Off-street parking location and type requirements.
Riverside Municipal Code § 19.580.070
in effect19.580.070 - Off-street parking location and type requirements.
A. Single family dwellings.
1. Required number and type of spaces. See Table 19.580.060 (Required Spaces) Dwelling-Single Family.
a. Tandem parking: May be provided to satisfy the minimum parking requirement on lots less than 3,499 square feet in area.
2. Parking location in the front and side yard areas.
a. Parking and maneuvering in front yard areas of single-family residential zones for all vehicles, except recreational vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds gross vehicular weight, shall be limited to the space within a carport or garage plus a paved driveway between such garage or carport and the street from which it is served, not exceeding the width of the garage.
b. In addition, front and side yard areas may also be paved for the parking and maneuvering of vehicles as set forth in Section 19.580.070.A.3 below.
3. Permitted driveway locations.
a. House with attached or detached garage or carport: The space between the driveway serving the garage or carport and the nearest side property line, with such paving permitted to extend as far as the rear of the residential structure, such space not to exceed 20 feet in width beyond the driveway serving the garage or carport. (See Figure 19.580.070 A.3.a - House with Attached Garage)
19.580.070 A.3.a.
House with Attached Garage
[image omitted; see the official code]
19.580.070 A.3.a.
House with Attached Garage
[image omitted; see the official code]
b. House with detached garage or carport, served by adjacent street: The space between the driveway and the nearest side property line, extending as far as the rear of the garage or carport, such space not to exceed 20 feet in width beyond the driveway serving the garage or carport. (See Figure 19.580.070 A.3.b - House with Detached Garage)
19.580.070 A.3.b.
House with Detached Garage
[image omitted; see the official code]
c. House with detached garage or carport served from an alley: A space, not exceeding 20 feet in width, adjacent to a side property line. Such paved space may extend no further than the space between the street and the rear of the house. Installation of such a driveway is subject to approval of a driveway curb cut by the Public Works Department. (See Figure 19.580.070 A.3.c - House with Detached Garage Served by Alley)
19.580.070 A.3.c.
House with Detached Garage Served by Alley
[image omitted; see the official code]
d. Circular drives: A house with one street frontage and at least 80 feet of width, or any house with two street frontages may be served by a circular drive. In addition, the space between the circular drive and the nearest interior side property line may be paved, provided this additional paving does not exceed 20 feet in width beyond the point from the nearest point of the circular driveway and the interior side property line, nor extend further than the distance between the street and the rear of the residence. No circular drive will be approved without the approval of the Public Works Director for two driveway openings. (See Figure 19.580.070 A.3.d - House with Circular Drive)
19.580.070 A.3.d.
House with Circular Drive
[image omitted; see the official code]
e. Special requirements for driveway extensions in street side yard areas: Where the area proposed for driveway expansion is a street side yard, the portion of the driveway behind the front setback must be screened from the adjoining street by a six-foot-high solid fence or wall.
f. Arterial streets: No residential drives shall be permitted on arterial streets as shown on the General Plan Circulation and Transportation Element except where no other access to the property exists.
g. Second driveways:
(1) Are allowed in the RA-5 and RC Zones.
(2) In other Single-Family Residential Zones, a second driveway may be added if the property has 80 feet or more of street frontage or has frontage on two streets, subject to approval by the Planning Division and Public Works Department.
(3) A circular driveway is not considered a second driveway.
4. Recreational vehicle parking in residential zones.
a. Recreational vehicles 10,000 pounds gross vehicular weight or less. Permitted parking and maneuvering areas shall be the same as those specified in 19.580.070.A.3.
b. Recreational vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicular weight. Permitted parking and maneuvering areas shall be the same as those specified in Section 19.580.070.A.3 provided that:
(1) The vehicle at no time creates a sight obstruction that poses a safety hazard pursuant to Chapter 19.550.050 - Sight clearance requirements.
(2) At no time shall a recreational vehicle be permitted to encroach into the public right-of-way.
(3) A minimum of ten feet of space is maintained between the recreational vehicle and the back of the sidewalk.
(a) If there is no sidewalk between the property and the curb, a minimum of 15 feet shall be maintained between the recreational vehicle and the end of the paved driveway or property line, whichever is nearest.
c. Access. A side yard area used for recreational vehicle parking shall be accessible from the property's existing driveway.
(1) Only one driveway opening is permitted, except in the case of an existing circular driveway.
(2) Driveway openings may require widening to accommodate side-yard recreational vehicle parking, subject to the approval of the Public Works Department.
(3) A second driveway may be added if the property has 100 feet or more of street frontage or has frontage on two streets, subject to approval by the Planning Division and Public Works Department.
d. A recreational vehicle may not have utility hookups or be used as living quarters except as permitted by Section 19.465 (Caretaker Living Quarters - Temporary).
e. Registration and vehicle condition. All recreational vehicles parked outside of a completely enclosed garage shall be currently and legally registered except as provided for by State law and shall be in an operable and movable condition within one hour. Motorized recreational vehicles, shall be movable under their own power. Boats and other nonmotorized vehicles, such as trailers, shall be movable by a towing vehicle customarily used for the type of vehicle being towed.
5. Nonconforming rights. A non-paved driveway legally established prior to the adoption of this Code section, including any expansion of the driveway to provide additional off-street parking subsequent to the adoption of this Code section, is not subject to the paving requirements of this section unless the use and maintenance of such driveway and parking area lapses for a period of one year or more or unless the use served by the driveway is expanded. However, both the existing driveway and the additional parking area shall be surfaced with a weed- and dust-resistant material to the specifications of the Fire and Planning and Building Departments.
B. Multiple family dwellings.
1. Required number and type of spaces.
a. Number of spaces: See Table 19.580.060 (Required Spaces) - Dwelling-Multiple Family.
b. Covered parking required: At least 75 percent of the total required spaces shall be in a carport or fully enclosed.
c. Distribution of covered parking: Garages and carports shall be distributed evenly throughout the project. Landscaped planters shall be required between garage structures as determined by the Development Review Committee. Required covered parking (garages and/or carports) shall not be used for household storage.
d. Tandem parking: May be provided to satisfy the minimum parking requirement, when assigned to residential dwelling units with two or more bedrooms.
C. Nonresidential uses.
1. Except as provided in this section, landscaped front and street side yard setbacks shall not be used for the off-street parking of vehicles or for off-street parking spaces, turning or maneuvering aisles. However, entrance and exit drives, as a means of ingress and egress to off-street parking spaces, shall be permitted to cross landscaped front and street side yard setbacks.
(Ord. 7683, § 11, 2024; Ord. 7652 § 12, 2023; Ord. 7592 § 8(Exh. I), 2022; Ord. 7573 § 1(Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 7408 § 1, 2018; Ord. 7331 § 94, 2016; Ord. 7109 §§ 12, 13, 2010; Ord. 6966 § 1, 2007)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT19ZO_ARTVIIISIPLGEDEPR_CH19.580PALO_19.580.070OREPALOTYREFetched: 11/1/2026