Opinion: L.A. Parking Requirements Need Serious Revamp

Los Angeles has 6 million parking spaces, many more than the city needs, and the minimum mandatory parking policy is a source of the problem, writes Anthony Dedousis.

When buildings are required to provide a certain amount of parking, the result is an overflow of parking that encourages driving and takes up valuable space that could be used for additional housing and pedestrian and biking infrastructure. 

The Department of City Planning is considering eliminating parking minimums in downtown Los Angeles. But Dedousis thinks a bolder step needs to be taken.

"Instead of simply removing parking minimums, L.A. should introduce parking maximums downtown. New buildings would still be allowed to construct on-site parking, but only up to a limit. Developments requiring more parking than the maximum could lease it from existing buildings and garages with surpluses," he says.

In addition, officials should extend such a policy beyond downtown to the rest of the city. "L.A. needs its leaders to take a stand. We have enough homes for cars. Let’s prioritize homes and mobility for people," argues Dedousis.