Chapter 10.20 PARKING

Pursuant to provisions of the California Vehicle Code, the city desires to regulate and enforce the parking of motor vehicles on public roadways and on publicly owned or operated parking facilities. Such regulation and enforcement is necessary to ensure the proper flow of traffic on public streets and to ensure the proper use of parking privileges on publicly owned or operated parking facilities. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.020 Authority.

Sections 22500 et al. of Chapter 9 of the California Vehicle Code authorize local public agencies to regulate the parking of vehicles on public roadways and on publicly owned or operated parking facilities. Specifically:

Section 22507 allows local authorities to regulate parking on public roadways;

Section 22519 allows local authorities to regulate parking within publicly owned or operated parking facilities;

Section 22503 allows local authorities to permit angle parking on public streets;

Section 22508 allows local authorities to establish parking meter zones and collect fees on public roadways.

Sections 40200 through 40230 of Division 17 of the California Vehicle Code makes the city, or its designate, responsible for the processing of parking citations, collection of fines and the appeals process should someone contest a parking citation. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.030 Definitions.

Within the content of this chapter, the following words shall have meanings as defined:

“Person” means the driver, owner or other person in control of any vehicle.

“Processing agency” means the party responsible for the processing of the notices of parking violations and notices of delinquent parking violations.

“Public parking facility” means any facility designed and intended for the parking of motor vehicles which is owned by the city or which is privately owned but operated by the city, and which is held open for common public use.

“Recreational vehicle” means any vehicle, whether self-propelled or drawn by another motor vehicle, which is originally designed or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, and is designed for travel on public thoroughfares at the maximum allowable speed limit. The term “recreational vehicle” includes, but is not limited to, motorhomes, mini-motorhomes, travel trailers, 5th-wheel trailers, campers and tent-trailers.

“Utility trailer” means any vehicle that is not self-propelled and was originally designed or altered to be drawn by another motor vehicle, which is not designed for human habitation, but rather for the hauling of rubbish, boats, motorcycles, and like equipment.

“Vehicle” means any device used for the transportation of persons or property as defined in Section 670 of the California Vehicle Code, and which is subject to registration requirements under Division 3 of the California Vehicle Code. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

Article II. On-street Parking

10.20.100 General.

Whenever any section of any public roadway has been designated by the city manager and marked as required below to restrict the parking of vehicles, it is unlawful for any person to park any vehicle in violation of the indicated restrictions. The indicated restricted roadway shall be designated by the city manager in writing and be filed with the police department. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.110 Curb markings and signs.

The city manager may designate portions or sections of certain streets as restricted parking areas. When such areas have been designated, they shall be marked by signs or curb markings, as described below:

A. Red curb—No person shall park, stop or leave standing, any vehicle at any time;

B. Green curb—No person shall park any vehicle for a period exceeding twenty consecutive minutes, except that when signs are posted indicating another limit, no vehicle shall be parked in excess of that limit;

C. Yellow curb—No person shall park, stop or leave standing any vehicle except for the purpose of loading or unloading freight, and then only for the amount of time needed for same, but not to exceed in any event a period of twenty consecutive minutes;

D. White curb—No person shall park, stop or leave standing any vehicle, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, and then only for the time actually necessary for same, but in no event to exceed a period of five consecutive minutes;

E. Blue curb—No person shall park, stop or leave standing any vehicle, unless such vehicle displays either a disabled person’s license plate or a disabled person’s placard issued by the state of California to that vehicle or to one of the occupants of that vehicle;

F. White sign with green border and printing—No person shall park any vehicle for a period in excess of twenty consecutive minutes, or in excess of any other time limit as designated in the upper lefthand corner of the posted sign;

G. White sign with red border and printing—No person shall park, stop or leave standing any vehicle at any time, except during hours specifically exempted on the posted sign;

H. Blue sign with white outline and white profile view of an occupied wheelchair—No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, unless such vehicle displays a disabled person’s license plate or disabled person’s placard issued to that vehicle or one of the vehicles’ occupants. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.120 Designated spaces.

The city manager is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings on any public roadway. When such markings are in place, no vehicle may be parked, stopped or left standing except within a single space, unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.130 Angle parking.

The city manager may designate portions of some public roadways for angle or diagonal parking. When markings are in place to indicate angle parking, no vehicle may be parked except at the angle indicated by the markings, within a single marked space, and with the front wheel nearest the curb no farther than six inches from the curb. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.140 Taxi stands.

The city manager may designate any portion of a public street as a taxi stand. Any area so designated and marked by posted signs shall be for the exclusive use of a licensed commercial taxicab and no other vehicle may be parked in that area. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.150 Metered parking.

The city council may, by separate ordinance, establish any portion of any public street as a metered parking area, and may set the rate of fees for use of such area. Whenever any parking meter zone has been established, and meters installed, no vehicle may be stopped, parked or left standing in any metered parking space when the adjacent meter shows a signal indicating that such space is illegally in use. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.200 Specific regulations.

Specific regulations for on-street parking are set out in Sections 10.20.210 through 10.20.270. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.210 Sutter Street.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle upon Sutter Street between the intersections of Riley Street and Decatur Street at any time, except as necessary for the loading or unloading of cargo or passengers, and then only for the amount of time needed for same. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.220 Folsom Dam Road.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on any portion of Folsom Dam or Folsom Dam Road between East Natoma Street and Folsom-Auburn Road, including the one-way portion commonly known as Bug Camp Road. This prohibition shall not apply to the designated parking areas with the observation point viewing area, nor to vehicles of the U.S. Department of the Interior, or the state of California, used for maintenance or security purposes. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.230 Folsom Dam Road—Vehicle removal.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, any vehicle parked in violation of Section 10.20.220 may be removed at the owner’s expense. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.240 Sale or transfer of parked vehicles.

No person shall sell or transfer, or attempt to sell or transfer, any vehicle parked on any public roadway, vacant lot, public or private parking facility, or other commercial or industrial property, except upon a lot operated by a licensed car dealership, or as otherwise permitted in this code. No person shall sell or transfer or attempt to sell or transfer any vehicle parked upon any residential property, unless such person is a resident of that property. This section shall not apply to any vehicle parked in any location for less than two hours.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any vehicle which has a “For Sale” sign displayed in the window and is legally parked for the purpose of conducting other lawful business in the immediate area. This exemption is valid only when the occupant of the vehicle is in the immediate area, and in the process of conducting such business. (Ord. 1104 § 2, 2008: Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.270 Utility trailers.

No person shall leave standing any utility trailer on a public roadway without having a vehicle attached to the utility trailer capable of immediately towing it at the request of a public safety officer. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.280 Storage of recreational vehicle or utility trailer prohibited.

A. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 9.100.040, no person shall store or cause to be stored any recreational vehicle or utility trailer upon any city street accessible by vehicular traffic, whether or not said street is publicly or privately maintained.

B. A recreational vehicle or utility trailer shall be considered stored when it has been left standing upon a street without having been moved at least one mile within a seventy-two-consecutive-hour period. In order to be considered moved, the recreational vehicle or utility trailer must be moved and remain at least one mile away from its original location at the conclusion of the seventy-two-hour period for a minimum of twenty-four hours.

C. A person may request, up to a maximum of four times per year, a seventy-two-hour extension permit from the city to park a recreational vehicle or utility trailer on the street; provided, that the size and the condition of the recreational vehicle or utility trailer and the parking location do not otherwise pose a public hazard. If issued, the extension permit shall be conspicuously displayed upon the recreational vehicle or utility trailer for which it was issued.

D. In addition to other penalties and remedies available by law, a violation of any provision of this section shall be punishable by a parking penalty in the amount of fifty dollars for the first violation, one hundred dollars for the second violation within one year of the initial violation, and three hundred dollars for the third and each subsequent violation within the aforementioned one-year period.

E. After the third violation within the aforementioned one-year period, the recreational vehicle or utility trailer shall be deemed abandoned. The code enforcement officer shall have the authority to serve abatement notices and the chief of police will cause the abatement and removal in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Chapter 10.16. (Ord. 1261 § 2, 2017)

10.20.290 Residential permit parking program.

A. A residential permit parking program in the historic district is established in areas designated by resolution of the city council, which may be amended from time to time, to provide preferential parking to residents of those specified areas by exempting them from limitations or prohibitions established for parking of vehicles in such areas.

B. Unless displaying a valid permit issued under this section or otherwise exempt under Section 10.20.300, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in areas designated for residential permit parking during the times set by resolution of the city council.

C. For the purpose of the residential permit parking program, vehicles include any device designed for transportation such as, for example, motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as carts and trailers whether or not attached to a vehicle. (Ord. 1331 § 2, 2022)

10.20.295 Permits to be issued.

Upon payment of a fee to be set and amended from time to time by resolution of the city council, the city shall issue residential parking permits, in a quantity to be specified by resolution of the city council, to residents residing in the designated areas. When such permit is appropriately displayed, that permitted vehicle shall be exempt from any parking limitation or prohibition in effect at that location. Permits shall not exempt residents from all other provisions of the California Vehicle Code or Folsom Municipal Code in force and effect within such area notwithstanding the permit program. (Ord. 1331 § 3, 2022)

10.20.300 Exemption for official duties.

The following vehicles shall be exempt from the permit parking requirements while used in the performance of their official duties:

A. City, county, state, federal government vehicles.

B. Emergency vehicles.

C. Public/private ambulances.

D. Utility company vehicles (e.g., natural gas, electrical, telephone, internet, etc.).

E. Federal and private mail and package delivery vehicles.

F. Any private commercial business vehicle performing a service (e.g., landscaping, construction, pest control, housekeeping, pool cleaning, etc.). (Ord. 1331 § 4, 2022)

Article III. Public Parking Facilities

10.20.310 Regulations.

The city manager may establish regulations as needed or desired to restrict parking within any public parking facility. Regulations may include hours of operation, time limits and other restrictions as needed. The parking regulations shall be in writing and filed with the city clerk. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.320 Permits.

The city council may, by resolution, establish any public parking facility, or portion thereof, as a “permit only” parking facility, and may establish eligibility requirements and fees for such permits. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.330 Parking meters and fees.

The city council may, by resolution, establish fees for the use of any public parking facility. They may establish regulations for the collection of fees, by attendant or by parking meter. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.340 Posting of regulations.

All regulations and fees applicable to any public parking facility shall be prominently posted at every entrance to such facility. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.350 Violation.

When regulations and fees applicable to any public parking facility are properly posted, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in violation of the posted restrictions. No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in any public parking facility when the required fees for parking such vehicle have not been paid. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.360 Manner of driving.

In any public parking facility, it is unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle in excess of any posted speed limit, contrary to the signed traffic flow pattern, or in violation of any provision of Division 11, “Rules of the Road,” of the California Vehicle Code. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.370 Removal of vehicles.

Whenever signs have been posted pursuant to Section 22651(n) of the California Vehicle Code at every entrance to a public parking facility, the Folsom police department may cause the removal of any vehicle in violation of regulations applicable to that facility. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.380 Prohibition on payment for parking in public parking facilities within the historic district—Historic district defined.

A. No payment shall be required for parking within any public parking facilities located within the historic district of downtown Folsom.

B. For purposes of this chapter, the historic district shall be as defined in Chapter 17.52.

C. Nothing in this section shall limit the city manager’s authority to permit paid parking for special events. (Ord. 1162 § 2, 2012)

Article IV. Miscellaneous Regulations

10.20.410 Slugs and substitutes.

It is unlawful for any person to deposit or cause to be deposited in any parking meter or other fee collection device, any slug, device or other substitute for any United States coin, or any city parking token. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.420 Tampering.

It is unlawful for any person, other than an authorized employee of the city, to open or remove fees from any parking meter or other fee-collection device. It is unlawful for any person to damage, injure, tamper with, break, impair the usefulness of, or wilfully destroy any parking meter or other fee-collection device. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.430 Improper use.

No person shall hitch any animal or vehicle to any parking meter, or use any parking meter or other fee-collection device for any purpose other than the payment of fees. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.440 Emergency regulation.

Whenever the city manager shall determine that excessive traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of any public or private assemblage or function, or for any other reason, the city manager shall have the power and authority to temporarily prohibit parking on any street or public parking facility, providing that signs are placed advising of the temporary prohibition. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.450 Suspension.

The city manager may, during public or private assemblages or other functions, suspend the enforcement of the provisions and regulations contained in this chapter. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.460 Liability.

The provisions of this chapter are not intended, nor shall they be construed, to create a special relationship between the city and the user of any parking space or public parking facility. Neither shall the provisions of this chapter be construed as a waiver of any immunity provided governmental agencies for tort liability contained in the California Government Code.

The city shall not be liable for theft of or damage to any vehicle parked in any provided parking space or in any public parking facility, nor for the theft of or damage to any property contained in any such vehicle. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.470 Parking on lawns and yards.

A. Unless specifically exempt under subsection B of this section, no vehicle, recreational vehicle, utility trailer, motorcycle, tractor, trailer, camper, or other mode of transportation, whether or not motorized or operational, shall be parked or stored on a front yard, side yard, lawn, landscaped areas visible from the public right-of-way, or grass, except on a permanent driveway or parking place specifically designed and approved by the city for the purpose of parking vehicles and constructed of concrete, paver blocks or other paved surface approved by the city.

B. Provided that written permission is first obtained from the city, which may contain reasonable conditions, subsection A of this section shall not apply to nonprofit organizations actively engaged in providing charitable services to city residents.

C. The installation of a driveway or parking place on any residential property must preserve at least forty percent of lawn, grass, or other landscaping and permeable surfaces in the front yard setback area of the property. (Ord. 1261 § 3, 2017)

Article V. Penalties

10.20.510 General.

The violation of any section of this chapter, unless otherwise specified, shall be punishable by a parking penalty of twenty-five dollars for each violation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, violations that occur within the portion of the historic district bounded by, and to include, Coloma Street, Leidesdorff Street, Folsom Boulevard, and Natoma Street shall be punishable by a parking penalty of seventy-five dollars for each violation. (Ord. 1318 § 2, 2021; Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.520 Violation of Section 10.20.410.

Any violation of Section 10.20.410 of this chapter shall be an infraction. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.530 Violation of Section 10.20.420 or 10.20.360.

Any violation of Section 10.20.420 or 10.20.360 of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in this code. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.540 Violation of California Vehicle Code parking regulations.

All California Vehicle Code parking violations shall be punishable by a parking penalty of twenty-five dollars for each violation, except the following sections:

Section 22507.8a—Handicapped Parking Space: The penalty shall be one hundred dollars for each violation;

Section 22500(L)—Blocking Wheelchair Access to Sidewalk: The penalty shall be one hundred dollars for each violation;

Section 22500.1—Fire Lane: The penalty shall be thirty-eight dollars for each violation;

Section 5204(a)—Current Registration Tags Not Properly Displayed: The penalty shall be sixty dollars for each violation. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.550 Late payment fees.

Failure to respond to a parking citation within twenty-five calendar days will result in a ten dollar late payment fee added to the penalty and a delinquency notice being mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle to which the citation was issued. Failure to respond to the delinquency notice within the specified time will result in an additional late payment fee of $15 added to the penalty. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

10.20.560 Collection.

The penalties prescribed in this chapter shall be collected by the city or by a public entity or private vendor acting pursuant to a contract with the city. (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)

Article VI. Administrative Adjudication Procedure

10.20.610 General.

The city council may establish, by resolution, the administrative adjudication procedure required by Chapter 1244, Statutes of 1992. The city manager shall establish qualifications for the examiner and shall appoint the examiner referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 40215(b)(3). (Ord. 794 § 1 (part), 1994)