Selma — Parking

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how Selma’s Zoning Ordinance regulates off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking, and electric‑vehicle (EV) parking infrastructure for projects within the city. The controlling parking rules live in the Zoning Ordinance’s Off‑Street Parking chapter (Chapter 11‑3.4); development standards that affect parking layouts (setbacks, lot coverage, circulation) appear elsewhere in Title XI. Read this page as a plain‑English guide — always verify parcel‑specific rules with the Community Development Director. § 11‑3.4 governs the core requirements .

(First use links: the word parking below links to Selma zoning material, and other related topics are linked where they first appear.)

• The city’s parking rules are in the Zoning Ordinance: see § 11‑3.4 Off‑Street Parking for requirements and tables (Table 3‑3, Table 3‑4, Table 3‑5) .
• Design/layout requirements for stalls, curbs, landscaping and circulation are referenced to the Development Standards chapter; see § 11‑3.1 and the Off‑Street Parking chapter for dimensional specifics .
• Bicycle parking rules (long‑term/short‑term and shower locker triggers) and separation/surfacing guidance are in the bicycle parking subsection and Table 3‑4 (see § 11‑3.4 and related tables) .
• Loading is governed by a square‑foot based table (Table 3‑5) and design rules intended to minimize impacts on adjacent residences (§ 11‑3.4.D) .
• EV readiness / charger rules for residential and nonresidential development are in the Off‑Street Parking chapter (see § 11‑3.4.E) .

Important internal links: this page mentions Selma Zoning for code context, Development Standards for setbacks and lot rules, Design Review for discretionary review that can affect parking layouts, Overlay Districts where special parking rules may apply, ADUs (special ADU parking rules), and California Building Standards Code for accessibility/ADA design standards that also apply at permit/building stage.

How Selma’s Off‑Street Parking rules are organized (short)

• Chapter heading: § 11‑3.4 Off‑Street Parking — purpose, applicability, general requirements, development standards, loading, EVs, bicycle parking and tables (required spaces by use) are located here .
• Required numeric ratios and the most commonly used tables are presented as Table 3‑3 (Required Number of Parking Spaces), Table 3‑4 (Bicycle Parking Requirements), and Table 3‑5 (Loading Space Requirements) (see the chapter and table callouts) .
• Development standards for stall size, curbing, circulation, and landscape screening are cross‑referenced to the development standards chapter and within § 11‑3.4 itself .

District‑by‑district breakdown (parking focus)

Note: Selma’s parking obligations are applied to uses across zoning districts via § 11‑3.4. The paragraphs below summarize the district purpose/uses and then state how the parking rules apply to that district (i.e., which tables/sections to consult). For site layout and dimensional standards (setbacks, lot coverage) see the Development Standards chapter referenced in each subsection.

R‑1 (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose & typical uses: neighborhood single‑family homes and accessory residential uses. The district tables for single‑family zones list dimensional standards; parking for dwelling units is regulated by the general off‑street parking chapter § 11‑3.4 and the development standards (e.g., driveway and garage access) .
• Parking implications: residential parking counts for single‑family or two‑unit properties follow the residential ratios in Table 3‑3 and EV charging readiness rules apply for new units/garages under § 11‑3.4.E (Level 2 EV ready requirement for new single‑family garages) .
• Where it applies: consult the single‑family zone tables and § 11‑3.4 for required spaces and layout rules .

R‑2 / R‑2‑A (Lower‑Density Multifamily / Duplex)

• Purpose & typical uses: duplexes, small multi‑unit residential developments. Parking demand is treated under the residential parking ratios (Table 3‑3) and multi‑family EV rules ( § 11‑3.4.E) and subject to the multi‑family design/circulation standards in the development standards chapter .
• Key dimensional standards that affect parking: minimum rear/side setbacks and required on‑site turning areas (see Development Standards and the R‑zone tables) — parking layout must avoid backing into public ways for lots with five (5) or more spaces (§ 11‑3.4.b.i) .

R‑3 / R‑3‑A (Moderate‑Density Multifamily)

• Purpose & typical uses: multi‑unit housing such as small apartment buildings. Parking counts again come from Table 3‑3 (residential ratios) and multi‑family design rules (including required common open space) inform how much site area is available for parking (see § 11‑3.4 and § 11‑3.1) .

R‑4 (Higher‑Density Multifamily)

• Purpose & typical uses: larger multifamily developments. The code explicitly lists R‑4 lot and yard metrics (for example, minimum lot area 6,000 sq ft, front yard 15', side yard 5'; see the district development standards table) and indicates that Off‑Street Parking provisions apply; parking areas must be designed so vehicles do not back into the street for five (5) or more spaces (§ 11‑3.4) .
• Where it applies: R‑4 properties follow the residential parking ratios in Table 3‑3 and must meet EV readiness thresholds in § 11‑3.4.E for new construction .

C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial), C‑2 (Community Commercial), C‑3 (Commercial Service), C‑R (Commercial Regional)

• Purpose & typical uses: retail, offices, personal services, restaurants, grocery, regional retail. Commercial zones are consolidated under § 11‑2.4 (Commercial) for zone purposes; parking for commercial uses is set in Table 3‑3 and design rules (curbing, screening, circulation) apply per § 11‑3.4 .
• Typical parking ratios (examples): restaurants: 1 space / 250 sq ft (outdoor dining >200 sq ft may trigger additional parking); retail and many personal services: 1 space / 200–250 sq ft; medical/dental clinic: 1 space / 200 sq ft — see Table 3‑3 for full list and the Director’s authority to determine undefined uses .
• Loading rules: non‑residential uses that receive/ship goods must provide loading per Table 3‑5 and locate loading to minimize noise/visual impacts on residential neighbors (§ 11‑3.4.D) .

M / Industrial (Manufacturing, Warehouse, Heavy Industrial)

• Purpose & typical uses: manufacturing, warehousing, wholesale, heavy industrial. Parking ratios differ (e.g., manufacturing/warehouse typically 1 space / 750 sq ft; heavy industrial 1 space / 400 sq ft — see Table 3‑3) and loading requirements are commonly triggered; heavy uses must supply adequate loading per Table 3‑5 and screen/locate loading yards to avoid impacts (§ 11‑3.4.D) .

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick table)

Checklist — what an applicant must provide (site plan / permit)

• Demonstrate compliance with § 11‑3.4: show required number of off‑street parking spaces from Table 3‑3 or substantiation if using Director’s determination for undefined uses .
• If commercial or industrial, show loading spaces per Table 3‑5 and location/screening to avoid impacts on residences (§ 11‑3.4.D) .
• Provide bicycle parking counts and locations (short‑ and long‑term) per Table 3‑4, with separation from vehicle aisles as required (§ 11‑3.4 bicycle subsection) .
• Show parking layout: stall dimensions, aisle widths, curbing/wheel stops, surfacing, ADA parking counts (coordinated with the California Building Standards Code), and internal circulation so vehicles on lots with five (5)+ spaces do not back into the street (§ 11‑3.4 and § 11‑3.1) .
• EV readiness: mark required Level‑2 EV Ready spaces or circuits for residential and non‑residential projects per § 11‑3.4.E; note exceptions for automated parking systems and ADUs without additional parking .
• Landscape and screening plan for parking areas per § 11‑3.5 (trees for shade; screen parking from streets; wheel stop exceptions where landscaped overhang is planted) .
• If requesting shared parking, on‑street credits, parking reductions, or density‑bonus parking concessions, include analysis and mapping (Director has discretion; density bonus projects have specific maximums and reductions under § 11‑4.10) .
• For projects within overlays or historic districts, indicate any overlay standards that affect parking location/visibility (see Overlay Districts and the code) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Information Gaps

• The excerpt set included references to Table 3‑4 Bicycle Parking Requirements but the full numeric table rows for each use were not fully present in the retrieved snippets. Not found in retrieved materials: itemized bicycle‑parking counts per specific non‑residential uses. .
• District section numbers for each R‑zone (e.g., the precise § for R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, R‑4) were not always shown in the snippets — development/dimensional values for each district are present in the code excerpts but they are cross‑referenced in various tables. Verify the full district tables in Chapter 11‑2 for parcel‑level dimensions. .
• Any recent amendments after the version provided here (e.g., local EV amendments or updated bicycle counts) are not represented. Verify with City staff or the latest online municipal code. Verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain‑English summary

Selma’s Zoning Code requires every use to provide off‑street parking, bicycle parking, and loading consistent with the city’s Off‑Street Parking chapter (§ 11‑3.4); use the code’s tables to count spaces (Table 3‑3 for cars, Table 3‑4 for bikes, Table 3‑5 for loading), meet the EV readiness rules for new housing and larger projects, and design parking so vehicles do not back into public streets while screening parking from neighbors and meeting landscape rules. Always bring a site plan showing counts, dimensions, bicycle spaces, loading, EV readiness, and landscape screening when you apply; if you want credits or reductions, be prepared to supply a parking study or request a Director determination.

Source References

• § 11‑3.4 Off‑Street Parking (purpose, applicability, general requirements, tables) — Selma Zoning Code (Off‑Street Parking chapter)
• Table 3‑3 Required Number of Parking Spaces (examples: restaurants, retail, medical, manufacturing, schools, theaters) — Selma Zoning Code, Table 3‑3
• Table 3‑4 Bicycle Parking Requirements and bicycle parking standards — Selma Zoning Code, bicycle parking subsection and table
• Table 3‑5 Loading Space Requirements (square‑foot thresholds) and loading design rules — Selma Zoning Code, § 11‑3.4.D and Table 3‑5
• § 11‑3.4.E Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking Requirements for residential and nonresidential land uses — Selma Zoning Code (EV readiness counts and exceptions)
• Development standards referenced throughout (stall size, curbing, overhang, landscape screening) — Development Standards and district tables (see § 11‑3.1 and district tables)
• California Building Standards Code (for accessible parking dimensions and building permit stage requirements) — California Building Standards Code (Title 24)

Retrieved passages

• Selma Zoning Code (Chapter 11-4-2) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 65589.5) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section applies) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section 11-3.4) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code (Section shall) High relevance show source text
• Selma Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• § 11‑3.4 Off‑Street Parking (purpose, applicability, general requirements, tables) — Selma Zoning Code (Off‑Street Parking chapter) (§ 11)
• Table 3‑3 Required Number of Parking Spaces (examples: restaurants, retail, medical, manufacturing, schools, theaters) — Selma Zoning Code, Table 3‑3
• Table 3‑4 Bicycle Parking Requirements and bicycle parking standards — Selma Zoning Code, bicycle parking subsection and table
• Table 3‑5 Loading Space Requirements (square‑foot thresholds) and loading design rules — Selma Zoning Code, § 11‑3.4.D and Table 3‑5 (§ 11)
• § 11‑3.4.E Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking Requirements for residential and nonresidential land uses — Selma Zoning Code (EV readiness counts and exceptions) (§ 11)
• Development standards referenced throughout (stall size, curbing, overhang, landscape screening) — Development Standards and district tables (see § 11‑3.1 and district tables) (§ 11)
• California Building Standards Code (for accessible parking dimensions and building permit stage requirements) — California Building Standards Code (Title 24) (Title 24)
• Selma_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California Building Code.md

• Official Selma code library