Long Beach Parking Requirements for New Developments
In Long Beach, California new development projects must comply with municipal parking requirements early in design and entitlement. This guide explains how to calculate required off-street parking spaces under the city zoning and parking rules, what exceptions or reductions may apply, how to document calculations for plan check, and where to submit applications. It is written for developers, architects, and project managers working on residential, commercial, and mixed-use proposals in Long Beach and summarizes typical formulas, adjustment mechanisms, and administrative steps to reduce delays at plan review.
How to calculate required parking
Start with the applicable zoning district and the municipal code schedule for minimum off-street parking by land use. Typical inputs include unit counts for residential projects, gross floor area or leasable area for commercial uses, and special rates for hotels or medical facilities. Apply any unit- or area-based ratios, then adjust for shared parking, transit proximity, affordable housing reductions, or special permits that the city allows. Document each step on the parking worksheet you attach to plan check.
- Review zoning district and use-specific parking table during pre-design.
- Calculate base requirement: units x rate or square feet x rate.
- Apply reductions: shared parking, transit priority area credits, or affordable housing exemptions if eligible.
- Prepare a parking summary page for plan check with assumptions, calculations, and references to code sections.
- Design stalls, aisles, and accessible spaces to meet dimensional and ADA requirements shown on construction plans.
Site-specific adjustments and exceptions
Long Beach typically allows adjustments such as shared parking agreements, reductions for projects near major transit corridors, or credits for on-street improvements where the code permits. To use an adjustment you must supply empirical justification, a parking demand study, or an executed shared-parking agreement at review. If your project requests a variance or conditional use permit for lower parking, include supportive data and an operations plan showing how demand will be managed.
- Shared parking agreements require documentation of hours and uses to demonstrate noncoincident demand.
- Transit proximity credits generally require verification of service level or distance to major transit stops.
- Affordable housing exemptions or reduced rates must be claimed per program rules and recorded as required.
Penalties & Enforcement
Enforcement of parking and zoning requirements is carried out by the city's planning, building, and code enforcement units. Specific monetary fines or daily penalties for noncompliance are not specified on the cited municipal pages in this guide; see the city enforcement and municipal code pages listed in Resources for exact figures and procedures. Typical enforcement actions include stop-work orders, notice to comply, administrative fines, recording of violations, and legal actions to obtain compliance.
- Fines and monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page.
- Escalation: first offence vs repeat or continuing violations—ranges not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary sanctions: stop-work orders, notices, administrative orders, and court enforcement may apply.
- Enforcers: Planning Division, Building & Safety, and Code Enforcement handle inspections and complaints.
- Appeals: administrative appeal routes exist; specific time limits for appeals or appeals fees are not specified on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
Development and parking-related submittals typically use the city plan check and entitlement application forms provided by Long Beach Development Services. Specific form names, numbers, fees, and processing times vary by application type; if a specific parking reduction, shared parking agreement, or variance is requested, attach the relevant study and agreements. Exact form identifiers or fee amounts are not specified on the cited pages in this guide.
- Plan check / entitlement application: use Development Services submittal; form name/number not specified on the cited page.
- Fees: project-specific; see fee schedule on the city website.
- Submission: electronic plan check is generally accepted; confirm with Development Services.
FAQ
- How do I find the parking rate for my land use?
- Locate the off-street parking schedule in the Long Beach zoning code and apply the rate that matches your primary land use; when mixed uses exist, apply the code's mixed-use rules.
- Can I reduce parking for a transit-adjacent project?
- Reductions for transit proximity may be available when the project meets the city's transit priority criteria and documentation is provided.
- What happens if I build fewer spaces than required?
- The city may issue notices, fines, stop-work orders, or require mitigation; exact penalties are determined by the enforcing department.
How-To
- Identify the parcel zoning and find the off-street parking table that applies to your primary use.
- Calculate the base parking requirement using unit counts or square footage as specified.
- Evaluate eligibility for shared parking, transit credits, or affordable housing reductions and document assumptions.
- Prepare a parking summary and include plans showing stall dimensions, accessible stalls, and circulation.
- Submit the parking worksheet and supporting studies with your plan check or entitlement application to Development Services.
Key Takeaways
- Check the zoning parking schedule early to avoid redesigns.
- Document reductions with studies or agreements to support plan review.
- Contact Development Services or Code Enforcement for pre-application guidance.
Help and Support / Resources
- Long Beach Development Services (Planning & Building)
- Long Beach Municipal Code (Municode)
- Long Beach Parking Services