Morro Bay Municipal Code Ch. 10.40 Stopping, Standing and Parking for Certain Purposes or in Certain Places

A. The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times as specified in this chapter, 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 this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

C. The city traffic engineer and/or police chief, or his or her designated alternate may, at his or her discretion, set aside, suspend or relocate parking controls and regulations on a temporary basis when it is found to be in the public interest or required for traffic safety. Before any such temporary change may become effective, the city traffic engineer shall receive the police department's approval for the change and have the change posted.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. 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 this chapter.

B. When the 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.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

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, endanger life or property, or for other reasons deemed necessary, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

D. In any area established by resolution of the council as a no parking 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 twenty-four hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

G. At any place within fifteen feet of a crosswalk at an intersection 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;

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

I. Within any parkway;

J. Within ten feet of any intersection;

K. Within fifteen feet of any fire hydrant;

L. Directly in front of any building in which is housed fire fighting apparatus belonging to the city;

M. In any intersection;

N. In a crosswalk;

O. In any reserved space, except to take on or let off passengers or merchandise, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22507, no vehicle, boat, trailer shall be parked or left standing upon any street, highway, city parking lot or public area (whether improved or unimproved) within the city for seventy-two or more consecutive hours without having been moved at least one-tenth of a mile during that period.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall park or store any boat, trailer, or recreational vehicle upon any street, highway, city parking lot or public area (whether improved or unimproved) within a business district, as defined in Section 235 of the California Vehicle Code, between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m., unless such area is designated by the city for such parking or storage.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, change the oil, grease or cause to be greased any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in this city. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall wash or cause to be washed, polish or cause to be polished any vehicle or any part thereof upon any street in this city, when a charge is made for such service.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon that side of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his or her 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.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty feet.

B. When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent without blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall stand or park any vehicle, wagon or pushcart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or foodstuffs are sold, displayed, solicited or offered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunchwagon or eating cart or vehicle, on any portion of any street within this city, except that such vehicles, wagons or pushcarts may stand or park only at the request of a bona fide purchaser for a period of time not to exceed ten minutes at any one place. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to nonprofit organizations who have obtained prior approval of council or are part of an approved special event issued a public area use permit.

B. No person shall park or stand on any street any lunchwagon, eating cart or vehicle, or pushcart from which tamales, peanuts, popcorn, candy or other articles of food are sold or offered for sale. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to nonprofit organizations who have obtained prior approval of the council or are part of an approved special event issued a public area use permit.

C. This section does not apply to sidewalk vendors, as defined in Section 5.60.010. Sidewalk vendors shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 5.60.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09; Ord. No. 634, § 6, 6-23-20)

A. Whenever the chief of police shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, special event, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the 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 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 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 person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall park any vehicle greater than six feet in height, including any load thereon, within one hundred feet of any intersection at any time. This section shall not apply to any particular intersection until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed as determined appropriate by the city traffic engineer.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

Between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., it is unlawful to park or leave standing upon any public right-of-way within two hundred feet of any dwelling, any vehicle exceeding (1) twenty feet in length, or (2) six thousand pounds unladen weight, except trailer coaches, housecars, campers or motorhomes.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

Between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., no person shall park or leave standing on any street or public right-of-way any vehicle, except a passenger vehicle, with an operating refrigeration or other unit to cool, heat, humidify, or otherwise air-condition the cargo area, except for locations at least two hundred feet distant from the nearest dwelling.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any city parking lot which signs are posted between the hours of two a.m. and five a.m. of any day or between the hours established by resolution of the council; provided that this section shall not apply to Tidelands Boat Launch area.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

Every person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine for each separate offense as provided in Section 10.64.030.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)