Pasadena, CA Special Events & Permits: Parklets (2026)
Key Facts
- Max street extension
- 7 ft (parallel parking) / 15 ft (diagonal parking)
- Max speed limit for siting
- 25 mph, absent extra safety barriers
- Wheel-stop buffer
- 36 inches minimum
- Bike/traffic lane clearance
- 12 inches minimum
- Max obstruction height
- 3 feet, fully portable
- Prohibited siting
- Never at a red curb
Summary
Pasadena's parklet rules cap extension into the street at 7 feet from parallel-parking curbs or 15 feet for diagonal parking, and restrict parklets to streets with a 25 mph or lower speed limit unless extra safety barriers are added. Obstructions inside a parklet are capped at 3 feet and must stay fully portable.
A.A parklet may not extend beyond seven feet from the curb line where there is parallel parking, or 15 feet from the curb line where there is diagonal parking.B.Parklets are permitted on streets where the legal vehicle speed limit is 25 mph or less, unless additional safety barriers approved by the City are installed.C.Parklets shall be buffered using a wheel stop or similar protective deterrent located a minimum of 36 inches from the parklet. Parklets shall provide a 4-foot minimum setback from adjacent parking spaces and 12 inches from an adjacent bicycle lane or traffic lane. ... F.The maximum height of any obstruction within a parklet shall be three feet and all such obstructions shall be entirely portable.G.There shall be no visual obstructions within parklets.H.A parklet may not be located at a red curb as a red curb demarcates a bus loading zone, fire access, traffic safety prohibition, etc.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
13, defining a parklet as a temporary sidewalk-level extension built into a parking lane. A parklet cannot extend more than 7 feet from the curb line where parking is parallel, or more than 15 feet where parking is diagonal. Parklets are only allowed on streets posted at 25 mph or less, unless the operator installs additional city-approved safety barriers. Every parklet must be buffered by a wheel stop or similar protective deterrent set at least 36 inches from the structure, keep a 4-foot minimum setback from adjacent parking spaces, and maintain 12 inches of clearance from any adjacent bicycle lane or traffic lane.
Construction must follow the city's prototype drawings or standards, with any deviation requiring advance review and approval before a permit issues. 065. Parklets must comply with current ADA accessibility requirements at all times, and a parklet can never be sited at a red curb, since red curbs mark bus loading zones, fire access lanes, or other traffic-safety prohibitions.
Violations & Fines
Parklets are authorized only as part of an outdoor dining occupancy permit, so a parklet installed without that underlying permit, or built out of compliance with these design standards, is subject to the same enforcement as unpermitted outdoor dining under Section 12.13.130: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. The director may also suspend or terminate use of the parklet without prior notice under Section 12.13.065(F) if it interferes with public safety, construction, or cleaning operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far can a Pasadena parklet extend into the street?
What is the speed limit rule for Pasadena parklets?
Can a Pasadena parklet be built at a red curb?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
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Parklets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle parklets.