Local zoning · Tuolumne County

Tuolumne County — Parking

Q: Can I use an off‑site lot to meet required parking for my business?

Yes — private off‑site lots can be used if they are within 300 feet of the use, or further if a valet/jitney service is provided and the Director determines the service meets the Chapter requirements. Off‑site arrangements must be memorialized in an off‑site parking agreement — see § 17.30.100 .

Q: What size should parking stalls and accessible spaces be?

Full perpendicular stalls must be 9' x 20' , small car stalls 8' x 16' ; accessible/handicapped spaces must comply with State Accessibility Standards (Title 24). See the design standards in § 17.30.090.B,G .

Q: Are compact (small‑car) stalls allowed?

If a development requires more than ten parking spaces, up to 50% of the stalls may be small car spaces; projects requiring fewer than ten spaces must provide full‑size stalls — see § 17.30.090.A–B .

Q: What about transit shelters — do I have to provide anything?

Projects over 10 dwelling units or 40,000 sq ft nonresidential must sign and record an agreement to provide easement/foundation/bench/electrical capacity to accommodate a transit waiting shelter within 100 ft of at least one building — see § 17.30.130 .

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

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) requires for off‑street parking, loading, bicycle parking, and related site rules in the county’s unincorporated areas. It synthesizes the parking schedule and construction/design standards that apply to new development, expansions, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), historic districts, and special Tuolumne downtown parking rules. All legal requirements below are drawn from Title 17 of the Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance; see the Source References for exact sections. For background on where parking fits into overall regulation see the Tuolumne County Zoning overview and the county’s Development Standards. parking requirements are enforced at plan check and again at occupancy.

What the code requires (top-line rules)

Off‑street parking is required for new construction, increases in capacity, and changes of use that raise parking demand — see § 17.30.020 .
The required number of spaces is taken from the parking schedule (Table 17.30.01) and related special tables; unlisted uses are handled by the Director using those tables as a guide—see § 17.30.030 and Table 17.30.01 .
Bicycle parking minimums apply in addition to motor vehicle spaces for qualifying projects (multi‑unit ≥10 units; nonresidential ≥10,000 sq ft) — see § 17.30.120 .
Design, dimensions, and construction standards for parking areas (space size, small‑car allocation, accessible spaces, planting strips, lighting, drainage, vehicle barriers, and tandem employee parking) are set out in the design standards—see § 17.30.090 (and subparts) .
Historic and downtown (Tuolumne) exceptions: Historic Design Preservation (HDP) District parcels and the Tuolumne Parking & Alleyway Study area are treated differently (shopping‑center ratio, in‑lieu/offsite options, one‑time credits) — see § 17.30.050, § 17.30.140, and § 17.20.020 .
ADU parking: the county does not require additional off‑street parking in many ADU situations; there are caps on how much new parking the county may require (and allowed tandem/driveway parking rules) — see § 17.36.050.M .
Accessibility: Number and design of disabled spaces must meet State Accessibility Standards (Title 24) — see § 17.30.090.G and refer to the California Building Standards Code.

For design review or site plan questions that affect parking layout and appearance see the county’s Design Review rules; for overlays and special district rules that change parking requirements see Overlay Districts and Tuolumne County Historic Preservation. Landscaping and screening requirements that apply to parking are in the county’s Landscaping and Screening guidance.

District-by-district (how parking rules behave across common Tuolumne zones)

Note: Title 17 is the County Zoning Ordinance for unincorporated areas; specific lists of permitted uses live in each district chapter (Article 2). Where the code makes parking adjustments by district, the controlling sections are cited below. If a district-specific parking ratio is not found in the retrieved materials, that gap is noted.

Residential Districts — R-1, R-2, R-3

Purpose & typical uses: single‑family and multi‑family housing; specific use lists are in Chapter 17.12 (not fully reproduced here). Parking basics: the general parking schedule applies; special reduced minimums apply for medium/high density residential projects within 0.25 mile of a transit stop — see § 17.30.040 (Table 17.30.02) for the per‑unit rates (studio = 1; one‑bed = 1; two–three bedrooms = 1.5; visitor = .25) . For small‑lot subdivisions, the small‑lot standards require 1 space for studios/one‑bed and 2 spaces for two‑bed+; required parking must be off‑street (small‑lot rules are in § 17.25.060.G) . ADU parking rules (see § 17.36.050.M) place limits on required new spaces for ADUs on the same lot—see that section for details .

Mixed-Use and MU

Purpose & typical uses: mixed residential + commercial uses (see 17.14/Article 2). Parking for mixed‑use parcels is computed as the sum of each use, but the review authority may reduce required parking by up to 20% to incentivize mixed‑use development (mixed‑use reduction) — see § 17.30.060 . Small‑lot and other site design flexibility provisions may allow shared parking or tandem arrangements; verify with the Director.

Commercial — C‑1, C‑O, other commercial zones

Purpose & typical uses: retail, office, service businesses (see Chapter 17.14). The parking schedule and the shopping‑center classification apply; in Tuolumne’s downtown/HDP area, commercially zoned parcels are treated as “shopping center” and required at 1 parking space per 250 sq ft gross floor area — see § 17.30.050 and § 17.30.140 . Off‑site parking, in‑lieu fees, or parking credits may be used where a parcel cannot physically accommodate required spaces—see § 17.20.020 for Historic Combining District rules and § 17.30.100/140 for off‑site/in‑lieu mechanics .

Industrial — I and related districts

Purpose & typical uses: manufacturing, wholesale, research. The parking schedule lists higher ratios for many industrial uses (e.g., manufacturing uses often use 2 per 3 employees or 4 per 1,000 sq ft, general industrial 3 per 1,000 sq ft) — see Table 17.30.01 and the mapping language in § 17.30.030; unlisted or ambiguous industrial uses are resolved by the Director using the table as a guide .

Special purpose & Combining districts (H historic, HDP)

Historic Combining (H) and Historic Design Preservation (HDP) rules can modify parking, setbacks, and landscaping for parcels that meet historic criteria. Commercial parcels in an HDP are treated as shopping‑center parking (1/250 sq ft); the Director can approve off‑site parking or accept in‑lieu fees when onsite parking is not physically feasible — see § 17.20.020.C and § 17.30.050 .

Key numeric standards (decision‑relevant table)

Requirement	What the code says	Code reference
General rule: off‑street parking required for new/expanded uses	Off‑street parking required for motor vehicles when building erected/increased or change of use increases parking demand	§ 17.30.020
Parking schedule (per‑use ratios)	Use‑by‑use table (Table 17.30.01) controls; Director handles unlisted uses	§ 17.30.030 & Table 17.30.01
Medium/high residential near transit	Per‑unit minima (studio =1; 1BR=1; 2–3BR=1.5; Visitor=.25)	§ 17.30.040 (Table 17.30.02)
Historic HDP (commercial)	Treat commercially zoned parcels as “shopping center”: 1 space / 250 sq ft	§ 17.30.050
Bicycle parking minimums	Multi‑unit ≥10 units: 1 / 8 dwelling units. Nonresidential ≥10,000 sq ft: 1 / 2,500 sq ft	§ 17.30.120
Parking space sizes	Full perpendicular: 9' x 20'. Small car: 8' x 16'. Handicapped per State (Title 24).	§ 17.30.090.B & G
Small‑car allocation	If > 10 spaces required, up to 50% may be small‑car spaces	§ 17.30.090.A
Perimeter planting strip (non‑SFD)	Minimum 3 ft planting strip along public street edges (except driveways/walkways)	§ 17.30.090.F
Vehicle barrier	Parking areas > 5 ft above adjacent grade require vehicle barrier (6,000 lb horizontal load spec)	§ 17.30.090.I
Fractional spaces	0.5 or more rounds up to 1 full space	§ 17.30.080
Off‑site private parking (use as required parking)	May be used if within 300 ft or further with valet/jitney & Director approval; must be documented in off‑site parking agreement	§ 17.30.100
Tuolumne in‑lieu / credit program	In‑lieu fee option for nonresidential parking; 20% credit if fee paid; one‑time 3‑space credit for parcels in Tuolumne area (non‑R‑1)	§ 17.30.140 / in‑lieu program provisions
Transit waiting shelters	Projects >10 units or >40,000 sq ft nonresidential must record agreement/easement to accommodate transit shelter within 100 ft	§ 17.30.130

Practical guidance and interpretation notes

Use Table 17.30.01 to compute base parking; if your specific use is not plainly listed, the Community Development Director will treat it similar to a listed use and may ask for a parking study — see § 17.30.030 and related Director provisions .
The County allows some flexibility to encourage compact development: mixed‑use projects can get up to a 20% reduction in required spaces (§ 17.30.060) .
In downtown Tuolumne and designated historic areas the code intentionally permits off‑site parking, in‑lieu fees, and credits — developers should discuss the Tuolumne Parking & Alleyway Study boundary and in‑lieu fee mechanics early with staff (§ 17.30.140, § 17.30.050) .
Bicycle parking design (visibility, distance to entrance, secure device) is prescriptive — plan bike racks near visible entrances and sign the location per § 17.30.120 .

Checklist (what an applicant must provide)

Calculate motor vehicle parking requirement from Table 17.30.01 and related special tables (historic, shopping center, mixed‑use) § 17.30.030 .
Provide bicycle parking per § 17.30.120 (if project triggers it) and show rack type & location on the site plan .
Show parking stall sizes and aisle geometry meeting § 17.30.090 (9'×20' full size; small‑car rules; accessible spaces per Title 24) .
Demonstrate perimeter planting, drainage, lighting (dark‑sky sensitive), and vehicle barriers as required § 17.30.090.F,I .
If using off‑site parking, include an off‑site parking agreement and verify distance/valet arrangements per § 17.30.100 .
If in Tuolumne’s downtown/HDP area, confirm applicability of shopping‑center ratio, in‑lieu fee, and any one‑time credits § 17.30.050 / § 17.30.140 / § 17.20.020 .
For ADUs, document how parking rules in § 17.36.050.M apply (no additional parking in many ADU situations; limits on added spaces) .
If the use isn’t listed or you seek a reduction (mixed‑use credit, small‑lot deviations, tandem employee parking, or other exceptions), include justification and request under Director or Commission review per the applicable procedural chapters (see Chapters 17.06, 17.98) — Director discretion language is in several sections .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Unlisted or novel use parking ratio	The Director must interpret similarity to listed uses; could lead to higher or lower required spaces	Verify Director’s prior interpretations and be prepared to submit a parking study; cite § 17.30.030
Applicability of downtown/HDP rules	HDP classification can change required onsite/off‑site obligations and allow in‑lieu fees	Confirm whether parcel lies in an HDP or Tuolumne Parking Study boundary and discuss in‑lieu options with staff (§ 17.20.020, § 17.30.050, § 17.30.140)
ADU parking exceptions	State ADU law interacts with local code; Title 17 has specific ADU parking language but some situations are site‑specific	Verify how § 17.36.050.M applies to your parcel and whether garage demolition or conversion affects required spaces
Small‑lot / small‑car allocations	Small‑lot and compact car allowances can change layout feasibility	Confirm small‑lot deviations under § 17.25.060.G and the 50% small‑car allowance under § 17.30.090.A
Accessibility (ADA / Title 24)	County defers to State Accessibility Standards for disabled spaces — federal/state compliance is mandatory	Confirm accessible stall count/layout with plan reviewer and Title 24 requirements (§ 17.30.090.G)
Off‑site parking distance and valet programs	Using remote lots or valet requires Director acceptance and a binding agreement	Provide detailed valet/jitney operations and signed off‑site parking agreement per § 17.30.100

Where code text was not present in the retrieved materials, the “What to verify” row calls that out and suggests verifying with staff.

Plain‑English summary

If you’re building or changing a use in unincorporated Tuolumne County, Title 17 generally requires you to provide off‑street parking in amounts from the county’s parking tables, to add bicycle parking for larger projects, and to follow the County’s dimensional and landscape rules for parking areas — several targeted exceptions exist for ADUs, historic downtown parcels, and mixed‑use projects, but you must document and often get Director or Commission approval for alternatives. Key code locations: Ch. 17.30 Off‑Street Parking, ADU rules in § 17.36.050.M, and historic/combing district rules in § 17.20.020 .

Source References

Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance — Title 17 (Tuolumne County Uniform Zoning Ordinance) (Chapters and sections referenced below are in that document) .
§ 17.30.020 (Required: when parking applies) .
§ 17.30.030 and Table 17.30.01 (Amount of parking required / parking schedule) .
§ 17.30.040 (Medium/high residential parking within 1/4 mile of transit; Table 17.30.02) .
§ 17.30.050 (HDP commercial parking = 1 per 250 sq ft) .
§ 17.30.060 (Mixed‑use parking aggregation & up to 20% reduction) .
§ 17.30.070 (Transfer of uses — parking cannot be reallocated without meeting original user needs) .
§ 17.30.080 (Fractional spaces rule) .
§ 17.30.090 (Design and construction standards: dimensions, small‑car policy, planting strips, lighting, drainage, handicapped, tandem parking, vehicle barriers) .
§ 17.30.100 (Off‑site private parking within 300 ft; valet/jitney exceptions; off‑site agreement) .
§ 17.30.110 (Approval required for reduction in parking size or number) .
§ 17.30.120 (Bicycle parking rules and design standards) .
§ 17.30.130 (Transit waiting shelter easement/agreement for larger projects) .
§ 17.30.140 (Tuolumne Parking Standards / In‑Lieu program references for downtown) .
§ 17.36.050.M (Accessory Dwelling Units — parking rules) .
§ 17.25.060.G (Small‑lot subdivision parking standards) .
§ 17.20.020 (Historic Combining District: criteria and parking/modification allowances) .
Director discretion, interpretation, and handling of unlisted uses are discussed across Article 1 and relevant use tables — see Chapters 17.06 and 17.30 (interpretation language and Director role) .

(If you want, I can extract the relevant rows from Table 17.30.01 for your specific proposed use and show exact required spaces for your parcel — provide the use, size (sq ft) or number of units, and whether the parcel lies in the Tuolumne Parking Study/HDP area. Verify all parcel‑specific questions with Community Development staff: the Director’s interpretations and map determinations are controlling.)

Sources

Retrieved passages

CBC § 070 (Title 24) High relevance
Tuolumne County Zoning Code (Chapter shall) High relevance
CFC § 040 (Chapter 17.30) High relevance
Tuolumne County Zoning Code (Section 3.40.045) High relevance
CBC § 167 (Title 24) Medium relevance
Tuolumne County Zoning Code (Chapter shall) Medium relevance
Tuolumne County Zoning Code (ARTICLE 3) Medium relevance
Tuolumne County Zoning Code Medium relevance

Cited sections

Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance — Title 17 (Tuolumne County Uniform Zoning Ordinance) (Chapters and sections referenced below are in that document) . (Title 17)
**§ 17.30.020** (Required: when parking applies) . (§ 17.30.020)
**§ 17.30.030** and Table 17.30.01 (Amount of parking required / parking schedule) . (§ 17.30.030)
**§ 17.30.040** (Medium/high residential parking within 1/4 mile of transit; Table 17.30.02) . (§ 17.30.040)
**§ 17.30.050** (HDP commercial parking = 1 per 250 sq ft) . (§ 17.30.050)
**§ 17.30.060** (Mixed‑use parking aggregation & up to 20% reduction) . (§ 17.30.060)
**§ 17.30.070** (Transfer of uses — parking cannot be reallocated without meeting original user needs) . (§ 17.30.070)
**§ 17.30.080** (Fractional spaces rule) . (§ 17.30.080)
**§ 17.30.090** (Design and construction standards: dimensions, small‑car policy, planting strips, lighting, drainage, handicapped, tandem parking, vehicle barriers) . (§ 17.30.090)
**§ 17.30.100** (Off‑site private parking within 300 ft; valet/jitney exceptions; off‑site agreement) . (§ 17.30.100)
**§ 17.30.110** (Approval required for reduction in parking size or number) . (§ 17.30.110)
**§ 17.30.120** (Bicycle parking rules and design standards) . (§ 17.30.120)
**§ 17.30.130** (Transit waiting shelter easement/agreement for larger projects) . (§ 17.30.130)
**§ 17.30.140** (Tuolumne Parking Standards / In‑Lieu program references for downtown) . (§ 17.30.140)
**§ 17.36.050.M** (Accessory Dwelling Units — parking rules) . (§ 17.36.050.M)
**§ 17.25.060.G** (Small‑lot subdivision parking standards) . (§ 17.25.060.G)
**§ 17.20.020** (Historic Combining District: criteria and parking/modification allowances) . (§ 17.20.020)
Director discretion, interpretation, and handling of unlisted uses are discussed across Article 1 and relevant use tables — see Chapters 17.06 and 17.30 (interpretation language and Director role) . (Article 1)
TuolumneCounty_ZoningCode.md

Frequently asked questions

What is the basic off‑street parking requirement for new development in unincorporated Tuolumne County?

All new buildings, any increase in building capacity, or any change of use that raises parking demand must provide off‑street parking per the County parking schedule (Table 17.30.01). The general requirement is stated in § 17.30.020 and the schedule is in § 17.30.030 .

How many bicycle parking spaces do I have to provide for a commercial building?

Bicycle parking is required in addition to motor vehicle spaces if your nonresidential project is 10,000 sq ft or larger — the rate is 1 bicycle space per 2,500 sq ft. Design/location standards (visibility, max 80 ft to entrance, signage) are in § 17.30.120 .

Do ADUs in Tuolumne County trigger additional parking requirements?

Title 17 includes ADU parking rules: in many cases the County will not require additional off‑street parking when an ADU is included with an application creating a new single‑family or multi‑family dwelling; additional parking is capped and tandem/driveway parking may be allowed subject to County approval — see § 17.36.050.M . Verify with staff for your parcel.

Can I use an off‑site lot to meet required parking for my business?

Yes — private off‑site lots can be used if they are within 300 feet of the use, or further if a valet/jitney service is provided and the Director determines the service meets the Chapter requirements. Off‑site arrangements must be memorialized in an off‑site parking agreement — see § 17.30.100 .

What size should parking stalls and accessible spaces be?

Full perpendicular stalls must be 9' x 20', small car stalls 8' x 16'; accessible/handicapped spaces must comply with State Accessibility Standards (Title 24). See the design standards in § 17.30.090.B,G .

My project is in Tuolumne’s historic downtown — do different rules apply?

Yes. Commercial parcels inside a designated Historic Design Preservation (HDP) District are treated as shopping centers and typically must provide parking at 1 space per 250 sq ft of gross floor area; the Director can allow off‑site parking or accept in‑lieu fees where onsite parking is infeasible — see § 17.30.050 and § 17.20.020 .

Can mixed‑use projects get a reduction in required parking?

Yes. The County may reduce the combined parking requirement on mixed‑use parcels by up to 20% to encourage mixed‑use development, per § 17.30.060 .

Are compact (small‑car) stalls allowed?

If a development requires more than ten parking spaces, up to 50% of the stalls may be small car spaces; projects requiring fewer than ten spaces must provide full‑size stalls — see § 17.30.090.A–B .

Is there a Tuolumne in‑lieu parking program?

Yes — for qualifying nonresidential projects the County offers an in‑lieu fee option that funds community parking facilities and may provide a 20% credit for projects that pay the fee; details are in the Tuolumne parking standards and Title 3 fee chapters — see § 17.30.140 and the in‑lieu program language .

What about transit shelters — do I have to provide anything?

Projects over 10 dwelling units or 40,000 sq ft nonresidential must sign and record an agreement to provide easement/foundation/bench/electrical capacity to accommodate a transit waiting shelter within 100 ft of at least one building — see § 17.30.130 .

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