Chapter 10.44 STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING*

When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle between the hours and/or days specified on such signs. Any vehicle parked in violation of this section shall be subject to immediate impoundment of the vehicle at the owner’s expense in addition to any other penalty provided by Section 10.44.220. (Ord. 2009-22 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.020 Parking prohibited on portions of Puget Street and Northern Street.

No person shall park a vehicle at any time on:

Street	Extent of Restriction	Side of Street
Northern Street	Monday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	Both sides between Metcalf and Puget as identified on Exhibit A* attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter
Puget Street	Monday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.	West side, 50 feet from NW corner of Puget and Northern Streets

* Approximate location of restricted parking shown on Exhibit A; placement of restricted parking signs or other markings will control the actual location of restricted parking areas for enforcement.

(Ord. 2020-22 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.030 Residential parking zones—Authority.

The city may, at its discretion, establish a restricted parking zone in an area where any of the following instances occur:

A. On-street parking is reserved for the exclusive use of residents in prescribed vicinity, their visitors, and service vehicles serving such residents.

B. On-street parking is reserved during certain posted hours for such exclusive use and available at all other times without restrictions.

C. Time limits are established for on-street parking which apply to all vehicles owned or used by such residents, their visitors, or service vehicles serving such residents.

In any restricted parking zone, the city may issue permits or other means of identification, maintain lists of vehicles used by residents, or adopt any other reasonable means of distinguishing vehicles that may validly be parked in any restricted parking zone from other vehicles. The establishment of restricted parking zones shall not limit parking of vehicles displaying special license plates or placard pursuant to RCW 46.16.381. Restricted parking zones shall be appropriately signed and/or marked. The city clerk-treasurer is authorized to promulgate rules regarding the issuance of permits. (Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.040 Residential parking zones—Violation.

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in violation of the posted or marked restrictions or when a permit or other authorization issued by the city is required as a condition for parking, unless the same permit or other authorization or special license plates or placard issued pursuant to RCW 46.16.381 is displayed in a prominent place on the vehicle. (Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.050 Residential parking zones—Abuse of privileges.

No person shall, for any valuable consideration, offer or agree to authorize or permit any person to park a vehicle in any residential parking zone. No person shall for any valuable consideration transfer or authorize to the use of any permit or other identification issued by the city authorizing a vehicle to park in any residential parking zone.

Any person to whom a permit or other authorization is granted to park in a residential parking zone shall be strictly liable for the compliance with its terms and conditions and complying with all applicable ordinances. In any of the following instances, such permit or other authorization issued shall be revoked if any person to whom such permit is issued or granted:

A. Offers or agrees to authorize or permit any person to park a vehicle in any restricted parking zone for any monetary consideration; or

B. Transfers for money the use of any permit or other identification issued by the city authorizing a vehicle to park in any restricted parking zone; or

C. Allows any person under their control to perform the acts contained in subsection A or B of this section; or

D. Allows a permit or other authorization issued to them to be used.

No new permit will be issued or other authorization granted to such person for a period of one year. (Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.060 Residential parking zone—Exclusive use by residents—Designation of zones.

Upon the following streets, no vehicle shall be parked at any time except those vehicles with a permit or other authorization issued by the city as required as a condition for parking or a special license plate or placard issued pursuant to RCW 46.16.381 is displayed in a prominent place on the vehicle.

Street	Extent of Restriction	Side of Street
Third Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Fidalgo to Jameson and east side from Jameson to Bennett and east side from Talcott to alley between Talcott and Nelson and west side from Talcott to Nelson
Fourth Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Fidalgo to Bennet and east side from Bennett to Talcott and west side from Talcott to the alley between Talcott and Nelson
Fifth Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	West side from Jameson to Talcott
Talcott Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Third to Fifth Street
Nelson Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Third Street to Fifth Street
Bennett Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Fourth Street to Fifth Street and south side from Third Street to Fourth Street
Jameson Street	Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.	Both sides from Third Street to Fifth Street and south side 150 feet from Third Street west

(Ord. 1713-11 § 1, 2011: Ord. 1583-07 § 1, 2007: Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007)

10.44.080 Making business deliveries on Metcalf Street.

It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any motor vehicle to make deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise therefrom to the front entrance of any business establishment on Metcalf Street within the city, if such business establishment has a rear or side entrance upon any other street upon any alley or public place. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.090 Painting parking areas.

The street superintendent shall keep parking areas painted on either side of Metcalf and Murdock Streets between State Street and the Great Northern Railway, and on State Street, Woodworth and Ferry Streets between Murdock and Eastern Avenues. The parking area on State Street shall be eight feet in width, and on the remaining designated streets shall be thirteen feet in width, extending each distance from each curb outward toward the center of the street. The portion of the street between the parking areas shall be the area reserved for moving traffic, and is designated herein as the traffic area. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.100 Parking on Metcalf Street.

It is unlawful for the owner or operator of any vehicle to park or stand such vehicle within any of the parking areas on Metcalf Street within the city, if such vehicle is of such length or if it is parked in such manner that it extends more than two feet beyond the limits of the parking area into the traffic area. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.110 Division into parking stalls.

The street superintendent shall divide with painted parallel lines the parking area on all of the streets except State Street into parking stalls of sufficient width to accommodate an automobile parked at an angle of forty-five degrees with the curb, and it shall be the duty of the owner and/or operator of every motor vehicle parked on the streets above designated upon which parking stalls have been painted under the direction of the street superintendent, to so park such motor vehicle that it shall be parallel with the marginal lines of such parking stalls, and wholly within the limits of a single parking stall, and with the right front when of such motor vehicle touching the curb. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.120 No parking on north side of certain streets.

Hereafter no person shall park any automobile, truck, wagon, trailer or other vehicle at any time on the north side any street or highway running east and west, or generally east and west, in the city, where there are curbstones on both sides of the street, and the distance between curbstones is twenty-four feet, or less, measured at right angles. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.130 No parking signs on north side of certain streets.

The police chief shall erect at least one sign suitably worded on the north side of all streets where parking is forbidden hereby, or in the alternative, or at the same time, cause the curbstone on the north side of such streets to be painted or otherwise marked to indicate that parking is not permitted. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.150 Parking while street is posted or barricaded against parking.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon, team or other vehicle, on any part or portion of any street, alley, sidewalk or other public place in the city, for any period during the time the same may have been blocked off and posted or barricaded against parking by the police, street, fire or other departments of the city, for the purpose of aiding in the cleaning and repairing of, and in aid of the safety of the public on any such street or public place. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.155 Sidewalk cafes.

Intent. Allowing the use of public sidewalks in front of a business in the central business district and the urban village mixed-use overlay (UVMU), excluding state routes, as a private outdoor dining area, when in conformance with the criteria in this section. Sidewalk cafes are defined in the zoning code, Title 17, and are intended to be an attribute to the downtown business district and UVMU. Artistic and aesthetic embellishment is expected. Sidewalk cafes are subject to the following conditions:

A. Sidewalk cafes located on the sidewalk may be placed within the right-of-way year round.

B. Uses. Sidewalk cafes may be approved for the following uses:

1. Private outdoor dining areas only to be used by the single business they are associated with.

C. Location. Sidewalk cafes shall only be located in front of the associated business, shall not exceed the width of the business frontage and shall be contiguous to the building.

D. Sidewalk cafes shall allow an unimpeded, minimum five-foot clear walkway outside of the dining area for passing pedestrians.

E. Construction.

1. All sidewalk cafe structures or covers shall be well-constructed with rigid, wind-resistant material so as not to pose a safety hazard within the public right-of-way.

2. Enclosures for sidewalk cafes, such as fences, railings or other barriers, shall not exceed forty-eight inches at maximum height. Covers placed over sidewalk cafes, such as awnings, shall extend no higher than eight feet above the sidewalk surface.

3. No sidewalk cafe structures shall be erected that will create traffic hazards by blocking vision clearance triangles as defined in Section 17.04.030.

4. All power installations must be code compliant. Electrical cords located on public sidewalks and pathways are specifically prohibited.

5. In no case shall any heating element be located less than three feet away from any combustible material or fuel source. All heating elements shall be listed for the intended use and used/maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All proposed heating elements shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for approval.

6. Tents or tent-like structures are specifically prohibited.

7. Because sidewalk cafes may sit on top of critical infrastructure and utilities such as gas lines, sewer and/or water mains, they shall be designed for easy removal as follows in case of emergency:

a. Material selection shall be lightweight, easy to disassemble and durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions (e.g., wood, lightweight metal, lightweight composite materials, plastic, or similar).

b. Design shall be modular to allow for the structure to be assembled and disassembled in sections.

c. Connections shall be bolted or a similar simple connection method to allow for easy removal when necessary. Permanent welding or adhesive methods are specifically prohibited.

d. Any anchoring shall be done using surface-mounted anchors or weighted bases. Permanent anchoring to the ground is specifically prohibited.

e. Cement or concrete foundations or any design that alters the existing ground surface are specifically prohibited.

8. All plans for sidewalk cafe structures or covers shall be submitted to the planning and building departments for approval prior to installation.

F. Maintenance.

1. The business owner is responsible for maintaining the safety and physical upkeep of the sidewalk cafe structure.

2. The business owner is responsible for sweeping the sidewalk area inside and around the sidewalk cafe.

3. Chairs must be removed or secured by close of business each day. Tables must be affixed, removed or secured by close of business each day.

G. Conformance with Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board Policy. Businesses may serve beer, wine or spirits in a sidewalk cafe if compliant with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board rules and policies.

H. Insurance and Liability. The applicant shall comply with all requirements of Section 12.44.050.

I. Permit Required.

1. A sidewalk cafe permit is required for use of public right-of-way for a sidewalk cafe. The permit shall be renewed annually for long-term use of the public right-of-way.

2. Upon sale of a business with an associated sidewalk cafe, the new owner shall be required to obtain a sidewalk cafe permit to continue use of the public right-of-way for the sidewalk cafe.

3. All work to be performed under any permit issued under this code shall conform to all other city codes, the current engineering standards of the engineering department and all other standards used by the city in the administration of this code.

4. As a condition of issuance of any permit or authorization which requires department approval, each applicant shall be required to consent to inspections by any appropriate city department. (Ord. 2065-23 § 1, 2024; Ord. 1795-14 § 1, 2014)

10.44.160 Parking on Metcalf Street during certain hours.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile or other vehicle on any part of Metcalf Street in the city, between State Street and Northern Avenue, for any period of time whatsoever on any day between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.165 Parking on Township Street during certain hours.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile or other vehicle on the east side of Township Street in the city, between State Street and Moore Street (SR 20), for any period of time whatsoever on Mondays between the hours of eight a.m. and ten a.m. It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile or other vehicle on the west side of Township Street in the city, between State Street and Moore Street (SR 20), for any period of time whatsoever on Fridays between the hours of eight a.m. and ten a.m. (Ord. 1669-10 § 1, 2010)

10.44.167 Parking on Hodgin Street during certain hours.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile or other vehicle on the south side and the east side of Hodgin Street in the city, between Trail Road and SR 20, for any period of time whatsoever. (Ord. 1877-17 § 1, 2017)

10.44.170 Parking on certain streets during certain hours.

It is unlawful for any person to park any motor or other vehicle continuously for longer periods of time, between the following hours, on any of the following streets or portions of streets, except on Sundays and legal holidays:

A. Metcalf Street between State Street and Northern Avenue, between nine a.m. and six p.m., three hours;

B. East side of Murdock between State and Ferry Streets, nine a.m. and six p.m., three hours;

C. West side of Murdock Street between State and Ferry Streets, between nine a.m. and six p.m., except such portion as may be designated by the city council as open for unlimited parking, three hours;

D. State Street between Murdock Street and Eastern Avenue, between nine a.m. and six p.m., except such portion as may be designated by the city council as open for unlimited parking, three hours;

E. Woodworth Street between Murdock Street and Eastern Avenue, between nine a.m. and six p.m., three hours;

F. Ferry Street between Murdock and Eastern Avenue, between nine a.m. and six p.m., except such portions as may be designated by the city council as open for unlimited parking, three hours;

G. North Reed Street between John Liner Road and Sapp Road, between nine a.m. and six p.m., three hours;

H. In the four or other number of parking stalls designated by the city council on the south side of Woodworth Street in front of the post office, between nine a.m. and six p.m., fifteen minutes;

I. Third Street, west side between Warner and Talcott Streets, Mondays to Fridays, between seventy-thirty a.m. and five p.m., two hours. (Ord. 1581-07 § 1 (part), 2007; Ord. 1480-04 § 1, 2004: Ord. 1262-96 § 1, 1996: Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.172 Time limit zones.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle for a greater time limit than is designated and posted in a particular time limit zone.

B. Time limit zones shall be designated by the public works director and time limit zones shall be so posted, with a minimum of one sign per block.

C. All streets are seventy-two-hour time limit zones unless otherwise posted. (Ord. 1874-17 § 1, 2017)

10.44.175 No parking on SR 9, SR 20, and Sapp Road.

No person shall park any automobile, truck, wagon, trailer or other vehicle at any time on State Route 9 (SR 9) and State Route 20 (SR 20) (including those portions of SR 9 and SR 20 which are also known as North Township Street and Moore Street, respectively), and Sapp Road, within the corporate limits of the city of Sedro-Woolley, except in approved parking spaces which are designated by signage or striping as such. (Ord. 1480-04 § 2, 2004)

10.44.177 Parking on the grass behind a barrier curb.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any automobile or other vehicle on the grass or landscaped portion of the city right-of-way located behind a barrier curb. (Ord. 1805-14 § 1, 2014)

10.44.178 Parking trailers unattached to a motor vehicle.

It is unlawful for any person to park or leave any trailer that is unattached to a licensed and operable motor vehicle for more than seventy-two hours on any city right-of-way. (Ord. 1805-14 § 2, 2014)

10.44.179 Time limits for parking on city rights-of-way.

Repealed by Ord. 1883-17. (Ord. 1821-15 § 1, 2015)

10.44.180 Loitering prohibited in city-owned parking lots.

It is unlawful for any person to loiter, gather or otherwise remain in a parking lot owned and/or operated or leased by the city, between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m. unless otherwise authorized by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.190 City-owned parking lots to post hours.

Each parking lot owned, operated or leased by the city for parking of the public shall have posted the hours of use as designated by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 1243-95 § 1 (part), 1995)

10.44.195 Recreational vehicles.

It shall be unlawful to occupy any recreational vehicle for residence purposes anywhere in the city, except in a duly established RV park maintained in accordance with all applicable state statutes and city ordinances; provided, however, that occupation for residence purposes on private property with written authorization of the property owner for a period of not more than thirty days shall not be construed to be a violation of this section. (Ord. 1874-17 § 2, 2017)

10.44.200 Presumption as to illegal parking.

A. In any prosecution charging a violation of any law, regulation or ordinance governing the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle, proof that the particular vehicle described in the citation or complaint was stopping, standing or parking in violation of any such law, regulation or ordinance, together with proof that the defendant named in the citation or complaint was at the time of the citation or complaint the registered owner of such vehicle, shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of such vehicle was the person who parked or placed the vehicle at the point where, and for the duration which, such violation occurred.

B. The foregoing presumption shall only apply when the procedure as prescribed in WAC 308-330-720 and 308-330-730, adopted by Chapter 10.04 (Model Traffic Ordinance) has been followed. (Ord. 1243-95 § 2, 1995)

10.44.210 Enforcement of parking regulations.

A. The parking regulations set forth in this chapter shall be enforced by the chief of police or her/his designee(s).

B. Failure to perform any act required or the performance of any prohibited act by this chapter is designated as an infraction pursuant to Chapter 46.63 RCW and shall not constitute a criminal offense. The penalty shall be as set forth by Section 10.44.220.

C. The chief of police or her/his designee(s) has the authority to issue an infraction when the parking violation is committed in the officer’s presence.

D. If any vehicle is found parked or stopped in violation of this chapter, or otherwise violates the provisions of this chapter, the chief of police or her/his designee(s) finding the vehicle shall take its regulation number (license number) and may take any other information displayed on the vehicle which may identify its user, and shall conspicuously affix to the vehicle a parking violation. A parking infraction represents a determination that a parking violation has been committed. The determination will be final unless contested as provided by the Revised Code of Washington, Court Rules and provided on the back of the infraction.

E. The chief of police or her/his designee(s) enforcing the parking regulation of the city shall, and are hereby authorized to, mark such vehicles parked from time to time to aid in the enforcement of this chapter. Such mark shall be in chalk upon the tires of said vehicle or by some other convenient method which does not damage the vehicle. It shall constitute a parking violation to interfere with, conceal, obliterate or erase any mark in violation of this section.

F. Whenever any vehicle or person is in violation of the provisions of this chapter, the department shall deliver a notice of parking infraction to the violator, or, in cases where a vehicle is found without a driver, shall conspicuously affix such notice to the vehicle. Such notice of parking infraction shall be on a form approved by the chief and shall indicate the charge, time of issuance, license number of the vehicle, identify the street upon which the violation occurred, and direct the violator to present the notice at the police department or such other location as may be designated and pay the specified fine or request a hearing as may be specified on the notice.

G. A separate violation of this chapter shall be deemed to have occurred when, after issuance of an infraction, eight or more consecutive hours pass and there has been no change in the status of the offending vehicle.

H. Impoundment. The chief of police or her/his designee(s) may take custody of a vehicle and provide for its prompt removal to a place of safety whenever a vehicle is parked in a public right-of-way or on other publicly owned or controlled property in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation.

1. If a vehicle is impounded pursuant to this subsection H, then in addition to any applicable impoundment and storage fees, the registered owner or his/her representative shall pay all outstanding fines for parking infractions issued against the vehicle for each of which a person has failed to respond, failed to appear at a requested hearing, or failed to pay. Proof of payment shall be provided directly to the Sedro-Woolley police department prior to the vehicle being released by the impound facility to the registered owner.

2. When a vehicle is impounded pursuant to this subsection H, the impound facility shall not release the vehicle unless it has received authorization from the Sedro-Woolley police department. The impounded vehicle may not be redeemed without this authorization. All applicable RCW and/or WAC provisions governing the storage and disposal of impounded vehicles shall apply if the vehicle is not redeemed pursuant to the applicable timeline requirements for the towing company.

3. When a vehicle is impounded pursuant to this subsection H, the officer directing the impound shall notify the registered owner that the impounded vehicle may not be redeemed without authorization from the Sedro-Woolley police department. A diligent attempt to notify the registered owner shall be made within twenty-four hours at the address on the vehicle’s registration if the address is within the city of Sedro-Woolley. If the registered owner’s address is outside the city limits, notification will be provided by certified mail. (Ord. 2009-22 § 2, 2022; Ord. 1874-17 § 3, 2017; Ord. 1821-15 § 2, 2015; Ord. 1243-95 § 3, 1995)

10.44.220 Penalties.

A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed a traffic infraction, and upon a final determination of having committed such infraction, such person shall be subject to a monetary penalty as set forth in subsection E of this section.

B. There shall be a penalty of twenty-five dollars for failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction for violation of the provisions of this chapter or for failure to appear at any requested hearing.

C. In addition, any vehicle parked in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to impoundment of the vehicle at the owner’s expense.

D. It is a traffic infraction, with a monetary penalty of one hundred dollars, for any person to park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on the streets knowing that time marks had been erased from such a vehicle within the preceding ten hours. A registered owner and/or last operator of a vehicle shall be presumed to know when and whether time marks had been erased from such vehicle.

E. The sections of this chapter are hereby adopted in table form in which each row of the table represents a separate section in which the titles of the adopted statutes are listed in the first column and the reference to their corresponding RCW section numbers are listed in the second column. Copies of the adopted code sections of this chapter are on file in the city clerk’s office. Each of the referenced provisions of the RCW in this table, as now in effect or as hereafter amended, is hereby adopted by reference as if fully set out herein to be a part of the Sedro-Woolley Municipal Code as stopping, standing, and parking.

Title	RCW
Parking on roadway	46.61.570(1)(a)(i)
Parking on sidewalk or street planting strip	46.61.570(1)(a)(ii)
Parking in intersection	46.61.570(1)(a)(iii)
Parking on crosswalk	46.61.570(1)(a)(iv)
Parking on safety zone	46.61.570(1)(a)(v)
Parking on street excavation or obstruction	46.61.570(1)(a)(vi)
Parking on bridge, elevated structure, or tunnel	46.61.570(1)(a)(vii)
Parking on railroad tracks	46.61.570(1)(a)(viii)
Parking in area between roadways	46.61.570(1)(a)(ix)
Parking where signs prohibit stopping	46.61.570(1)(a)(x)
Standing or parking in front of private driveway or curb	46.61.570(1)(b)(i)
Standing or parking within 15 feet of fire hydrant	46.61.570(1)(b)(ii)
Standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalk	46.61.570(1)(b)(iii)
Standing or parking within 30 feet of sign or signal	46.61.570(1)(b)(iv)
Standing or parking within 25 feet of entrance to fire station	46.61.570(1)(b)(v)
Standing or parking where signs prohibit standing	46.61.570(1)(b)(vi)
Parking, except temporarily for loading and unloading within 50 feet of nearest railroad crossing	46.61.570(1)(c)(i)
Parking, except temporarily for loading and unloading where signs prohibit parking	46.61.570(1)(c)(ii)
Parking outside of imposed time limits	46.61.570(2)
Moving vehicle where prohibited	46.61.570(3)
Reserving portion of highway for stopping, standing, or parking	46.61.570(4)

F. Table of Fees for Parking Violations.

1. Within twenty feet of fire hydrant: $100.00.

2. Obstructing fire lane: $100.00.

3. Handicap parking: $250.00.

G. All other violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a monetary penalty of twenty dollars.

All twenty-dollar violations will be reduced to five dollars if paid within twenty-four hours after being issued. (Ord. 2009-22 § 3, 2022)