Chapter 10.24
PARKING REGULATIONS
Sections:
10.24.010 Signs and curb markings.
10.24.020 Application of regulations.
10.24.040 Parking on narrow streets and at special places.
10.24.050 Emergency parking signs.
10.24.070 Parking prohibited when.
10.24.075 Prohibition of parking commercial and recreational vehicles on public roadways.
10.24.100 Limited-time parking.
10.24.110 Continuing violations – Additional offenses.
10.24.120 Curb parking – Right-of-way.
10.24.130 Parking in intersections.
10.24.150 Removal of illegally parked vehicles.
10.24.160 Removal of ignition key when parking.
10.24.170 Parking on city property.
10.24.175 Parking in city parking areas.
10.24.180 Parking on private property.
10.24.010 Signs and curb markings.
The director is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title, to place and maintain and, when required herein, shall place the following curb markings or signs to indicate parking, standing or stopping regulations, and the curb markings or signs shall have the meanings as herein set forth.
A. Red curb marking means no stopping, standing or parking at any time of any day except as permitted by the Vehicle Code;
B. Yellow curb marking means no stopping, standing or parking between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except holidays and Sundays for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided, that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than one minute, nor the unloading of materials more than 20 minutes, and such loading or unloading shall be actively carried on during all of that time;
C. White curb marking means no stopping, standing or parking at any time of any day for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers and baggage, and shall not exceed five minutes;
D. Green curb marking means no stopping, standing or parking for a period of time longer than 12 or 24 minutes, as designated by signs, at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except holidays and Sundays;
E. Blue curb marking means parking limited exclusively to public agency-owned vehicles specifically used for transportation of physically handicapped persons and for vehicles of physically handicapped persons, which vehicle bears an appropriate identification identifying the vehicle as that of a physically handicapped person. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 400 § 1, 1979; SCC 970 § 1, 1968; SCC 703 § 58, 1960].
10.24.020 Application of regulations.
The provisions of this title imposing regulations on stopping or parking shall not relieve any person from the compliance with other or more restrictive provisions of the Vehicle Code or any city ordinances regulating the standing or parking of vehicles at specified places or at specified times. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 59, 1960].
10.24.030 No parking zones.
A. The director is authorized to prohibit stopping, standing or parking on any highway or may prohibit stopping, standing or parking during certain hours of the day on any highway.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice of the provisions thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 60, 1960].
10.24.040 Parking on narrow streets and at special places.
A. The director is authorized to place signs and markings indicating no parking upon any two-way roadway, when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 feet.
B. The director is authorized to sign or mark the following places and, when so signed or marked, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places:
1. At any place within 20 feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite a midblock end of a safety zone;
2. At any place within 20 feet of any crosswalk;
3. Within 20 feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device;
4. At any place where traffic and engineering studies have been made and the director determines that it is necessary in order to eliminate dangerous traffic hazards or to provide for the orderly movement of traffic.
C. When signs authorized by provisions of this section are in place, giving notice of the provisions thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 61, 1960].
10.24.050 Emergency parking signs.
A. Whenever the director shall determine that, in a special situation, traffic congestion is likely to result on any highway or alley from holding public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, street construction, maintenance or repair work, or for any other reason, he is authorized 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. The signs shall remain in place only during the existence of the special situation, and the director shall cause the signs to be moved promptly thereafter.
B. When signs authorized by provisions of this section are in place, giving notice of the provisions thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 62, 1960].
10.24.060 Alleys – Parkways.
A. No person shall park any vehicle in any alley in the city except while actively engaged in loading or unloading passengers, freight or merchandise.
B. No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 63, 1960].
10.24.070 Parking prohibited when.
A. No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of displaying such vehicle for sale.
B. No person who owns or has custody or control of any vehicle shall park or store such vehicle upon any highway or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours, or move and repark such vehicle on any highway within 300 feet of the original parking site, unless such vehicle is maintained in an operable condition and driven within the 72 consecutive hours mentioned above.
C. In the event the highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon each roadway, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadways.
D. It is unlawful for any person to have, erect, place, stand or park, wholly or partly within the right-of-way of any city road or highway, any vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, wagon, pushcart, stand, structure, or building for the purpose of selling the same or of selling, vending, displaying for sale, or offering for sale, therefrom or therein, any goods, wares, or merchandise, fruit, vegetables, produce, or any other article or thing of value.
E. Any such vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, wagon, pushcart, stand, structure, or building so had, erected, placed, stood or parked for any such purpose or purposes is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the removal thereof forthwith from within the right-of-way of any such road or highway by the director, his engineers or employees is hereby authorized.
F. This title does not prohibit a seller from taking orders or delivering any commodity from any vehicle from that city road or highway immediately adjacent to the premises of the purchaser.
G. It is unlawful for any person to park, stop or abandon any vehicle within 1,000 feet of any authorized emergency vehicle when such authorized emergency vehicle is actively engaged at the scene of any bombing, act of sabotage, accident, explosion, flood, riot, earthquake, fire or any emergency.
H. No person shall park any motor truck (excepting therefrom any truck commonly known as and referred to as a “pickup truck”), trailer other than a camping trailer or boat trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor or commercial vehicle for more than one hour on any highway in a residential district or move and repark such vehicle on any highway in a residential district within 300 feet of the original parking site within any 24-hour period except while loading or unloading property or in connection with and in the aid of the performance of a service to or on a property adjacent to the block in which such vehicle is parked and only for such time in addition to one hour that is reasonably necessary to complete such loading, unloading or service.
I. No person shall park any motor home, trailer coach, travel trailer, truck camper, camping trailer or boat trailer for more than 72 hours on any highway in a residential district or move and repark such vehicle on any highway in a residential district within 300 feet of the original parking site within any 72-hour period. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 1118 § 1, 1998; SCC 1045 § 1, 1996; SCC 383 § 1, 1979; SCC 838 § 1, 1964; SCC 825 § 2, 1963; SCC 746 § 1, 1961; SCC 703 § 64, 1960].
10.24.075 Prohibition of parking commercial and recreational vehicles on public roadways.
A. No person who owns or has custody or control of any commercial or recreational vehicle shall park or store such vehicle on any public street, highway or right-of-way within the city limits of the city of Rancho Cordova that is not within a designated heavy industrial zone (M-2 classification), or other areas specifically posted to permit parking or unless otherwise authorized by RCMC 10.24.070(H) or (I).
B. “Commercial or recreational vehicle” includes, but is not limited to, all motorized and nonmotorized tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, vans, trucks, open bed or flat bed pickups, mobile equipment, machinery, motor homes, campers, or other vehicles which meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Vehicle or load height exceeds seven feet; or
2. Vehicle or load width exceeds seven and one-half feet, as measured from the widest portion of the vehicle or load, but not including mirrors; or
3. Vehicle or load length exceeds 20 feet (in combination with any attached trailers); or
4. Manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 10,000 pounds; or
5. Any nonmotorized vehicle regardless of its height, width, length or weight when it has been detached from a motor vehicle that is capable of towing such vehicle.
C. This section shall not prohibit the parking of commercial and recreational vehicles if they are at the time engaged in any of the following activities:
1. Loading or unloading of persons and/or property; or
2. Parked in connection with or in the aid of the immediate performance of a service to or on a property in the immediate proximity in which such vehicle is parked; or
3. Parked or left standing to allow the operator respite in the immediate proximity in which such vehicle is parked for a period of not to exceed 30 minutes; or
4. Parked or left standing as a result of a mechanical breakdown so as to allow for the performance of emergency repairs on the vehicle, or while waiting for a tow operator for a period not to exceed two hours; or
5. Parked or left standing as allowed by a permit issued by the city pursuant to established procedures; or
6. Emergency vehicles of any political subdivision of the state of California or of a public utility, while the driver of any such vehicle is engaged in the necessary performance of public emergency duties; or
7. Parking of motor homes, trailer coaches, recreational trailers, truck campers, camping trailers, or boat trailers designed for personal use for less than 72 hours in a residential district.
D. The traffic engineer shall place appropriate signs on all streets, roads or highways, as the traffic engineer may determine will best serve to give notice of this section, indicating the affected residential and commercial streets, roads or highways where commercial vehicle parking is prohibited.
E. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by:
1. A fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation;
2. A fine not exceeding $200.00 for a second violation within one year;
3. A fine not exceeding $500.00 for each additional violation within one year. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-2006 § 1].
10.24.080 One-way streets.*
Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked parallel to and within 18 inches of the left-hand curb, facing in the direction of the traffic movement upon any one-way street, unless signs are in place prohibiting such stopping or standing. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 65, 1960].
* Code reviser’s note: See also Chapter 10.44 RCMC.
10.24.090 Loading zones.
A. The director is authorized to establish bus zones, opposite red curb space, for the loading and unloading of buses, common carriers of passengers and to determine the location and length thereof.
B. The director is authorized to establish loading zones.
C. The director is authorized to establish taxi stands.
D. No person shall park and leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, in any loading zone for a period of time longer than is permitted for such loading zone except as otherwise provided in this title or in a taxi stand except the operator of the taxi. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 66, 1960].
10.24.100 Limited-time parking.
A. The director is authorized to restrict or prohibit parking in excess of 12 minutes, 24 minutes, one hour or two hours, between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day on any highway.
B. When signs have been posted to give notice of such restriction or prohibition, no person shall park any vehicle and leave the same parked, whether attended or unattended, for a period of time longer than set out on the signs. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 725 § 2, 1961; SCC 703 § 67, 1960].
10.24.110 Continuing violations – Additional offenses.
Every person violating the provisions of RCMC 10.24.090 is guilty of a separate and further violation for each period of time that the vehicle is left so parked, equal to the maximum legal parking time for the particular time zone or parking space as designated in RCMC 10.24.090 or by ordinance adopted setting the maximum legal time. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 68, 1960].
10.24.120 Curb parking – Right-of-way.
For the purpose of this section, a curb parking space shall be an area open for lawful parking alongside or 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. Any person seeking to park his vehicle in a curb space, whose vehicle arrives at the parking space prior to any vehicle other than his, and who proceeds beyond the space a distance not to exceed 10 feet, measured at the rear bumper, for the purpose of backing his vehicle therein, shall have the right-of-way over any person driving, or attempting to drive, any other vehicle directly into such curb parking space, or who, in any manner, obstructs such curb parking space; and the driver of such other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to the driver first arrived at the parking space. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 69, 1960].
10.24.130 Parking in intersections.
A person may park a vehicle adjacent to the curb within an intersection if the director marks the roadway with appropriate signs, markers or buttons as described in RCMC 10.16.050. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 70, 1960].
10.24.140 Angle parking.
At no time shall any person park a vehicle on a highway at an angle to the roadway except to comply with the directions of a traffic officer. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 71, 1960].
10.24.150 Removal of illegally parked vehicles.
If any person parks a vehicle contrary to the provisions of RCMC 10.24.030 through 10.24.070, 10.24.100 or 10.24.120, the vehicle is determined to be an obstruction to the normal flow of traffic as defined in Section 22651(b) of the Vehicle Code and may be removed from the highway as provided in Chapter 10 of the Vehicle Code. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 37 § 1, 1971; SCC 703 § 72, 1960].
10.24.160 Removal of ignition key when parking.
Every person who parks a motor vehicle upon any highway shall first lock the ignition, remove the key therefrom and take such key with him unless a licensed operator remains in such motor vehicle, in which case such licensed operator, before leaving the vehicle, shall first lock the ignition, remove the key therefrom, and take the key with him. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 73, 1960].
10.24.170 Parking on city property.
A. Whenever the director determines that parking or standing of vehicles on city property is prohibited, limited or restricted, the director shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no person shall park or stand a vehicle contrary to the directions of the signs, and any vehicle parked in violation of the signs may be towed to the public storage garage at the expense of the owner of the vehicle as provided in Division 11, Chapter 10 of the Vehicle Code. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 240 § 2, 1975; SCC 703 § 74, 1960].
10.24.175 Parking in city parking areas.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this code, whenever the director determines that parking or standing of vehicles in city parking areas under his jurisdiction is prohibited, limited or restricted, the director shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating that the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.
B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no person shall park or stand a vehicle contrary to the directions of the signs, and any vehicle parked in violation of the signs may be towed to the public storage garage at the expense of the owner of the vehicle as provided in Division 11, Chapter 10 of the Vehicle Code, and/or the director, his or her designees, or a peace officer may issue a citation for illegal parking.
The director, his designee or a peace officer shall record on the citation the location the offense was committed, the nature of the violation, the state vehicle license number of the vehicle, the make and year of the vehicle and the time and date of such violation. He shall then issue in writing a citation for illegal parking in the same form and subject to the same procedure provided for by the laws of the state applicable to the traffic violations within the city. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(G)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4].
10.24.180 Parking on private property.
It is unlawful for any person to drive upon or across, to leave standing or cause to be left standing any vehicle upon any privately owned property within the city without the implied or express consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of the property. [Ord. 11-2023 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. 38-2007 § 1 (Exh. 1(A)); Ord. 21-2003 §§ 2, 4; Ord. 20-2003 §§ 2, 4; SCC 703 § 75, 1960].