Ceres Municipal Code Ch. 04 Rules for Stopping, Standing, and Parking

The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle shall apply at the 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.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

The provisions of this title imposing a time limit on standing or parking of vehicles shall not release any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions of the California Vehicle Code or the ordinances of the City.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

Every vehicle parked on streets and portions of streets shall be parked in accordance with applicable traffic control devices, including all zones marked, signs posted and curbs painted or marked.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of traffic and with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle within 18 inches of the curb line or edge of the curb indicated by such marks or signs.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon those streets which have been marked or signed by the City for angle parking unless parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such marks or signs.

B. The City Engineer shall determine those streets upon which angle parking shall be permitted, other than state highways where such parking is prohibited by the California Vehicle Code, and the City Engineer shall indicate such places by placing white lines upon the surface of the roadway indicating the angle at which parking is permitted.

C. 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. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. Whenever the Chief of Police or City Engineer determines that an emergency congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private gatherings or functions or for other reasons, the Chief of Police or City 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. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of the emergency congestion and the Chief of Police or City 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 direction and provisions of such signs.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. The City Engineer is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this title to place, and when required herein shall place, the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations.

B. Curb markings shall have the following meanings:

1. Red means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time except as permitted by the California Vehicle Code; provided, that a bus may stop in a red zone which has been marked or signed as a bus loading zone.

2. Yellow means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., unless otherwise posted by signs, pavement, or curb markings, for any reason other than the loading of passengers or materials; provided, that the loading and unloading of materials shall take no more than 20 minutes.

3. White means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time of any day for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers; provided, that such loading or unloading shall not exceed three minutes, except that licensed taxis may park or stand in a designated taxi stand longer than three minutes.

4. Green means no stopping, standing, or parking for more than time specified on signs posted in the particular green zone.

5. Blue means no parking, standing, or stopping other than by vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code sections 5007, 22511.55, and 22511.59. Blue parking zones are subject to any temporary parking prohibitions established by the City. Blue-curb parking spaces shall be operative 24 hours a day, Sundays and holidays included.

a. On-street parking and publicly own facilities. The City shall designate special "blue curb" parking spaces for the purpose of providing on-street parking and off-street parking in publicly owned or controlled parking facilities for exclusive use by handicapped persons.

b. Off-street or privately financed facilities. Privately owned and operated parking facilities may reserve parking stalls for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons.

c. Identification. The City Engineer shall develop guidelines for identifying blue curb parking spaces in conformity with California Vehicle Code sections 22511.7 and 22511.8.

C. When the City Engineer has caused curb markings to be placed for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons, 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.

D. Parking zones for the physically handicapped are subject to any temporary parking prohibitions established by the City.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop the vehicle in any of the following places except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or a traffic sign or signal:

In addition to the prohibitions contained in California Vehicle Code sections 22500 et seq., except as otherwise stated in this title, a person shall not stop, stand or park a vehicle:

A. In a bus stop zone, except a passenger bus;

B. On any off-street public property unless a traffic control device indicates that such action is permitted, and then only in accordance with direction of such traffic control device;

C. In any marked loading zone, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or materials, within the proscribed limitations of this chapter

D. In any alley except while in the process of actively loading or unloading persons or materials in the alley as long as such process does not exceed the posted time limits or any time limits specified by resolution;

E. In any limited-time parking space in excess of the number of minutes legally permitted;

F. In such a manner that any part thereof extends outside of or beyond the designated parking space;

G. In any space where parking is restricted to certain kinds of vehicles, such as "official City vehicles only" or "police vehicles only";

H. In any pedestrian crosswalk whether marked or unmarked;

I. Into any traffic lane or which obstructs traffic;

J. On any sidewalk, or in front of any driveway;

K. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked or standing at the curb or edge of a highway;

L. Within five feet on either side of that portion of a curb which has been cut down, lowered or constructed to provide wheelchair accessibility to the sidewalk;

M. On certain streets or portions thereof during all or certain hours of the day if in violation of signs or markings;

N. In any preferential or restricted parking zone which requires a permit, if a valid and appropriate permit is not displayed, or while displaying an appropriate permit which has been tampered with, has been reported as lost or stolen, or if the permit is displayed in a vehicle which is not authorized to use such permit;

O. Within an intersection or along the curved portion of the curb or roadway edge of any corner of an intersection;

P. Within any tunnel, upon any bridge, or viaduct;

Q. On any street, alley, or public parking facility owned or controlled by the City, if it obstructs the free use of such street, alley, or any public parking facility;

R. On private property, unless given direct or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such property;

S. On any street in the City when signs authorized by the City Council are in place giving notice that parking thereon is prohibited.

T. No parking within 20 feet of any pump station when the appropriate signs and/or markings giving adequate notice of the restriction have been placed.

U. Upon all streets within the City which the City Council shall by resolution designate and upon which curb surface within such area shall be painted with red paint or other red material, omitting any crosswalk area, or by placing and maintaining appropriate signs directing that the stopping of vehicles be prohibited.

V. No parking on front yards or areas prohibited by title 18 of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. The City Council may by resolution find and declare that privately owned and maintained off-street parking facilities within the City are generally held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular parking. After a public hearing held pursuant to section 21107.8 of the California Vehicle Code, California Vehicle Code Sections 22350, 23103, and 23109 shall apply to privately owned and maintained off street parking facilities within the City when a sign is posted pursuant to subsection 10.04.090.B.

B. If the City Council finds and declares that that privately owned and maintained off-street parking facilities within the City that are generally held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular parking, pursuant to subsection 10.04.090.A, operators of privately owned and maintained off-street parking facilities within the City shall post in a conspicuous place at each entrance of such off-street parking facility, a notice of not less than 17 inches by 22 inches in size with lettering not less than one inch in height to the effect that each such off-street parking facility is subject to public moving vehicle laws and may be subject to a parking invoice fee.

C. The City Council may by resolution find and declare that there are privately owned and maintained off-street parking facilities within the City that are generally held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular parking and make the provisions of this chapter applicable to such off-street privately financed parking facilities.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

The City Engineer is authorized to appropriately sign or mark the following places, and when so signed or marked, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any of said places:

A. At any place within 30 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business district except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop;

B. Within 50 feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device;

C. At any place where the City Engineer determines that it is necessary or desirable.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A permit issued by the City Engineer must be obtained prior to:

A. Parking a commercial vehicle for construction work in a limited or prohibited parking area. Such permit may be granted only after the applicant presents a valid business license and building or encroachment permit;

B. Parking any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more on any street in any district zoned residential. This requirement shall not apply to any commercial vehicle making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on such restricted streets or delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon such restricted streets for which a building permit has previously been obtained;

C. Parking any equipment used for construction or construction equipment of any type on any City street, parking lot or property.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

No person shall park a truck and trailer, semi-trailer, or commercial vehicle, aside from those for construction work, of any type having an over-all length in excess of 22 feet, or a maximum gross weight limit in excess of five tons, in the parking area of any city street on which angle parking is required, or in the parking area of any City street not designated as a truck route pursuant to section 10.02.040 of this Code. However, such vehicles may park temporarily for pickups and deliveries as permitted by section 10.02.040 of this Code, but in no event shall parking be allowed for more than two hours.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle, including but not limited to any boat, trailer, or Recreational Vehicle, shall park or leave such vehicle standing upon any City street, highway, or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be considered to have been parked or left standing for 72 or more consecutive hours if it has remained inoperable or has not been moved at least one mile during said period. Obstruction of the odometer of a vehicle shall give rise to a presumption that the vehicle has not been moved as required by this section and the odometer reading shall be presumptively correct.

B. In the event a vehicle is left parked or standing upon a City street, highway, or alley in violation of this section, it may be removed or towed; provided, that a warning notice has been placed on the windshield or other conspicuous place on the vehicle (if it has no windshield) advising that such removal or towing will occur without any further notice or warning 72 hours after the posting of the notice. 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 the Vehicle Code or issue a citation in lieu of towing removal.

C. No boat, trailer, or Recreational Vehicle shall be re-parked or returned to any location within one-half mile of the location where it was first parked sooner than 72 hours following the time that it was first moved.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

No person shall park a vehicle on any street within such a distance from an intersection, driveway or crosswalk where such parking impairs the sight distance for vehicles or pedestrians entering a street.

The City Engineer may place and maintain signs, curb markings, or other devices necessary to provide sufficient sight distance at an intersection, driveway or crosswalk in accordance with City Council adopted sight distance standards.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

No person shall dust, wipe, wash or otherwise clean, use or employ any method of dusting, wiping, washing or otherwise cleaning any vehicle or portion thereof while on any street unless such vehicle is owned by or is under the direct control or supervision of the person doing any of the acts herein enumerated.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. No person shall add oil to or change the oil of a motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is parked or standing on any street.

B. No person shall repair any motor vehicle while such motor vehicle is parked or standing on any street, excepting as follows:

1. Repairs and maintenance work may be done if the required work can be completed within two hours from the time the work commences; and

2. Such repairs are not likely to result in oil or gas being spilled on the street.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. The City Engineer may establish bus zones for the loading and unloading of buses of common carriers of passengers and to determine the location thereof subject to the limitations set forth in this section.

B. No bus zone shall exceed 80 feet in length. However, the City Engineer may extend bus zones up to a total length of 130 feet upon receiving evidence demonstrating necessity thereof.

C. Bus zones shall be established on the far side of an intersection, unless not reasonably feasible.

D. Bus zones shall be indicated by signs or by red curbing marked as a bus loading zone.

E. No bus shall stand in any bus zone longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. The City Engineer is authorized to place signs and to place markings on curbs, pavement, and similar areas to provide adequate control for vehicle parking and loading upon any street or portion thereof adjacent to any school property in accordance with traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in policies and warrants for traffic control devices near schools.

B. No person shall park a vehicle where official signs or markings are installed indicating no parking upon a street or portion thereof adjacent to any school property.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. Whenever the Chief of Police, City Engineer or Director of Public Works determines that traffic congestion or conflict is likely to result from construction or maintenance work, the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings, or functions or for the movement of equipment, articles, or structures of unusual size interfering with normal flow of traffic, those officials shall have authority to restrict the operation, parking or standing of vehicles at the particular streets, alleys, or public parking facilities determined to be necessary or desirable to avoid such traffic congestion or conflict.

B. When signs, devices, or barricades 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. The Chief of Police may remove vehicles parking or standing in violation of the signs or barricades erected pursuant to this section. The Chief of Police shall comply with the requirements of the California Vehicle Code section 22852 relating to post-storage notice and hearing for registered owners and legal owners of record when removing a vehicle pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

A. The City Council has determined that the repairing or dismantling of vehicles and boats in public view in residential districts has a negative impact on the livability and appearance of the City, on the availability of driveways for parking, on property values and can pose safety and health hazards to children and adults. The City Council hereby makes the finding that the public health, safety and welfare require the prohibition of repairing or dismantling of vehicles or boats in public view in residential districts, except under certain circumstances.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall perform routine maintenance in public view in a residential district on a vehicle or boat, unless Such person is the lawful resident of the property where the routine maintenance is being performed;

C. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall perform major repairs in public view in a residential district on a vehicle or a boat unless as follows:

1. Such person is the lawful resident of the property where the major repair is being performed;

2. In a fully enclosed garage or building, or behind a six-foot fence or gate capable of screening the boat or vehicle and parts thereof from public view; and

3. The door of such garage or building or the fence gate is closed when repairs are not in progress.

D. It is unlawful to perform major repairs in a residential district on any vehicle or boat within a carport which is exposed to public view.

E. It shall be unlawful for more than two boats or vehicles to be under major repair or stored at any one time, in a residential district, except if located within a fully enclosed garage or building.

F. It shall be unlawful to spray paint a vehicle or boat, panels or parts thereof in a residential district.

G. All vehicles or boats in public view in a residential district, shall display current registration and shall be operational. Proof of operational status and current registration shall be provided upon the request of a City official.

H. No monies or anything of monetary value may be charged, exchanged, given or received for major repairs or routine maintenance performed in any residential district.

I. Routine maintenance or major repairs in residential districts and testing of any vehicle or boat shall take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays.

J. Routine maintenance in a residential district shall be completed within a 72 consecutive hour period after the maintenance has begun, and shall not exceed this time period.

K. Upon completion of any work authorized by this section, all debris, oil, grease, gasoline, rags, equipment, parts or materials shall be disposed of in a lawful manner where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property. Hazardous materials shall be disposed of in a lawful manner and in accordance with state, county and city regulations.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to stop the vehicle for longer than is necessary for the loading or unloading of passengers or materials in any loading zone, which the City Council shall establish by resolution; and, which shall be indicated by a yellow line painted upon the curb within such zone or by appropriate signs designating such zone. The maximum length of time that a vehicle may park in a loading zone shall be 20 minutes, unless otherwise provided in the resolution.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

The operator of a vehicle shall not stop, stand or park such vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the curb and with the two right-hand wheels of the vehicle within 18 inches of the regularly established curb line, except that upon those streets which have been marked for angle parking, as provided in this section, vehicles shall be parked at an angle to the curb indicated by such marks, and with the front end of such parked vehicle closest to the curb; excepting City vehicles and construction equipment subject to Police Department approval.

The City Council, by resolution, is authorized to determine upon which streets angle parking shall be permitted and to indicate such places by painting of lines upon the surface of the roadway to establish the proper angle for parking. Vehicles shall be parked within lines or individual parking space.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)

The operator of a vehicle shall not park such vehicle upon certain streets within the City for a longer time than the City Council shall, by resolution, designate, and provided proper signs or proper markings are maintained or placed within such area stating the limits within which parking shall be allowed or by the painting or coloring of the curb area within such limits a distinct color.

(Ord. No. 2020-1056, § 2, 2-24-2020)