Local zoning · Yucaipa

Yucaipa — Parking

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

Last reviewed: June 30, 2026

Overview

Yucaipa’s Development Code sets citywide, use-based minimums for off-street parking and loading, plus objective design/layout standards for stalls, aisles, surfacing, lighting, and screening. Core rules live in Chapter 6 “Parking Regulations,” with additional parking standards inside district chapters for multiple residential neighborhoods and the RM-24 high-density district, plus special provisions for SB 9 two‑unit/lot‑split projects and state density-bonus housing. See the city’s Yucaipa Development Standards for how these parking rules integrate with other site standards.

What controls — chapters and scope

Citywide off-street parking and loading requirements, site layout, and design: Chapter 6, including location and applicability (87.0601), stall and aisle dimensions/operations (87.0605), loading and separation/surfacing/ADA ratios (87.0610), and use-based ratios for commercial, educational, industrial, and residential uses (87.0615–87.0630)
Multiple Residential (all RM districts except RM‑24): parking and guest parking standards (88.0205) and related site design guidance (88.0225)
High Density Multiple Residential (RM‑24): tailored parking and guest parking (88.01305), with district purpose/location (88.01301) and design guidance (88.01345–88.01350)
SB 9 two‑unit/urban lot split: unit parking and placement rules (88.01715)
State density bonus parking caps for qualifying affordable housing (83.010730)

Citywide parking design and operations (applies to all uses)

Location: Required off‑street spaces must be on the same site, a contiguous site, or in another approved location; right‑of‑way area cannot count .
Stall dimensions: Standard spaces minimum 9 ft x 19 ft; up to 25% compact allowed for multi‑residential/commercial/industrial/institutional uses if expressly authorized; compact stall 7.5 ft x 15 ft; mark compact spaces “Compact Cars Only” .
Maneuvering and circulation: Internal circulation must not require entering a street to move between on‑site locations; exit to streets must be forward; minimum aisle widths: one‑way aisles 12–24 ft depending on angle, two‑way aisles 24 ft; driveways limited in number per City Engineer; no “head‑in” where no curb/gutter and access is unrestricted; stripe stalls; directional arrows required; lighting must shield glare from streets/residences .
Surfacing: Paving minimum 2 inches AC or plant‑mix; truck yards/vehicle storage may use dustproofed slag/crushed rock equivalents .
Screening and edge controls: Nonresidential parking abutting residential must be separated by a 6‑ft solid fence/masonry wall (4 ft within the adjacent front yard depth) and install a minimum 6‑inch curb/barrier where a lot edge abuts a street and no wall is built .
Signs at entries/exits are limited to small “parking/entrance/exit” notices (≤6 sq ft, ≤5 ft tall) with specified content only .
ADA/accessible parking: Ratios and stall dimensions are listed, and the City code directs compliance with the California Building Standards Code for design/identification; see the California Building Standards Code for technical specifications (City ratios and placement rules remain in effect) .

Quick-reference standards (selected highlights)

Standard	Minimum/Rule	Notes
Standard stall	9 ft x 19 ft	Applies to all uses unless compact authorized
Compact stall (if authorized)	7.5 ft x 15 ft	Up to 25% of required stalls; sign “Compact Cars Only”
One‑way aisle	12–24 ft	Varies by stall angle; e.g., 45° needs 14 ft; 90° needs 24 ft
Two‑way aisle	24 ft	Applies to aisles and two‑way access drives
Surface	≥2 in AC	Per Engineering specs; dustproof allowed for certain yards
Nonres. next to residential	6‑ft wall; 4‑ft in front yard depth	Plus curb/barrier at street edge where no wall
ADA spaces	Ratio table; special dims	See state technical standards; City includes ratio/placement
Loading space	10 ft x 20 ft x 14 ft high	1 per 5,000 sf floor area; max 4; shared by CUP possible

Use-based minimum off-street parking

Yucaipa’s minimums are tied to use type and apply citywide unless a district sets stricter standards.

Residential (all dwellings): 2 spaces per dwelling unit; located behind the front setback; tandem prohibited except in mountain areas .
Commercial/business: General business/office typically 1 space per 250 sf floor area (min 4 per use); sector‑specific ratios (e.g., restaurants by seats and floor area) apply; see table below for examples .
Educational: K–9: 1 space per staff/faculty/employee; 10–12 and colleges/universities: add student-based ratios; special/trade schools: 1 per 3 students plus staff/faculty/employee .
Industrial: 1 per employee on largest shift or 1 per 1,000 sf (whichever greater) plus 1 per company vehicle .

Common ratios by use (selected)

Use	Minimum parking	Notes
Dwellings (incl. multi-dwellings)	2 per dwelling unit	Behind front setback; tandem prohibited (except mountain areas)
General business/retail	1 per 250 sf	Min 4 per use
Offices/banks/professional	1 per 250 sf	Min 4 per use
Medical offices/clinics/vet	5 per doctor/dentist	—
Restaurants/nightclubs/taverns	1 per 3 seats + 1 per 50 sf of placeable seating area; min 10	24 in of bench = 1 seat
Churches	1 per 4 fixed seats or per 25 sf of seating area	24 in of pew = 1 seat
Theaters/auditoria/arenas	1 per 4 seats or per 24 sf of seating area	—
Hotels/motels	1 per guest room	Applies regardless of district
Child care centers	1 per employee/teacher + 1 per 5 children	—
Industrial/warehousing	1 per employee on largest shift or 1/1,000 sf, greater + 1 per fleet vehicle	—

Loading areas

Minimum required: 1 loading space per 5,000 sf floor area for institutional, commercial, industrial, or special uses abutting a street or alley; no more than 4 required per use. Each loading space must be 10 ft wide x 20 ft long x 14 ft clear height. A CUP may allow adjoining uses to share loading areas .

District-by-district notes (where Yucaipa sets different residential standards)

Multiple Residential — RM (all RM districts except RM‑24)

Purpose/where it applies: Quality multi‑unit residential design throughout RM districts citywide, except RM‑24 which has its own chapter .
Typical uses: Multi‑family housing.
Key parking standards:
- The RM districts require per‑unit garage/carport parking: 2 garage spaces for 2‑bed+ units; 2 covered/garage spaces for 1‑bed units; additional open parking for 4‑bed (2 spaces) and 2–3‑bed (1 space) in small‑lot/condo projects; guest parking at 1 per 2 units; tandem not allowed; on‑street parking cannot satisfy minimums unless approved by Planning Commission/City Council .
- Parking distribution and on‑site landscaping for lots >4 spaces are required (planter pockets/diamonds, shading) .
Cross-standards: Citywide stall/aisle/surfacing rules also apply (see above) .

High Density Multiple Residential — RM‑24

Purpose/where it applies: Implements high‑quality, potentially affordable multi‑family housing on sites established as RM‑24, including within the Freeway Corridor Specific Plan; minimum 5 gross acres; administrative review applies .
Typical uses: High‑density multi‑family.
Key parking standards:
- Studios: 1.5 spaces; 1–2 bedrooms: 2 spaces; 3+ bedrooms: 2.5 spaces; at least 50% of required covered/garage spaces must be fully enclosed garages; all spaces minimum 10 ft x 20 ft; guest parking at 1 per 2 units; no tandem; on‑street parking may not satisfy minimums unless a major variance is granted .
- Supplemental design guidance encourages screening of parking from street view and balanced visitor parking distribution .

SB 9 two‑unit and urban lot split development (citywide overlay by statute)

Purpose/where it applies: State law streamlined two‑unit/lot‑split projects; Yucaipa’s objective standards govern parking placement.
Key parking standards: 1 space per duplex unit, unless within ½ mile of a high‑quality transit corridor or major transit stop, or a car‑share vehicle is within one block; no parking within the front setback; rear parking must use the alley where one exists; rear‑unit parking areas must be screened to at least 30 inches at maturity .

Park (P) District

Purpose/where it applies: Citywide Park zoning.
Parking relevance: Publicly owned parking areas are a permitted use in the P district, subject to district development standards and citywide parking design rules .

Special housing provisions that modify parking

State density bonus projects: When a housing development qualifies under 83.010715, the city may not require more than the specified ratios (e.g., studios/1‑bed: 1 space; 2‑bed: 1.5; 3‑bed: 1.5; 4‑bed: 2.5), with deeper reductions down to 0–0.5 spaces per unit for certain affordable/transit/senior/special‑needs projects. Onsite parking can be tandem or uncovered, but not on‑street, for the purpose of meeting these caps .
Single‑Room Occupancy (SRO): Must provide off‑street parking consistent with 87.0630(d) and must also provide secure bicycle parking; the Code does not otherwise establish a citywide bicycle parking requirement outside specific contexts .

Bicycle parking

Citywide bicycle parking standards: Not found in retrieved materials.
SRO projects: Secure bicycle parking is required in addition to vehicle parking per the SRO section referenced above .

Overlay districts or area plans that alter parking

Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction and see Yucaipa Overlay Districts.

Practical cross-refs

Landscape screening and shading for multi‑family lots with >4 spaces are set in 88.0225; broader citywide screening between nonresidential parking and residential is in 87.0610. Coordinate with Yucaipa Landscaping and Screening for planting details .
Design/appearance of projects that include parking may be subject to Yucaipa Design Review depending on application type.
If you need relief from a numeric standard (e.g., RM‑24 on‑street parking prohibition), see Yucaipa Variances and Exceptions.
For general zoning context see Yucaipa Zoning and Yucaipa Land Use.

Checklist

Confirm use category and apply the corresponding minimum ratio from 87.0615–87.0630; for multi‑unit housing in RM or RM‑24, apply the stricter district chapter ratios (88.0205 or 88.01305) .
Site parking on the same or approved contiguous/alternative site; do not count right‑of‑way .
Meet stall/aisle geometry; label compact spaces if authorized; stripe and add directional arrows; ensure forward egress and internal circulation without entering the street .
Provide required loading spaces with compliant dimensions if applicable; explore shared loading via CUP if appropriate .
Surface with AC/plant‑mix (or dustproof where allowed); shield lighting from streets/residences; limit driveway access points per Engineering standards .
Install required screening/walls where nonresidential parking abuts residential; add curbs/barriers at street edges without walls .
For RM/RM‑24 projects, provide guest parking and no tandem; confirm on‑street parking cannot count unless specifically approved (RM) or by major variance (RM‑24) .
For SB 9, supply 1 space per unit unless transit/car‑share exemptions apply; keep parking out of front setback; use alley for rear parking when present; screen rear‑unit parking to 30 in min at maturity .
If a qualifying affordable/density‑bonus housing project, apply the capped ratios in 83.010730 (tandem/uncovered allowed for this purpose) .
Post only allowed small parking entrance/exit notices if used .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Use classification fit	Ratios vary sharply by use; misclassification could under/over‑park	Confirm the use category against 87.0615–87.0630 with Planning; mixed‑use must sum each use’s requirement .
Tandem parking	Prohibited in most contexts (except mountain areas and density‑bonus allowances)	Whether your site is in a “mountain area” and if any policy memo defines it; otherwise, avoid tandem for minimum counts .
On‑street parking credit	Generally not allowed to satisfy required off‑street minimums in RM and RM‑24	Whether Planning will consider a case‑by‑case approval (RM) or a major variance (RM‑24) for on‑street credit .
ADA stall counts/layout	City lists ratios and references state standards; miscounts trigger redesign	Final count/layout per ADA/Title 24; coordinate early with Building on technical specs while keeping within zoning envelope .
Bicycle parking	Only SROs explicitly require secure bicycle parking in zoning code	Whether any area plan/overlay or city policy adds broader bike parking rules; Not found in retrieved materials .
SB 9 transit exceptions	Parking can be reduced to zero in transit/car‑share contexts	What qualifies as a “high‑quality transit corridor/major transit stop” and proximity; verify with the jurisdiction .

Plain-English Summary

Yucaipa’s rules tell you how many off‑street parking spaces to build for your use and how to lay them out. Most homes need two spaces on the lot behind the front setback, businesses usually need one space per 250 square feet, and big assembly uses scale by seats. Multi‑family sites in RM and RM‑24 have their own per‑unit and guest parking rules, with no tandem spaces and limited use of on‑street spaces. All sites must meet the city’s stall sizes, aisle widths, surfacing, lighting, and screening requirements, and some housing projects can use state parking reductions. When in doubt, ask Planning to confirm your use category and any district‑specific standard that applies.

Source References

87.0601 (Off‑street parking location; applicability) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0605 (Minimum design standards: stalls, aisles, circulation, lighting/striping) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0610 (Parking/loading: loading space count/dimensions; surfacing; screening; ADA ratios; signage) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0615 (Business and commercial parking ratios) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0620 (Educational uses parking ratios) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0625 (Industrial parking ratios) — Yucaipa Development Code
87.0630 (Residential parking standards) — Yucaipa Development Code
88.0205 (Parking in Multiple Residential — RM districts) — Yucaipa Development Code
88.0225 (Landscaping of multi‑family parking lots) — Yucaipa Development Code
88.01301, 88.01305, 88.01345–88.01350 (RM‑24 purpose/location; RM‑24 parking; design guidance) — Yucaipa Development Code
88.01715 (SB 9 duplex/lot‑split parking and placement) — Yucaipa Development Code
83.010730 (State density‑bonus parking caps and special reductions) — Yucaipa Development Code
84.0375 (Park (P) District permitted uses — includes public parking areas) — Yucaipa Development Code
City Development Code host (AmLegal): https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/

Sources

Retrieved passages

Yucaipa Zoning Code High relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (§ 12) High relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (Chapter 2-71) High relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (Section 66452.6) Medium relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (§ 24) Medium relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code Medium relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (§ 8) High relevance
CBC § 8 (Section 87.0630) Medium relevance
Yucaipa Zoning Code (Section 50052.5) Medium relevance
CRC § 307 Medium relevance
CMC § 106 Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Yucaipa code library

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces does a new restaurant need in Yucaipa?

Restaurants must provide one space for every three seats plus one space for each 50 square feet of floor area where seats may be placed, with a minimum of 10 spaces; 24 inches of bench = one seat. Be sure to add the citywide layout standards for stall size and aisles to your plan .

Can on-street parking count toward my minimum in a multi-family project?

Generally no. In RM projects, on‑street spaces do not satisfy minimums unless the Planning Commission/City Council allows it; in RM‑24, on‑street spaces only count if a major variance is granted. Guest parking is required at one per two units and tandem stalls are not allowed in these districts .

Are compact parking spaces allowed?

Yes, but only if specifically authorized via Land Use Compliance Review or CUP, and then only up to 25% of required stalls for multi‑residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional uses. Compact spaces must be at least 7.5 ft by 15 ft and posted “Compact Cars Only” .

What aisle widths and stall sizes should I design for?

Standard stalls are at least 9 ft by 19 ft. One‑way aisles range from 12–24 ft depending on stall angle (e.g., 45° needs 14 ft), and two‑way aisles must be at least 24 ft. Mark aisles with directional arrows and stripe all stalls; lighting must avoid glare onto streets and residences .

What are the loading space requirements for my commercial building?

Provide one 10 ft x 20 ft x 14 ft high loading space per 5,000 square feet of floor area, up to four spaces. Adjoining uses may share loading via a Conditional Use Permit where appropriate .

Do single-family homes need tandem parking, and can it be in front?

Detached dwellings require two off‑street spaces per unit behind the front setback; tandem is prohibited except in mountain areas. Head‑in parking is not allowed where curbs/gutters do not exist and access is not restricted by barriers .

How does SB 9 affect parking for a duplex or lot split?

Each unit requires one space unless the parcel is within ½ mile of high‑quality transit/major transit stop or has a car‑share vehicle within one block. Parking may not be placed in the front setback; rear lot parking should use an alley if present and must be screened to 30 inches at maturity .

Are there citywide bicycle parking requirements?

Not citywide. The zoning code specifically requires secure bicycle parking for SRO projects; broader bicycle parking standards were not found in the retrieved materials. Verify if any overlay or policy applies to your site .

Can affordable housing use lower parking ratios?

Yes. If your project qualifies under the city’s density bonus provisions, the City cannot require more than the capped ratios (e.g., 1.0 for studios/1‑bed; 1.5 for 2–3‑bed), with even lower ratios (0–0.5) for certain deeply affordable or senior/special‑needs projects near transit. On‑street parking cannot be used to meet these caps; tandem/uncovered are allowed for this purpose .

Do I need walls or landscaping by residential neighbors?

Nonresidential lots next to residential must include a solid fence or masonry wall 6 ft high (4 ft within the front yard depth on the residential side) and curbs/barriers along street edges without a wall. Multi‑family parking lots with more than four spaces must also include tree/shrub “pockets” and shading per the RM landscape standards .

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