No building permit shall be issued until the following requirements are met:
A. 
All streets, alleys, and other public rights-of-way shown on plans approved by the City Council and which abut the subject property shall be dedicated to the planned right-of-way line or a deed of dedication deposited in escrow with an escrow agent acceptable to the City Attorney, the delivery of which is conditioned upon the required permit being granted.
B. 
All improvements of streets, alleys, and other public rights-of-way which abut the subject property and are required in order to conform to improvement standards approved by the City Council shall be installed, or a performance bond, in a reasonable amount to be determined by the City Engineer, with sureties to be approved by the City Attorney, shall be filed with the City Clerk, or cash in a like amount shall be deposited with the Finance Director to be placed in a trust fund.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
A. 
Vision clearance areas shall be provided as follows:
1. 
On Any Corner Lot. A triangular area at the street intersection measuring 15 feet along each street property line (or the projections thereof parallel to the centerlines of the streets) from the point of intersection of such property lines (or the projections thereof);
2. 
At the intersection of an alley with a street, or at the intersection of two (2) alleys, or at an angle point where the alignment of an alley changes by sixty degrees or more: a triangular area measuring 15 feet along each street or alley property line from the point of intersection of the property lines;
3. 
At any driveway entrance from or exit to a street: triangular areas on each side of the driveway measuring fifteen feet along the street property line and fifteen feet along the edge of the driveway from the point of intersection of the edge of the driveway with the street property line.
B. 
Within a required vision clearance area there shall be no fence, tree, shrub, or other obstruction to sight between two feet and seven feet above the established street grade. Where the vision clearance area for an existing driveway falls on adjacent property, no additional obstruction in the two-foot to seven-foot height range shall be placed in the vision clearance area except a fence which meets the fence design criteria for vision clearance areas under Section 19.428.030. Where existing obstructions exist on adjacent property in the two-foot to seven-foot height range, any new driveway constructed on the subject property shall be located so as to not have any such obstructions in its vision clearance areas.
C. 
Permitted Encroachments. The following encroachments are permitted within the minimum required vision clearance area:
1. 
Utility-owned pole lines within approved easements.
2. 
Access walkways.
3. 
Fences, walls, hedges, and berms, subject to the design criteria under Section 19.428.030.
4. 
Landscaping, such as vines, shrubs, and/or ornamental grasses, not exceeding two (2) feet in height. Landscaping height may be adjusted to four (4) feet in height provided that it does not act as a privacy screen by spacing less dense landscaping a minimum of five (5) feet apart.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
A. 
In case of any conflict between the requirements of this section and any safety requirements pursuant to the Fire Code, the Fire Code requirements shall prevail.
B. 
Every garage, carport, parking area, or other off-street vehicular area shall be connected to one (1) or more public streets or alleys by one (1) or more driveways meeting the standards set forth in this section.
C. 
Driveway Width.
1. 
The width of any driveway shall be within the limits shown in Table 19.436.040, except for a single-family dwelling (one dwelling unit on a lot) in the RM zones, the requirements for driveway width shall be governed by Section 19.336.030 of Division 3 for the RS-6 zone.
2. 
Where the driveway approach width at the street property line required by the City Engineer pursuant to Title 12 is different from the driveway width required by this section, a variable width transition segment outside the street right-of-way shall be provided to provide a smooth connection.
3. 
Permitted Encroachments. The following encroachments are permitted within the required minimum driveway width:
a. 
Projections from buildings, with the minimum required height clearance of subsection D of this section, such as;
(i) 
Cantilevered eaves, awnings, and shading devices.
(ii) 
Architectural features—sills, cornices, buttresses, etc.
(iii) 
Mechanical equipment cantilevered from building.
(iv) 
Balconies, second floor overhangs, and porte cocheres.
b. 
Utility-owned pole lines within approved easements.
c. 
Access walkways.
d. 
Security gate, subject to vision clearance requirements of Section 19.436.030 and the fence requirements of Chapter 19.428.
Table 19.436.040
DRIVEWAY WIDTHS
Zone
Minimum Driveway Width
Maximum Driveway Width
RM-10, RM-20:
Not more than three dwelling units on lot
12 feet(1)
25 feet
More than three dwelling units on lot
20 feet
25 feet
Note:
(1)
To preclude backing out onto a street, for any multifamily dwellings on property with access on a secondary or greater highway, as denoted in the Buena Park General Plan, the minimum driveway width shall be 20 feet.
D. 
Driveway Height Clearance. Within the required driveway width, there shall be no obstruction from the driveway surface to a height of eight feet. In addition, any portion of a driveway not covered by a building or porte-cochere shall be unobstructed to a height of fourteen (14) feet.
E. 
Driveway Curvature. The minimum turning radius for any curve in a driveway shall be 25 feet measured to the outside edge of the driveway. The minimum turning radius for parking aisles shall be 25 feet.
F. 
Driveway Circulation Pattern.
1. 
Driveways and on-site circulation shall be arranged so that vehicles are not required to back into a street, with the following exceptions;
a. 
Single-family dwellings.
b. 
A lot with 3 or fewer units with vehicular access on a street designated as a secondary or lower-volume street/arterial as denoted in the Buena Park General Plan.
2. 
Any garage or carport with its vehicular entrance facing a street, where permitted under subsection F of this section, shall be in compliance with this chapter in order to allow temporary parking in the driveway without obstructing any portion of a public right-of-way.
3. 
There shall be no direct entry from an alley to a parking space in order to preclude backing from a parking space into an alley in the RM zones.
4. 
In all residential zones, there shall be no circular driveway in a front yard area with two (2) driveway entrances from the same street unless the street frontage on such street is 120 feet or more.
5. 
Corner Lots. Corner lots shall include a minimum of one (1) driveway on each street frontage (primary street and secondary/side street).
G. 
Surface Parking.
1. 
Parking lots shall be placed to the side or rear of buildings. There shall be no vehicular parking between building fronts and the public right-of-way.
2. 
Parking lots shall be connected to all building entrances by means of internal pedestrian walkways. Pedestrian walkways shall be a minimum of three (3) feet wide.
3. 
Access drives shall be at least 150 feet apart and at least 100 feet from street intersections, and 12 feet minimum from a property line unless an approved shared drive is provided or the driveway location does not create a traffic hazard to adjacent property.
4. 
Parking lot landscaping shall be located so as to discourage pedestrians from having to cross any landscaped areas to reach building entrances from parked cars.
5. 
Maximum number of driveways:
a. 
One driveway for lot frontage up to 150 feet.
b. 
Two driveways for lot frontage 150 feet to 299 feet.
c. 
One driveway for each additional 300 feet.
H. 
Residential Garage. If garage parking is provided, the following standards shall apply:
1. 
Garage doors may occupy no more than 25 percent of a building's street frontage and shall be recessed a minimum of 18 inches from a street-facing wall plane.
2. 
Street-facing garage doors serving individual units that are attached to the structure shall incorporate one (1) or more of the following so that the garage doors are visually subservient and complementary to other building elements:
a. 
Garage door windows or architectural detailing consistent with the primary dwelling.
b. 
Arbor or other similar projecting feature above the garage doors. Projecting features located above the garage door shall not project more than 2.5 feet into the required setback.
3. 
Each garage space shall be equipped with an automatic door opener and a roll-up sectional or similar garage door. On multifamily dwellings, a security gate on a multi-space garage is permitted pursuant to Section 19.428.060.
I. 
Interior Dimensions for Multi-Family Enclosed Garages.
1. 
A single-car garage shall be at least 10 feet in width and 20 feet in depth.
2. 
A standard double car garage shall be at least 20 feet in width and 20 feet in depth. For any interior utilities such as floor-mounted water heaters, washer and dryer, and water softeners, etc, shall be located outside of the required parking space dimensions pursuant to Table 19.436.070.
3. 
For an attached private garage, the design shall include adequate space for waste/solid storage and a water heater unit.
J. 
Parking Structure and Loading.
1. 
Any driveway providing access to a parking structure shall have a minimum width of 25 feet.
2. 
Parked vehicles at each level in the structure shall be shielded from view of adjoining streets.
3. 
The exterior elevations of parking structures shall be designed to minimize the use of blank concrete facades. This can be accomplished through the use of textured concrete, planters or trellises, or other architectural treatments.
4. 
If a toll or fee booth is in the driveway area, the driveways on either side of the booth shall have a minimum width of 12 feet.
5. 
The maximum length of a parking aisle without being intersected by another parking aisle or driveway shall be 300 feet.
6. 
Minimum lighting requirement at entrances and exits is 50 foot-candles. Minimum lighting requirement of parking areas is 5 foot-candles.
7. 
The minimum distance of entry/exit from a corner intersection is 150 feet.
8. 
Illuminated signs with architectural features, such as an arch or canopy, shall be used at the entrance to emphasize the facility entry and attract patrons pursuant to Section 19.904.080.B.
K. 
Tandem Parking. Tandem parking may be permitted to satisfy the off-street parking requirement for a residential unit in accordance with the following:
1. 
No more than two vehicles shall be placed one behind the other.
2. 
Both spaces shall be assigned to a single dwelling unit.
3. 
The tandem parking spaces shall be a minimum 36 feet by 9 feet in interior dimensions.
4. 
Tandem parking to meet required parking for multiunit development shall not exceed 50 percent of the total provided number of spaces.
5. 
Tandem parking shall not be used to satisfy the parking requirement for guest parking.
6. 
The minimum vertical clearance shall be 8 feet.
L. 
Visitor Parking. Parking for visitors and/or employees shall be accommodated on site in garages or parking areas to minimize spillover to adjacent residential neighborhoods.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
A. 
In connection with the use of each lot, sufficient off-street parking space shall be provided to meet the demand created by all activities on the lot. The minimum requirements for residential uses shall be as shown in Table 19.436.050, entitled Parking Spaces Required. Additional requirements may be imposed, based upon substantiated estimates, as a condition of approval of a development under site plan review, conditional use permit, or other development approval procedure provided for in this Title. For uses or property for which no parking requirement is set forth in Table 19.436.050, nor previously determined under the interpretation procedure (Section 19.128.010), nor established under a development approval procedure, a parking requirement shall be determined for that type of use pursuant to the interpretation procedure set forth in Section 19.128.010.
B. 
Any fractional space requirement resulting from the calculation of required parking spaces shall be disregarded if less than 0.50 space and shall be counted as one required space if 0.50 or greater.
Table 19.436.050
PARKING SPACES REQUIRED
Use
Parking Spaces Required
Residential uses:
Single-family dwelling.
2 garage spaces (1)
(Subject to Chapters 19.316 and 19.336 of Division 3 for the RS-6 zone)
Condominium, townhomes, cooperative apartment, community apartment
0-3 bedrooms = 2 garage spaces (plus 1 additional open space)
4 bedrooms = 2 garage spaces (plus 1.5 additional open spaces)
When an on-site leasing office is included in the development, a minimum of three (3) parking spaces for prospective tenants shall be provided outside of any security gates or the security gate system shall provide for access to non-residents for leasing purposes. For all townhome/condominium developments, the allocation and management of restricted or assigned parking spaces shall be governed by Community Covenants and Restrictions (CC&Rs) which shall be reviewed and approved by the City to ensure compliance with local regulations.
Mobilehome park.
2 spaces (tandem parking permitted) plus 0.25 visitor space per unit.
Multifamily apartments:
in RM-10 Zone and RM-20 Zone.
0-1bedrooms = 2 spaces (1 covered)
2 bedrooms = 2.5 spaces (1 covered)
3+ bedrooms = 3 spaces (1 covered)
When an on-site leasing office is included in the development, a minimum of three (3) parking spaces for prospective tenants shall be provided outside of any security gates or the security gate system shall provide for access to non-residents for leasing purposes.
Group quarters:
Rooming house, dormitory, sorority fraternity, etc.
1 space per sleeping room (plus 1 space per 100 sq. ft. of total net floor area in sleeping rooms which are in excess of 150 square feet in each such room) plus 2 spaces for any manager's dwelling unit.
Religious group quarters.
0.5 space per sleeping room (plus 0.5 space per 100 sq. ft. of total net floor area in sleeping rooms which are in excess of 150 sq. ft. in each such room).
Community residential care:
Small group care home.
2 spaces (in garage) + 2 driveway spaces
Other community residential care facility.
To be determined under conditional use permit based on licensed capacity, type of care, and number of employees. If no conditional use permit is required, parking spaces shall follow standards for single-family dwellings.
Non-Residential uses:
(For parking space requirements of non-residential uses, refer to Section 19.536.040 of Division 5.)
* Assembly Bill 2097 (AB 2097) prohibits public agencies or cities from imposing a minimum automobile parking requirement on most development projects located within a half-mile radius of a major transit stop. However, Government Code § 65863.2(b) provides that any public agency findings to impose parking minimums must be supported by a preponderance of evidence in the record, showing that not imposing or enforcing minimum automobile parking requirements on the development would have a substantially negative impact, on any of the following:
1.
The City's ability to meet its share of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for low and very low-income households.
2.
The City's ability to meet any special housing needs for the elderly or persons with disabilities, as identified in the City's Housing Element.
3.
Existing residential or commercial parking within one-half mile of the housing development project.
Consistent with the preponderance of evidence standard under Government Code Section 65863.2(b), a parking study must be provided by the public or other interested party as part of the evidence of a substantially negative parking impact for a given project.
Note:
(1)
Any home constructed with five bedrooms or including at least 3,000 sq. ft. of living space shall maintain a minimum 600 square foot garage.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
A. 
Required residential parking shall be located on the same lot as the activities or uses served, except as follows:
1. 
Required parking may be located on a lot adjacent to the lot served subject to a recorded covenant as provided in subsection B of this section.
2. 
Any required parking provided by means of an off-street parking district is not subject to a specific location requirement.
B. 
Where required parking is not on the same lot as the activity or use served, a covenant running with the land shall be recorded by the owner of the parking lot guaranteeing to the City that the required parking will be maintained for the use or activity served.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
Table 19.436.070
PARKING LAYOUT STANDARDS
Type of Space
Stall
Aisle Width (in feet)
Width in feet
Length in feet
One-Way
Two-Way
30°
45°
60°
90°
30°
45°
60°
90°
Standard Car Parking:
Angle Parking:
9
18
15
19
20
20
20
20
20
25
Parallel Parking
8
22
Compact Car Parking
Angle Parking:
8
16
13
15
20
20
20
20
20
25
Parallel Parking
7
20
Tandem Car Parking(1)
9
36
Note:
(1) Tandem parking stalls are permitted in parking garages and private parking lots provided at least one (1) parking stall per dwelling unit and all stalls required for any guest parking shall be individually and easily accessible and at least one (1) standard stall per dwelling unit shall be provided.
A. 
Except as further provided in this section, the layout of residential parking areas shall meet the standards shown in Table 19.436.070.
B. 
Parking areas shall be located within the development and not along primary frontages, unless properly screened from view. An exception may be made for accessible parking and visitor parking.
C. 
Where internal street networks are provided, visitor parking shall be permitted as on-street parking on the internal street.
D. 
Parking areas shall be divided into parking courts separated by landscaping.
E. 
Where multi-family developments are located adjacent to any RS zone, parking for residents, visitors, and/or employees shall be accommodated onsite in garages, parking areas, or along internal streets to minimize spillover to adjacent residential neighborhoods. Parking and loading/unloading areas shall not create stacking/queuing issues at ingress/egress points.
F. 
There shall be a clear vehicular entry to every required parking space at least equal in width to the required width of the space, except that for spaces in residential garages or carports, the vehicular entry widths shall be at least equal to the minimum door or opening widths as required by Section 19.416.090.
G. 
Each parking space and aisle shall have a minimum clear height of at least six and one-half feet, except a storage bin may project not more than two and one-half feet into the front of a parking space with a clear height from the parking surface of at least four feet. For residential visitor parking spaces, at least twenty percent of the spaces provided together with their associated parking aisles shall have a clear height of at least seven feet.
H. 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with State standards.
I. 
Except for any parking area of 10 or more spaces other than residential garage spaces, not more than 30 percent of the required spaces may be for compact car parking.
J. 
The layout of parking spaces shall comply with the driveway circulation requirements of Section 19.436.040.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)
A. 
Except as otherwise specified in this Title, parking may be provided in parking lots, carports, garages, or other parking structures.
B. 
Drainage. All areas for the movement, parking, loading, repair, or storage of vehicles shall be graded and drained to dispose of surface water. In all cases except single-family residential uses, drainage shall be arranged to prevent surface flow across walkways and driveways.
C. 
Paving.
1. 
All areas for the movement and parking of vehicles shall be paved and maintained to eliminate dust and mud, to provide an even, unbroken driving surface, and to present a uniform appearance. This requirement shall not apply to:
a. 
Non-required parking spaces for single-family dwellings.
b. 
That portion of a mobile home site beneath the mobile home.
2. 
For all residential uses, all driveway approaches, driveways, required parking areas, and floors of carports and garages shall be portland cement concrete with a minimum 4 inches thickness. Other similar paving material may be permitted by the Director for driveways and parking areas, provided it is determined to be equivalent in useful life, serviceability, and appearance.
D. 
Permitted Vehicle Overhang. In all angle parking stalls (including ninety-degree parking) facing the perimeter of an uncovered parking area, a six-inch-high poured-in-place concrete curb shall be provided, located three feet inside the front boundary of the stalls, with the area between the curb and the front boundary of the stall to be landscaped.
E. 
Landscaping.
1. 
Landscaped Buffers Along Streets. Every parking area adjacent to a street, including vehicular overhangs, shall be set back from the street as indicated in the table below. Such setback areas shall be permanently landscaped in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 19.432.
Minimum setback from property line for parking
Front property line
10 feet
Side property line, adjacent to street
10 feet
F. 
Screening in the RM Zones. In the RM zones, not including the RMH Zone, any parking area located in front of a main building or within sixty feet from a street property line shall be screened from public view by one of the following methods:
1. 
The parking shall be within a garage building or garage portion of a main building which is architecturally integrated with the main building.
2. 
The parking shall be effectively screened by ornamental fences, hedges or berms, or some combination thereof, at least four feet high, and including trees in any case. Erosion from such landscaped area onto any public walkway shall be prevented by sod, ground cover, or a six-inch-high concrete curb.
G. 
Marking of Parking Spaces.
1. 
All residential parking spaces serving more than three dwelling units on a lot, shall be marked with double lines with minimum 4-inch-wide stripes and a minimum 8-inch separation separating stalls.
2. 
Spaces for handicapped (ADA) parking and for compact cars shall be identified.
H. 
Lighting. Except for a single-family dwelling, security lighting shall be provided in all parking areas accessible to public entry after dark, subject to the following criteria:
1. 
Energy-efficient, full-cutoff pole fixtures shall be utilized to provide adequate light levels for safety at parking lots. Use of unhoused, bare bulbs shall be prohibited.
2. 
Building-mounted lighting fixtures shall not project above the fascia or roof line. Recessed wall mounts are encouraged.
3. 
Surface parking lot lighting fixtures shall not be on poles over 20 feet in height.
4. 
High-efficiency technology such as LED lighting with advanced controls shall be utilized to minimize energy consumption of parking lot lighting.
5. 
All luminaires shall be directed, shielded, or oriented to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties, rights-of-way and/or driveway areas.
6. 
All required lighting shall be permanently maintained as a condition of the use.
(Ord. 1754, 6/24/2025)