Murrieta Municipal Code Ch. 10.32 Stopping, Standing and Parking

A. The city council by ordinance shall determine upon what streets angle parking shall be permitted and shall mark or sign such street but such angle parking shall not be indicated upon any state highway within Murrieta unless the Department of Transportation has determined that the roadway is sufficient width to permit angle parking without interfering with the free movement of traffic.

B. Angle parking shall not be indicated or permitted at any place where passing traffic would thereby be caused or required to drive upon the left side of the street.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.10.001)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to issue special permits to authorize the backing of a vehicle to the curb for the purpose of loading or unloading property subject to the terms and conditions of such permit. Such permits may be issued either to the owner or lessee of real property alongside the curb or to the owner of the vehicle and shall grant to such person the privilege as therein stated and authorized in this chapter.

B. It is unlawful for any permittee or another person to violate any of the special terms or conditions of any such permit.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.10.002)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine the location of no stopping zones and no parking areas for the purpose of establishing left-turn lanes, right-turn lanes, vehicle maneuvering zones and sight clearance zones and shall place and maintain appropriate signs or markings indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this article and the Vehicle Code are applicable.

B. No stopping zones and no parking zones for purposes other than specified in subsection A of this section shall be established by resolution of the council.

C. No stopping zones and no parking areas shall be indicated by signs or by red paint upon the top and face of all curbs in the zones and areas.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.001)

No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or official traffic-control device, in any of the following places:

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

B. In any area where the city traffic engineer determines that for the purpose of establishing left-turn lanes, right-turn lanes, vehicle maneuvering zones and sight clearance zones such as no stopping or no parking are needed;

C. 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;

D. Within any parkway;

E. 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 (24) hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

F. At any place 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 stop.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.002)

Loading and unloading of passengers to or from a vehicle is prohibited from within the drive lanes of any roadway. Vehicles may not stop within a roadway for the purpose of passenger loading or unloading.

(Ord. 605-24 § 3, 2024)

No person shall park a vehicle within an alley except for the active process of loading or unloading persons or freight.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.003)

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

Washing, polishing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.004)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon either or both sides 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. (Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.005)

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 (20) 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 (30) feet.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.006)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs upon the left-hand side of any one-way street to prohibit the standing or parking of vehicles.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.007)

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 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. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.008)

No person driving, or in control of, or in charge of, a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand on any highway unattended when upon any grade exceeding three percent within any business or residence district without blocking the wheels of the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.009)

It is unlawful to park or stop or leave standing within one hundred (100) feet of any street intersection, any vehicle which is six (6) feet or more in height, including the height of any load thereon.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.010)

Whenever the city traffic engineer anticipates that a walkathon, bikeathon, or construction traffic congestion is likely to result from the natural causes or construction, he or she shall place, or cause to be placed, temporary signs indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of such natural causes or construction and the city traffic engineer shall remove, or cause to be removed, such signs thereafter. (Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.011)

No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours as permitted by CVC Section 22651(k). When posted no parking twenty-four (24) hours in advance for construction may be removed by authority of police department.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.012)

In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours, any member of the police department authorized by the chief of police may issue a citation therefor, or may remove the vehicle from the street in the manner allowed by the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 357 § 2, 2006; Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.013)

A. Commercial vehicles defined in Section 22507.5 of the State Vehicle Code are prohibited from parking from two a.m. to six a.m. on all streets except streets within a city land use zoned industrial area unless more restrictive posted parking regulations exist.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.014)

B. Commercial vehicles as defined in Section 22507.5 of the State Vehicle Code are prohibited from parking between ten p.m. and five a.m. on the following streets:

• 1. Monroe Avenue from Guava Street to the northwest terminus;
• 2. Madison Avenue from Murrieta Hot Springs Road to Date Street;
• 3. Madison Avenue from Auto Mall Parkway to Cherry Street;
• 4. Hobie Circle from Date Street to the southeast terminus;
• 5. Pierce Circle from Pear Street to the northwest terminus;
• 6. Auto Mall Parkway from Date Street to Jefferson Avenue;
• 7. Date Street from Jefferson Avenue to Auto Mall Parkway.
• 8. Raintree Court from Madison Avenue to the northeast terminus;
• 9. Pear Street from Jefferson Avenue to Madison Avenue;
• 10. Sandlewood Circle from Jefferson Avenue to Madison Avenue;
• 11. Nick Lane from Jefferson Avenue to Madison Avenue;
• 12. Golden Gate Circle from Jefferson Avenue to Madison Avenue;
• 13. Elm Street from Jefferson Avenue to the northeast terminus;
• 14. Fig Street from Jefferson Avenue to the northeast terminus; and
• 15. Guava Street from Jefferson to Monroe Avenue.

(Ord. 383 § 1, 2007)

No non-self propelled vehicle, except bicycles, shall be parked or left standing on any city street, except that a non-self propelled vehicle used for recreational purposes shall be allowed for a period not longer than forty-eight (48) hours prior to a recreational trip and forty-eight (48) hours after a recreational trip, for the purpose of loading and unloading, unless more restrictive parking regulations exist.

(Ord. 357 § 3, 2006; Ord. 131 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.015)

Self-propelled recreational vehicles as defined by Section 18019 of the Health and Safety Code shall not be parked on any street except for a period not longer than forty-eight (48) hours prior to a recreational trip or forty-eight (48) hours after a recreational trip unless more restrictive parking regulations exist.

(Ord. 357 § 4, 2006; Ord. 131 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.016)

No person shall park, stop, place, or leave standing any vehicle or cause any vehicle to be parked or placed upon any private or public property, highway, parking lot or other private or public property located within the city for the purpose of selling, displaying or offering for sale any vehicle.

A. This section shall not prohibit any person from selling, displaying for sale or offering for sale a vehicle on private property, provided the person owns or occupies the property or has written permission of the property owner or the person in lawful possession of such private property. Such written permission shall be displayed in or on the vehicle in such a manner as to be clearly visible, and upon request by a police officer or code enforcement officer, such written permission shall be made available for further inspection.

B. This section shall not exempt a person from compliance with city zoning ordinances or any other ordinance or law governing the sale of vehicles on private property.

C. The parking or placing of any vehicle with a sign or other advertising device thereon or proximate thereto, indicating such vehicle is for sale shall constitute prima facie evidence that such vehicle was parked or placed for the purpose of displaying the vehicle for sale.

(Ord. 131 § 1 (part), 1994: Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.11.017)

A. The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine the location of loading zones and passenger loading zones and shall place and maintain appropriate signs or marking indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this article and Vehicle Code are applicable.

B. Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the surface of all curbs in the zones. Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time of any day for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or freight and shall not continue more than three minutes or the loading or unloading of freight more than twenty (20) minutes.

C. Passenger loading zones shall be indicated by white paint upon the top of all curbs in the zones. White shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading passengers or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox, which shall not exceed three minutes and such restrictions shall apply any day as follows:

When such zone is in front of a hotel, residence, or in front of a mailbox, the restrictions shall apply at all times.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.12.001)

A. Permission granted in this chapter 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 therefore and in no event for more than three minutes.

B. 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 but without permitting abuse of the privileges granted by this chapter.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.12.002)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to establish bus stops, bus stands, taxicab stands and stands for other passenger common-carrier motor vehicles on such streets in such places and in such number as he or she shall determine to be of the greatest benefit and convenience to the public, and every such bus stop, bus stand, taxicab stand or other stand shall be designated by appropriate official traffic-control devices. (Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.12.003)

The city traffic engineer is authorized on the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, to prohibit, regulate or limit stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles and shall place and maintain official traffic-control devices indicating the same and stating the hours during which the provisions of this article and the Vehicle Code are applicable.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.001)

Time limit parking zones such as twenty-four (24) minute, forty (40) minute, one hour, two hour, etc., shall be indicated by appropriate signs or green paint upon the surface of all curbs in the zones. Green shall mean no standing or parking for a period of time longer than indicated at anytime between nine a.m. and six p.m. on any day except Sundays and holidays.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.002)

When signs are erected in conformity to Section 22507.6, Vehicle Code no person shall park a vehicle upon any street and highway located within the city on the days and during the hours designated on such signs in order that the city department of public works may more efficiently sweep the streets of Murrieta.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.003)

The chief of police may approve the installation of parking signs allowing temporary vehicular parking on Class II bike lanes and is authorized to administer the posting and removal of the signs permitting the temporary parking. All signs posted for this purpose shall conform to the applicable state standards.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.004)

No person shall park a vehicle in a private driveway or on private property without the direct or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such driveway or property.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.005)

A. Whenever the city manager determines that the orderly, efficient conduct of the city's business requires that parking or standing of vehicles on city property or city-controlled property be prohibited, limited or restricted, the city manager 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 or pavement markings.

C. Any motor vehicle parked on city property or city-controlled property in violation of this section may be towed away and stored by a police officer, person or private towing service designated by the chief of police under the direction of a police officer. Before this provision shall apply, however, the area must be conspicuously posted giving notice that any vehicle parked in violation thereof shall be subject to removal and storage at the expense of the owner of the vehicle. The owner of any vehicle so removed and stored may reclaim it, but the owner shall first pay the cost that is incurred in removing and storing such vehicle.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.13.006)

Persons using "blue curb" parking spaces shall comply with the following:

1. "Blue curb" parking spaces shall be operative twenty-four (24) hours a day, Sundays and holidays included;

2. Parking zones for the physically handicapped are subject to any temporary parking prohibitions established by Murrieta.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.15.001)

The city traffic engineer is authorized to designate special "blue curb" parking spaces on local streets for the purpose of providing on-street parking for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons.

(Ord. 98 § 1 (part), 1993: Ord. 3 § 1 (part), 1991: prior code § 12.15.002)