‑lieu fees). See the ordinance excerpts for **§ 17.34.020**, **§ 17.34.030**, **§ 17.34.040**, **§ 17.34.050**, **§ 17.34.060**, **§ 17.34.110**, **§ 17.34.120**, **§ 17.34.130**, **§ 17.34.140** . (Title 17)
• City of Seaside, Article 2 / Chapter 17.06 (Zoning Map and Zones) — Table 1‑1 lists zone symbols (**RS‑8, RS‑12, RM, RH, CMX, CC, CRG, CA, CH, V‑FO, PI, OSR, OSC**, overlays **H1**, etc.) **§ 17.06.020** . (Article 2)
• City of Seaside, Chapter 17.12 / Table 2‑3 (Residential zone development standards) — shows where parking is referenced in zone development standards **§ 17.12.050** . (Chapter 17.12)
• City of Seaside, ADU provisions and parking exceptions referenced by Chapter 17.52 (Residential Second Units / ADU rules) **§ 17.52.230** (off‑street parking for ADUs) . (Chapter 17.52)
• Seaside_ZoningCode.md