Fresno Municipal Code Art. 10 Stopping, Standing and Parking for Certain Purposes or in Certain Places

(a) The provisions of this article 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 article prohibiting standing or parking or 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.

(c) There is hereby established an official city list of stopping, standing, and parking regulated zones. Whenever any ordinance is adopted establishing zones regulating the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles, the City Traffic Engineer shall cause the designated and affected street locations to be placed on said list. The City Traffic Engineer shall keep a record of all ordinances, hereafter adopted designating such parking regulation and shall cause notations of such records and such regulations with streets and limits to be placed on said lists in his office. Whenever any description of a parking zone is hereafter amended, deleted, or changed, the City Traffic Engineer shall cause such fact to be recorded upon said list in the appropriate place. Said list and the notations and contents therein, as they may from time to time be kept and amended, shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and legality of the designation of parking regulations on streets with the limits thereof, and the legality of placing signs and markings thereat as hereinafter provided. Said list, as amended, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein.

(d) All signs and markings shall be as specified in, erected and placed pursuant to, the California Vehicle Code. (Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962; based on former Sec. 10-1101; Am. Ord. 73-10, 1973; Am. Ord. 73-131, eff. 10-7-73).

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962; based on former Sec. 10-1102).

The City Traffic Engineer is hereby 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 chapter. When said curb markings or signs are in place no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. (Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962; based on former Sec. 10-1303).

(a) The Council by ordinance may establish "No Stopping Tow-away" zones with stopping prohibited at all times or limited to specific hours, days, or either, such restrictions are effective, and the City Traffic Engineer shall designate such restrictions by placing and maintaining appropriate signs or markings indicating that stopping of vehicles is prohibited and, when applicable, to indicate any specific hours, days, or either, when the stopping of vehicles is prohibited. During the time so designated by the signs or markings, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop in any such zones. Any member of the Police Department authorized by the Chief of Police may remove from a "no stopping tow-away" zone to a garage or other place of safety, in the manner, and subject to the requirements, of the Vehicle Code, any vehicle which has been parked or left standing therein in violation of any such sign or marking which also gives notice that the vehicle may be towed away or removed.

(b) All signs and markings shall be as specified in, erected and placed pursuant to, the California Vehicle Code. (Added Ord. 73-11, 1973).

No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, park, or leave standing such 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 other authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal:

(a) Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings.

(b) On either side of any street between the projected property lines of any public walk, public steps, street, or thoroughfare terminating at such street, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

(c) 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.

(d) In any area established by 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. (Subsec. Am. Ord. 70-2, 1970).

(e) 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.

(f) In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property.

(g) On any street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the 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 twenty-four hours prior to the effective time of such no parking.

(h) At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in the central business district or 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.

(i) In any area established by ordinance of the Council as an Emergency Parking Area, which area shall be effective at all times, or during limited or specific hours or days or both, when such area has been indicated by appropriate signs.

(j) Any place within twenty feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

(k) In front of a public or private driveway.

(l) Within fifteen feet of either side of a fire hydrant, unless a different distance is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

(m) On any street or highway, where the use of such street or highway, or portion thereof is necessary for the purpose of street sweeping, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with the street sweeping, provided; the street or highway, or portion thereof, has been posted in accordance with the uniform standards and specifications of the Department of Transportation, or the City has caused to be posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to the street a notice not less than 17 inches by 22 inches in size, with lettering not less than one inch in height setting forth the day or days and hours parking is prohibited. As used in the subsection, "entrance" means the intersection of any street or streets comprising an area of restricted parking for street sweeping purposes on the same day or days and hours with another street or highway not subject to such a parking restriction, or subject to parking restrictions on different days and hours. This subsection shall not affect any commercial vehicle making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, or merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted street or highway, or for the purposes of delivering materials to be used in the repair, alteration, remodeling, or reconstruction of any building or structure for which a building permit has previously been obtained.

(Rep. and Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-110; Am. Ord. 77-80, § 1, eff. 8-26-77; Am. Ord. 78-135, § 1, eff. 9-29-78; Am. Ord. 80-79, §§ 1, 2, eff. 6-20-80; Ord. No. 98-40, §§ 1, 2, eff. 7-20-98).

(a) The Council finds that the use of streets for storage of vehicles and the minimal movement of a parked or standing vehicle, including a recreational vehicle or temporary recreational vehicle, travel trailer, mobile home, transport trailer, boat trailer, bus, semi, house car, utility trailer, camper and the like, whether attached to another vehicle or separate, in order to avoid removal as a stored vehicle presents risk to the public health, safety and general welfare based upon the following findings:

(1) Use of streets for storage of vehicles tends to impair public use and enjoyment of streets.

(2) Use of streets for storage of vehicles tends to impair traffic flow.

(3) Use of streets for storage of vehicles tends to obstruct the visibility of drivers using and accessing streets.

(4) Use of streets for storage of vehicles tends to present increased risk of nuisance, or blight, or decrease in property values.

(5) Minimal movement of a parked or standing vehicle in order to avoid removal as a stored vehicle has frustrated and continues to frustrate the intent and purpose of this section.

(b) The on-street parking and storage of recreational vehicles shall be subject to the regulations of parking established pursuant to subsections (b)(1) through (4) of this section and the Vehicle Code of the State.

(1) Any motor-driven recreational vehicle not exceeding twenty feet in length, except a commercial vehicle or motor truck which is not a passenger vehicle, shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection.

(2) No equipment, other non-vehicular property, or non-motorized vehicle whether attached or unattached to a motor vehicle shall be parked or stored in any residential street, subject to subsection (b)(4) of this section.

(3) Any recreational vehicle (not otherwise exempt pursuant to subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section) may park on any street for a twenty-four hour period of time without restriction pursuant to this subsection. No person shall park or stand or permit to remain any recreational vehicle for more than twenty- four hours within a consecutive seven day period. A vehicle shall be considered to be in violation of this section when it is parked or standing on a street or alley within one thousand feet of the same location after twenty-four hours.

(4) A bona fide guest of a resident may park a recreational vehicle or trailer on the street in front of the host's residence for a period of seven days upon notification of the Parking Services Department.

(c) An inoperative, wrecked, dismantled or abandoned vehicle shall not be parked on public property or public right-of-way. A vehicle is deemed "inoperative" under this section if the vehicle (1) is mechanically incapable of being driven; (2) does not have a valid and current license plate or visible indication of valid and current vehicle registration; or (3) is prohibited from being operated on a public street or highway pursuant to the Vehicle Code. A vehicle which is temporarily broken down for a time not to exceed four hours is not considered inoperative under this section.

(d) In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street or alley in violation of this section, the Parking Services Department or any member of the Police Department authorized by the Chief of Police may remove said vehicle from the street in the manner and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code.

(e) The Traffic Engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs, consistent with any and all Vehicle Code requirements.

(f) If any sentence, clause, or phrase of this section is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this section. Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section and each sentence, clause, or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1105; Am. Ord. 6546, 1964; Am. Ord. 2006-62, § 3, eff. 6-12-06; Am. Ord. 2017-1, § 1, eff. 2-17-17; Am. Ord. 2017-38, § 1, eff. 9-23-17).

No person shall park a vehicle upon any street for the principal purpose of washing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1106; Am. Ord. 79-87, § 1, eff. 6-8-76).

(a) The City Traffic Engineer is hereby 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 prohibiting parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1109).

(a) The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of a roadway does not exceed twenty feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of a roadway does not exceed thirty 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.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1107).

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three per cent (within any business or residence district) without blocking the wheels of said vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1108).

(a) Whenever the City Traffic Engineer or Chief of Police 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, the City Traffic Engineer or Chief of Police 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 or Chief of Police 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 or Chief of Police 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 persons shall operate, park, or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962; based on former Sec. 10-1113).

Every motor truck having an unladen weight of four thousand pounds or more, and every truck tractor irrespective of weight, when operated upon any street or highway during darkness 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 California Highway Patrol. When any vehicle above mentioned or any trailer or semi-trailer is disabled upon streets or highway outside of any business or residence district within this city, and upon which street or highway there is insufficient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet during darkness, 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 by the driver thereof. The continuous flashing of at least four approved Class A-Type 1 turn signal lamps, at least two toward the front and at least two toward the rear of the vehicle, shall be considered to meet the requirements of this section until the devices mentioned above can be placed in the required locations. The warning signals herein mentioned shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1114).

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any alley for any purpose other than the loading, or unloading, of persons or materials.

(b) The Traffic Engineer may promulgate rules and regulations for permit parking of an indefinite duration of delivery vehicles owned or operated by businesses adjacent to any alleys lying within that certain area bounded by Divisadero Street, O Street, Ventura Street, and Freeway 99.

(c) The Traffic Engineer may limit parking to one side of any alley by posting signs giving notice of such limitation. No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any alley except as permitted by such signs.

(d) No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic.

(e) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property.

(f) No person shall park a vehicle upon any property adjacent to an alley when any portion of the vehicle or its load projects into such alley.

(Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1103; Am. Ord. 79-126, § 1, eff. 8-3-79).

(a) Regulation of parking on certain public property:

(1) Whenever the Chief Administrative Officer shall determine 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 Chief Administrative Officer shall have the power and authority to order signs to be erected or posted indicating the parking of vehicles is thus prohibited, limited or restricted.

(2) Whenever the governing body of the Housing Authority of the City of Fresno shall determine by resolution that the orderly, efficient conduct of the Authority's business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on Authority property be prohibited, limited or restricted, the Authority 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) The Chief Administrative Officer may designate certain stalls or spaces in city-owned or operated off-street parking facilities for the exclusive use of physically handicapped persons whose vehicles display one of the distinguishing license plates issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles to disabled persons pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22511.5, or to disabled veterans as specified in Vehicle Code Section 9105. Such designation shall be made by authorizing the City Traffic Engineer to post immediately adjacent to, and visible from each stall or space, a sign or signs consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background together with the language specified in Vehicle Code Section 22511.8.

(c) When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs.

(d) Any member of the Police Department authorized by the Police Chief may remove, in the manner provided by and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code for removal of a vehicle from a highway, any vehicle stopped, left standing or parked in violation of this section. (Added Ord. 6130, 1962, based on former Sec. 10-1112; Am. Ord. 74-16, § 1, eff. 3-10-74; Am. Ord. 74-108, § 1, eff. 11-25-74; Am. Ord. 76-57, § 1, eff. 7-25-76).

(a) Bicycle Path. No person shall park or stand any vehicle upon any bicycle path except in an emergency.

(b) Bicycle Lane. No person shall park or stand any vehicle upon any bicycle lane except in an emergency or as follows:

(1) Any bus in a designated bus zone.

(2) Any vehicle and other equipment while actually engaged in street work pursuant to the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 11 of this code.

(3) Any vehicle and other equipment owned or operated by any public agency or public utility while necessarily in use for construction, repair work, work upon the surface of a highway, or work of installation, removal, repairing or maintaining official traffic control devices.

(4) Any rubbish or garbage truck while actually engaged in the collection of rubbish or garbage.

(5) Any streetsweeper while actually engaged in sweeping a street.

(6) Any vehicle of any regularly licensed physician while actually engaged in making professional calls.

(7) Where parking is permitted. (Added Ord. 72-120, 1972; Am. Ord. 76-24, § 4, eff. 4-18-76).

Whenever the Chief Administrative Officer determines that the efficient conduct of the city's business requires the parking or standing of vehicles on city property then he may issue parking permits therefor. The permit shall state the conditions under which the permit may be used and the location or locations to which it applies. The permit shall be signed by the Chief Administrative Officer or such other person as he shall designate. The permit shall, at any time, be revocable at discretion of the Chief Administrative Officer. When such permit is prominently displayed on the dashboard facing the front window on the driver's side, the user shall be permitted to park or stand a vehicle on the city property designated on the permit. The requirement of a permit shall not apply to (1) city-owned vehicles (2) vehicles parked in spaces provided expressly for such vehicles or (3) vehicles used in carrying out construction or other service for the city. (Added Ord. 73-131, § 1, eff. 10-7-73).

(a) Privately owned and maintained off-street parking facilities on which Vehicle Code Sections 22350, 23103 and 23109 may be enforced, pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 21107.8, shall be designated by resolution of the Council, following a duly noticed public hearing.

(b) The private parking facilities so designated are generally held open for use of the public for purposes of vehicular parking.

(c) The owner or operator of each designated private parking facility shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to such facility a notice, not less than seventeen (17) by twenty-two (22) inches in size with lettering not less than one (1) inch in height, to the effect that such facility is subject to the public traffic regulations and control detailed in Vehicle Code Section 21107.8. (Added Ord. 79-165, § 1, eff. 11-16-79; Am. Ord. 82-42, § 1, eff. 5-14-82).

(a) The owner or operator of a private parking facility may impose reasonable time restrictions for parking in designated areas of such parking facility.

(b) The owner or operator of the private parking facility who chooses to impose reasonable time restrictions for parking shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to such facility a notice, not less than seventeen (17) by twenty-two (22) inches in size with lettering not less than one (1) inch in height, to the effect that such facility is subject to reasonable time restrictions for parking in designated areas. The designated areas of the parking facility subject to time restrictions for parking shall be clearly marked with additional notices at each entrance to the designated areas of the facility indicating the time restrictions imposed within such area of the parking facility.

(c) The owner or operator of a private parking facility may utilize its employees and/or the services of a private security patrol to enforce the time restrictions for parking in the parking facility. Such employees and/or private security patrol are authorized to issue municipal parking citations for violation of the time restrictions. Bail to be paid for violation of this Section shall be payable to and retained by the City.

(d) The City Manager shall adopt any and all written rules and regulations, including a procedure whereby the owners or operators of the private parking facilities shall file a written request with the Traffic Engineer, to implement the provisions in this Section. (Added Ord. 2001-58, § 1, eff. 9-3-01)

Up to four motorcycles shall be permitted in any single parking space upon any city street or in any city owned parking facility in the city, whether the parking space is painted or marked by either signs or paint, and whether the parking space is for time limit parking, hourly parking in an off-street facility, or is a metered space. If fees are charged for the parking space, the rate shall be equal to the "per space charge" for a vehicle parking space as established by the Master Fee Schedule. This Section is intended to encourage the use of motorcycle travel as a part of the City's efforts to reduce vehicle air emissions. (Added Ord. 2003-74, § 1, eff. 10-5-03).

Editor's note— Ord. 2008-65, § 2, effective December 15, 2008, amended the Code by repealing former section 14-1020 in its entirety. Former § 14-1020 pertained to parking permitted for privately owned low emission vehicles in city-owned off-street parking facilities, and derived from Ord. 2003-83, effective October 21, 2003; Ord. 2004-116, adopted December 5, 2004.

(a) The Council finds that use of a vehicle, including a recreational vehicle or temporary recreational vehicle, a travel trailer, a mobile home, a bus, a semi, a camper and the like, whether attached to another vehicle or separate, while it is parked or standing on any street as either temporary or permanent living quarters, abode, or place of habitation either overnight or day by day presents risk to the public's health, safety and general welfare based upon the following findings:

(1) Use of a vehicle upon a street for habitation tends to present risk of injury or death to the occupants thereof in the event of collision.

(2) Use of a vehicle upon a street for habitation tends to present increased opportunity for, and risk of criminal activity.

(3) Use of a vehicle upon a street for habitation tends to present increased risk to the public health, safety and general welfare through lack of available utility and sanitary connections and trash/refuse disposal service, including related creation of a harborage for rodents and insects.

(4) Use of a vehicle upon a street for habitation tends to present increased risk of nuisance, or blight, or decrease in property values.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to use a vehicle while it is parked or standing on any street as either temporary or permanent living quarters, abode, or place of habitation either overnight or day by day.

(c) The Traffic Engineer shall erect and maintain appropriate signs, consistent with any and all Vehicle Code requirements.

(d) If any sentence, clause or phrase of this section is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this section. Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this section and each sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. (Added Ord. 2006-62, § 1, eff. 6-12-06).

(a) The Development Director may designate areas in City-owned on and off-street parking facilities for the exclusive use by electric vehicles. These areas shall be designated by signs or markings indicating the regulations described herein. The Development Director shall designate the time limit for each electric vehicle charging station, which shall not exceed four hours.

(b) Only electric vehicles may stand in areas designated by markings and/or signage as electric vehicle charging stations. It is unlawful for an electric vehicle to stand in a designated electric vehicle charging station when not connected for electric charging purposes. A violation of this Subsection shall result in the issuance of a parking citation pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code section 1-302. The fine for violation of this Section shall be identified in the Master Fee Schedule. Vehicles in violation may be towed in accordance with California Vehicle Code section 22511.

(c) It is unlawful for an electric vehicle to be connected to an electric vehicle charging station and not actively charging for longer than thirty minutes. A violation of this Subsection shall result in a penalty fee as identified in the Master Fee Schedule.

(d) Definitions

(i) "Electric Vehicle" shall mean a battery electric vehicle which is fueled entirely be electricity stored in the onboard battery, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle which is fueled by both an onboard battery and another fuel source.

(ii) "Electric Vehicle Charging station" shall mean a device intended to transfer electricity from the device to an electric vehicle.

(ii) "Actively Charging" shall mean the transfer of electricity to the battery of an electric vehicle.

(iii) Connected shall mean the cable from the charger is inserted into the inlet on the electric vehicle for the purpose of transmitting energy to the vehicle's batteries.

(Added Ord. 2020-030, § 1, eff. 9-1-20).