Chapter 10.16
STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING – GENERALLY1
Sections:
10.16.010 Regulations application.
10.16.030 Use of streets for storage of vehicles prohibited.
10.16.040 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
10.16.050 Parallel parking on one-way streets.
10.16.060 Signs or markings indicating angle parking.
10.16.070 Parking adjacent to schools.
10.16.080 Parking prohibited on narrow streets.
10.16.100 No stopping and no parking area signing.
10.16.115 Parking on unpaved surfaces prohibited.
10.16.120 Parking peddlers’ or vendors’ vehicles.
10.16.130 Parking commercial vehicles in residential districts.
10.16.140 Emergency parking signs.
10.16.150 Parking on city property.
10.16.170 Use of designated city-owned parking lots.
10.16.190 Maximum weight of commercial vehicles in certain districts.
10.16.010 Regulations application.
A. The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device.
B. The provisions of this title imposing a time limit on standing or parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions of the Vehicle Code or the ordinances of this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. [1937 Code § 519.]
10.16.030 Use of streets for storage of vehicles prohibited.
A. No person who owns or has possession or control of a vehicle shall park or leave the vehicle standing on a street for a period of more than 72 consecutive hours. A vehicle is considered parked or left standing if it remains in approximately the same location and is not driven or substantially moved to a location which does not incorporate any portion of the former street area.
B. If a vehicle is parked or left standing on a street for more than 72 consecutive hours, a member of the police department authorized by the chief of police or a city code enforcement officer may remove the vehicle. Such removal is authorized by Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) and is subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code. [Ord. 08-1300 § 5, 2008.]
10.16.040 Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of:
A. Displaying such vehicle for sale;
B. Washing, polishing, greasing, servicing, repairing or otherwise working on such vehicles, except temporary repairs necessitated by an emergency. [1937 Code § 519.3.]
10.16.050 Parallel parking on one-way streets.
A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within 18 inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are in place prohibiting such stopping or standing.
B. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadway unless signs are in place permitting such standing or parking.
C. The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited upon the left-hand side of any one-way street or when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side of any one way roadway or a highway having two or more separate roadways and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.
D. The requirement of parallel parking shall not apply in the event any commercial vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading freight or goods, in which case that vehicle may be backed up to the curb; provided, that such vehicle does not extend beyond the centerline of the street and does not block traffic thereby. [1937 Code § 519.4.]
10.16.060 Signs or markings indicating angle parking.
A. Whenever any ordinance of this city designates and describes any street or portion thereof upon which angle parking shall be permitted, the city traffic engineer shall mark or sign such street indicating the angle at which vehicles shall be parked.
B. When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as herein provided, 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. [1937 Code § 519.5.]
10.16.070 Parking adjacent to schools.
A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon that side of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his 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. [1937 Code § 519.6.]
10.16.080 Parking prohibited on narrow streets.
A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed 20 feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 feet.
B. When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking. [1937 Code § 519.7.]
10.16.090 Parking on hills.
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway 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. [1937 Code § 519.8.]
10.16.100 No stopping and no parking area signing.
A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to maintain, by appropriate signs or by paint upon the curb surface, all no stopping zones, no parking areas and restricted parking areas, as defined and described in this title.
B. When the curb markings or signs are in place, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop, stand or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation of any of the provisions of this title. [1937 Code § 519.9.]
10.16.110 No parking areas.
It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop, stand, park or leave standing such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal:
A. Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings;
B. In any area where the city traffic engineer determines that the parking or stopping of a vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;
C. In any area established by resolution or ordinance of the council as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;
D. Upon, along or across any railway track in such manner as to hinder, delay or obstruct the movement of any car traveling upon such track;
E. In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property;
F. On any street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway or the installation of underground utilities or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided, that signs giving notice of such no parking are erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;
G. At any place within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business district when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop;
H. Within 20 feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign or official electric flashing device. [1937 Code § 519.10.]
10.16.115 Parking on unpaved surfaces prohibited.
A. No person, including but not limited to the owner, tenant, manager or occupant of property designed or used as a residence, shall keep, store, park, or allow to be parked or left unattended, any trailer, boat, or vehicle, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 670, on any portion of a front or corner side yard as defined in PMC 18.06.745, except on an area that is paved.
B. For purposes of this section only, “paved” means: (1) treated or covered with asphaltic concrete, portland cement concrete, interlocking pavers installed atop an aggregate base and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, or other similar surface material, and maintained in such a manner to provide for a mud-free and dustless surface; and (2) contiguously covers the entire surface upon which the trailer, boat or motor vehicle is kept, stored or parked, but does not exceed the paved surface limitations set forth in PMC 18.78.050(A)(5). Areas of compacted earth, reinforced with a soil reinforcing fabric, a weed preventing fabric, and covered with decorative rock will also be defined as paved. This section does not prohibit the placement or use of a two-track driveway, as driveway is defined in PMC 18.06.265. [Ord. 07-1295 § 2, 2007.]
10.16.120 Parking peddlers’ or vendors’ vehicles.
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 10 minutes at any one place. The provisions of this section 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. [1937 Code § 519.11.]
10.16.130 Parking commercial vehicles in residential districts.
No person shall park any commercial vehicle more than five hours in a residential zoning district (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-1-A, PR) except:
A. While loading or unloading property and time in addition to the five-hour period necessary to complete the work; or
B. When the 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 the vehicle is parked and time in addition to the five-hour period is reasonably necessary to complete the service.
This section becomes effective only after signs or markings giving notice have been placed. [Ord. 935 § 11, 1987; 1937 Code § 519.12.]
10.16.140 Emergency parking signs.
A. Whenever the city traffic engineer determines that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the city traffic engineer 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 city traffic engineer
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 city traffic engineer shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs. [1937 Code § 519.13.]
10.16.150 Parking on city property.
A. Whenever the city traffic 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 traffic engineer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted, or curb markings to be placed, indicating that the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.
B. When signs or markings authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs or markings. [1937 Code § 519.14.]
10.16.170 Use of designated city-owned parking lots.
It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle in or upon any of the following described city-owned, off-street parking lots in excess of three consecutive hours between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day except Sundays and holidays:
A. Parking lot located at the northwest corner of East Fifth and Los Medanos Streets, consisting of Lots 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Block 28 as shown on the official map of the city;
B. Parking lot located on the east side of Cumberland Street between East Fifth and East Sixth Streets, consisting of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11 in Block 46 of the official map of the city;
C. Parking lot located at the northeast corner of East Fourth and Black Diamond Streets, consisting of Lots 4 and 5 in Block C on the official map of the city;
D. Parking lot located at the southwest corner of West Third and Black Diamond Streets, consisting of Lots 1 and 2 of Block 13 as shown on the official map of the city. [1937 Code § 519.16.]
10.16.190 Maximum weight of commercial vehicles in certain districts.
No person shall stop, stand or park, or permit to be stopped, left standing or parked, any commercial vehicle having an unladen weight in excess of 10,000 pounds on any street which is in either a “business district” or a “residence district,” as these phrases are defined in the Vehicle Code of the state for a period longer than 30 minutes between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the following day. [Ord. 04-1223 § 3, 2004.]
For statutory provisions authorizing local control of parking on nonstate streets and highways, see Vehicle Code §§ 22502(c) and 22507.