Rio Vista City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
48 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
§ 17.48.010 Off-street parking requirements-Schedule.
Off-street parking helps to alleviate or prevent traffic congestion and shortage of curb spaces. Off-street parking shall be provided incidental to new construction and expansion of existing buildings that add more than 500 square feet of building area.
Schedule of Off-Street Parking Requirements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Land Use | All Zones Other Than C-2 and D-W | In C-2 and D-W Zoning Districts Only* | ||
Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces | For Each Measurable Unit | Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces | For Each Measurable Unit | |
Residential | ||||
Single-family | 2 | 1 dwelling unit | 1 | 1 dwelling unit |
Multiple units: (also includes upper floor units, live/work) | ||||
Studio | 1 | 1 dwelling unit | 1 | 1 dwelling unit |
1 bedroom | 1.5 | 1 dwelling unit | 1 | 1 dwelling unit |
2 bedroom | 2 | 1 dwelling unit | 1 | 1 dwelling unit |
3 bedroom | 2 | 1 dwelling unit | 2 in C-2; 1 in D-W | 1 dwelling unit |
Plus guest | 0.25 | 1 dwelling unit | 0.25 in C-2; None in D-W | 1 dwelling unit |
Motels, Hotels and Rooming Houses | 1 | 1 sleeping unit (hotel room), plus 1 space per 3 employees | 1 | 1 sleeping unit (hotel room) in D-W; 1 sleeping unit (hotel room) plus 1 additional space for each of three employees in C-2 |
Mobilehomes | 1.5 | 1 trailer unit, plus 1 additional space per 4 units | N/A | N/A |
Industrial | ||||
Contractors Yards | 1 | business, plus 1 per company-operated vehicle and 5 employee spaces | N/A | N/A |
Warehouse, Logistics | 1 | 2,000 sq. ft., plus 1 per company-operated vehicle | N/A | N/A |
Personal Storage | 5 | business, plus loading zones at building entries | N/A | N/A |
Boat and RV Storage | 5 | business, for temporary automobile parking | N/A | N/A |
Manufacturing | 1 | 1,500 sq. ft., plus 1 per company-operated vehicle | N/A | N/A |
Research and Development | 2 | 1,000 sq. ft. | N/A | N/A |
Office | 2.5 | 1,000 sq. ft. | N/A | N/A |
Commercial | ||||
General retail (grocery, pharmacy, department store, etc.) | 1 | 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area** | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Banks | 1 | 150 sq. ft. of gross floor area** | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Professional and administrative | 1 | 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Medical and dental offices | 1 | 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Restaurants, restaurants with a cocktail lounge or bar as an accessory use, bars, coffee shops, drive-in restaurants | 1 | 3 seats | In C-2: 1; In D-W: 1 | 3 seats 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Automobile and machinery sales, garages and similar repair, furniture stores and major appliance stores | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Bowling alleys and pool halls | 3 | for each lane, 2 spaces for each billiard table | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Institutional, Educational Civic | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Hospitals, medical clinics | 2 | 1 bed (inclusive of employee and visitor parking) | 2 | 1 bed (inclusive of employee and visitor parking) |
Rest homes, sanatoriums, asylums, nursing homes, etc. | 1 | 2.5 beds | 1 | 2.5 beds |
Churches, lodges, clubs, theaters | 1 | 3 seats in auditorium, plus 1 space for each 4 employees | 1 | 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Sports arenas, auditoriums, other places of assembly | 1 | 3 seats in auditorium | N/A | N/A |
Adult education | 1 | 2 students, plus 1 space per 2 teachers/employees | 1 | 2 students, 2 spaces per teachers/employees |
High schools | 1 | 6 students, plus 1 space per teacher/employee | N/A | N/A |
Notes: | |
|---|---|
* | Uses in the C-2 and D-W districts may satisfy parking obligations through on-street parking spaces located along the site's property lines and on private property. |
** | Up to 21,000 square feet and, thereafter, one space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area. Floor area used exclusively for administrative offices or storage is excluded in both calculations. |
Additional Requirements.
More Than One Use on a Site. If more than one use is located on a site, the number of parking spaces provided shall be equal to the sum of the requirements prescribed in this section for each use. Exceptions are strict day use parking (e.g., retail shopping) and evening use parking (e.g., entertainment).
Off-Street Parking Facilities to Serve One Use. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing required off-street parking facilities for any other use. Exceptions are as provided under subsection F.1 of this section.
Reduction of Off-Street Parking Facilities. No off-street parking facility shall be reduced in capacity or in area without sufficient additional capacity or additional area being provided to comply with the regulations of this title.
Required parking spaces shall be on the same lot as the main building or structure or located not more than 400 feet from the use served.
Standards for Off-Street Parking Space.
Unless otherwise specified, a parking space shall be at least nine feet wide and 20 feet long. A parking space located in a garage or carport shall be at least 10 feet wide.
Compact Space Provisions. A compact parking space shall be at least seven and one-half feet wide and 16 feet long. All compact parking spaces shall be posted as reserved for compact cars. The maximum number of compact spaces allowed shall be determined by the following table:
Total Parking Spaces Required | Maximum % Compact Spaces Allowed |
|---|---|
1—5 | 0 |
6—49 | 25% |
50—74 | 35% |
75+ | 40% |
Handicapped Parking. All multifamily and nonresidential uses are required to provide handicapped parking spaces as provided by law and in this section. Under no circumstances can a variance be obtained from this requirement. Proper signage and delineation of handicapped spaces shall conform to all Americans with Disabilities Act and state of California law and guidelines.
Access aisles adjacent to accessible spaces shall be five feet wide minimum.
Total Parking in Lot | Required Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
1 to 25 | 1 |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 8 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1000 | 2% of total |
1001 and over | 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 |
Exceptions. The number of required parking spaces may be reduced by up to a total of 50% in the following circumstances:
Parking Generation Study. If applicant provides verifiable data demonstrating that the actual parking demand for the proposed use will be less than that required by this chapter, the planning commission may reduce the off-street parking obligation by up to 50%.
Reduction Based on Parking Survey. An applicant may provide a parking survey to demonstrate that adequate on-street and/or public parking lot spaces exist to serve the use consistent with the use's Peak Parking Demand as defined in Section 17.48.010.J.5. In this circumstance the planning commission may reduce the otherwise applicable off-street parking obligation of a project by up to 50%. If the proposed site has not potential to accommodate off-street parking and the study determines adjacent parking can adequately serve the project without impacting neighboring properties, then all off-street parking requirements may be waived.
Use of Existing Building. For a proposed use within an existing building or a building expansion of less than 500 square feet, no additional off-street parking will be required.
Off-Site Parking. Up to 50% of the required parking may be developed off-site if such spaces are not more than 400 feet from the use served.
Elimination of Existing Off-Street Parking. Elimination of existing off-street parking spaces shall require a planning commission determination, based on evidence provided by the applicant, that remaining off-street parking spaces, if any, and existing on-street and/or public parking lot spaces within 400 feet of the project will be sufficient to meet anticipated parking needs of the project and the immediately surrounding uses.
The applicant will be responsible for the collection and submittal of survey or other data sufficient for the planning commission to support the proposed reduction of off-street parking obligation or elimination of existing off-street parking spaces.
Shared Parking. Public or private parking spaces may be shared by more than one use when operations are not normally conducted during the same hours, or when hours of peak use vary. Requests for the use of shared parking are subject to the approval of the planning commission and must meet the following conditions:
The applicant must satisfactorily demonstrate that substantial conflict shall not exist in the principal hours or periods of peak demand for the uses for which shared spaces are proposed.
Parking spaces designated for shared use shall not be located further than 400 feet from the use served.
The parties to a shared parking agreement must provide a copy of their written agreement that is executed by all parties concerned assuring the continued availability of the number of stalls designated for shared use.
The number of existing parking stalls which may be credited against the requirements for proposed structures or uses shall not exceed the number of stalls reasonably anticipated to be available during differing hours of peak demand.
In determining the availability of parking spaces for shared use, peak and off-peak demand shall be calculated using the following general standards, except where data submitted by the applicant clearly demonstrates a different demand schedule.
Percentage of Peak Parking Demand by Day and Time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Use | Weekday Daytime (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) | Weekday Evening (5 p.m. - midnight) | Weekend Daytime (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) | Weekend Evening (5 p.m. - midnight) |
Office/Business Service | 100% | 20% | 10% | 5% |
Restaurant: Full Service | 70 | 90 | 70 | 100 |
Restaurant | 70 | 5 | 100 | 10 |
Retail/Personal Services | 80 | 50 | 100 | 50 |
Hotel | 75 | 100 | 75 | 100 |
Marina | 20 | 10 | 100 | 20 |
Entertainment/Recreational | 40 | 100 | 80 | 100 |
(Prior code Appendix B § 510; Ord. 589 § 2, 2002; Ord. 633 § 1 (Exh. A), 2008; Ord. 010-2023, 10/3/2023; Ord. 001-2024, 2/20/2024; Ord. 021-2025, 10/21/2025)
§ 17.48.020 Off-street loading facilities.
The purpose of off-street loading facilities is to prevent traffic congestion and shortage of curb spaces, off-street loading facilities shall be provided incidental to new uses and major alterations and enlargements of existing uses. If, in the application of the requirements of this section, a fractional number is obtained, one loading berth shall be provided for a fraction of one-half or more, and no loading berth shall be required for a fraction of less than one-half.
Commercial and Industry. Commercial and industrial establishments, including retail stores, eating and drinking establishments, personal service establishments, commercial service enterprises, warehouses, storage facilities, manufacturing plants, and other industrial uses: no berths for less than 10,000 square feet gross floor area; one berth for 10,000 to 40,000 square feet gross floor area; two berths for 40,000 to 80,000 square feet gross floor area; three berths for 80,000 to 120,000 square feet gross floor area; one additional berth for each 100,000 square feet additional gross floor area.
Business. Public and private business offices, professional and administrative offices, hospitals, nursing homes, sanitariums, institutions, hotels and motels: no berths for less than 15,000 square feet gross floor area; one berth for 15,000 to 100,000 square feet gross floor area; two berths for 100,000 to 200,000 square feet gross floor area; three berths for 200,000 square feet and over.
Mortuaries. One berth for less than 5,000 square feet gross floor area plus one additional berth for each additional 10,000 square feet gross floor area.
Standards for Off-Street Loading Space. All loading spaces should be at least 12 feet in width by 45 feet in length by 14 feet in height.
Existing Uses. No existing use of land or structure shall be deemed to be nonconforming solely because of the lack of off-street loading facilities prescribed in this section, provided that facilities being used for off-street loading on the effective date of adoption shall not be reduced in capacity to less than the number of berths prescribed in this section or reduced in area to less than the minimum standards prescribed in this section.
Requirements for off-street loading facilities may be waived by the planning commission for new uses proposed entirely within an existing building or where the expansion of an existing building is less than 500 square feet. Such a waiver must be supported by a planning commission determination of the following:
(Prior code Appendix B § 511; Ord. 010-2023, 10/3/2023; Ord. 001-2024, 2/20/2024; Ord. 021-2025, 10/21/2025)