Menifee Zoning Code Ch. 9.215 Parking and Loading Standards

Contents:

9.215.010 Purpose

9.215.020 Applicability

9.215.030 Application Requirements

9.215.040 Development Standards

9.215.050 Parking Requirements for Uses Not Specified

9.215.060 Request for Modifications from Parking Layout Requirements

9.215.070 Alternative Programs for Parking

9.215.080 Parking Lot Landscape

9.215.090 Special Review of Parking - Mixed Use

9.215.100 Electric/Alternative Fuel Vehicle Parking Requirement

9.215.110 Recreational Vehicle Parking

The purpose of this chapter is to provide sufficient off-street parking and loading spaces for all land uses in Menifee and to ensure the provision and maintenance of safe, adequate and well-designed off-street parking facilities. It is the intent of this section that the number of required parking and loading spaces will meet the needs created by the particular uses. The standards for parking facilities are also intended to reduce street congestion and traffic hazards and to promote vehicular and pedestrian safety and efficient land use.

Off-street vehicle parking shall be provided in accordance with this section when the associated building or structure is constructed or the use is established. Additional off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with this section when an existing building is altered or dwelling units, Apartments or guest rooms are added, or a use is intensified by the addition of floor space or seating capacity, or there is a change of use.

1. The provisions of this chapter apply to off-street parking, designed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, shall be provided for:

2. All newly constructed buildings

3. Additions to existing buildings

4. Any change of use within an existing building

5. All required parking shall be made permanently available and be permanently maintained for parking purposes.

6. When calculating the required number of parking spaces, if the calculation results in a fractional parking space, the required number of parking spaces shall always be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

A plot plan, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 9.80 of this Title, shall be filed for approval of all off-street parking facilities, except for one- and two-family residences, unless the off-street parking facilities are approved as a part of a plot plan, conditional use permit or public use permit approval.

In the case of mixed land uses, the total number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately unless shared parking is approved.

The following Table 9.215.040-1, Parking Requirements, is designed to allow calculation of parking spaces required for the uses shown.

Table 9.215.040-1 Parking Requirements

1. Conditions and Exceptions. The following are conditions and exceptions to the requirements of Table 9.215.040-1, Parking Requirements.

2. Existing, permitted, non-residential uses on lots less than 6,500 square feet are exempt from the parking requirements.

3. Up to 2,500 square feet of floor area of non-residential uses in existing vertical mixed-use buildings are exempt from the parking requirements.

4. No minimum requirement for residential or mixed-use reuse of listed historic structures.

5. Multi-family and mixed-use guest parking. Guest parking spaces shall be distributed throughout multi-family development sites and the residential portion of the mixed-use development in a manner that allows an ease of use between the guest space and the location of the residential units. Guest spaces shall be marked as such and shall remain available for visitors to the property. In mixed use projects, these spaces are not to be used as additional parking for permanent residents or count towards required commercial parking within a mixed commercial/residential development.

6. Unless otherwise specified, all required parking must be within 600 feet of the use it serves, unless an alternative distance is approved by the Community Development Director. Parking must be on the same parcel as the use or on an adjoining appropriately zoned parcel.

7. Parking spaces that are not required may be located more than 600 feet from the use served, on the same parcel as the use or on an adjoining appropriately zoned parcel.

8. All vehicle storage (stacking) spaces shall be located off-street. A driveway for stacking leading to a drive-up window shall be designed so as not to interfere with the free or orderly circulation of the parking area. See Section 9.240.090 Drive-Through and Drive-In Facilities for stacking space dimensions.

9. Commercial parking stalls shall be screened with a combination of walls and landscaping. An alternative screening structure/device may be approved by the approval authority.

10. Residential parking requirements set forth in this Chapter shall be provided within a parking structure or enclosed one- and two-car garages, except that for multiple family residences, condominiums, planned residential developments and senior citizen planned residential developments, at least one of the required parking spaces per unit shall be located in a garage or carport. Parking spaces shall be assigned to each individual unit. Individual one- and two-car garages shall maintain a minimum clear parking area of not less than 10 feet by 20 feet for a one-car garage and not less than 20 feet by 20 feet for a two-car garage. No storage cabinets, areas designated for trash cans or recyclable containers, or mechanical equipment, including but not limited to, water heaters, utility sinks or washers and dryers, shall encroach into the required parking area.

11. The total number of required parking spaces may be reduced by the amount necessary to accommodate electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), if the EVCS and associated equipment interferes with, reduces, eliminates, or in any way impacts the required parking spaces for existing uses (for additional EVCS provisions, see Section 9.215.100 Electric/Alternative Fuel Vehicle Parking).

12. Layout Design Standards.

13. Location of Parking Areas

14. No parking space shall be located within 3 feet of any property line.

15. No parking space on a driveway providing direct access to a street shall be located closer than 30 feet from the property line at the right-of-way.

16. Parking Space Specifications.

17. The location and dimensions of parking spaces and aisles adjacent to parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with Table 9.215.040-2, Dimensions of Parking Spaces and Aisles.

Table 9.215.040-2 Dimensions of Parking Spaces and Aisles

1. 2. The width of driveways for one-family and two-family dwellings shall be 12 feet, and 24 feet for all other multifamily and non-residential uses, and shall comply with applicable fire access requirements in accordance with the California Fire Code or as otherwise modified by the approval authority. All driveways located within a road right-of-way shall be approved by the City Engineer. Where parallel parking is allowed, the minimum width shall be increased by 8 feet for parking on one side and by 16 feet for parking on both sides.

2. Stub streets in excess of 150 feet shall have a minimum 45-foot radius turnaround at the end, or as otherwise approved by the Riverside County Fire Department/Cal Fire.

3. Off-Street Parking Area Striping

4. If five or more parking spaces are provided, each space shall be clearly marked with white paint or other easily distinguishable material.

5. If ten or more parking spaces are provided and one-way aisles are used, directional signs or arrows painted on the surface shall be used to properly direct traffic.

6. Drainage

7. All parking areas, including driveways, shall be graded to prevent ponding and to minimize drainage runoff from entering adjoining properties.

8. Curbs, Bumpers, Wheel Stops or Similar Devices

9. Public parking areas shall be equipped with permanent curbs, bumpers, wheel stops or similar devices so that parked vehicles do not overhang required walkways, planters or landscaped areas.

10. If the method used is designed to stop the wheel rather than the bumper of the vehicle, the stopping edge shall be placed no closer than 2 feet from the edge of any required walkway, planter or landscaped area, or from any building.

11. The innermost 2 feet of each parking space, between the wheel stop or other barrier, and any required planter or walkway, may either be paved or be planted with low ground cover.

12. This additional planting area is considered part of the parking space and may not be counted toward satisfying any landscaping requirement(s).

13. Lighting

14. Parking area lighting is not required. However, if parking areas are lighted, such lighting facilities shall be located to prevent lights from shining directly onto adjoining properties or streets.

15. Parking area lighting shall be of an energy-efficient type. Parking area lighting shall be consistent with Chapter 9.205, Lighting Standards and Chapter 6.01, Dark Sky Lighting Requirements of the Menifee Municipal Code.

16. Walls

17. All paved parking areas, other than those required for single-family residential uses, which adjoin property zoned residentially, shall have a 6-foot-high solid masonry wall with an anti-graffiti coating installed to preclude a view of the parking area from such adjoining property. However, any walls within 10 feet of any street or alley shall be 30 inches high.

18. Loading Space Requirements

19. On each lot used for manufacturing, storage, warehousing, goods display, a department store, a wholesale store, a market, a hotel, a hospital, a laundry, dry cleaning or other uses which involve the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials or merchandise, adequate loading space for delivery vehicle stacking and for loading activities shall be provided and maintained. The loading space and delivery vehicle stacking area shall be located and designed so as to avoid undue interference with parking, or the public use of streets and alleys.

20. Each required loading space shall be ten feet wide, twenty-five feet long, and fourteen feet of unobstructed vertical height.

21. Turning Radius. All loading areas shall be provided with an adequate turning radius. An adequate turning radius means one which will enable a vehicle to maneuver into and out of the loading area without backing onto a street or highway.

22. Screening shall be provided consistent with Chapter 9.185, Fences, walls and screening.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF LOADING SPACES

10. Parking for Persons with Disabilities

Parking spaces shall be provided for access by persons with disabilities in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 24.

11. Bicycle Parking Facilities

12. Bicycle Parking Facility Classifications. Bicycle parking facilities shall be classified as follows:

13. Class I. Covered, lockable enclosures with permanently anchored racks for bicycles.

14. Class II. Lockable bicycle rooms with permanently anchored racks, where the bicyclist supplies only a padlock.

15. Class III. Lockable, permanently anchored bicycle racks, where the bicyclist supplies a padlock and chain or cable to secure the bicycle to the stationary object, typically a cement slab or vertical metal bar.

16. Bicycle Parking Requirements.

17. Minimum Bicycle Parking Facilities. The minimum bicycle parking shall be provided per Table 9.215.040-5, Bicycle Spaces for Bicycle Parking Facility Class.

Table 9.215.040-5 Bicycle Spaces for Bicycle Parking Facility Class

1. 1. 2. Design Standards. Bicycle parking facilities shall be installed in a manner which allows adequate spacing for access to the bicycle and the locking device when the facilities are occupied. General space allowances shall include a 2-foot width and a 6-foot length per bicycle and a 5-foot-wide maneuvering space behind the bicycle. The facilities shall be located on a hard, dust-free surface, preferably asphalt or concrete.

2. Exemptions. Requests for exemptions from bicycle parking requirements shall be made in writing to the approval authority.

3. Exemptions from bicycle parking requirements shall be submitted and processed concurrently with the project application.

4. Exemptions may be granted depending upon the location of the site with respect to an urbanized area, the nature and hours of operation of the proposed use, and the accessibility of the site by bicycle at present and in the future.

(2022-351, 09/21/2022; 2024-384, 02/07/2024)

Effective on: 8/16/2025

When parking requirements for a use are not specifically stated, the parking requirement for such use shall be determined by the approval authority based on the requirement for the most comparable listed use in this article.

The approval authority may, without notice or hearing, permit modifications to the circulation and parking layout requirements where topographic or other physical conditions make it impractical to require strict compliance with these requirements and where the modification will not create a public safety impact.

1. A residential, commercial or industrial project may provide for alternative programs which reduce parking demand in return for a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required. Parking reductions can be combined for a maximum reduction of 15% of the required parking standard unless stated otherwise.

2. Alternative programs that may be considered by the approval authority under this provision include, but are not limited to, the following:

3. Private Carpool/Vanpool Operations. Office or industrial developments which guarantee preferred parking spaces to employees who participate regularly in a carpool or vanpool may have their parking requirement reduced by 2 parking spaces for every one space which is marked for a carpool or vanpool at a preferred location.

4. Mass Transit. Developments which are located within 150 feet of a mass transit facility may have their parking requirement reduced by 2% of the total number of required parking spaces.

5. Bicycle Parking. Developments which provide secured bicycle parking facilities exceeding the minimum requirement may reduce the number of required parking spaces by one vehicle space for every three additional bicycle spaces provided.

6. Shared Parking Requirements. The approval authority may, upon application by the owner or lessee of any property, authorize shared use of parking facilities under the following conditions:

7. Sufficient evidence shall be presented to the approval authority to demonstrate that no substantial conflict in the principal hours or periods of peak demand will exist between the uses or structures which propose to share parking.

8. The building or use for which an application for shared parking is being made shall be located within 300 feet of the parking area to be shared.

9. No more than 50% of the parking space requirement shall be met through shared parking.

10. Parties sharing off-street parking facilities shall provide evidence of a reciprocal parking agreement for such joint use by a proper legal instrument recorded in the office of the County Recorder with the number of copies as required and thereof filed with the City Clerk.

11. Roadway Improvements and/or Dedications. A commercial/industrial project that provides roadway improvements that exceed the improvements required by this Code and/or improvements recommended by an eligible traffic study may be eligible for up to a 5% reduction to parking required by this Chapter 9.215. Eligibility for a reduction in required parking pursuant to this Paragraph shall be determined by the Community Development Director and Public Works Director in their sole discretion.

12. Lot Consolidation. Developments involving lot consolidation and the elimination of existing legal non-conforming uses/structures/properties totaling a minimum of 5 gross acres may be eligible for up to a 5% reduction to parking required by this Chapter 9.215, provided that the adequacy of the proposed parking can be demonstrated in a parking study approved by the Community Development Director and Public Works Director. Eligibility for a reduction in required parking pursuant to this Paragraph, and the amount of said reduction, if any, shall be determined by the Community Development Director and Public Works Director in their sole discretion.

13. Renewable Energy. A commercial/industrial development that installs a solar photovoltaic (PV) system or otherwise acquire energy from a local utility that has been generated by renewable sources, sufficient to power 100% of the anticipated initial improvements for the facility may be eligible for up to a 5% reduction to parking required by this Chapter 9.215. Each building shall include an electrical system and other infrastructure sufficiently sized to accommodate the PV arrays. The electrical system and infrastructure must be clearly labeled with noticeable and permanent signage. Documentation shall be submitted for review and approval by the Community Development Director prior to approval for this renewable energy incentive. Eligibility for a reduction in required parking pursuant to this Paragraph, and the amount of said reduction, if any, shall be determined by the Community Development Director and Public Works Director in their sole discretion.

14. Landscape Setback. Industrial developments that provide additional front yard landscaping (along the entire frontage) beyond the first 25 feet may reduce required parking as follows:

15. 1% for additional 5 feet

16. 3% for additional 10 feet

17. 5% for additional 15 feet

(2022-351, 09/21/2022)

Effective on: 10/21/2022

See Section 9.195.040.M for parking lot landscape requirements and standards.

(2025-417, 07/16/2025)

Effective on: 8/16/2025

1. The approval authority may reduce the parking requirement otherwise prescribed for any mixed use project as part of the review of a development plan including, but not limited to, a plot plan, a conditional use permit, a public use permit, a parking study, a planned development or a specific plan, based on the following conditions:

2. The applicant shall submit a request for modification of parking standards, including sufficient evidence and documentation, to demonstrate to the approval authority that unusual conditions warrant a parking reduction. Evidence shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

3. Information showing that the parking area serves uses having peak parking demands which occur at different times.

4. Documentation that other programs which will be implemented by the developer or tenant(s) will result in a reduced parking demand, such as the provision of monetary incentives to employees who regularly utilize public transit or participate in a carpool or vanpool.

5. As a condition of approval of the parking reduction, the applicant may be required to record agreements or covenants prior to issuance of a building permit, which assure that appropriate programs will be implemented for the duration of the parking reduction.

Electric/alternative fuel vehicle parking and charging stations shall be provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of the California Building Code, as well as other adopted state or local requirements, and with the following standards.

1. Applicability. Parking spaces with electric recharge stations shall be provided in new developments or remodeling or expansion of existing development that provide at least 250 vehicle parking spaces and where calculated costs are estimated to exceed $200,000.

2. Number of Spaces Required. One Level 2 or 3 conductive and one inductive charger shall be provided in each project required to provide between 250 and 500 parking spaces, with an additional conductive and inductive charger provided for each additional 250 required parking spaces.

3. Permit Requirements. All applicable electrical and building permit requirements, restrictions and inspections shall apply to the construction of charging/exchange stations.

4. Level 1/Level 2 Stations. Level 1 or Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are permitted within residential zones internal to the garage to serve the occupants of the individual dwelling unit or residential building.

5. Level 3 Stations. Level 3 or commercial grade charging/exchange stations/spaces are restricted to service stations or parking lots within commercial, industrial and mixed-use zones (CR, CO, BP, HI, and EDC). Charging stations/spaces:

6. Shall be posted with signage indicating the space is only for electric vehicle charging purposes. Days and hours of operations shall be included if time limits or towaway provisions are to be enforced by the owner. Information identifying voltage and amperage levels or safety information must be posted.

7. Shall be sited within parking areas to discourage non-electric vehicle use.

8. Shall not interfere with on-site parking or pedestrian circulation.

9. Shall be maintained in functioning order in all respects.

(2025-417, 07/16/2025)

Effective on: 8/16/2025

Recreational vehicles (RVs) may be parked in single-family residential zones provided:

1. The vehicle is not used for dwelling purposes.
2. There shall be no connection to utilities or services.
3. The vehicle is kept only in the rear yard or side yard beyond the front yard setback.
4. The vehicle is kept on a paved or other suitably stabilized surface to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
5. There shall be no extra curb cut created to accommodate the vehicle.
6. The vehicle has a current registration.
7. The vehicle must be screened from public view.