Bill > AB904

This bill, known as the Sustainable Minimum Parking Requirements Act of 2012, aims to reduce excessive government regulation and lower development costs by eliminating unnecessary minimum parking requirements for new construction in transit-intensive areas, which are defined as areas within a half-mile of a major transit stop or a quarter-mile of a high-quality transit corridor. Starting January 1, 2014, cities and counties, including charter cities, will be prohibited from requiring more than a specified number of off-street parking spaces per unit or square foot for various types of projects, such as two spaces per thousand square feet for nonresidential projects, one space per unit for non-income-restricted residential projects, and fewer spaces for projects that include affordable housing components. The bill clarifies that these are minimums and do not prevent projects from providing more parking, nor do they limit a local agency's ability to regulate parking impacts through other means. However, certain properties, including those with specific land-use restrictions or those subject to affordable housing preservation requirements, are exempt from these new minimums. Local governments can opt out of these reduced requirements if they make specific written findings, supported by evidence, that the transit-intensive area lacks sufficient walkability or transit service, or that reducing parking requirements would negatively impact affordable housing production or the area itself.