What are the residential parking requirements in Los Angeles?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What the code requires · What it means in each city
The short answer
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§12.21 A.4
Two per house, one to two per apartment
In the City of Los Angeles, a house needs two parking spaces. An apartment needs one space if it has fewer than three habitable rooms, 1.5 at three, and two above three. LAMC §12.21 A.4(a). Within half a mile of a major transit stop anywhere in LA County, Gov. Code §65863.2 removes the minimum.
Have a lot in LA County? Send us the address and we'll tell you what it holds.
What the code requires
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01
Where the spaces go
In RA, RE, RS, R1, RU, RZ, RMP and RW zones, required spaces must sit in a private garage. In R2, at least one space per unit must. LAMC §12.21 A.4(a).
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02
Trading cars for bikes
A residential building can swap 10 percent of required car spaces for bicycle parking, or 15 percent within 1,500 feet of a major transit stop. LAMC §12.21 A.4.
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03
Near transit, no minimum
No city can impose a parking minimum within half a mile of a major transit stop. Gov. Code §65863.2(a). More in AB 2097 in Los Angeles.
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04
ADUs
An ADU can be asked for one space at most, per unit or per bedroom, whichever is less. Garage spaces lost to an ADU need not be replaced. Gov. Code §66314(d)(10)(A), (d)(11). See garage conversion ADUs.
What it means in each city
Example: four two-bedroom units away from transit. Approximate.
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01
Hawthorne
Two spaces per two- or three-bedroom unit, plus one guest space per four units. About 9 spaces. HMC §17.10f.020.B. More on building in Hawthorne.
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02
Torrance
Two spaces per two-bedroom unit, 1.5 in garages, plus one visitor space per five units. About 9 spaces. TMC §93.2.3. More on Torrance.
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03
Redondo Beach
Two spaces per two-bedroom unit, one enclosed, plus two visitor spaces on a lot 50 feet or wider. About 10 spaces. RBMC §10-2.1704(a)(2). More on Redondo Beach.
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04
Lawndale
In R-3, two covered spaces per unit plus half a guest space per unit. About 10 spaces. LMC §17.48.180. More on Lawndale.
This is a summary of state law and local codes, not legal advice. Confirm the current code and the transit map for your site. Related: density bonus in Los Angeles.
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