Chapter 4.15 PARKING REGULATIONS

A. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two hours.

B. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a consecutive period of seventy-two hours, any member of the police department authorized by the chief of police may remove the vehicle from the street in the manner and subject to the requirements of Sections 22651 and 22850 through 22854 of the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.01).

4.15.020 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the purposes of:

A. Displaying such vehicle for sale;

B. Repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency;

C. For the principal purpose of selling or advertising for sale any product or commodity, or for advertising any business or other attraction, or for directing the attention of people to the location of any business or other attraction;

D. Displaying posters, billboards, political, commercial or real estate notices, signs, advertisements or the like. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.02).

4.15.030 Unlawful parking – Peddlers, vendors.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall stand or park any vehicle, wagon or pushcart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunch wagon or eating car or vehicle, on any portion of any street within this city, except that such vehicles, wagons or pushcarts may stand or park only at the request of a bona fide purchaser for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes at any one place. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons delivering such articles upon order of, or by agreement with, a customer from a store or other fixed place of business or distribution.

B. No person shall park or stand on any street, any lunch wagon, eating cart or vehicle, or pushcart from which peanuts, popcorn, candy or other articles of food are sold or offered for sale without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the chief of police, who shall designate the specific location in which such cart shall stand.

C. No person shall park or stand any vehicle or wagon used or intended to be used in the transportation of property for hire on any street while awaiting patronage for such vehicle or wagon without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the chief of police. The permit shall designate the specific location where such vehicle may stand.

D. Whenever any permit is granted under the provisions of this section and a particular location to park or stand is specified therein, no person shall park or stand any vehicle, wagon, or pushcart on any location other than as designated in such permit. In the event that the holder of any such permit is convicted in any court of competent jurisdiction for violating any of the provisions of this section, such permit shall be forthwith revoked by the city council upon the filing of the record of such conviction with the city council and no permit shall thereafter be issued to such person until six months have elapsed from the date of such revocation. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.03).

4.15.040 Parking of commercial vehicles.

No person shall park any commercial vehicle of more than two tons unladen weight, and no person shall park any truck, except a pickup truck, or any trailer, semi-trailer or house trailer, regardless of its weight, in, upon or along any public streets within the city for more than five consecutive hours, except:

A. While loading or unloading property, and time in addition to such five-hour period is necessary to complete such work; or

B. When such vehicle is parked in connection with and in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked, and time in addition to such five-hour period is reasonably necessary to complete such service. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.04).

4.15.050 Parking vehicles on private property.

A. No person shall park any vehicle in a private driveway or on private property without the direct or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such driveway or property.

B. No person shall park or leave any commercial vehicle, as defined in this section, upon any land, as defined in this section, for a period of more than twenty-four hours without a permit from the chief of police, unless such vehicle is properly housed or garaged within an enclosure.

C. For the purposes of this section, “commercial vehicle” means and includes any house trailer, regardless of weight, and any commercial vehicle, as such is defined in the Vehicle Code of this state, of more than two tons unladen weight. “Land,” as used in this section, means and includes any lot or parcel of land in any residential section of the city, other than a public street, whether owned by the owner of the commercial vehicle herein referred to, or otherwise, or whether such lot or parcel of land is improved with a dwelling or other building or buildings, or not, and includes any private driveway in any residential section of the city.

D. Any person desiring a permit to park or leave a commercial vehicle upon any land, as defined in this section, for a period of more than twenty-four hours, may make an application to the chief of police for such a permit. The chief of police may deny such application, or may grant such permit for such length of time and upon such conditions as (s)he deems proper, and shall issue to such person, if such permit is granted, an identification tag to be placed or fixed upon such commercial vehicle so permitted to be parked. In order to grant the permit provided for in this section, the chief of police shall find that parking pursuant to such permit will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort and general welfare of the city and persons residing in the neighborhood where such permit will be used.

E. Upon any member of the police department ascertaining that any person is violating the terms of this section, (s)he shall cause a citation to be issued and placed in or upon said commercial vehicle. It is declared unlawful for any person after the issuance of such citation to park or leave any commercial vehicle upon any land contrary to the provisions of this section without a permit from the chief of police. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.05).

4.15.060 Parking on city property.

A. Whenever the city engineer determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city’s business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on city property be prohibited, limited or restricted, the city engineer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that the parking, stopping or standing of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.

B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place in accordance with Section 22650(m), California Vehicle Code, any vehicle operated or parked contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs shall be subject to removal. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.06).

4.15.070 Bicycle parking zones.

When the city engineer determines that the establishment of a bicycle parking zone is reasonably necessary or desirable for the regulation of traffic or to provide facilities for the temporary parking of bicycles being operated upon the public streets, or to safeguard life or property, (s)he is authorized to set aside a space on the street not more than thirty-six feet in length for the parking of bicycles during such hours of such days as are found to be best suited for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in this section. When a bicycle parking zone is so established, the city engineer shall cause appropriate signs to be posted, giving notice that parking of other vehicles is prohibited. No person shall stop, stand or park any other vehicle in front of such zone while such signs are in place. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.07).

4.15.080 Emergency parking signs.

A. Whenever the chief of police determines that traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the chief of police shall have power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the chief of police shall direct during the time such temporary signs are in place. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of such emergency and the chief of police shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place in accordance with requirements of the California Vehicle Code, any vehicle operated or parked contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs shall be subject to removal. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.08).

4.15.090 Parking, stopping or standing adjacent to schools.

A. The city engineer is authorized to direct the erecting of signs indicating no parking, stopping or standing of vehicles upon that side of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his/her opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.

B. When official signs are erected indicating no parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.09).

4.15.100 Parking prohibited on narrow streets.

A. The city engineer is authorized to direct the placing of signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty-two feet.

B. When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized in this section, no person shall park his/her vehicle on such street in violation of any such sign or marking. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.10).

4.15.110 Parking on hills.

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a street when upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.11).

4.15.120 Stopping or parking prohibited – Signs required.

The city engineer shall appropriately designate and direct that markings indicating restrictions on stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle in any location where (s)he determines that such restrictions are necessary in order to eliminate traffic hazards. When so marked, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such place. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.12).

4.15.130 Permit for loading or unloading at an angle to the curb.

The city engineer is authorized to issue special permits to allow the backing of a vehicle to the curb for the purpose of loading or unloading merchandise or materials subject to the terms and conditions of such permit. Such permits may be issued either to the owner or lessee of real property or to the owner of the vehicle and shall grant to such person the privilege as stated and authorized in the permit. It is unlawful for any permittee or other person to violate any of the special terms or conditions of any such permit. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.13).

4.15.140 Curb markings to indicate stopping, standing and parking regulations.

A. The city engineer is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to order placed, and when required shall order placed, the following curb markings to indicate parking, stopping or standing regulations, and such curb marking shall have the meanings as herein set forth:

1. Red indicates no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone;

2. White indicates no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose except as follows:

a. Loading or unloading of passengers for a period which shall not exceed three minutes,

b. Depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox;

3. Yellow indicates no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided, that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not exceed three minutes and the loading or unloading of materials shall not exceed twenty minutes;

4. Blue indicates parking limited exclusively to the vehicles of physically handicapped as described in Sections 22511.5 and 22511.9 of the Vehicle Code;

5. Green means no stopping, standing or parking for longer than twenty minutes at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays except as follows:

When the hours of operation of businesses benefitting from the establishment of twenty-minute zones require the extension of hours or the enforcement on Sundays and/or holidays, the city engineer shall have signs placed in green zones clearly stating the effective hours and days for the enforcement of the twenty minute parking limitation.

B. When the city engineer, as authorized under this chapter, has caused curb markings and/or signs to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this section. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.14).

4.15.150 Authority to establish loading zones.

A. The city engineer is authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows:

1. At any place in any business district;

2. Elsewhere in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place used for the purpose of public assembly;

3. When such zone is in front of a hotel or motel the restrictions shall apply at all times;

4. When such zone is in front of a theater the restrictions shall apply at all times except when such theater is closed.

B. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length on one side of the street in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes.

C. When the city engineer, as authorized under this chapter, has caused curb markings to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this section. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.15).

4.15.160 Effect of permission to load or unload.

A. Permission granted in this chapter to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial vehicles as defined in Section 260 of the Vehicle Code and shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, and in no event for more than twenty minutes.

B. The loading or unloading of materials shall apply to commercial deliveries, and the delivery or pickup of express, parcel post packages and United States mail.

C. Permission granted in this chapter to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage but shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event for more than three minutes.

D. Within the total time limits above specified, the provisions of this section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and reasonable loading or unloading but without permitting abuse of the privilege granted by this chapter. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.16).

4.15.170 Stopping, standing or parking in any alley.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of persons or materials in any alley. For the purposes of this section, “alley” shall be as defined in Section 110, California Vehicle Code. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.17).

4.15.180 Bus zones to be established.

A. The city engineer is authorized to establish bus zones for the loading and unloading of passengers to/from buses and to determine the location of the bus zones subject to the directives and limitations set forth in this section.

B. The word “bus” as used in this section means any motor bus, motor coach or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

C. No bus zone shall exceed eighty feet in length except when satisfactory evidence has been presented to the city engineer showing the necessity for a greater length. The city engineer may extend the length of bus zones to not more than a total length of one hundred twenty-five feet.

D. Bus zones shall normally be established on the far side of an intersection.

E. No bus zone shall be established opposite and to the right of a safety zone.

F. The city engineer shall direct the placement of red paint upon the top and side of all curbs and places specified as a bus zone. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.18).

4.15.190 Parking space markings.

A. The city engineer is authorized to direct the installation and maintenance of parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbings where authorized parking is permitted.

B. When such parking space markings are placed in the highway, subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no vehicle shall stop, stand or park other than within a single marked space except in the case of temporary loading and unloading of articles or passengers. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 729, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-3.19).

4.15.200 Definition – Limited curb parking space.

A. For the purpose of this section, a “limited curb parking space” means an area open for lawful parking along side of, and adjacent to, a curb, which area is not of sufficient length to permit two or more vehicles to freely move for parking therein at the same time.

B. Any person seeking to park his/her vehicle in a limited curb parking space, whose vehicle arrives at the parking space prior to any other vehicle, and who proceeds beyond the space a distance not to exceed ten feet for the purpose of backing the vehicle therein, shall have the right-of-way over any person driving or attempting to drive any other vehicle directly into such limited curb parking space or who in any manner obstructs such limited curb parking space and the driver of such other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to the driver who first arrived at the parking space. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.20).

4.15.210 Angle parking on certain streets.

A. Whenever the city engineer determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city’s business or the public safety or welfare requires, he/she shall designate and describe any street, or portion thereof, upon which angle parking is permitted. The city engineer shall, subject to the concurrence of the city council, order the marking of pavement or the installation of signs on such street indicating the angle at which vehicles shall be parked. Within the limits of any street, or portion thereof, upon which angle parking is designated, the city engineer may designate certain areas for no parking or parallel parking when, in his/her opinion, the width of the roadway does not permit safe operation with angle parking in place.

B. When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as provided in this section, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 613, § 6; 1976 Code § 4-3.21).

4.15.220 Parking time limited on municipal off-street parking lots.

Whenever the city engineer determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city’s business or a reasonable flow or turnover of traffic requires that parking or standing of vehicles on the municipal off-street parking lots in the city be limited or restricted, the city engineer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that the parking of vehicles on the off-street parking lots is thus limited or restricted. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no persons shall park or stand any vehicle on the off-street parking lots contrary to the direction or provisions of such signs. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.22).

4.15.230 Parking time limited on certain enumerated streets.

A. When authorized signs are in place giving notice of restrictions on time periods for parking, it is unlawful for any person to cause, allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name or operated or controlled by him/her to be parked in any parking space upon any street for a period of time longer than the designated time period except as noted on the signs.

B. Whenever a notice of parking violation has been issued pursuant to subsection (A) of this section, it shall be unlawful to continue to park such vehicle for any additional period of time.

C. The city engineer shall maintain an inventory of streets where signs placing restrictions on time periods for parking have been posted. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 613, § 7; 1976 Code § 4-3.23).

4.15.240 Parking prohibited two a.m. to six a.m. on certain streets.

A. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle on any street so signed between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. on any day except Sundays and holidays.

B. The city engineer shall maintain an inventory of streets where signs are in place prohibiting stopping, standing or parking of vehicles between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 613, § 8; 1976 Code § 4-3.24).

4.15.250 Parking prohibited at all times on certain streets.

A. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle at any time upon a city street so signed.

B. The city engineer shall maintain an inventory of streets where signs prohibiting parking at all times have been posted. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 613, § 9; 1976 Code § 4-3.25).

4.15.260 Stopping, standing or parking prohibited when street used for other purposes.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any street where the use of such street or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic; or where the use of the street or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, or for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street, or for the installation of underground utilities, and the parking of a vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided, that signs giving notice of such parking restrictions are erected or placed upon the street at least twenty-four hours before the time such restriction is to take effect. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.26).

4.15.270 Removal of vehicles.

When streets are posted as provided in MMC 4.15.260 and the signs give notice that vehicles parked thereupon will be towed away and the signs are erected or placed upon the street at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal, any police officer or parking enforcement officer may remove or cause to be removed any vehicle parked or left standing upon streets so posted. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.27).

4.15.280 Parking enforcement markings – Removal and prohibited evasion.

No person shall remove, obliterate or conceal any chalk mark or other distinguishing mark used by any police officer or other officer or employee of the city in connection with the enforcement of the parking regulations of this title for the purpose of evading any such regulation or regulations. Any vehicle already parked in a parking spot that is moved within that parking spot and then reparked again in the same spot during the limited parking period shall be deemed to have remained stationary for the purpose of evading the parking regulations in this title. Any vehicle parked with the odometer obscured from view from without the vehicle shall also be presumed to have remained stationary for the purpose of evading the parking regulations in this title. (Ord. 604, § 2, Amended by Ord. 675, § 1; 1976 Code § 4-3.28).

4.15.290 Vision safety parking zones – Establishment – Unlawful acts.

A. The city engineer is authorized to establish vision safety parking zones and to provide for the placement of signs marking the limits of such zones.

B. It is unlawful for any vehicle, except passenger vehicles (including station wagons) less than six feet in height with windows on all four sides and which are transparent and unobstructed, to park in an area designated as a vision safety parking zone. (Ord. 604, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.29).

4.15.300 Parking prohibited in fire lanes.

No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle in a fire safety lane on private or public property when such lane has been required by the city and has been designated by appropriate signs or markings as delineated in California Vehicle Code Section 22500.1. (Ord. 662, § 2; 1976 Code § 4-3.30).

4.15.310 Nonelectric vehicles prohibited in spaces designated for electric vehicle parking.

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle which is not an electric vehicle in any space designated exclusively for electric vehicle charging. As used herein, the term “electric vehicle” means any motor vehicle registered to operate on California public roadways and that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid or an off-board source that is stored on-board for motive purposes. “Electric vehicle” includes, but is not limited to, battery-powered electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles, and electric motorcycles. (Ord. 764, § 1).

4.15.320 Restrictions on parking electric vehicles in designated spaces.

No person shall park or leave standing any electric vehicle, as defined in MMC 4.15.310, in any space designated exclusively for electric vehicle charging, for longer than two hours. The vehicle must be plugged in for charging while parked in such space. (Ord. 764, § 2).