Local zoning · Shasta County

Shasta County — Parking

Q: What are the basic off‑street parking requirements for a single‑family home in unincorporated Shasta County?

A single‑family or two‑family residence must provide 2 parking spaces per dwelling unit ; count and layout must follow Chapter 17.86 and any applicable district standards. § 17.86.140 .

Q: Are parking lots required to be paved in Shasta County?

If your project requires five or more parking spaces, the parking area and access drives must be paved per county development standards unless a use permit or approved deferral modifies that requirement. § 17.86.100 .

Q: How does the county treat tandem and compact parking?

Tandem parking generally counts as one required space (except in mobilehome parks or when a use permit allows a different treatment). Compact stalls are allowed up to the percentage limits the code prescribes based on total stall count (e.g., 15%–40% bands). § 17.86.090 ; § 17.86.060 .

Q: Are there special parking rules for short‑term rentals or bed & breakfast facilities?

Yes. Short‑term rentals must provide at least one off‑street parking space per approved bedroom , and bed & breakfast facilities must provide off‑street parking as specified in Chapter 17.86 ; short‑term rental parking must be located on the property and comply with Chapter 17.86 . § 17.88.230 ; § 17.88.225 ; § 17.86.140 .

Q: Are EV charging stations covered in the zoning code?

Yes. The code includes provisions addressing electric vehicle charging stations ; see § 17.86.145 for the county's zoning provisions on EV charging.

Parking under the Shasta County local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the Shasta County zoning ordinance regulates parking, off‑street loading, compact stalls, surfacing, and parking plans in the unincorporated areas of Shasta County. The county treats parking as a countywide standard administered through Chapter 17.86 — Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations; the detailed parking schedule and implementation rules are in that chapter. See the county zoning page for related menus on parking and how parking interfaces with other site standards.

Key countywide rules (plain English + code citations)

Off‑street parking and loading must be provided for every new building, expansion, or new use in the unincorporated area; spaces must be installed before final building inspection or occupancy unless a deferral is approved per county standards. § 17.86.030.
The numeric parking schedule applies in all zone districts (countywide) and lists required spaces by use (residential, retail, industrial, institutional, etc.). § 17.86.140.
Required parking generally must be located on the same parcel as the use it serves unless the code allows joint or off‑site parking under strict conditions. § 17.86.040; § 17.86.050.
Parking areas with five or more required vehicle spaces must be paved to county development standards unless a use permit or deferral allows otherwise. § 17.86.100. See the county Development Standards for construction/paving specs.
A parking plan showing stall layout, aisles and access must be submitted and approved by the Director prior to building or use permit. § 17.86.130.
Tandem parking counts as a single required space except in mobilehome parks or where a use permit allows otherwise. § 17.86.090.
Compact stalls are allowed within the percentages the code sets; maximum compact ratios depend on total stalls. § 17.86.060.
Off‑street loading minimum dimensions, access and proximity limits to residential lots are specified (e.g., 12 ft x 30 ft minimum berth; 50 ft separation requirement from residential lots unless enclosed). § 17.86.120.
The code includes electric vehicle charging station provisions. § 17.86.145.

District‑by‑district breakdown (how parking fits with each district)

Note: All items below apply only to unincorporated areas. In every district the required number of spaces is determined by Chapter 17.86 (the countywide parking schedule), unless a district standard explicitly modifies or references another provision. § 17.86.140.

Open Space (OS)

Purpose & typical uses: Protects open land, greenbelts, low‑intensity recreation and agriculture. § 17.16.010–.020.
Parking implications: Limited development allowed; when a permitted use requires parking the countywide standards apply and parking must be consistent with the OS intent (e.g., low‑impact surfacing may be allowed per district standards). See § 17.86.140 for counts and the OS permit rules in § 17.16.030.

Rural Residential (R‑R)

Purpose & typical uses: Single‑family rural living, agriculture, guest houses and accessory dwellings subject to district rules. § 17.26.010–.030.
Parking implications: Normal residential parking requirements apply (see table below); accessory uses and guest houses must provide the parking called for in Chapter 17.86. Surfacing and access standards in the county development standards may be applied for rural roads. § 17.86.140; see § 17.26 for use rules.

Community Commercial (C‑2)

Purpose & typical uses: Shopping centers, supermarkets, general retail and personal services (broader retail scale). § 17.44.010.
Dimensional and parking notes: Parking counts for retail, restaurants, shopping centers and drive‑through stacking rules are set in § 17.86.140 (drive‑up stacking rules in the same schedule). Parking lots of 5+ spaces must meet surfacing and landscaping rules in § 17.86.100 and § 17.84.040. § 17.86.140; § 17.84.040.

Office Commercial (C‑O)

Purpose & typical uses: Professional, administrative and medical offices. § 17.46.010–.020.
Parking implications: Offices use the square‑footage parking ratios in § 17.86.140 (e.g., 1 space/300 sq ft for professional office). Design of parking access must follow the controlled access rule so vehicles do not back directly onto a public street for non‑residential uses. § 17.86.140; § 17.86.110.

Light Industrial (M‑L)

Purpose & typical uses: Light manufacturing, warehousing and support uses. § 17.56.050.
Parking implications: Industrial parking is calculated per § 17.86.140 (e.g., 1 space/1,000 sq ft manufacturing or per employee, whichever is greater). Loading berth standards (size, access) in § 17.86.120 are especially important for M‑L uses. § 17.86.140; § 17.86.120.

(Other district chapters include the same cross‑reference to county parking rules; individual parcel questions should be verified with the Planning Department.)

Quick reference table — Most decision‑relevant parking standards

Topic / Use	Minimum requirement	Code Reference
One‑family or two‑family residence	2 parking spaces per dwelling unit	§ 17.86.140.
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)	See § 17.88.132 for ADU parking specifics	§ 17.86.140 (table entry) + § 17.88.132.
Multifamily	1.5 spaces per unit (+ guest & RV parking rules); reduced exceptions for senior/affordable projects noted in table	§ 17.86.140.
Enclosed general retail	1 space / 200 sq ft gross floor area	§ 17.86.140.
Industrial/manufacturing	1 space / 1,000 sq ft or per employee (greater)	§ 17.86.140.
Loading berth dimensions	Min 12 ft wide x 30 ft long; min 15 ft high if covered	§ 17.86.120.B.
Parking plan required	Plan submitted & approved by Director before building/use permit	§ 17.86.130.
Surfacing (paving)	Parking areas with 5 or more required spaces must be paved per county development standards (unless modified/delayed by use permit)	§ 17.86.100.
Tandem parking	Counts as one required space (except mobilehome parks/use permit)	§ 17.86.090.
Compact stalls	Allowed up to the code's percentage limits by total stall count (e.g., 15%–40% depending on size)	§ 17.86.060.
EV charging	EV charging provisions included; see § 17.86.145	§ 17.86.145.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for parking in unincorporated Shasta County)

Calculate required spaces using the County parking schedule § 17.86.140.
For ADUs, follow § 17.88.132 (local ADU parking provisions may differ from state ADU law). Verify with the jurisdiction.
Prepare and submit a parking plan showing stalls, aisles, circulation and any loading areas; obtain Director approval prior to building permit/use permit. § 17.86.130.
Provide required surfacing (paving) when the project triggers 5 or more parking spaces, per § 17.86.100 and the county Development Standards.
Ensure parking access prevents backing directly onto a public street for non‑residential uses (§ 17.86.110) and meets zone wall/landscape screening rules where adjacent to residential districts (§ 17.84.070, § 17.84.040).
Dimension loading berths per § 17.86.120, and locate loading areas at least 50 ft from residential lots unless enclosed.
Apply for joint‑use parking or off‑site parking only when the criteria in § 17.86.050 are met (use permit and recorded agreement may be required).
Confirm compact parking ratios and whether tandem spaces will be accepted for your use (§ 17.86.060, § 17.86.090).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
ADU parking rules vs. state ADU law	State ADU law can preempt local standards; local code references a specific ADU section.	Verify applicability of § 17.88.132 and whether county practice defers to California ADU statute; confirm with Planning. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Bicycle parking requirements	Code contains a detailed vehicular schedule but bicycle parking language was not located in the retrieved materials.	Not found in retrieved materials — confirm whether bicycle parking standards exist in another chapter or county development standards. Verify with the jurisdiction.
Accessible (ADA) stall dimensions and counts	Zoning sets counts but accessibility dimensions/marking/signage are enforced via building/accessibility codes.	Check building code / Title 24 and local building department for accessible parking specifics; zoning defers to building code for those technical dimensions. Verify with the jurisdiction and see California Building Standards Code.
Off‑site or joint parking	Off‑site parking in commercial/industrial zones allowed only under conditions; failing to record required agreements risks revocation or enforcement.	If proposing joint/off‑site parking, follow § 17.86.050 requirements (use permit, recorded agreement, 500‑ft limit for some commercial provisions).
Surfacing exceptions	Use permits can delay or alter paving requirements; ambiguous if temporary surfaces meet fire or health requirements.	Confirm any paving deferral with Planning and the Fire Authority; see § 17.86.100 and development standards.

Plain‑English Summary

If you build or change a use in unincorporated Shasta County you must provide the number of off‑street parking and loading spaces the county's zoning table requires, submit an approved parking plan, and pave parking areas when five or more spaces are required; detailed counts and rules are in Chapter 17.86. § 17.86.140, § 17.86.130, § 17.86.100.

Source References

Shasta County Zoning Code — Chapter 17.86, Off‑Street Parking and Loading Regulations (purpose, when required, location, joint use, compact spaces, front‑yard rules, surfacing, controlled access, loading, parking plan, schedule, EV charging): § 17.86.010 – § 17.86.145.
Shasta County zoning district chapters cited for district purposes and references to parking: § 17.16.010–.030 (OS), § 17.26.010–.030 (R‑R), § 17.44.010 (C‑2), § 17.46.010–.020 (C‑O), § 17.56.050 (M‑L).
ADU reference called out in parking schedule: § 17.88.132 (Accessory Dwelling Unit).
Short‑term rentals parking requirement reference: § 17.88.230 (short‑term rentals — parking per Chapter 17.86).
Landscaping requirements applicable to parking areas: § 17.84.040 (landscaping of parking areas and street‑fronting lots).
For accessibility and technical layout of accessible parking, consult the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and local building department — zoning defers technical stall dimensions/markings to building/accessibility code. Not a zoning text: Not found in retrieved materials for detailed ADA parking layout in zoning.

Sources

Retrieved passages

Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.04.080) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.04.060) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.04.080) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.04.060) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Chapter 17.86) High relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Chapter 17.86.) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (Chapter 17.86.) Medium relevance
Shasta County Zoning Code (§ 5.04.060) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Shasta County code library

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic off‑street parking requirements for a single‑family home in unincorporated Shasta County?

A single‑family or two‑family residence must provide 2 parking spaces per dwelling unit; count and layout must follow Chapter 17.86 and any applicable district standards. § 17.86.140.

Do I need to submit a parking plan and when?

Yes. All required parking must be installed and maintained per an approved parking plan; the parking plan must be submitted to and approved by the Director of Resource Management prior to issuance of a building permit or use permit. § 17.86.130.

Are parking lots required to be paved in Shasta County?

If your project requires five or more parking spaces, the parking area and access drives must be paved per county development standards unless a use permit or approved deferral modifies that requirement. § 17.86.100.

Can required parking be located off‑site or shared with a nearby use?

Off‑site or joint use parking is possible but strictly controlled: joint use requires a use permit, a recorded agreement showing availability, and (for some commercial/industrial situations) limits such as distance and operating‑hour compatibility. See § 17.86.050 and § 17.86.040.

What does the code require for loading zones and delivery access?

Buildings with floor area ≥ 10,000 sq ft that are hospitals, institutional, commercial or industrial must provide at least one off‑street loading space plus additional loading for every additional 20,000 sq ft; loading spaces must be at least 12 ft wide × 30 ft long, and covered spaces must be min 15 ft high. Loading spaces must have adequate maneuvering area and may not be within 50 ft of a residential lot unless enclosed. § 17.86.120.

How does the county treat tandem and compact parking?

Tandem parking generally counts as one required space (except in mobilehome parks or when a use permit allows a different treatment). Compact stalls are allowed up to the percentage limits the code prescribes based on total stall count (e.g., 15%–40% bands). § 17.86.090; § 17.86.060.

Are there special parking rules for short‑term rentals or bed & breakfast facilities?

Yes. Short‑term rentals must provide at least one off‑street parking space per approved bedroom, and bed & breakfast facilities must provide off‑street parking as specified in Chapter 17.86; short‑term rental parking must be located on the property and comply with Chapter 17.86. § 17.88.230; § 17.88.225; § 17.86.140.

Does the zoning code set dimensions and signage for accessible (ADA) parking spaces?

Zoning provides parking counts and layout requirements, but detailed accessible parking dimensions, signage, and marking are technical accessibility/building code matters and are governed by the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and the local building authority. Zoning does not supply the technical spec. Not found in retrieved materials in the zoning code for the technical ADA dimensions; consult Title 24 and the Building Department.

Where do I find the numeric parking table for each use?

The countywide parking schedule (numbers by use) is in Chapter 17.86, specifically § 17.86.140 (Off‑street parking standards / parking schedule).

Are EV charging stations covered in the zoning code?

Yes. The code includes provisions addressing electric vehicle charging stations; see § 17.86.145 for the county's zoning provisions on EV charging.

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