Parking Requirements

San Jose Parking Requirements

Use Vehicle Parking Required Applicable Sections Bicycle Parking Required
Agriculture and Resource Uses 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Drive-through in conjunction with any use No additional parking required None 
Day care center 1 per 6 children, up to 5 spaces and thereafter 1 per 10 children (includes employee parking) Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees and children 
Instructional studios 1 per 150 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Private instruction, personal enrichment1 per 3 students, plus 1 per staff Note 6 1 per 10 students and full-time employees 
School- elementary (K - 8) 1 per teacher, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 6 per classroom 
School- secondary (9 - 12) 1 per teacher, plus 1 per employee, plus 1 per 5 students Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 10 per classroom 
School, post secondary 1 per 3 students, plus 1 per staff Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 10 per classroom 
School, trade and vocational 1 per 3 students, plus 1 per staff Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 10 per classroom 
Arcade, amusement 1 per 200 sq. ft of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Batting cages 1 per station, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus one per 6 stations 
Bowling establishment 7 per lane Note 6 1 per 2 lanes 
Dancehall 1 per 40 sq. ft. open to public Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Driving range 1 per tee, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 1 per 10 tees 
Golf course 8 per golf hole, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 1 per 2 golf holes 
Health club, gymnasium 1 per 80 sq. ft. recreational space Note 6 1 per 1,600 sq. ft. of recreational space 
Miniature golf 1.25 per tee, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees plus 1 per 6 tees 
Performing arts rehearsal space 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Section 20.90.220E. 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Poolroom 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Private club or lodge 1 per 4 fixed seats on the premises, or 1 per 6 linear feet of seating, plus 1 per 200 square feet of area without seating but designed for meeting or assembly by guests, plus 1 per 500 sq. ft. of outdoor area developed for recreational purposes Note 6 1 per 60 fixed seats on the premises, or 1 per 90 linear feet of seating, plus 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of area without seating but designed for meeting or assembly by guests, plus 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor area developed for recreational purposes 
Recreation, commercial (indoor) 1 per 80 sq. ft. of recreational area Note 6 1 per 1,600 sq. ft. of recreational area 
Recreation, commercial (outdoor) 20 per acre of site Note 6 2 per acre of site 
Relocated cardroom 1 per 40 sq. ft. of area devoted to card games Note 6 1 per 800 sq. ft. area devoted to card games 
Skating rink 1 per 50 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Swim and tennis club 1 per 500 sq. ft. of recreation area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of recreation area 
Motion picture theatre, indoor 1 per 3 seats in theaters with 1-3 screens; 1 per 3.3 seats with 4+ screens Note 6 1 per 45 seats in theaters with 1-3 screens; 1 per 50 seats with 4+ screens 
Motion picture theatre, outdoor 1 per 300 sq. ft. Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. 
Theaters, auditoriums, sports arenas, and stadiums- with or without fixed seats 1 per 4 fixed seats on the premises, plus 1 per 7 linear feet of fixed benches, or 1 per 30 square feet of area used for assembly Note 6 1 per 60 fixed seats on the premises, plus 1 per 100 linear feet of fixed benches, or 1 per 450 sq. ft. of area used for assembly 
Banquet facility 1 per 2.5 seats or 1 per 40 square feet of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces Note 6 1 per 50 seats or 1 per 800 square feet of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces 
Caterer w/eating facility (not a catering facility) 1 per 2.5 seats or 1 per 40 square feet of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces Note 3, Note 6 1 per 50 seats or 1 per 800 sq. ft. of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces 
Caterer w/no public interface 1 per 250 sq. ft. Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area
Drinking establishments 1 per 2.5 seats or 1 per 40 square feet of drinking area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces Note 3, Note 6 1 per 50 seats or 1 per 800 sq. ft. of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces 
Entertainment (with any food or alcohol service) 1 per 40 sq. ft. of area open to the public Note 3, Note 6 1 per 800 sq. ft. of area open to the public 
Outdoor dining incidental to a public eating establishment or a retail establishment 0 spaces up to 25 seats, 1 space per 2.5 for seats over 25 Note 6 1 space per 50 seats 
Public eating establishments 1 per 2.5 seats or 1 per 40 square feet of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces Note 3, Note 6 1 per 50 seats or 1 per 800 sq. ft. of dining area, whichever requires the greater number of parking spaces 
Take-out only establishment (including but not limited to pizza delivery, ice cream shops, doughnut shops) 1 per 75 sq. ft. of area open to the public, minimum of 5 spaces, plus 1 per delivery vehicle (if applicable) Note 3, Note 6 1 per 750 sq. ft. of area open to the public 
Alcohol, off-site sales 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 3 and Part 11, Chapter 20.80, Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Auction house 1 per 2.5 seats, or 1 per 200 sq. ft. of auction area exclusive of warehouse area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Food, beverage, groceries 1 per 200 sq. ft. of sales area Note 3, Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Plant nursery 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Open air sales establishments and areas1 per 200 sq. ft. of sales area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Outdoor vending 3 parking spaces Part 10, Chapter 20.80, Note 6 2 parking spaces 
Pawn shop/broker 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Large format commercial establishment 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Large format commercial establishment, associated commercial 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Retail sales, goods and merchandise 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 3, Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Retail sales of furniture 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 3, Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Retail Art Studio 1 space per 200 sq. ft. of retail area Note 3, Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Sales, appliances, industrial equipment, and machinery 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Neighborhood shopping center (minimum 100,000 sq. ft. in size), includes a mix of permitted, special, and conditional uses 1 per 225 sq. ft. of floor area Note 1, Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area at publicly accessible entrances with locations to be determined through a development permit 
Neighborhood shopping center (minimum 20,000 sq. ft. in size), includes a mix of permitted, special, and conditional uses 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 1, Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area at publicly accessible entrances with locations to be determined through a development permit 
Bed and breakfast 2 spaces, plus 1 per guest room, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per space plus 1 per 10 guest rooms 
Crematory 1 per full-time employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Dry cleaner 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Hotel/motel 1 per guest room or suite, plus 1 per employee  Section 20.90.220C., Note 6 1 space plus 1 per 10 guest rooms 
Laundromat 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Maintenance and repair, small consumer goods 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Messenger services 1 per 200 sq. ft of floor area, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Mortuary and funeral services 1 per 4 seats, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Mortuary, excluding funeral services 1, per full-time employee, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Personal services 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 3 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Photo processing and developing 1 per 200 sq. ft. Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Printing and publishing Minimum 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area, maximum 5% over minimum required. Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Social service agency 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Animal boarding, indoor 1 per employee, plus 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Animal grooming 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Emergency ambulance station 1 per employee, plus 1 per on- site staff, plus 1 per facility vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Hospital per in-patient facility 1 per 2.5 beds Note 6 1 per 25 beds 
Medical clinic/out-patient facility 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Medical, dental and health practitioner 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Veterinary clinic 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Catalog and mail order house 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area of office space plus, plus 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of floor area of warehouse and distribution area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Commercial support 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Distribution facility A minimum of 2 for facilities with a total gross floor area under 5,000 square feet; a minimum of 5 for facilities with a total gross floor area between 5,000 sq. ft. and 25,000 sq. ft.; for facilities with a total gross floor area in excess of 25,000 sq. ft. a minimum of 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area or a fraction thereof Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Establishment for the repair, cleaning of household, commercial or industrial equipment or products 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Hazardous materials storage facility 1 per employee plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Hazardous waste facility 1 per employee plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Industrial services 1 per 350 sq. ft of floor area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Junkyard 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Laboratory 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Manufacturing and assembly, light, medium, heavy 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Miniwarehouse/ministorage 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area, plus 1 per resident manager Note 4, Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Outdoor storage 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Private power generation 1 per employee plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Research and development 1 per 350 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. 
Stockyard, including slaughter 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Warehouse A minimum of 2 for warehouses with a total gross floor area under 5,000 square feet; a minimum of 5 for warehouses with a total gross floor area between 5,000 sq. ft. and 25,000 sq. ft.; for warehouses in excess of 25,000 sq. ft. of total gross floor area a minimum of 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area or a fraction thereof Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Warehouse retail Minimum 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of floor area; maximum 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Wholesale sale establishment 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of floor area, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 20,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Automatic teller machine (free standing) 2 per machine Note 6 1 per 10 machines 
Business support 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Financial institution 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Offices, business and administrative 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Offices, research and development 1 per 300 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Private security 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area office space, plus 1 per employee, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Cemetery 1 per full-time employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees
Church/religious assembly 1 per 4 fixed seats, or 1 per 6 linear feet of seating, or 1 per 30 sq. ft. of area designed for assembly, used together or separately for worship. Note 6 1 per 60 fixed seats, or 1 per 90 linear feet of seating, or 1 per 450 sq. ft. of area designed for assembly, used together or separately for worship 
Community television antenna systems 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Museums and libraries 1 per 300 sq. ft. of area open to the public Note 6 1 per 4,000 sq. ft. of floor area open to the public 
Parks and playgrounds 1 per 500 sq. ft. Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor recreation space 
Community centers 1 per 4 fixed seats, or 1 per 6 linear feet of seating, plus 1 per 200 square feet of area without seating but designed for meeting or assembly by guests, plus 1 per 500 sq. ft. of outdoor area developed for recreational purposes Note 6 1 per 60 fixed seats, or 1 per 90 linear feet of seating, plus 1 per 3,000 sq. ft. of area without seating but designed for meeting or assembly by guests, plus 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor area developed for recreational purposes 
Utility facilities, excluding corporation yards, storage or repair yards and warehouses 1 per 1.5 employees, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Recycling Uses :Processing facility 1 per employee of the largest shift, plus 1 per facility vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Recycling Uses :Transfer facility 1 per employee of the largest shift, plus 1 per facility vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Recycling Uses :Small collection facility 1 per attendant Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Emergency residential shelter 1 per 4 beds, 1 per 250 square feet of area which is used for office purposes  Section 20.90.220G. 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Guesthouse 1 per guest room, plus 1 per each employee Note 6 1 per 10 guest rooms plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Live/work No additional parking required above what is required for commercial use parking Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area 
Living quarters, custodian, caretakers 1 per living unit Note 6 1 per 10 living units 
Mixed use/ground floor commercial with residential above Respective commercial and residential parking requirements Note 6 
Mixed use/ground floor commercial with residential above combined 
Multiple dwelling See Table 20-210 and Table 20-211, required parking is determined by the type of parking facility and the number of bedrooms See Table 20-210 and Table 20-211 
One family dwelling 2 covered Note 5 and Section 20.90.220 B. None 
Residential care or service facility 1 per first 6 client beds, plus 1 additional space for up to 4 client beds (or portion thereof) above the first six, plus 1 additional space for each additional four client beds (or portion thereof), plus 1 space for each employee or staff member.  Section 20.90.220G. 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Servants quarters attached to a one-family dwelling or attached to a garage structure 1 additional parking space Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
SRO facilities within 2,000 ft. of public transportation - SRO residential hotels .25 per SRO unit Note 6 1 per SRO unit 
 SRO facilities within 2,000 ft. of public transportation  SRO living unit facilities with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities .25 per SRO unit Note 6 1 per SRO unit 
SRO facilities within 2,000 ft. of public transportation  SRO living unit facilities with partial or full kitchen and bathroom facilities 1 per SRO unit Note 6 1 per SRO unit 
SRO facilities not within 2,000 ft. of public transportation 1 per SRO unit Note 6 1 per SRO unit 
Sororities, fraternities and dormitories occupied exclusively (except for administrators thereof) by students attending college or other educational institutions 1 per guest room, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per guest room plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Temporary farm labor camp necessary to the gathering of crops grown on the site 1 per dwelling unit None 
Travel trailer parks 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Two family dwelling See Table 20-200, required parking is determined by the type of parking facility and the number of bedrooms None 
Common carrier depot 1 per employee, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Data center 1 per 250 sq. ft. of office/meeting/technician work space, plus 1 for each 5,000 square feet of floor area, or fraction thereof, devoted to computer equipment space Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of office/meeting/ technician work space, plus 1 for each 50,000 sq. ft. of floor area, or fraction thereof devoted to computer equipment space 
Television and radio studio 1 per 250 sq. ft. of space devoted to office use Note 6 1 per 5,000 sq. ft. of space devoted to office use 
Wireless communication antenna 1 per site Note 6 1 per site 
Accessory installation, passenger vehicles and pick- up trucks 4 per vehicle work station, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Auto broker, w/on-site storage See Vehicle sales and leasing Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Auto dealer, wholesale, no on-site storage 1 per 250 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Car wash 1 per employee, plus stacking as follows:  self service- 5 cars per lane   full service- 15 cars (may be in multiple lanes) Note 2, Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Gas or charge station 1 per employee, plus 1 per air and water pump service area, plus 1 space for information stop Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Gas or charge station with incidental service and repair 4 per grease rack or vehicle work station, plus 1 per employee, plus 1 per air and water pump service area, plus 1 space for information stop Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Glass sales, installation and tinting 4 per vehicle work station, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Repair and cleaning per detailing of vehicles 4 per grease rack or vehicle work station, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Sale or lease of vehicles 1 per 350 sq. ft. enclosed showroom, 1 per 2,500 sq. ft. open area, plus 2 per service bay Note 6 1 plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Exclusively indoors sales 1 per 200 sq. ft. Note 6 1 plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Auto rental agency 1 per 400 sq. ft. of floor area, plus 1 per rental vehicle Note 6 1 plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Sale, vehicle parts 1 per 200 sq. ft. of floor area Note 6 1 plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Tires, batteries, accessories, lube, oil change, smog check station, air conditioning 4 per grease rack or vehicle work station, plus 1 per employee Note 6 1 plus 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Tow yard 1 per employee, plus 1 per company vehicle Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees 
Vehicle wrecking, including sales of parts1 per employee Note 6 1 per 10 full-time employees

Table 20-190
Parking Spaces Required by Land Use

Notes:

1. A covenant of easement is required when multiple parcels are involved.

2. Stacking shall be calculated at twenty feet per car.

3. Parking for uses of this type located within a Neighborhood Business District or an Urban Village and meeting all of the requirements set forth in Section 20.90.220C. may be reduced as specified in Section 20.90.220C.

4. Parking for miniwarehouse/ministorage uses meeting all of the requirements of Section 20.90.220F. may be reduced as specified in Section 20.90.220F.

5. Covered parking may include carports or garages.

6. When part or all of the bicycle parking spaces required for a land use is based on the number of full-time employees, that portion shall be provided in long-term bicycle parking facilities. When part or all of the bicycle parking spaces required for a land use is based on classrooms, that portion shall be provided in short-term bicycle parking facilities. When the bicycle parking required for a land use is based solely on square footage or other criteria in the table, at least eighty percent of the bicycle parking spaces shall be provided in short-term bicycle parking facilities and at most twenty percent shall be provided in long-term bicycle facilities.

San Jose Design Requirements - Off-Street Vehicle Parking Spaces

(Parking Angle in Degrees) 906045300
Full-size car spaces width (feet)99 8.5 8.58
 Small car spaces width (feet)88888
 Uniform-size car spaces width (feet) 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.58
 Full-size car spaces Length (feet)1819.818.716.422
 Small car spaces Length (feet)1617.616.614.620
 Uniform-size car spaces Length (feet)1718.717.715.521

Table 20-220
Note 1: Length of space means the minimum distance measured at right angles, from wall, curb, or fence, to nearest edge of aisle (length of stall perpendicular to aisle).

San Jose Minimum width of one-way aisle (feet)

Angle of Off-Street Parking Space from wall, curb or fence
(Parking Angle in Degrees)
906045300
 Full-size car spaces2016151412
 Small car spaces2016151412
 Uniform-size car spaces2016151412
Minimum width of two-way aisle (feet)2626262626

Table 20-220

The parking requirements shown here are the typical required parking standards for the city of San Jose.  Variance or exclusions to the parking count requirements could be allowed by the code for a specific project.  The city of San Jose parking requirements are for general information.  The San Jose standard parking requirements for an area can be modified by zoning overlays or other San Jose parking code requirements specific to each project.