El Cerrito Municipal Code Ch. 11.40 Stopping, Standing and Parking

Subject to business license requirements, the sale of any article, service or thing from a vehicle parked wholly or partly on a public street is permitted, provided that the vehicle is not parked in such a way as to cause a traffic hazard in itself or by others who may be patronizing the vehicle. Any vehicle parked in violation of this section is a public nuisance per se, and may be removed by the police chief.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

It is unlawful to park or drive any vehicle on city parking lots adjacent to the City Hall and the public safety building, except for the purpose of conducting official city business.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

It is unlawful to park any vehicle on or across the curb, sidewalk or sidewalk area of any street.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times unless otherwise specified herein, 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 chapter 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 provisions of this title, prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street for more than seventy-two consecutive hours.

B. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of seventy-two consecutive hours, the police chief may remove the vehicle from the street in the manner specified in the Vehicle Code.

C. No person shall camp, leave or park a trailer coach, motor home, utility trailer, boat trailer or trailer used in carrying personal goods, for a period exceeding one hour between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. upon any public street or alley. This prohibition shall not apply where any of the above described vehicles is parked for the purpose of making bona fide emergency repairs which can be and are completed within no more than twelve consecutive hours.

D. No person engaged in the sale or lease of vehicles, including but not limited to trailers, mobile homes and used cars, shall park such vehicles for any period of time on any public street.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

No person shall park a vehicle upon any street for the principal purpose of:

A. Displaying such vehicle for sale;

B. Greasing or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by a bona fide emergency which prevents the vehicle from moving or being moved from the place where the emergency condition caused it to be stopped.

C. Washing or polishing vehicles when a charge is to be made for such washing or polishing.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

No person shall park any vehicle licensed for commercial use which has a rating, as defined by the Vehicle Code, in excess of ten thousand pounds, on any street in a residential zone as established under the zoning title of this code.

(Ord. 95-4 Div. 5, 1995: Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. Whenever any section of this code designates and describes any street or portion thereof upon which angle parking or any authorized parking shall be permitted, the city engineer shall mark or sign such street, indicating the stalls and angles in which vehicles shall be parked.

B. When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking or parallel parking , as herein provided, no person shall park or stand a vehicle at other than the position indicated by such markings, unless the size or shape of the vehicle makes compliance impossible.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

No person backing a vehicle at an angle to the curb or the side of any street for the purpose of loading or unloading shall park such vehicle in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave:

A. Less than eleven feet of clear roadway between the parked vehicle or any part of the load and the centerline of any through street designated by the city.

B. Less than fifteen feet of clear roadway on any other street.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

It is unlawful for the operator of a vehicle to park or leave such vehicle standing upon any grade exceeding three percent without effectively setting the brakes and blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2008-05, § I, adopted June 16, 2008, repealed § 11.40.110 which pertained to required signs and derived from Ord. No. 93-1, Divs. 1 and 2(part), 1993.

A. Whenever the police chief shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, he or she shall have power and authority to erect or post temporary signs indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the police chief 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 police chief shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

B. No person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of signs authorized by the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. Every motor truck having an unladened vehicle weight of four thousand pounds or more, and every debris box or truck tractor irrespective of weight when operated upon any street or highway during the time specified in Section 25300 of the Vehicle Code, shall be equipped with and carry at least two flares, or two red lanterns, or two warning lights or reflectors, which reflectors shall be of a type approved by the State Highway Patrol.

B. When any vehicle above mentioned, or any trailer or semitrailer, is disabled or parked upon streets having insufficient street lighting to reveal the vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet, a warning signal of the character indicated above shall be immediately placed at a distance of approximately one hundred feet in advance of, and one hundred feet to the rear of, such disabled vehicle. The warning signals herein mentioned shall be displayed continuously while such vehicle remains disabled upon any such street.

C. Every debris box or container, when placed on any street, whether partially or completely, shall be equipped with two reflectors to be located in the upper left and upper right corners of each end.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. The city engineer, when directed by the city manager, shall mark loading zones and passenger loading zones in front of the entrance to any place of business or in front of any hall or place used for the purpose of public assembly.

B. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. The city engineer, when directed by the council or when authorized pursuant to this title, shall place the following curb markings to indicate stopping, parking or standing regulations, and such curb markings shall have the following meanings:

1. "Red" means no stopping, standing or parking at any time, except as permitted by the Vehicle Code.

2. "Yellow" means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except holidays 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 three consecutive minutes, and the loading or unloading of materials shall not consume more than thirty consecutive minutes.

3. "White" means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers and deposit of mail in postal boxes, provided that such loading or unloading, or deposit of mail shall not exceed three consecutive minutes.

4. "Green" means no standing or parking for longer than fifteen consecutive minutes, or as otherwise designated, at any time between nine a.m. and six p.m. of any day except holidays, or unless parking is otherwise restricted in such green zones by posted signs.

5. "Blue" means parking for the exclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or a handicapped placard issued pursuant to the Vehicle Code.

B. When the city engineer as authorized under this title has caused curb markings to be placed, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking in violation of any of the provisions of this section.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

(Ord. No. 2008-05, § II, 6-16-2008)

A. The permission herein granted to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries and to the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.

B. The permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage, but shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event for more than three consecutive minutes.

C. Within the total time limits above specified, the provisions of this section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and reasonable loading or unloading.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. The city engineer is authorized to establish bus zones opposite curb space for the loading and unloading of bus or common carrier passengers, and to determine the location thereof subject to the directives and limitations set forth in this section.

B. The word "bus" as used in this section means any motor bus, motor coach, trackless trolley coach or passenger stage used as a common carrier of passengers.

C. No bus zone shall exceed sixty feet in length, except that when satisfactory evidence has been presented to the city engineer showing necessity therefor, he or she may extend such length.

D. Bus zones shall be indicated by painting the curb red and by the erection of appropriate signs.

E. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle except a bus in a bus zone.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

When provided by council resolution, and when an appropriate sign is in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle on any street for a period of time longer than that indicated on the sign.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

When provided by council resolution, and when an appropriate sign is in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle, except on holidays, on any street or any part of any street between the hours indicated on such sign.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. Authorization. The city engineer is authorized to establish or remove "no stopping at any time" areas and "no parking at any time" areas by appropriate signs or markings to prohibit stopping, standing or parking at all times as defined and described in this section and as required by the California Vehicle Code. The city council shall adopt procedures for the establishment and removal of such areas by resolution.

B. "No stopping at any time" areas and "no parking at any time" areas. When a "no stopping at any time" area and "no parking at any time" area is indicated by appropriate signs and markings, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle in any of the following places (except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop) in violation of any provisions of this section:

1. Within any divisional island;

2. In any area established by resolution of the council as a no stopping or no parking area;

3. Adjacent to a curb return within a public road;

4. Within twenty feet (20') of any public road intersection measured from the curb return;

5. Within twenty feet (20') of any marked crosswalk;

6. Within twenty feet (20') of the approach to any traffic signal, stop sign, or official electric flashing device;

7. In any area where the city engineer determines that the stopping or parking of a vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property;

8. In any area necessary for the cleaning, repair, or construction of the street or highway;

9. In any area necessary for the installation of underground utilities;

10. In any area 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; and

11. In any area where the stopping or parking of a vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property notwithstanding signs and markings.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

(Ord. No. 2008-05, § II, 6-16-2008)

Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22507, the council may, by resolution, prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles, including, but not limited to, vehicles which are six feet in height (including any load thereon), within one hundred feet of any intersection, on any street or highway or portion thereof during any part of the day. Enforcement of such prohibition or restriction shall not apply until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed. Such a resolution may limit the prohibition or restriction to only certain streets, or may provide for preferential parking for local merchants holding permits which exempt them from the prohibition or restriction of the resolution.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)

A. Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22511.7, the council may, by resolution, designate on-street parking spaces for the exclusive use of any vehicle which displays either a distinguishing license plate or a handicapped placard issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles. Such parking spaces shall be identified by blue paint on the curb adjacent to the space and by any of the following:

1. By posting immediately adjacent to, and visible from, each space, a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background;

2. By outlining or painting the space in blue and outlining on the ground in the space in white or suitable contrasting color a profile view depicting a wheelchair with occupant;

3. By outlining a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background, of the same dimensions as in subsection A2 above. The profile view shall be located so that it is visible to a traffic enforcement officer when a vehicle is properly parked in the space.

B. Pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22507.9, the council may establish a special enforcement unit for the sole purpose of providing adequate enforcement of on-street or off-street parking for disabled persons.

(Ord. 93-1 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1993.)