Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 10.32 Standing, Stopping and Parking

Sections:

10.32.020 Colors and meanings of signs and markings. 10.32.030 Emergency parking signs. 10.32.040 Handicapped parking designation. 10.32.050 Angular, center and left side parking areas established. 10.32.060 Angle parking—Restriction on length of vehicle. 10.32.070 Parking as designated by lines on surface of roadway—Required. 10.32.080 Alley parking. 10.32.090 Parking prohibited on portion of Sumner Street—Exceptions. 10.32.100 Parking on city property. 10.32.110 Limited parking—What constitutes separate offense. 10.32.120 Erasing tire traffic-control markings constitutes violation of Section 10.32.110. 10.32.130 Parking of motor vehicles within the limits of city parks. 10.32.140 Parking of commercial vehicles prohibited in residential districts. 10.32.150 Parking for purpose of sale prohibited. 10.32.160 Parking on unpaved surfaces.

A. The provisions of this division prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this division, 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 division imposing a time limit on standing or parking shall not relieve any persons from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions of this division or of laws prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified time. (Prior code § 11.04.440)

A. The traffic authority is authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this division, to place, and when required in this division shall place, the following signs, or curb markings, or other devices to indicate parking or standing regulations, and said signs, or curb markings or other devices shall have the meanings as set forth in this section:

1. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time; except that a bus may stop in a red zone
marked or signed as a bus zone, and police vehicles may stop in red zones marked or signed “Police Zone.”

2. Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day
except Sunday for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided, that the
loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes, except that no vehicle other than taxis, shall park at any time in a
yellow zone marked “Taxis Only.”

3. White means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of
passengers which shall not exceed three minutes and such restriction shall apply between seven a.m. and six
p.m., of any day except Sunday except as follows:

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

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

4. Green means no standing or parking for longer than the time indicated by appropriate signs, curb
markings or other devices, which time shall not exceed thirty-six minutes. The restrictions which apply to
green time limit parking zones shall apply between eight a.m. and six p.m., of any day except Sundays and
holidays unless there is legibly stenciled appropriate lettering on the signs, curb or other devices to indicate
that parking restrictions are effective for a longer period.

5. Blue means no stopping, standing or parking at any time except by a vehicle which displays a
distinguishing license plate or placard issued to physically handicapped persons or disabled veterans
pursuant to California Vehicle Code requirements.

B. When the traffic authority, as authorized under this division, has caused signs, or curb markings or other devices to be placed, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible signs, or curb markings or other devices in violation of any of the provisions of this section.

C. Each such period of time or fraction thereof a vehicle is parked in excess of the maximum time limit specified on said signs, curb markings or other devices, shall constitute a separate violation, however, any violation, occurring within a period in excess of the maximum time prescribed, shall constitute but one violation during each prescribed period of time. (Prior code § 11.04.470)

A. Whenever the traffic authority determines that an emergency traffic congestion is liable to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the traffic authority shall have the power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on the streets and alleys as the traffic authority directs during the time the temporary signs are in place. The signs shall remain in place only a reasonable time, before, during, and after the existence of such emergency.

B. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no persons shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of the signs. (Prior code § 11.04.610)

The traffic authority shall designate parking stalls or spaces for exclusive use by the physically handicapped in accordance with California Vehicle Code requirements for on-street parking and off-street parking facilities owned or operated by the city. (Prior code § 11.04.465)

A. The traffic authority is authorized to determine those streets and alleys upon which angular and center parking shall be permitted and shall indicate all such parking by placing lines upon the surface of the roadway indicating the angle and place at which parking is permitted and/or by erecting appropriate signs.

B. Left side parking shall be permitted upon all one-way streets, alleys, and state highways within the city unless otherwise prohibited by appropriate signs erected by the traffic authority; and within the central business district of the city the parking spaces shall be designated by lines placed upon the surface of the roadway by the authority.

C. The traffic authority is authorized to determine and fix by the erection of appropriate signs the parking time allowable at any parking area established by this section other than those established upon state highways. (Prior code § 11.04.410)

It is unlawful to park, or permit to be parked, on streets where angle-parking is designated, any vehicle or combination of vehicles, which would substantially block the free use of any roadway or driving aisle of any parking mall, or in any event whose overall length exceeds twenty-two feet. (Prior code § 11.04.430)

Upon those streets, alleys and city parking facilities or parking lots, which have been marked or signed by the traffic authority for angular parking or upon any roadway or city parking facility or parking lot where the parking spaces have been designated by placing lines upon the surface of the roadway or city parking facility or city parking lot, it is unlawful for any person to stand or park any vehicle other than between the lines indicating the position in which the parking of a vehicle is authorized. (Ord. 4812 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2607 § 1, 1980; prior code § 11.04.420)

A. No person shall park a vehicle in any alley in the central traffic district, or in any business district, between the hours of eight a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday; provided, however, this prohibition shall not apply to a commercial vehicle which is registered as such by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is being used primarily for delivery, or any vehicle being used primarily for delivery in a business or by a certified carrier where the name of such business is painted on or permanently attached to both sides of the vehicle or the P.U.C. certificate or Cal T number is plainly shown on both sides or front and rear of the vehicle.

B. No person shall park any of the excepted vehicles specified in subsection A for a time longer than one hour in an alley which is within the central traffic district, or in any business district, between the hours of eight a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday.

C. The traffic authority is authorized to prohibit the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles on one side of an alley, provided curbs are painted or appropriate signs are placed and maintained to give notice thereof.

D. The traffic authority is authorized to make studies and surveys to determine whether or not parking may be permitted in certain alleys within the city. In making these surveys, the traffic authority shall consider the width of the alleys, whether or not the parking of private passenger vehicles within the alley would impede the traffic within the alley. Where the traffic authority finds as a result of its survey and study that it is reasonable to permit parking in an alley and that the public convenience would best be served by permitting parking in an alley, the traffic authority is authorized to designate the alleys or portions thereof for parking. Where the traffic authority has made such a survey and has made a determination that the public convenience would best be served by permitting private passenger vehicles to park in certain alleys and has therewith designated certain alleys or portions thereof for parking, subsections A and B of this section shall not apply. (Prior code § 11.04.500)

A. When appropriate signs are posted, no person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a peace officer or traffic-control signal device, on the south side of Sumner Street for a distance of one hundred seventy feet east of the east curbline of Union Avenue.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the driver or owner of any service vehicle owned or operated by or for, or operated under contract with a utility or public utility whether privately, municipally or publicly owned, used in the construction, operation, removal or repair of utility property or facilities, when such vehicle is stopped, standing or parked at the site of work involving the construction, operation, removal or repair of such utility or public property or facility upon, in, over, under or adjacent to the highway, or of a vehicle, whether privately, municipally, or publicly owned, engaged in authorized work on the highway.

C. The ordinance codified in this section shall cease to be operative six months after receipt by the city council of written notice of withdrawal of approval of the Department of Public Works of the state. (Prior code § 11.04.729)

A. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to stop, stand or park any vehicle on any property owned, or occupied, by the city, except in a place where parking is expressly permitted by order of the traffic authority, notice of which permission shall be given by appropriate signs erected or posted at said place.

B. Parking at any such place shall be allowed only by those persons and subject to the conditions and limitations posted on said signs.

C. This section shall have no application to officers and employees of the city in the actual performance of their official duties. (Prior code § 11.04.690)

A. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle upon any street, alley, or city parking facility or parking lot for a period of time longer than specified on said signs.

B. Each such period of time or fraction thereof a vehicle is parked in excess of the maximum time limit specified on said signs, shall constitute a separate violation, however, any violation, occurring within a period in excess of the maximum time prescribed, shall constitute but one violation during each prescribed period of time. (Ord. 4812 § 2, 2015; prior code § 11.04.570)

It is unlawful and a violation of the provisions of Section 10.32.110 to erase any traffic-control markings legally placed on the tires of any vehicle, which marking is used for the purpose of identifying vehicles parked beyond the maximum legal parking time fixed for parking in the particular parking space. (Prior code § 11.04.572)

Within the limits of any park, it is unlawful for any person, other than a duly authorized city employee, to operate, drive, stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, other than on paved roadways or paved parking areas. (Ord. 3057 § 1, 1986)

A. It is unlawful, except as provided in subsection B of this section, for any person to park or to leave standing in a residential district, including its streets, any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of more than fifteen thousand pounds.

B. The prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in this section, nor to any commercial vehicle making pickups or deliveries of services, goods, wares and merchandise or delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure for which a building permit has been obtained prior to such delivery.

C. For purposes of this section, “residential district” means any property located in any R-1 (One-Family Dwelling) Zone, any R-S (Residential Suburban) Zone, any R-2 (Limited Multiple-Family Dwelling) Zone, any R-3 (Limited Multiple-Family Dwelling) Zone, and R-4 (Multiple-Family Dwelling) Zone, any E (Estate) Zone, and any P.U.D. (Planned Unit Development) Zone, in accordance with Title 17 of this code. The prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section shall apply to commercial vehicles of the specified weight or greater parking on streets adjacent to and on the same side of the street as such residential district.

D. For purposes of this section, “authorized emergency vehicle” has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 165 of the California Vehicle Code. It shall also mean any towtruck having a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-five thousand pounds or less. (Ord. 3568 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3559 § 1, 1993; Ord. 3225 § 1, 1989)

A. No person shall park any motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or other mobile equipment upon any public or private parking lot or any public or private property for the primary purpose of displaying such vehicle thereon for sale, hire or rental, unless the property is duly licensed and zoned by the city to transact that type of business at that location.

B. Subsection A of this section shall not prohibit a property owner or tenant of private residential property from parking and selling any motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or other mobile equipment on the private residential property upon which such owner or tenant resides, provided the vehicle, trailer, boat, or other mobile equipment is also owned by the property owner or tenant and is parked on a paved surface.

C. Any person violating subsection A of this section shall first be given a twenty-four hour warning notice that the vehicle is parked in violation of subsection A before a citation is issued. Signs may be posted upon private and public property giving notice of the prohibition of subsection A. Where such signs are posted, the twenty-four hour warning notice need not be given.

D. No person shall park any vehicle, as such term is defined in Vehicle Code Section 670, on any street or public right-of-way when it appears because of a sign or placard on the vehicle that the primary purpose of parking the vehicle at that location is to advertise to the public the private sale of that vehicle.

E. Any peace officer or regularly employed and salaried employee engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of the city may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act when the vehicle is found upon a street or public lands if:

1. Because of a sign or placard on the vehicle it appears that the primary purpose of parking the vehicle at
that location is to advertise to the public the private sale of that vehicle; and

2. Within the past thirty days the vehicle is known to have been previously issued a notice of parking
violation, under this section which was accompanied by a notice containing all of the following:

a. A warning that an additional parking violation may result in the impoundment of the vehicle,

b. A warning that the vehicle may be impounded pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22651.9, even if
moved to another street, so long as the signs or placards offering the vehicle for sale remain on the
vehicle,

c. A statement that all city streets and public lands are subject to the provisions of this section;

3. The notice of parking violation was issued at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal of the vehicle;

4. Vehicle Code Section 22852, incorporated herein by reference, applies to the removal of any vehicle pursuant to this section. (Ord. 3950 § 1, 2000)

A. No person shall park any motor vehicle, trailer, camper, boat or other mobile equipment on any unpaved area in any front yard (as defined in Section 17.04.670 of this code), any rear yard (as defined in Section 17.04.680 of this code) which rear yard is open to public view from any public right-of-way, any side yard (as defined in Section 17.04.690 of this code), or on any other unpaved public or private property which is not specifically permitted under this code.

B. Any person violating subsection A of this section shall first be given a twenty-four hour warning notice that the vehicle is parked in violation of subsection A before a citation is issued. Signs may be posted upon private and public property giving notice of the prohibition of subsection A of this section. Where such signs are posted, the twenty-four-hour warning notice need not be given. (Ord. 3985 § 1, 2000; Ord. 3950 § 2, 2000)