17.72.030 Required parking spaces | San Luis Obispo Municipal Code

17.72.030 Required parking spaces.

A. Minimum Number of Spaces Required Outside of Downtown Core. Each land use shall be provided at least the number of on-site parking spaces stated in this section and Table 3-4: Parking Requirements by Use.

Table 3-4: Parking Requirements by Use
Type of Land Use	Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Accessory Structure	No requirement
Animal Husbandry and Grazing	No requirement
Community Garden	No spaces required when on-street parking is available immediately adjacent to the garden. If no on-street parking is available, then a minimum of two spaces.
Crop Production	No requirement
Greenhouse/Plant Nursery, Commercial	No requirement
INDUSTRY, MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING, WHOLESALING
Fuel Dealer (propane, etc.)	1 space per 1,000 sf of outdoor sales/storage area
Laboratory—Medical, Analytical, Research, Testing	1 space per 1,000 sf of combined laboratory and office space
Manufacturing—Heavy	1 space per 1,000 sf of manufacturing space, plus any required spaces for dedicated office area
Manufacturing—Light	1 space per 1,000 sf, plus any required spaces for dedicated office area
Recycling
Recycling—Collection Facility	None required
Recycling—Processing Facility	As provided in approved use permit
Research and Development	1 space per 1,000 sf of combined assembly/fabrication space (indoor and outdoor) and office space
Salvage and Wrecking	1 space per 500 sf of office space, plus 1 space per 0.5 acre of gross outdoor use area
Warehousing, Storage, and Distribution
Outdoor Storage	1 space per 1,500 sf of outdoor storage area
Personal Storage	1 space per 6,000 sf of combined storage space and business/sales office
Warehousing and Indoor Storage	1 space per 1,500 sf of combined storage area and office space
Wholesaling and Distribution	1 space per 1,000 sf of combined storage area and office space
LODGING
Bed and Breakfast Inn	1 space per room
Homeless Shelter	2 spaces for the facility plus one space for each six occupants at maximum allowed occupancy
Hostel	1 space per lodging room
Hotels and Motels	1 space per room, plus any spaces required for conference/meeting facilities and restaurants open to the public
RV Parks	As provided in approved use permit
PUBLIC AND ASSEMBLY USES
Cultural Institutions	Live Theater: 1 space per 100 sf; all other uses 1 space per 400 sf of public assembly area
Hospitals and Clinics
Clinic	1 space per 200 sf
Hospital	1 space per bed
Park and Recreation Facilities	4 spaces per acre of park space and 1 space per 200 sf indoor recreational facilities
Public Assembly Facilities	1 space per 100 sf
Religious Assembly Facilities	1 space per 100 sf in largest assembly room
Schools—Colleges	2 spaces per classroom plus 1 space per 300 sf of assembly or common area
Schools—Primary and Middle	2 spaces per classroom plus 1 space per 300 sf of assembly or common area
Schools—Secondary, High School	5 spaces per classroom plus 1 space per 300 sf of assembly or common area
Schools—Trade Schools	2 spaces per classroom plus 1 space per 300 sf of assembly or common area
Sports and Entertainment Assembly Facility	As provided in approved use permit
RESIDENTIAL USES
General Residential Housing Types
Single-Unit Dwellings, Detached	2 parking spaces for the first 4 bedrooms, 0.75 space per each additional bedroom (no requirement for accessory dwelling units), plus 1 guest parking space per 5 units in a tract development
Multi-Unit Residential	0.75 space per bedroom (no less than 1 space per dwelling unit), plus 1 guest parking space per 5 units
Boarding House	1 space per 1.5 occupants or 1.5 spaces per bedroom, whichever is greater
Caretaker quarters	Two spaces per dwelling
Continuing Care Community	Same as dwelling type, plus 1 space for every two employees providing on-site services to residents
Elderly and Long-Term Care	2 spaces for the owner-manager plus 1 for every 5 beds and 1 for each nonresident employee
Family Day Care—Small	None in addition to what is required for the residential use
Family Day Care—Large	Same as dwelling type, plus 1 space for every two employees providing day care services
Fraternities and Sororities	1 space per 1.5 occupants or 1.5 spaces per bedroom, whichever is greater
Hospice In-Patient Facility	Same as dwelling type, plus 1 space for every two employees providing on-site services to residents
High-Occupancy Residential Use	The parking requirement shall be greater of: (1) the number of spaces required for dwellings, or (2) 1 off-street parking space per adult occupant, less 1
Mobile Home Park	1.25 spaces per unit: one space to be with each unit
Residential Care Facilities—6 or fewer residents	None in addition to what is required for the residential use
Residential Care Facilities—7 or more residents	2 spaces for the owner-manager plus 1 for every 5 beds and 1 for each nonresident employee
Supportive and/or Transitional Housing, with On- or Off-Site Services	Same as dwelling type, plus 1 space for every two employees providing on-site services to residents
MIXED USES
Mixed-Use Development	As required for each separate use in the mixed-use development
COMMERCIAL USES
Adult Entertainment Businesses	As required for the primary type of use (for example, retail sales or assembly)
Animal Care, Sales and Services
Animal Boarding/Kennels	1 space per 1,000 sf of indoor area
Animal Grooming	1 space per 250 sf
Animal Retail Sales	1 space per 250 sf
Veterinary Services, Large Animal	1 space per 500 sf of indoor area
Veterinary Services, Small Animal	1 space per 300 sf of indoor area
Banks and Financial Institutions
ATMs	No requirement
Banks and Credit Unions	1 space per 300 sf
Check Cashing Shops/Payday Loans	1 space per 300 sf
Business Services	1 space per 300 sf
Cemetery	1 space per 4 acres
Commercial Recreation—Large Scale	1 space per 200 sf of indoor space, 1 space per 500 sf of outdoor space
Commercial Recreation—Small Scale	1 space per 200 sf of indoor space, 1 space per 500 sf of outdoor space
Day Care Center	1 space per 500 sf of indoor space
Eating and Drinking Establishments
Bars, Nightclubs, and Taverns	1 space per 100 sf, including any food preparation/service and entertainment areas
Restaurant	1 space per 100 sf of total restaurant area, including any food preparation/service area
Food and Beverage Sales
General Market	1 space per 250 sf
Convenience Store	1 space per 250 sf
Produce Stand	1 space per 300 sf gross floor area
Liquor Store	1 space per 250 sf
Food Preparation	1 space per 1,500 sf
Funeral Parlors and Interment Services	1 space per four fixed seats or 1 space per 80 sf assembly area, whichever is greater
Instructional Services	1 space per 200 sf
Maintenance and Repair Services	1 space per 600 sf, plus 1 space for each fleet vehicle
Offices
Business and Professional Offices	1 space per 300 sf
Medical and Dental Offices	1 space per 200 sf
Personal Services	1 space per 300 sf
Retail Sales
Building Materials and Services—Indoor	1 space per 1,000 sf of indoor space
Building Materials and Services—Outdoor	1 space per 1,500 sf of outdoor space
General Retail	1 space per 300 sf
Large-Scale Retail	1 space per 250 sf
Nurseries and Garden Centers	1 space per 500 sf of floor area, plus 1 space per 2,000 sf of outdoor display area
Theaters	1 space per 100 sf
Vehicle Sales and Services
Auto and Vehicle Sales and Rental	1 space per 300 square feet office area, plus 1 space per 500 square feet parts sales service area, plus 1 space per 2,000 square feet outdoor sales area
Large Vehicle, Construction and Heavy Equipment Sales, Service, and Rental	1 space per 500 sf of floor area, plus 1 space per 2,000 outdoor sales area
Service/Fueling Stations	No parking required for fueling operations. See “convenience store” or “vehicle services” if applicable
Vehicle Services—Major Repair/Body Work	1 space per 500 sf of non-service bay floor area and 2 spaces per service bay
Vehicle Services—Minor Repair/Maintenance	1 space per 500 sf of non-service bay floor area and 2 spaces per service bay
Vehicle Services—Washing	1 space plus sufficient waiting line(s) or 2 spaces plus washing area(s)
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND UTILITIES
Airport	To be determined when use permit is approved
Wireless Telecommunications Facilities	No requirement
Freight/Truck Terminals	1 space per 1,500 sf of indoor space
Light Fleet-Based Services	1 space per 1,000 sf of indoor space, plus any required spaces for dedicated office area and 1 space for each fleet vehicle
Media Production
Backlots and Soundstages	As provided in approved use permit
Broadcast Studios	1 space per 300 sf
Heliport	As provided in approved use permit
Parking Facility	No requirement
Public Safety Facilities	1 space per 500 square feet gross floor area
Transit Station or Terminal	1 space per 300 sf office/waiting area plus 1 space per 1,000 sf house/garage area
Utilities Facilities
Facilities with On-Site Staff	1 space per 1,500 sf of indoor area
Facilities with No On-Site Staff (unmanned)	No requirement
Transmission Lines	No requirement

B. Elderly Housing Parking. Housing occupied exclusively by persons aged sixty-two or older may provide one-half space per dwelling unit or one space per four occupants of a group quarters.

C. Minimum Number of Spaces Required in the C-N Zone. Within the neighborhood-commercial (C-N) zone, the following parking standards shall apply for the specific land uses identified below:

1. Eating and drinking establishments and food and beverage sales shall provide one-half that required in Table 3-4: Parking Requirements by Use. Parking space reductions permitted by Section 17.72.050(B) (Shared Parking Reductions) shall not be applicable in conjunction with this provision, as the reduced parking rates established here are intended to provide flexibility in meeting parking requirements and rely on the consolidation of parking; however, Section 17.72.050(C) (Other Parking Reductions) may apply.

D. Minimum Number of Spaces Required in Downtown Core. Within the downtown-commercial (C-D) zone, the following parking standards and incentives shall apply:

1. Parking space reductions permitted by Section 17.72.050(B) (Shared Parking Reductions) shall not be applicable in the downtown parking district, as the reduced parking rates established here are intended to provide flexibility in meeting parking requirements and rely on the consolidation of parking; however, Section 17.72.050(C) (Other Parking Reductions) may apply.

2. Eating and drinking establishments, theaters, cultural institutions, public assembly facilities, and religious assembly facilities: One-half that required in Table 3-4: Parking Requirements by Use; provided, however, that in no case shall the requirement exceed one space per three hundred fifty square feet of gross floor area.

3. Residential uses, hotels and motels, and bed and breakfast inns: One-half that required in Table 3-4: Parking Requirements by Use.

4. All other uses: One space per five hundred square feet gross floor area.

5. For existing buildings, only the parking needed for additions thereto or for changes in occupancy which increase parking requirements relative to prior uses shall be required.

6. Options to Comply. The parking space requirement may be met by:

a. Providing the required spaces on the site occupied by the use.

b. The director may, by approving a director’s action (Chapter 17.108: Director’s Action), allow some or all of the parking to be located on a site different from the use and within the downtown parking district area. Such off-site parking shall not be located within a residential zone. It shall be within reasonable walking distance and no greater than five hundred feet of the use, and shall not be separated from the use by any feature that would make pedestrian access inconvenient or hazardous. The site on which the parking is located shall be owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the party controlling the use.

c. Participating in a commonly held and maintained off-site parking lot where other businesses maintain their required spaces.

d. Participating in a parking district that provides parking spaces through a fee or assessment program.

e. Participating in an in-lieu fee program as may be established by the council. Any parking agreement approved prior to adoption of the parking standards contained in subsections (D)(1) through (D)(3) of this section may be adjusted to conform with those standards, subject to approval by the director and city attorney. (Ord. 1705 §§ 30—32, 2021; Ord. 1657 §§ 11—14, 2019; Ord. 1650 § 3 (Exh. B), 2018)