Chapter 12.28 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING

The provisions of this title 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.

(Prior code § 617-A1)

The provisions of this title 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.

(Prior code § 617-A1.1)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway paralleled by curbs or any parkway designated by the city traffic engineer as an area for no standing, stopping or parking and posted accordingly.

(Prior code § 617-A2)

• (a) 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 hours.

• (b) In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a consecutive period of seventy-two hours 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.

• (Prior code § 617-A3)

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of washing, waxing, wiping, greasing, or repairing such vehicle except repairs necessitated by an emergency. (Prior code § 617-A4; Ord. 1941 § 2, 2017)

• (a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:

  • (1) ADULT means, for purposes of subsection (f)(1) only, any person over the age of 16.

  • (2) PERSON includes any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.

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City of Palm Springs, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 12.28.055

§ 12.28.055

• (3) PROXIMITY RADIUS means 0.1 mile, measured as a straight line distance from the nearest boundary of the parcel containing the Registered Owner Address to the location where the Vehicle is parked or left standing, as determined by any readily available and reliable mapping or GIS methods available to the City.

• (4) PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY means any public street, road, highway, alley, parkway, shoulder, or other property dedicated or accepted for public travel or use, including any parking lane, within the City.

• (5) REGISTERED OWNER ADDRESS means the address listed for the registered owner of the Vehicle in official registration records available to the City.

• (6) VEHICLE means a vehicle as defined by state law and includes a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or other device by which persons or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway.

• (7) VEHICLE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY means parking, standing, stopping, placing, or leaving standing a Vehicle in the Public Right-of-Way for the primary purpose of facilitating the sale, exchange, rental, or transfer of ownership of the Vehicle for value, including conduct intended to solicit prospective purchasers, coordinate viewings or inspections, arrange test drives, or otherwise facilitate such a transaction.

• (b) Prohibition. Except as expressly provided in this section, no Person shall engage in Vehicle Commercial Activity in the Public Right-of-Way.

• (c) Content-Neutral Enforcement; No Sign-Content Element. A violation of this section may be established without regard to, and without evidence of, the content of any sign, display, writing, or communication. No particular sign or message is required to establish Vehicle Commercial Activity.

(d) Evidence; Rebuttable Presumption.

• (1) In determining whether Vehicle Commercial Activity has occurred, enforcement personnel may consider the totality of circumstances, including, without limitation: repeated placement of the same Vehicle in the same vicinity for extended periods; repeated placement of multiple Vehicles by the same Person in the same vicinity; arranging inspections or test drives from the public right-of-way; or other conduct indicating the Vehicle is positioned or maintained to facilitate a transfer of ownership for value.

• (2) Vehicle Commercial Activity shall be presumed where the same Vehicle is parked or left standing in the Public Right-of-Way within any 1,000 foot distance for more than 72 consecutive hours, unless the responsible Person presents credible evidence establishing a lawful purpose unrelated to facilitating a Vehicle Commercial Activity.

• (e) Safe Harbor Defense; Proximity to Registered Owner Address. Vehicle Commercial Activity otherwise prohibited by this section is permitted only if the person charged/cited can establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, all of the following are met:

  • (1) The Vehicle is parked or left standing within the Proximity Radius of the Vehicle's Registered Owner Address;

  • (2) The Vehicle is lawfully parked and in compliance with all other applicable

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City of Palm Springs, CA § 12.28.055

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 12.28.060

restrictions, including posted time limits established pursuant to the City's parking regulations and applicable curb markings; and

• (3) The Vehicle is not parked or left standing in a manner that creates a traffic or pedestrian safety hazard, including, but not limited to, obstruction of sight distance, interference with traffic control devices, blocking driveways, or stopping or parking in prohibited safety zones.

• (f) Limitations. The safe harbor defense in subsection (e) shall not apply if:

  • (1) More than one (1) Vehicle per Adult residing at the same Registered Owner Address is parked or left standing in the Public Right-of-Way for purposes of a Vehicle Commercial Activity at the same time; or

  • (2) The Vehicle is parked or left standing in the Public Right-of-Way for purposes of Vehicle Commercial Activity for more than 72 consecutive hours, unless otherwise permitted by the applicable posted time limits or other applicable law.

• (g) Exemptions. This section does not apply to:

  • (1) Vehicles stopped or left standing due to mechanical failure, collision, emergency, or at the direction of a police officer, authorized officer, or traffic control device;

  • (2) Vehicles placed pursuant to a City-issued encroachment permit, special event permit, filming permit, or other written authorization that expressly allows right-of-way occupancy for a limited time and place; or

  • (3) Government vehicles used in the performance of official duties.

• (h) Administrative Regulations. The City Manager is hereby authorized to promulgate administrative regulations interpreting and implementing the provisions of this section.

• (i) Enforcement; Penalties; Remedies.

  • (1) Violations of this section may be enforced by any peace officer or code enforcement officer of the City.

  • (2) Violations may be enforced through administrative citation in accordance with the City's administrative citation procedures set forth in Chapter 1.06.

  • (3) Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation.

  • (4) A Vehicle involved in a violation of this section may be subject to removal only to the extent authorized by state law and in accordance with applicable City towing procedures.

  • (5) The remedies provided herein are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies available at law.

• (j) Relationship to other Regulations. This section is in addition to, and does not limit, the City's authority to establish parking prohibitions or time limits by sign or marking pursuant to State or City parking regulations, including Palm Springs Municipal Code Section 12.32.010.

• (Ord. 2127, 3/11/2026)

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City of Palm Springs, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 12.28.060

§ 12.28.090

• (a) Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen 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 lefthand 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 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 that vehicle may be backed up to the curb; provided that such vehicle does not extend beyond the centerline of the street and does not block traffic thereby.

• (Prior code §§ 617-A5—617-A5.3)

• (a) The city traffic engineer shall determine upon what streets angle parking shall be permitted and shall mark and sign such streets. Such angle parking shall not be permitted on any state highway or upon any other street or roadway that is not of sufficient width to permit and not interfere with the free movement of traffic.

• (b) When signs or markings are in place indicating angle parking as herein provided, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings.

• (Prior code §§ 617-A6—617-A6.1)

• (a) The city traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon 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 indicating no parking upon either side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.

• (Prior code §§ 617-A7—617-A7.1)

• (a) 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 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

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City of Palm Springs, CA § 12.28.090

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 12.28.130

authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.

(Prior code §§ 617-A8—617-A8.1)

• (a) Whenever the city traffic engineer, chief of police, or their designated representatives, 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, chief of police, or their designated representatives, 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, chief of police, or their designated representatives, 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 person causing their placement 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.

(Prior code §§ 617-A9.8—617-A9.81)

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 the time specified in Section 618 of the Vehicle Code 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 Department of California Highway Patrol.

When any vehicle above mentioned or any trailer or semi-trailer is disabled upon streets or highways 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 any time mentioned in Section 618 of the Vehicle Code, 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 type Class A-Type 1 turn signal lamps, at least two toward the front and at least two to-ward 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 the time mentioned in Section 618, while such vehicles remain disabled upon such street or highway. (Prior code § 617-A9.82)

• (a) No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on private property or business premises without the express or implied consent of the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof.

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City of Palm Springs, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 12.28.130

§ 12.28.130

• (b) No person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle on private property or business premises at a time, or at a place thereon, or for a period of time, or in any manner otherwise, which is unauthorized by the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof.

• (c) The following acts of stopping, parking or leaving standing a vehicle shall be included within those which shall be deemed in violation of subsection (a) or (b) whichever is applicable, but other acts not mentioned may also violate either subsection. (The use of the term "parking" in the following examples shall be deemed also to include collectively acts of "stopping" and "leaving standing"):

  • (1) Parking on any vacant lot or unimproved property unless affirmatively so permitted by posted sign(s) or by the authorized person in charge;

  • (2) Parking off-street on any improved private property not held open to use by the general public, unless such parking is by invitation of the occupant(s) or for bona fide business purposes upon the property;

  • (3) Parking in any off-street parking area or lot or facility of an apartment building, hotel or business enterprise which is indicated by sign(s) or other marking(s) to be reserved for use by tenants, residents or employees or others not including the person so parking;

  • (4) Parking in the off-street parking area or lot or facility of an individual parking stall or any area which is indicated by a sign or other marking(s) to be reserved for the exclusive use of a person or persons other than the person so parking;

  • (5) Parking in a shopping center or business parking area or facility for a purpose other than doing business with one or more of the stores or offices at the site, or for a purpose not related to such business operation, or remaining parked for longer than reasonably appropriate to do such business or acts related to such business operations;

  • (6) Utilizing a space or stall which is indicated by sign(s) or other marking(s) to be reserved for use in connection with a particular store, office or business, and parking in the same for a purpose other than that for which it is so reserved;

  • (7) Parking in any stall or space which is indicated by sign(s), blue painted curbing or other marking(s), to be designated for the exclusive use by physically handicapped persons, of a vehicle not displaying one of the distinguishing license plates or placards issued pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22511.5 or Section 9105;

• (8) Parking at any spot where such parking is prohibited, as indicated by sign(s), markings, striping, lettering on pavement, red-painted curbing, or by any other means, including (but not limited to) areas and locations within areas reserved for or designated as traffic lanes for movement of vehicles or pedestrians, clear areas at or near building entrances or exits, fire lanes, sidewalks or pedestrian or bicycle lanes, clear areas at or near ramps or other facilities used by or intended for use of handicapped persons, unimproved areas, dangerous areas, areas to be utilized by larger vehicles such as trucks, buses, emergency vehicles or other service vehicles, or areas designated for any other business or special use;

  • (9) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or by reasons of vehicle

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City of Palm Springs, CA § 12.28.130

PALM SPRINGS CODE

§ 12.28.150

disablement or bona fide emergency, parking, standing or waiting at a location within a traffic lane or otherwise, which substantially interferes with the normal movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such location;

• (10) Parking in violation of the restrictions stated on any other sign or marking(s) not mentioned in the foregoing subsections, which has or have been placed on private property or business premises by the owner, authorized agent of the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof;

• (11) Failure or refusal to remove or move a parked or standing or stopped vehicle from private property or business premises, in compliance with a direction to do so by the owner, person in lawful possession of such premises or property, or other person in charge thereof; or violation of a direction by such person not to park, stop or stand a vehicle upon, or at a particular location upon, such premises or property; provided, that this section shall not apply to an act or failure or refusal to leave private property or to noncompliance with a direction to keep off such property, in any of those instances listed in Section 11.64.040 of this code; or

• (12) Parking on a private street in violation of a prohibition or restriction stated on any sign or marking(s) or notification giving notice thereof, placed or given by or pursuant to authority of the association or person or other entity owning or in charge of such private street.

• (d) Nothing in this section affects or limits the rights or remedies any person may have pursuant to any other provision of law, such as Section 22658 of the California Vehicle Code, to remove or cause removal of a vehicle parking upon private property.

• (e) It shall be the policy of the city council to encourage the posting of signs on shopping center parking facilities similar to the signs mentioned in Section 21107.8 of the California Vehicle Code, to give notice to the public that the parking regulations applicable on the private parking facility are subject to official enforcement by citations and fines and otherwise. This does not, however, authorize signs posted in nonconformance with the city's sign control ordinance or other applicable regulations; and the posting of such signs shall not be deemed a requirement or condition precedent to enforcement of this section.

• (f) Sections 41102 et seq. of the California Vehicle Code are referred to and incorporated in this section by this reference and shall be applicable in connection with any prosecution for violation of this section, in the same manner and to the same extent as said sections are applicable to prosecutions for parking violations occurring on the public streets.

• (Prior code § 617-A9.83; Ord. 1080 § 1, 1978)

No person shall park and leave a vehicle on a public street, alley or public parking facility unless the ignition has been locked, provided, however, that if the driver or passenger remains inside the vehicle after and while it is parked, the ignition need not be locked. (Prior code § 617-A9.9)

Whenever a vehicle is illegally parked on a street or highway in violation of any provision of this chapter or of this code, any regularly employed and salaried police officer of the city or

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City of Palm Springs, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 12.28.150

§ 12.28.150

deputy of the sheriff's office of Riverside County, or member of the California Highway Patrol, may cause such vehicle to be impounded, driven or towed away and stored, so long as signs are posted giving notice of the removal. Any reasonable costs resulting from such impounding, towing or storage shall be charged to the owner of the vehicle and to the driver who committed the parking violation.

(Prior code § 617-A9.91; Ord. 914 § 4(C), 1971)

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City of Palm Springs, CA

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

§ 12.32.010

§ 12.32.050

CHAPTER 12.32 PARKING