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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 12 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

Paso Robles Municipal Code Ch. 12.38 Parking Restrictions

Paso Robles Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Paso Robles

Cite as: Paso Robles Municipal Code Chapter 12.38 · Text as of 2026-10-04

Footnotes:

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Cross reference— Parking in trailer camps—See Chapter 7.24 of this code.

12.38.010 - Parking prohibited on posted streets.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof no person shall park a vehicle at any time upon any of the streets described in Section 12.90.050 of this title.

(Ord. 197 N.S. § 150, 1956)

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12.38.020 - All night parking prohibited.

When signs are erected giving notice thereof no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, trailer or trailer coach on any street or alley for a period of time longer than thirty minutes between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m. of any day.

(Ord. 311 N.S. § 2 (part), 1970: Ord. 197 N.S. § 151, 1956)

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12.38.030 - Parking space markings.

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.

When such parking space markings are placed in 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.

(Ord. 197 N.S. § 152, 1956)

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12.38.035 - Regulation of on-street parking of recreational vehicles, utility trailers and campers.

A. Definitions. The words, terms, phrases, and their derivations set forth in this section have the meanings set forth below.

  1. "Camper" means a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes.

  2. "Recreational Vehicle" means a vehicle or trailer which is capable of human habitation or designed or used for recreational camping or travel use, whether self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle, or any structure inspected, approved and designed as a recreational vehicle by and bearing the insignia of the state of California or any other state or federal agency having the authority to approve recreational vehicles. "Recreational Vehicle" includes, without limitation, any of the following: (i) camp trailer, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 242; (ii) fifth-wheel travel trailer, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 324; (iii) house car, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 362; (iv) trailer coach, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 635; (v) mobile home, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 396; (vi) boats, watercraft, off-road vehicles and/or a trailer for a boats, watercraft or off-road vehicles; (vii) trailers designed to carry persons, property or animals on its own structure and to be drawn by a motor vehicle; and (viii) recreational vehicles, as defined by California Health and Safety Code section 18010.

  3. "Utility Trailer" means a non-motorized vehicle designed to carry persons, property, animals, waste, materials, or any other items on its own structure and to be drawn by another motor vehicle which is not designed for recreational purposes.

B. On-Street Parking Prohibition.

  1. No person shall park or leave standing any recreational vehicle, utility trailer, or camper upon any public street or highway at any time within city limits.

  2. This subsection B shall not apply to any person who is actually engaged in the loading or unloading of any recreational vehicle, utility trailer, or camper or is actually engaged in making emergency repairs thereto. Further, this subsection B shall not apply to any commercial vehicle making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on a public street or highway within the city or delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure within the city for which a building permit has been previously obtained.

  3. Violation of this section is hereby deemed to be an infraction and is punishable pursuant to [section] 1.02.010 of this code. Furthermore, pursuant to section 22651 of the California Vehicle Code, any recreational vehicle, utility trailer or camper parked or left standing on a public street or highway within the city in violation of this section may be removed from the street or highway.

C. Temporary Parking Permit. Notwithstanding subsection B., a recreational vehicle, trailer, or camper may be parked in the city if a seventy-two-hour parking permit is issued pursuant to this section. The purpose of the parking permit is to allow users of recreational vehicles, utility trailers and campers to park adjacent to their residences or businesses to load and unload and to allow out-of-town visitors to park in front of the resident which they are visiting for a limited time period. The provisions of this section shall not supersede any covenants, conditions and restrictions of other private agreements. The terms of the parking permits shall be as follows:

  1. Issuance of Permit. Parking permits shall be issued by the Police Department upon receipt of an application on a form the Police Chief shall establish for that purpose. Any resident of the city may obtain a parking permit authorizing him or her to park such a vehicle in front of his or her residence or place of business. Any out-of-town visitor of a residence may obtain a parking permit authorizing the visitor to park such vehicle in front of such residence, but may not reside in that vehicle overnight while it is so parked, or run water, waste or power lines to the vehicle over a public right of way. For purposes of this section, "out of town visitor" means any person who does not reside in the city.

  2. Description of Permit; Display. The parking permit shall include the license number of the vehicle authorized to be parked, the date of issuance, and the date through which the parking permit is valid. Such permit shall be placed in the vehicle in such a manner as to be clearly visible to traffic enforcement officers.

  3. Duration and Renewal. The parking permit shall be valid for seventy-two hours. Upon expiration of a parking permit issued under this section, the applicant may apply for and be granted another parking permit if the applicant meets the conditions set forth in the following sentence. In no event shall more than one parking permit be issued to an applicant within a thirty-day period.

D. Posting Notice. The City shall cause appropriate signs or markings giving notice of the restrictions provided for in this section to be placed on City streets. Notice that a vehicle is subject to removal for violation of this section shall also be provided.

(Ord. No. 1029 N.S., § 2, 5-3-2016, eff. 8-3-2016)

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12.38.040 - Parking commercial vehicles and commercial equipment in residential,…

A. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used in this title shall have the following meanings:

  1. Commercial Equipment. For the purposes of this section, the term "commercial equipment" includes, but is not limited to, backhoes, tractors, bucket loaders, air compressors, concrete mixers, road rollers, concrete pumps, pole and pipe dollies and similar transportable equipment.

  2. Commercial Motor Vehicle. A "commercial vehicle" is a vehicle of a type required to be registered under the State of California Vehicle Code used or maintained for transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit, or designed to be used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. Recreational vehicles (RV) are not considered commercial vehicles unless they are utilized for commercial purposes.

  3. Residential Zone. For the purpose of this section, the term "residential zone" includes all zones listed as R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 on the then current zoning map.

  4. Trailer. A "trailer" is a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, whether or not part of its weight rests upon or is carried by any other vehicle. As used in this section, "trailer" does not include a vehicle designed for human habitation or human occupancy.

B. It is unlawful for any person to park or store any commercial motor vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating eight thousand pounds or more, or trailer or commercial equipment irrespective of weight, upon a public street in the City within any residential zone, except:

  1. While performing a service requiring the loading or unloading of goods and/or property to premises in the block in which such commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is parked until such work is completed;

  2. When such commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is parked in connection with, and in the aid of the performances of services to or on a property in the block in which such commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is parked until such service is complete; or

  3. If the commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is immobile due to accident or mechanical breakdown. In such case, said commercial vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment may be legally parked for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours.

C. It is unlawful for any person to park or store any commercial motor vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of eight thousand pounds or more, or trailer or commercial equipment irrespective of weight, for more than four hours on any public street in the City within the following zones, to wit: OP Office Professional Zone, CP Neighborhood Commercial Zone, C-1 General Commercial Zone, C-2 Highway Commercial Zone, C-3 Commercial-Light Industrial Zone, PM Planned Manufacturing Zone, or M-PD Manufacturing Planned Development Zone. Further, on-street parking of commercial vehicles is prohibited between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m. except:

  1. If the commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is immobile due to accident or mechanical breakdown. In such cases, said commercial vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment may be legally parked for a period not to exceed twenty-four hours; or

  2. If the nature of the particular service to be performed or material or equipment to be delivered require a longer period of time to complete than the time limit described in this section.

D. Commercial motor vehicles, trailers and/or commercial equipment, if parked on private property, shall be parked upon improved and designated parking areas. Such commercial vehicle parking areas may be approved by the planning commission pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 21.19 of the Municipal Code (Conditional Use Permits and Administrative Use Permits). The use of such parking areas is limited to a period not to exceed four hours or such lesser period of time the vehicle operator is utilizing the services provided by the business use of the premise; unless that the commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is owned or operated by the commercial use on the private property upon which it is to be parked or that the commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is operated and parked by a registered transient guest of a motel or hotel and is parked within approved designated commercial vehicle parking areas upon the business premises or on a commercial or industrially zoned street within a three hundred foot radius of the business. Such commercial parking areas may be approved by the planning commission pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 21.19 of the Municipal Code (Conditional Use Permits and Administrative Use Permits).

E. Whenever a commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or commercial equipment is parked or left standing in violation of this section, such commercial motor vehicle, trailer and/or equipment may be removed and stored.

(Ord. 888 N.S. Exh. A (part), 2004: Ord. 552 N.S. § 1, 1988)

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018; Ord. No. 1146 N.S., § 3(Exh. A, § 5), 10-1-2024)

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12.38.045 - Disabled persons parking zone.

No person shall park or stand by vehicle in a disabled persons parking zone (blue curb) unless said vehicle bears a special license or displays a special placard issued under the provisions of Sections 9105 or 22511.5 of the California Vehicle Code.

A. On-Street Parking. The City traffic engineer shall designate special "blue curb" parking spaces for the purpose of providing on-street parking for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons. Blue curb spaces shall be indicated by blue paint on the curb edge of the paved portion of the street. For further identification, the international symbol of access may be painted on the road surface.

B. Off-Street Publicly Owned Facilities. The City traffic engineer shall designate parking stalls or spaces in publicly owned, leased or controlled off-street parking spaces for exclusive use by physically handicapped persons. Designation of blue curb parking stalls in publicly owned off-street facilities shall be made by posting immediately adjacent to and visible from same, a sign consisting of the international symbol of access.

C. Off-Street Privately Financed Facilities. The City finds and declares that there are privately owned and operated off-street parking facilities open for the use of the general public which may reserve parking stalls for the exclusive use by physically handicapped persons.

D. Signs, Hearing Required.

  1. Designation of blue curb parking stalls in publicly financed or privately owned off-street parking facilities shall be made by posting immediately adjacent to and visible from same a sign consisting of the international symbol of access.

  2. In addition, a sign not less than seventeen inches by twenty-two inches in size must be posted either at the entrance to the parking facility or immediately adjacent to and visible from the reserved stall or stalls which states with lettering not less than one inch in height:

Unauthorized vehicles not displaying distinguishing placards or license plates issued for physically handicapped persons will be towed away at owner's expense. Towed vehicles may be reclaimed at (address) or by telephoning (telephone number of local law enforcement agency) .

  1. Additionally, private facilities must be posted at the entry to all off-street parking facilities to the effect that the facility is subject to public traffic regulations and control.

  2. This notice must not be less than seventeen by twenty-two inches in size with lettering not less than one inch in height. The message is to read "Notice: This Parking Facility is Subject to Public Traffic Regulations and Control."

  3. No ordinance or resolution shall be enacted under subsection C of this section without a public hearing and ten days prior written notice to the owner and operator of the privately owned and maintained off-street parking facility.

(Ord. 450 N.S. § 2, 1980)

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.050 - Limited time parking.

When appropriate signs are in place indicating limited time parking or paid parking are installed, no vehicle shall be parked for more time than specified on the appropriate signs, based upon the designated days and hours of operation.

(Ord. 438 N.S. § 2, 1979)

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.060 - Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, adopted Nov. 6, 2018, repealed § 12.38.060, which pertained to citation for violation—procedures and derived from Ord. 462 N.S., § 1, adopted in 1981 and Ord. 365 N.S., § 1 (part), adopted in 1974.

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12.38.070 - Civil penalties for violations.

Any person violating any of the provision of the municipal code restricting the parking or standing of vehicles shall be assessed a civil penalty. The amounts of such penalties shall be specified on a schedule of civil penalties and may be established by ordinance, resolution or any other means approved by law.

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, adopted Nov. 6, 2018, amended the title of § 12.38.070 to read as herein set out. The former § 12.38.070 title pertained to penalties for violations.

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12.38.071 - Penalty for delinquent payments.

If any person fails to make timely payment of a parking penalty as provided for by law and in the notice of citation, a separate delinquency penalty shall be assessed against that person for the late payment.

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.072 - Assessment of penalties.

Each person who is assessed a penalty shall be assessed a separate civil penalty for each and every commission of any parking violation and shall be liable accordingly.

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.073 - Additions to penalties made pursuant to state law.

Any surcharges or assessments to parking penalties that are mandated by state law shall be added to the civil penalty imposed for the violation. Additionally, when a hold on a vehicle registration renewal is imposed by the State Department of Motor Vehicles, the civil penalty shall be increased by the amount of the fee the state charges for the hold on registration.

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.074 - Fee for collection of delinquent penalty payments.

If the city incurs special collection costs in conjunction with the assignment of a parking penalty for collection, those costs shall be added to the penalty and the violator shall be liable to the city for both the civil penalties and the collection costs.

(Ord. No. 1065 N.S., § 3, 11-6-2018)

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12.38.080 - Saving.

This chapter, so far consistent therewith, shall be deemed to be in addition and supplementary to, and not in conflict with nor a repeal of prior or existing ordinances of this city, but shall be an additional provision for the regulation of traffic and parking provided for herein.

(Ord. 365 N.S. § 1 (part), 1974)

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12.38.090 - Severability.

If any section, part of section, clause, or phrase of this chapter shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions hereof shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

(Ord. 365 N.S. § 1 (part), 1974)

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