Ridgecrest, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum width
- 10 feet clear
- 100+ ft driveways
- 20 feet, or two 10-ft drives
- 4+ unit driveways
- 20 feet minimum
- Building clearance
- Access must stay unobstructed
Summary
Ridgecrest's zoning code sets minimum residential driveway widths: ten feet of clear width at minimum, twenty feet for driveways one hundred feet or longer (or two ten-foot one-way drives), and twenty feet for any driveway serving four or more dwelling units.
(a)The minimum clear width of a residential driveway shall not be less than ten feet.(b)A residential access 100 feet or longer shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide or two ten-foot-wide, one-way drives shall be provided.(c)A residential driveway serving four or more units shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide.(d)Access shall be unobstructed by any portion of a building.(e)A commercial or industrial driveway shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide.(f)Any off-street parking area designed to accommodate four or more vehicles shall be provided with an appropriate turn-around so that all vehicles may enter the street by forward motion.(g)Where an accessory garage or carport is accessible to vehicles from an alley, the accessory structure shall be located not less than five feet from the property line. (Code 1980, § 20-20.11; Ord. No. 84-08, A 20, § 2011)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Section 106-375 governs residential access in Ridgecrest: a driveway can't be narrower than ten feet, and one running one hundred feet or more must widen to twenty feet, or be built as two separate ten-foot one-way drives. A driveway serving four or more units also needs the full twenty feet. Access must stay clear of any part of a building, and where a garage or carport off an alley is used, the structure must sit at least five feet back from the property line. Commercial and industrial driveways carry their own twenty-foot minimum under the same section.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting these widths is an infraction under section 106-64(a) of the Ridgecrest Municipal Code, and the planning director can require the driveway widened or an access easement corrected before final inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide must a driveway be at a Ridgecrest house?
Does this rule apply to commercial driveways too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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How other cities in Kern County handle driveway rules.