Sunnyvale Residential Parking Requirements Timeline
Year Ordinance Summary of Changes
1946 251-46 No parking requirements for any uses.
1951 324-51 First adoption of parking requirements: one space per residential unit (could be covered or uncovered)
1959 714-59 • Single-family: 2 spaces per unit, plus 1 for each employee living at another location.
• Multifamily: 1.5 spaces per unit (depending on unit size), plus 1 for each employee living at another location.
1963 1085-63 Required two-car garages for single-family. 1966 1319-66 • Increased multifamily parking requirement to include one space per each employee living at another location.
• Increased parking for two-bedrooms and above to 2 parking spaces per unit.
1972 1661-72 Multifamily parking regulations modified (1.5 spaces per studio/one- bedroom, 1.75 per two-bedroom, 2 per three or more bedrooms). 1975 1786-75 Specified that at least one required parking space for multifamily residential be covered.
1979 1949-79 Clarified that parking is allowed in front and side yards of single-family residential provided it is for licensed operable vehicles and on a stabilized permanent surface. Parking areas limited to no more than 50% of the front yard.
1986 2165-86 • Text clarifications to multifamily parking requirements, but no increases in spaces per unit.
• Allowance of up to 35% of total unassigned spaces for multifamily residential may be compact.
1988 2231-88 Updated multifamily parking regulations (2 spaces per two-bedroom unit).
1988 2236-88 • Clarified that 2 covered parking spaces are required for single-family in either a garage or carport.
• Required one-for-one covered replacement parking for converted garages.
• Required 2 covered parking spaces per unit in condominiums and planned unit developments, with at least one covered and assigned space.
• Extended allowance to condominium and planned unit residential projects that up to 35% of total unassigned spaces may be compact. 1991 2356-91 Reduced parking requirements for senior housing (one space per unit) 1992 2411-92 • Increased required parking for condominiums and planned unit developments to 2.25 spaces per unit, with at least one covered and assigned parking space.
• Included stipulations for the conversion and replacement of covered parking.
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1996 2549-96 • Multifamily parking updates (added greater minimum parking for individual garages as opposed to carports/underground open garages, added unassigned and guest parking for each bedroom type, and prohibited tandem parking arrangements)
• Required a two-car wide driveway for each single/two-family dwelling to provide two uncovered parking spaces.
• For developments with limited or no on-street parking, required .4 unassigned spaces per unit for single/two-family residential and .33 unassigned spaces per unit for multifamily residential. 2003 2716-03 Upgrades for non-conforming single-family parking required when home exceeds four bedrooms or 1,800 square feet.
2008 2877-08 • Parking Management Plans required for all new mixed-use or multifamily residential developments.
• Clarified unassigned/guest parking requirements for multifamily bedroom types. No change to the total number of parking spaces that were established in 1996.
• Reduced percentage of compact spaces allowed for all multifamily residential projects to 10%.
2012 2988-12 Complete reorganization of the parking code and changes to nonresidential parking requirements. No substantive changes to residential and mixed-use parking requirements.
2015 3056-15 • Reduction in required unassigned spaces for multifamily when two covered spaces per unit are provided
• Tandem parking allowed for single-family and multifamily. • Allowance for stacker/independent mechanized parking in multifamily.
2023 3207-23 • Updated requirements per AB 2097 (2022) which prohibit requiring minimum parking for residential and nonresidential developments (except for bicycle, electric vehicle, and accessible spaces) that are located within one-half mile of a major transit stop. Developers may charge for the use of any parking spaces.
Attachment 4