Garden Grove Municipal Code Ch. 10.56 Stopping, Standing, and Parking

A. The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this chapter and Chapter 10.60, 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 ordinances of the City prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(Prior code § 3144; 2804 § 1, 2011)

The City Traffic Engineer is 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 Section 10.56.030.

(Prior code § 3145; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

When the curb markings or signs referred to in Section 10.56.020 are in place, 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. 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.

B. 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.

C. In any area established by City Council resolution as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

D. In any area established by City Council resolution as a no stopping area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

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

F. On any street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, 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 24 hours prior to the effective time of such no parking.

G. Whenever the City Traffic Engineer determines 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 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 he or she 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 shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

H. At any place within 20 feet on the approach side and 10 feet on the far side of a crosswalk 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. Within 20 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.

(Prior code § 3146; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle at any of the following locations:

A. Within any parkway.

B. Within any roadway divisional island.

C. Upon, along, or across any railroad track in such a manner as to hinder, delay, or obstruct the movement of any railroad car traveling upon such track.

(Prior code § 3147; 2804 § 1, 2011)

Whenever any resolution of the City designates and describes a limited time parking area, the City Traffic Engineer shall maintain appropriate signs or curb markings for the limited time parking areas using the specified time as defined and described in Section 10.56.060 or at other specific times as defined by the City Council.

(Prior code § 3148; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Designation of parking spaces—street parking. The City Traffic Engineer may recommend to the City Council, and the City Council shall indicate by resolution, which street parking spaces shall be designated for the exclusive use of physically handicapped persons whose vehicles display a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 5007, 22511.55 or 22511.59. Whenever the City Council so designates a parking space, it shall be marked by blue paint on the curb or edge of the paved portion of the street adjacent to the space. In addition to the blue paint, the space may also be marked by signs or other suitable means.

B. Designation of parking spaces—off-street parking.

1. Designation of spaces. Any person owning or operating an off-street parking facility may designate stalls or spaces in such facility for the exclusive use of physically handicapped persons whose vehicles display a distinguishing license plate or placard issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Sections 5007, 22511.55, or 22511.59. Such designation shall be made by posting immediately adjacent to, and visible from, each stall or space, a sign consisting of a profile view of a wheelchair with occupant in white on a blue background. Designation of such spaces in an off-street parking facility owned or operated by the City shall take place after authorization by City Council resolution.

2. Designation of handicapped parking—private property. The City of Garden Grove has established by resolution designated parking spaces on private property in the City reserved for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons. No person shall park or allow a vehicle to stand in designated handicapped parking spaces unless the vehicle has a placard or license as provided herein.

3. Enforcement. Vehicles parked in violation of any of the provisions contained in this section shall be subject to enforcement by citation.

(1589 § 1, 1977; 1670 § 1, 1978; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Twenty-minute parking. When 20-minute parking signs or green curb markings are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, or park said vehicle between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except Sundays, for a period of time longer than 20 minutes, except as limited by Sections 10.56.010 through 10.56.040 and Chapter 10.60.

B. One-hour parking. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, or park said vehicle between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except Sundays, for a period of time longer than one hour, except as limited by Sections 10.56.010 through 10.56.040 and Chapter 10.60.

C. Two-hour parking. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, or park said vehicle between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except Sundays, for a period of time longer than two hours, except as limited by Sections 10.56.010 through 10.56.040 and Chapter 10.60.

D. Other specified time parking. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, or park said vehicle between any hours of any day for a period of time longer than that specified by City Council resolution, except as limited by Sections 10.56.010 through 10.56.040 and Chapter 10.60.

(Prior code § 3149; 572 § 1, 1962; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within 18 inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are in place prohibiting such stopping or standing.

B. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadway unless signs are in place permitting such standing or parking.

C. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited upon the left-hand side of any one-way street, or when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side of any one-way roadway of a highway having two or more separate roadways and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.

D. The requirement of parallel parking imposed by this section shall not apply in the event any commercial vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading freight or goods, in which case such vehicle may be backed up to the curb, provided that such vehicle does not extend beyond the center-line of the street and does not block traffic thereby.

(Prior code § 3150; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Whenever any ordinance or resolution of the City designates any street or portion of streets as diagonal parking zones, the City Traffic Engineer shall place and maintain signs and/or pavement markings indicating such diagonal parking.

B. Whenever authorized diagonal parking signs and/or pavement markings are placed, it is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park said vehicle except:

1. At the angle to the curb indicated by signs and/or pavement markings allotting space to parked vehicles and entirely within the limits of said allotted space.

2. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of said curb. The provisions of this section shall not apply when such vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading passengers, freight, or goods, in which event the provisions of Section 10.56.070 shall apply.

(Prior code § 3150.1; 1124 § 1, 1970; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbings where authorized parking is permitted.

B. When such parking space markings are placed on the highway subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no vehicle shall be stopped, left standing, or parked other than within a single space unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible.

(Prior code § 3151; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall park or leave standing such vehicle upon any street, road, right-of-way, alley, park, parking lot, or other public property for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. For purposes of this section, movement of the vehicle by any means for a distance, on the same side of the street, of less than 50 feet shall be deemed no movement at all.

B. Removal of vehicles in violation of 72-hour limitation. A vehicle in violation of subsection A may be removed as abandoned under Vehicle Code Section 22651(k); providing the investigating officer determines that the vehicle is found to be abandoned under the statutory criteria of Vehicle Code Sections 22523 or 22669.

(Prior code § 3152; 885 § 1, 1966; 893 § 1, 1966; 1421 § 1, 1974; 2257 § 1, 1993; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Definitions. Unless otherwise specifically provided, the words and phrases used in this section shall have the following meanings:

1. An "oversized vehicle" means the following:

a. Any vehicle with a length in excess of 22 feet and/or width in excess of 80 inches. For purposes of determining the width of an automobile, measurements will be taken from the widest point of the vehicle in its present condition at the time of the inspection; or

b. A recreational vehicle; or

c. A trailer.

2. A "commercial vehicle" shall have the same meaning as Vehicle Code Section 260 as may be amended from time to time.

3. A "recreational vehicle" or "RV" means a vehicle of any size designed or modified for human habitation or for the conveyance and/or shelter of persons or goods for purposes of leisure-time activities, including a motor home, travel trailer, van, truck camper, camping trailer, boat, or off-the-road vehicle.

4. A "trailer" means a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle.

B. Permit required.

1. Except as provided for commercial vehicles below, no person shall park any oversized vehicle regardless of width on any public street without a permit issued by the City Manager or designee.

2. A commercial vehicle that is also an oversized vehicle may park on a street or highway only when such vehicle is parked temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers in connection with the performance of a service to the property adjacent to the curb at which such vehicle is parked.

C. Recreational vehicles. No person shall park and leave standing on any public or private street, alley or public property any recreational vehicle, except pursuant to a permit issued by the City Manager or designee as provided for in this section.

D. Permits.

1. The City Manager or designee may issue 72-hour oversized vehicle parking permits to City residents for the sole purpose of loading and unloading before and after travel, and not to exceed 12 non-consecutive permits in any calendar year per residential address.

2. The permit shall only allow the parking of an oversized vehicle in front of the address of the resident applying for the permit. No more than one permit per address shall be issued at any given time.

E. Administrative regulations. The City Manager or designee shall have the authority to promulgate administrative regulations and an application process for the issuance of permits authorized by this section.

F. Permit fees. The City Council may, by resolution, establish fees to defray the costs of processing permits.

(Prior code § 3152.1; 593 § 1, 1962; 1041 § 1, 1969; 2804 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2957, 9/10/2024)

Prior history: Added by Ord. 2885 § 1, 2017; repealed by Ord. 2957, 9/10/2024.

A. Whenever the City Traffic Engineer determines 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 City Traffic Engineer 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 any vehicle contrary to the directions or provisions of such signs.

(Prior code § 3153; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Whenever any ordinance or resolution of the City designates or describes a parking regulation on any City-owned or City-operated off-street parking facility, the City Traffic Engineer shall place and maintain signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulation shall be effective unless such signs are in place.

B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating the parking regulation, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey any such sign.

(Prior code § 3153.1; 676 § 1, 1963; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Whenever any ordinance or resolution of the City designates or describes a traffic regulation on any privately owned and maintained roads that are generally held open for the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel and that so connect with highways that the public cannot determine that such roads are not highways, the City Traffic Engineer shall place and maintain signs or markings giving notice thereof, and no such regulation shall be effective unless such signs or markings are in place.

B. Whenever authorized signs or markings are placed indicating the traffic regulation, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey any such sign or marking.

(Prior code § 3153.2; 1208 § 1, 1971; 1572 § 1, 1977; 2804 § 1, 2011)

No person shall park any vehicle upon any street for the purpose of advertising any item or event.

(Prior code § 3154; 2804 § 1, 2011)

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of persons or materials in any alley.

(Prior code § 3155; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing upon any highway any vehicles, whether attended or unattended, upon the roadway when it is practicable to stop, park, or leave the vehicle off such portion of the highway, but in every event an unobstructed width of the highway opposite a standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and a clear view of the stopped vehicles shall be available from a distance of 200 feet in each direction upon the roadway. This section shall not apply upon a highway where the roadway is bounded by adjacent curbs.

B. This section shall not apply to the driver of any vehicle that is disabled in such a manner and to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the disabled vehicle on the roadway.

(Prior code § 3156; 2804 § 1, 2011)

In conformance with the Vehicle Code Section 22500(a), parking is permitted adjacent to the straight curbs within all intersections having two or three approaches, unless parking in the area is controlled by appropriate signs or curb painting.

(Prior code § 3173; 953 § 1, 1967; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. No person shall occupy or use any camp car, camp trailer, camper, house car, mobilehome, trailer coach, or other vehicle or trailer as a dwelling or for living or sleeping quarters upon any public street, right-of-way, alley, or other public property or nonresidential property within the City except in a public or private trailer park or camping ground. This subsection shall not apply to any mobilehome or trailer coach located on a permanent foundation pursuant to provisions of the Health and Safety Code.

B. For purposes of this section "dwelling," "living," or "sleeping quarters" means that any of the vehicles described herein are being used by an individual or individuals as their basic residence in lieu of traditional building structures designed to house human beings including structures maintained in mobilehome parks. This section is not intended to prohibit individuals traveling from one community to another, resting in one of the above described vehicles including sleeping while in direct transit from one location outside the City to another location outside the City.

(1814 § 2, 1983; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Any other limitation on, or regulation concerning parking contained in Title 10 of this Code to the contrary notwithstanding, it is unlawful to park or leave parked any vehicle on any street or portion thereof during the hours and on the day or days of the month indicated on signs containing the words "No Parking," which signs have been placed in appropriate locations designating said parking restrictions pursuant to the provisions of this section.

B. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to determine the locations of and to place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, signs designating the hours during which, and day or days of the month on which, parking is prohibited in order to permit street sweeping equipment. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine.

(1781 § 1, 1982; 2804 § 1, 2011)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to stand or park any vehicle on any street, or portion thereof, restricted by City Council resolution to permit parking only during all or certain hours of the day or night provided signs giving notice of said restriction have been posted.

B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to any vehicle conspicuously displaying a guest parking permit in the left rear window thereof, or a valid parking permit issued by the City of Garden Grove pursuant to subsection C of this section displayed on the dashboard immediately above the steering wheel.

C. The City of Garden Grove shall, upon application therefor, issue at no cost to the applicant a parking permit exempting from the provisions of this section any vehicle owned or controlled by any resident or merchant of property adjacent to the street, or portion thereof, so restricted. Said issuer of permits shall also issue a maximum of 10 guest parking permits to each such residence or business at no cost to the applicant.

D. Any parking permit issued by the City pursuant to this section shall be valid for the one-year period from January 1st through December 31st of each year. Permits for the following calendar year shall be issued in December of each year.

E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle as defined in the California Vehicle Code when such vehicle is responding to an emergency, or the vehicle of a licensed physician who is responding to an emergency, provided said vehicle displays an insignia approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles indicating that the vehicle is owned by a licensed physician.

F. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to authorize vehicle parking at any location or at any time otherwise prohibited by any other provision of law.

G. Enforcement. Vehicles parked in violation of any of the provisions contained in this section shall be subject to enforcement by citation.

(1811 § 1, 1983; 2804 § 1, 2011)

The owner or person in lawful possession of any private property who desires to cause the removal of a vehicle parked on such property under the provisions of California Vehicle Code Section 22658 shall comply with the following requirement: Posted sign shall be a minimum of 18 inches by 24 inches in size, having a white background with contrasting lettering. Such signs shall be located not less than four feet nor more than six feet above ground level and otherwise in compliance with Section 22658 as to content.

(1820 § 1, 1983; 2804 § 1, 2011)