Los Angeles, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Min width in A/RE/RS/R1/RU/RZ/R2/RMP/RW zones
- 9 feet
- Min width in RD/R3/RAS3/R4/RAS4/R5/P/PB/C/M zones
- 10 feet
- Large parking facility (> 25 vehicles)
- ≥ 19 ft wide or two driveways each ≥ 10 ft
- R1 zone street-front cap (non-hillside)
- No more than 25% of lot width
Summary
Los Angeles requires access driveways to be at least 9 feet wide in A and most R zones, and at least 10 feet wide in RD, R3, commercial, and industrial zones; in non-hillside R1 zones, driveway width at the street front may not exceed 25% of lot width.
(f) Driveway Width. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.) Every access driveway shall be at least 9 feet in width in the A, RE, RS, R1, RU, RZ, R2, RMP and RW Zones, and 10 feet in width in the RD, R3, RAS3, R4, RAS4, R5, P, PB, C and M Zones; provided, however, every access driveway serving a parking area or garage having a capacity of more than 25 automobiles or trucks shall be at least 19 feet in width, or in lieu thereof, there shall be two access driveways, each of which is at least 10 feet in width; provided, further, however, that an access driveway serving an apartment house erected in the R2 Zone shall be at least 10 feet in width. Except that in the R1 Zone, when not designated as a Hillside Area on the Department of City Planning Hillside Area Map, driveway width at the front property line shall not exceed 25 percent of the lot width or the width of any currently existing driveway, whichever is greater; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to require a driveway less than 9 feet in width at the front property line.
Full Breakdown
LAMC § 12.21 A.5(f) sets minimum driveway widths: 9 feet in A, RE, RS, R1, RU, RZ, R2, RMP, and RW zones; 10 feet in RD, R3, RAS3, R4, RAS4, R5, P, PB, C, and M zones. Driveways serving parking facilities with more than 25 vehicles must be at least 19 feet wide or consist of two 10-foot driveways. In the non-hillside R1 zone, driveway width at the front property line may not exceed 25% of the lot width (or the existing driveway width, whichever is greater), but may never be required to be less than 9 feet.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant driveways may be flagged at plan check and building permits denied. Existing non-conforming driveways may be subject to correction orders from LADBS. Failure to comply with approved driveway plans may be cited as an LAMC violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide does my driveway need to be for a single-family home?
Can I widen my driveway in an R1 zone?
How steep can my driveway be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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Driveway Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle driveway rules.