Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 3 Stopping, Standing or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places

No person shall park any vehicle between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on streets, or portions thereof, as set forth by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 175.618, 6/27/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66; Ord. No. 9.22, § 1, 6/14/22.)

a. For purposes of this Section, the term "vehicle" shall mean any device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a street or highway, except a device moved exclusively by human power.

b. No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle on any public street, highway, alley, or publicly owned parking lot for more than seventy-two (72) consecutive hours. This prohibition shall apply to all vehicles parked or left standing within Mountain View city limits unless explicitly exempt from this parking restriction by this Section or another section of the Mountain View City Code.

c. Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing in the same location or parking spot for seventy-two (72) consecutive hours must be moved at least one thousand (1000) feet (approximately two-tenths (2/10) of a mile) from its current location and may not return to the same parking spot for at least twenty-four (24) hours after its departure.

d. A vehicle shall be deemed to have been parked or left standing in violation of the seventy- two (72) hour parking limit if:

1. the vehicle has not been moved at least one thousand (1000) feet (approximately two-tenths (2/10) of a mile) from the location or parking spot where it was originally parked or left standing for seventy-two (72) consecutive hours; or

2. less than twenty-four (24) hours after the vehicle is moved in accordance with this Section, the vehicle returns to the same parking spot where it was previously parked or left standing for seventy-two (72) consecutive hours.

e. Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing in violation of this seventy-two (72) hour parking limit may be removed from the street in accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 22651, as may be amended or renumbered from time to time.

f. Prior to removing any vehicle from the street for violation of this seventy-two (72) hour parking limit, a warning notice advising that the vehicle will be removed or towed for violation of this code section if the vehicle is not moved at least one thousand (1000) feet (approximately two-tenths (2/10) of a mile) from its current location within the next thirty-six (36) hours shall be conspicuously affixed to the vehicle. The notice shall also advise that the vehicle shall not be returned to its current parking spot for at least twenty-four (24) hours after departure and, if it does return, it will be subject to immediate removal.

g. Any attempt to remove or hide chalk or other markings placed by an authorized city employee for purposes of enforcement of this seventy-two (72) hour parking limit may result in the issuance of a citation and removal of the vehicle without further warning.

h. Whenever a member of the Mountain View police department or other authorized city employee removes a vehicle from the street pursuant to this Section and causes it to be stored or impounded as permitted by the California Vehicle Code, the police chief or their designee shall comply with California Vehicle Code Section 22852, as may be amended or renumbered from time to time, governing post-storage notice and hearing requirements for registered and legal owners of record.

i. The police chief or their designee shall establish and promulgate written administrative guidelines governing enforcement of the seventy-two (72) hour parking limit and said guidelines shall be made accessible to members of the public.

j. If this Section or any of its Subsections conflict with any other provisions of the Mountain View City Code, this Section shall govern for purposes of the seventy-two (72) hour parking limit.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 175.644, 1/30/61; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66; Ord. No. 6.89, 2/28/89; Ord. No. 15.90, 5/29/90; Ord. No. 3.01, 3/27/01; Ord. No. 3.2023, § 1, 2/28/23.)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three (3) percent within any business or residential district without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning them against the curb, or by other means.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within any parkway, except on a permanent or temporary driveway. No vehicle shall be parked as to block any sidewalk.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway or parking lot for the purpose of washing, servicing, repairing or otherwise working on such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 175.644, 1/30/61; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66; Ord. No. 21.80, 10/13/80; Ord. No. 2.02, 2/12/02.)

The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street or portion thereof adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in his opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous condition. When official signs or markings are installed indicating no parking upon a street or portion thereof adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

a. Emergency parking signs. Whenever the chief of police or designee shall determine that emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of a public or private assemblage, gatherings, functions or for any other reason, the chief of police, or designee, shall have power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted by the director of public works, or designee, indicating that the operating or parking of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the chief of police or designee 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 or designee shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

b. Special event, construction and other parking signs. Whenever the use of a street or portion thereof is necessary for:

1. Special events authorized by the city;

2. The movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size;

3. The cleaning, repair or construction of a street or portion thereof;

4. The installation of underground utilities; or

5. Any other purpose other than the normal flow of traffic, and the chief of police or director of public works, or their designees, finds that the parking of any vehicle on such street or portion thereof would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement, he or she, or their designee, shall authorize signs to be erected giving notice that the parking of vehicles on such street or portion thereof is prohibited.

Such signs shall be erected as required by Vehicle Code Section 22651(l) and 22651(m). The director of public works is authorized to permit such signage be erected pursuant to the issuance of an excavation or encroachment permit.

c. When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place, giving notice thereof, no persons shall operate or park any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of said signs.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66; Ord. No. 13.18, § 5, 11/13/18.)

In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one (1) 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 erected to permit such standing or parking. The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side of any such one-way roadway and to erect signs giving notice thereof.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/66; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/60.)

The city traffic engineer shall appropriately sign or mark the following places, and when so marked or signed no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of such places:

a. At any place within fifteen (15) feet of a crosswalk in any business district, except that a bus may stop at a designated bus stop.

b. Within fifteen (15) feet of the approach to any traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device.

c. At any place where the city traffic engineer determines that it is necessary in order to eliminate dangerous traffic hazards.

d. Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings.

e. In any area established by resolution of the city council as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

f. Upon, along or across any railway tracks in such manner as to hinder, delay, or obstruct the movement of any car traveling upon such track.

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

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 175.644, 1/30/61; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

No person shall park a commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more, upon any street abutting residentially zoned property. Provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to the parking of a pickup truck, SUV or similar vehicle of a size similar to an ordinary passenger vehicle, or any commercial vehicle currently being used to make pickups or deliveries of goods, wares and merchandise from or to any building or structure located upon residentially zoned property, or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure located upon residentially zoned property for which a building permit has been obtained.

As used in this section, "commercial vehicle" shall be as defined in the State Vehicle Code; and "residentially zoned property" means real property situated in any of the following zoning districts in the City of Mountain View, to wit: R1, R2, R3*, R3-d, R3P, R2M, and any real property in a P zone which is used for residential purposes.

(Ord. No. 87.76, 10/11/76; Ord. No. 105.76, 12/27/76; Ord. No. 3.01, 3/27/01.)

No person shall park any commercial vehicle as defined in the Vehicle Code of California, or as hereafter amended, having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or more on any of the streets, or portions of streets, as set forth by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 86.76, 10/11/76; Ord. No. 106.76, 12/27/76; Ord. No. 50.77, 8/29/77; Ord. No. 6.80, 2/25/80; Ord. No. 9.81, 7/27/81; Ord. No. 17.87, 10/13/87; Ord. No. 18.87, 11/24/87; Ord. No. 3.01, 3/27/01; Ord. No. 13.01, 9/21/01; Ord. No. 13.18, § 6, 11/13/18.)

a. No person shall park any oversized vehicle on any streets, or portions of streets, as set forth by resolution of the city council.

b. Exemptions. Subsection (a) above shall not apply to any of the following:

1. Any oversized vehicle actively engaged in the loading or unloading of materials, supplies or goods in the delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or other materials at an adjacent business or residence for no longer than sixty (60) minutes;

2. Construction vehicles with a valid city-issued excavation or encroachment permit;

3. Commercial loading zones;

4. Any vehicle belonging to or under contract with federal, state or local government authorities, or a public utility, and any emergency vehicles as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 165;

5. Any commercial, business or public transit bus or commuter shuttle for no longer than two (2) hours, and any bus in an area specifically posted to allow bus parking for a prescribed time; and

6. Wheelchair-accessible vans with a valid disabled placard or license plate issued and properly displayed pursuant to the California Vehicle Code.

c. This section shall not be enforced until a resolution is adopted identifying certain streets adjacent to class II bikeways.

d. Signage. The public works director shall place signs or markings giving adequate notice of the restriction. This section shall not be enforced until such signage has been installed.

e. Penalties. In addition to the penalties for parking violations set forth in this chapter, vehicles parked in violation of this section shall be subject to removal from the public right-of-way at the registered owner's expense. The registered owner of the vehicle shall be liable for the cost of all towing and storage fees. Signs shall be posted giving notice of the removal of vehicles parked in violation of this section.

(Ord. No. 14.19, § 2, 10/22/19.)

a. No person shall park any oversized vehicle on narrow streets less than or equal to forty (40) feet in width, or portions thereof, as set forth by resolution of the city council.

b. Exemptions. Subsection a. above shall not apply to any of the following:

1. Any oversized vehicle actively engaged in the loading or unloading of materials, supplies or goods in the delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or other materials at an adjacent business or residence for no longer than sixty (60) minutes;

2. Construction vehicles with a valid City of Mountain View-issued excavation or encroachment permit;

3. Commercial loading zones;

4. Any vehicle belonging to or under contract with federal, state or local government authorities, or a public utility, and any emergency vehicles as defined by California Vehicle Code Sec. 165;

5. Any commercial, business or public transit bus or commuter shuttle for no longer than two (2) hours, and any bus in an area specifically posted to allow bus parking for a prescribed time; and

6. Wheelchair-accessible vans with a valid disabled placard or license plate issued and properly displayed pursuant to the California Vehicle Code.

c. This section shall not be enforced until a resolution is adopted prohibiting parking of oversized vehicles on specified streets, or portion thereof, less than forty (40) feet wide.

d. Signage. The public works director shall place signs or markings giving adequate notice of the restriction. This section shall not be enforced until such signage has been installed.

e. Penalties. In addition to the penalties for parking violations set forth in this chapter, vehicles parked in violation of this section shall be subject to removal from the public right-of-way at the registered owner's expense. The registered owner of the vehicle shall be liable for the cost of all towing and storage fees. Signs shall be posted giving notice of the removal of vehicles parked in violation of this section.

(Ord. No. 15.19, § 2, 10/22/19.)

The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions and limitations of this division, to place and when required herein shall place, signs or the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations, and such curb markings shall have the meanings as set forth herein:

(1) RED shall mean no stopping, standing, or parking, at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus stop zone.

(2) YELLOW shall mean no stopping, standing, or parking at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except Sunday and 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 (3) minutes, nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty (20) minutes.

(3) WHITE shall mean no stopping, standing, or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent box which shall not exceed three (3) minutes, and such restrictions shall apply at all times.

(4) GREEN shall mean no standing or parking for longer than the time indicated by posted signs at any time between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except Sunday and holidays.

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

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

At those locations set forth by resolution of the city council, the city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed twenty (20) feet, or upon one (1) side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed thirty (30) feet.

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.

(Ord. No. 175.644, 1/30/61; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66; Ord. No. 13.18, § 7, 11/13/18.)

In order to prevent flooding of adjacent property, the city traffic engineer shall designate and establish no parking zones by placing and maintaining appropriate signs indicating that parking of vehicles is prohibited and indicating the hours and days when parking is prohibited.

During the hours and on the days designated on the signs, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park such vehicle on any of the streets or parts of streets or parking lots established by resolution of the council as such no parking zones.

(Ord. No. 175.644, 1/30/61; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)

The provisions of this article regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a city department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or maintenance work upon the streets of this city.

(Ord. No. 175.587, 1/25/60; Ord. No. 24.66, 9/26/66.)