Vernon City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
56 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING FACILITIES
§ 17.56.010 Interpretation.
The provisions of this chapter establish minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare, and shall not be deemed or construed to prohibit the City Council, in granting or approving a Conditional Use Permit, Variance, or Development Agreement from requiring additional parking or loading facilities for a particular use.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-1)
§ 17.56.020 Consideration of fractional remainders.
Where calculation of the number of spaces required results in a fractional number, any fraction shall be rounded to the next higher whole number.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-2)
§ 17.56.030 Parking in buildings.
Where required parking or loading space computations are based on floor area, floor space devoted to parking or loading within a building shall not be included in the floor area portion of the computation.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-3)
§ 17.56.040 Multiple uses.
In the case of mixed uses in a building or on a lot, the total required number of off-street parking and loading spaces and maneuvering capacity shall be the sum of the requirements for the various uses.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-4)
§ 17.56.050 No loss of minimum required space or maneuvering capacity.
Existing parking, maneuvering, and loading facilities on a lot or parcel may not be reduced or removed below the required minimum (or below the now existing number of spaces or maneuvering capacity, if the existing number of spaces or maneuvering capacity is below the required minimum) unless substitute spaces or maneuvering capacity are provided.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-5)
§ 17.56.060 Parking, maneuvering, and loading development standards.
A.
General.
1.
Parking, maneuvering, and loading capacities for any building shall comply with the minimum standards set forth in this chapter, except that existing parking, maneuvering, and loading capacities are not required to be brought into compliance with these standards until the occurrence of an event described in Table 17.64.040 Right to Continue Nonconforming Uses and Buildings.
2.
If a use requires a Conditional Use Permit, the Director shall recommend the minimum number of parking spaces and the minimum loading and maneuvering requirements for the requested use during the Conditional Use Permit process, based on the information and analysis provided as part of the Conditional Use Permit application process. The Director shall notify the City Council of the recommendation. With the concurrence of the City Council, the Director of Public Works, Water, and Development Services shall utilize the recommended minimum parking and loading and maneuvering requirements as the standard for that and similar uses. Such determination of required number of parking spaces and loading and maneuvering requirements shall be recorded as specified in Chapter 17.12, Administration and Enforcement.
3.
If a use requires a Minor Conditional Use Permit, the Director shall approve and develop the standard for the minimum number of parking spaces and the minimum loading and maneuvering requirements for the requested use during the Minor Conditional Use Permit process, based on the information and analysis provided as part of the Minor Conditional Use Permit application process. Such determination of required number of parking spaces and loading and maneuvering requirements shall be recorded as specified in Chapter 17.12, Administration and Enforcement.
B.
Minimum Automobile Parking Requirements. Adequate off-street parking, loading, and maneuvering space shall be provided for each use or development on a lot, or for each building on a lot, to accommodate all automobiles or similar vehicles of the employees, consultants, agents, buyers, vendors, salespeople, visitors, and other persons normally transacting business at such enterprise or building. Table 17.56.060(B) Minimum Number of Required Automobile Parking Spaces, sets forth the minimum number of required automobile parking spaces. If more than one land use is located on a site, including ancillary or incidental uses, the number of required off-street parking spaces shall be equal to the sum of all required parking spaces prescribed for each individual permitted use.
Table 17.56.060(B) Minimum Number of Required Automobile Parking Spaces1 | |
|---|---|
Use Type | Required Spaces |
Industrial Use, Industrial Gas Manufacturing, and Recycling Facility (including floor area used for ancillary uses) | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher electric vehicle (EV) charger. |
Commercial Uses | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Incidental Uses | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of floor area of incidental use. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Data Centers | 1 space per 7,500 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Emergency Shelter | 1 space for each 5 beds plus 2 additional spaces. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Health Clubs (gyms) | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Religious Uses | 1 space for each 3 fixed seats, or where no fixed seats are provided, 1 space for every 35 gross sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Residential Uses | Parking determined pursuant to Development Agreement, but no less than 1 space for each unit. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Restaurant (take out) | 8 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Restaurant (sit down) | 1 space per 100 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Retail (less than 25,000 sq. ft.) and Multiple Tenant Retail | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Retail (25,000 sq. ft. or greater) - Single Tenant Only | 1 space per 250 sq. ft. for the first 25,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area and then 1 space per each additional 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Studios (dance, etc.) | 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Trade Schools | 1 space per 50 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Truck Terminals and Freight Terminals | Parking shall be provided as determined by a parking study prepared for the specific use. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Warehouse Use, General | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Warehouse Use, Cold Storage | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area for the first 50,000 sq. ft., and 1 space per 5,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area above 50,000 sq. ft. For new building construction, 6% of required parking spaces, rounded up to the nearest whole number, shall be equipped with a Level 2 or higher EV charger. |
Note: | |
|---|---|
1 | Through the Conditional Use Permit and Minor Conditional Use Permit processes, the City may require additional parking for a specific use or application. |
C.
Minimum Truck Loading Requirements. All buildings and uses, except for commercial uses, retail uses, residential uses, and emergency shelters, shall provide adequate off-street loading spaces and areas to accommodate trucks being loaded, unloaded, or waiting to be loaded or unloaded in accordance with the following standards. Truck loading spaces in excess of the required number may be counted as required parking spaces. Table 17.56.060(C) Minimum Required Truck Loading Spaces, sets forth the minimum truck loading spaces.
Table 17.56.060(C) Minimum Required Truck Loading Spaces | |
|---|---|
Use Type | Required Spaces |
Industrial Use, Warehouse Use, Industrial Gas Manufacturing (including floor area used for ancillary and incidental uses) | 1 space per 10,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Cold Storage Warehouses | 1 space per 7,500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Data Centers | 1 space per data center |
Commercial Use and Retail Use | Loading shall be provided as determined by a parking study prepared for the specific use |
D.
Minimum Truck Parking Requirements. All buildings and uses, except for commercial uses, retail uses, residential uses, and emergency shelters, shall provide adequate parking spaces for all trucks, regardless of size. Table 17.56.060(D) Minimum Required Truck Parking Spaces, sets forth the minimum number of required truck parking spaces.
Table 17.56.060(D) Minimum Required Truck Parking Spaces | |
|---|---|
Use Type | Required Spaces |
Industrial Use, Cold Storage Warehouses, Warehouse Use, Industrial Gas Manufacturing (including floor area used for ancillary and incidental uses) | 1 space per 25,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area for the first 100,000 sq. ft. and 1 space per 100,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area above 100,000 sq. ft. |
E.
Location. Required parking facilities may be located on the lot as the use or occupancy for which the parking is being provided or may be provided on a separate lot. If provided on a separate lot, a covenant shall be recorded restricting all or a portion of the use of the separate lot to parking use for the benefit of the use requiring the parking, and evidence shall be filed with the City of Vernon assuring the required number of spaces on such parcel have been set aside and will be maintained for parking purposes in connection with the particular use or occupancy requiring the parking so long as such use or occupancy exists. The main entrance of the parking facility located on a separate lot shall be 1,500 feet, measured along the street from the property line of the lot on which the parking is located to the front door of the building in which the principal use of the lot is conducted.
F.
Parking Requirement for Spaces for the Disabled. The determination of the required number of parking spaces for use by the disabled shall be based on the greater of: (1) the minimum number of required automobile parking spaces, as set forth in Table 17.56.060(B) Minimum Number of Required Automobile Parking Spaces; or (2) the actual number of parking spaces provided (including both on the lot and parking spaces located off the lot that are provided for the business). All parking spaces for the disabled shall be located on the same lot as the use or occupancy for which the parking is provided, and the number of spaces required and the dimensions thereof shall be provided as required by State law.
G.
Size. The minimum size of all parking and loading spaces shall be as set forth in Table 17.56.060(G) Parking and Loading Space Minimum Dimensions. Any automobile parking stall adjoining a building or ancillary structure shall be provided with two additional feet of width.
Table 17.56.060(G) Parking and Loading Space Minimum Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Width | Length | Minimum Vertical Clearance | |
Automobile Parking Space | 8.5 ft. | 19 ft. | 7 ft. |
Truck Parking Space | 10 ft. | 75 ft. | 15 ft. |
Truck Loading Space | 10 ft. | 75 ft. | 15 ft. |
For Any Stand-Alone Parking or Truck Loading Space (not adjacent to another space) | 15 ft. | 75 ft. | 15 ft. |
H.
Truck Maneuvering Space. Unobstructed truck maneuvering space shall be 50 feet, as illustrated by Figure 17.56.060H Truck Maneuvering Space.
 Figure 17.56.060H Truck Maneuvering Space |
I.
Loading Equipment. Loading equipment may extend into the 15-foot vertical clearance area described in subsection H, "Truck Maneuvering Space," when required by specialized loading operations, if the Director determines such intrusion will not be contrary to the intent of this chapter and approves such intrusion.
J.
Parking Lot Dimensions. Minimum dimensions for required automobile parking shall be as indicated in Table 17.56.060(J) Parking Lot Dimensions. Parallel parking stalls located adjacent to a maneuvering or access aisle shall have minimum dimensions of eight and one-half feet wide by 25 feet long.
Table 17.56.060(J) Parking Lot Dimensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Angle (Degrees) | Stall Width (Measured Perpendicularly) | Aisle Width (One Way) | Aisle Width (Two-Way) |
45 | 20 ft. | 15 ft. | 20 ft. |
60 | 21 ft. | 21 ft. | 21 ft. |
90 | 19 ft. | 27 ft. | 27 ft. |
K.
Access. Easily accessible and adequate ingress and egress shall be provided to all parking and loading facilities. Sufficient driveways, maneuvering, and turn-around areas shall be provided on the lot to allow for safe and unobstructed front entry onto the lot. All vehicles, including trucks, using the parking or loading facilities shall enter or leave the street in a front forward manner without backing onto the street or backing into the lot. A minimum of 50 feet of unobstructed maneuvering space shall be maintained for all required truck parking and loading spaces, as shown in Figure 17.56.060H Truck Maneuvering Space. No maneuvering of vehicles from a parking or loading stall shall occur within 20 feet of a driveway opening, as measured perpendicular to the driveway width, as shown in Figure 17.56.060K Narrowing of Drive Aisle. An aisle shall not be narrowed at a rate greater than 2 to 1 to achieve a minimum width as shown in Figure 17.56.060K Narrowing of Drive Aisle. Minimum required aisle widths shall be as indicated in Table 17.56.060(K) Parking Aisle Dimensions.
 Figure 17.56.060K Parking Aisle Dimensions |
Table 17.56.060(K) Parking Aisle Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
Width | Height | |
One-way aisle | 15 ft. | 15 ft. |
Two-way aisle | 20 ft. | 15 ft. |
L.
Curb Cuts. No curb cut for a driveway or aisle or any portion providing vehicular access to the lot shall be permitted within any portion of any curb return, nor within 75 feet of the point of tangency of any curb return for a driveway used by trucks, nor within 45 feet of the point of tangency of any curb return for a driveway used exclusively by automobiles, as shown in Figure 17.56.060L Curb Cut Locations.
 Figure 17.56.060L Curb Cut Locations |
M.
Driveway Entrance. The minimum driveway entrance width for truck access shall be 40 feet, and the minimum driveway entrance width for automobile access shall be 25 feet. All driveways shall be constructed in accordance with City standards.
N.
Markings. All required parking and loading spaces and facilities shall be clearly and adequately marked with permanent durable and easily distinguishable materials. All one-way drives, entrances, and exits shall be clearly and permanently marked. Such signs and markings shall be maintained and shall be visible to drivers of vehicles using the parking facility.
O.
Paving. All parking and loading facilities shall be paved with asphalt or concrete and shall provide for adequate drainage. Drainage to the street shall be treated in compliance with the City's discharge and treatment requirements prior to being released to the street or storm drain system.
P.
Maintenance. All parking and loading areas shall be kept clean and free of debris, dust, mud, and trash. Parking areas shall be used only for the purpose of parking vehicles. Where landscaping is provided within or along any parking area, such areas shall be maintained and provided with permanent underground, automated irrigation systems. Striping, marking, direction signs, lighting, screening and all other improvements required by this chapter shall be adequately maintained.
Q.
Reduction in Required Parking Spaces. The required number of off-street parking spaces may be reduced by outdoor storage and activities if a parking demand study, prepared by a California-licensed traffic engineer or other qualified professional, is completed specific to the project site and the permitted use, and further provided that the study finds that the project site has excess parking spaces beyond the permitted use's need; such study must be approved by the Director. Where required off-street parking is reduced to allow for outdoor storage and activities, outdoor storage and activities shall only occupy surplus off-street parking in the amount indicated by the parking demand study, and only so long as the actual parking need for the permitted use as identified in the parking study continues to be met. No buildings or structures shall be constructed in the approved outdoor storage and activities areas that are replacing required off-street parking spaces. Any approved parking reduction shall apply only to the specific permitted use located on the property and analyzed in the parking demand study. Any subsequent or new use or tenant on the subject property shall not be permitted to utilize the area dedicated to outdoor storage and activities unless a new and project-specific parking demand study is prepared as stipulated in this subsection, and approved by the Director.
(Prior code § 26.5.1-6; Ord. 1300, 5/7/2024)