Downey Driveway Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Downey Municipal Code Article IX, Chapter 7 governs off-street parking facilities and driveway standards. Driveways shall lead directly from a public street to a required garage or other parking area using the shortest and most direct route. Where a required garage is more than 40 feet from the street property line, driveways within the front or street side setback area must be a minimum of 10 feet wide and a maximum of 12 feet wide. Outside the setback area, a minimum width of 10 feet applies with no specified maximum.

Where required garage spaces are 40 feet or less from the street property line, the driveway maximum width is the greater of 18 feet or 2 feet wider than the garage door opening, but cannot exceed 30 feet at the front property line. Parcels with 70 feet or more of street frontage may have two driveway openings, but the space between them at the street property line must be at least 24 feet. Driveways must remain unobstructed at all times; prohibited obstructions include covered patios, canopies, temporary structures, storage, trash bins, and furniture.

Parking vehicles on unpaved surfaces in front yards — including grass, dirt, or gravel — is prohibited throughout Downey. All off-street parking must be on a paved, all-weather surface. Required parking spaces must be permanently maintained and used exclusively for vehicle parking, not for storage, work areas, or other purposes. Questions about specific driveway configurations should be directed to the Building and Safety Division at (562) 904-7142.