Chapter 11.40 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING

The provisions of this chapter prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or

at those times herein speciRed, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conSict with the other traTc

or in compliance with the directions of a police oTcer or oTcial traTc-control device. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code

§ 15.10(a).)

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 speciRed places or at speciRc times. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code

§ 15.10(b).)

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.l.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 11 Vehicles and TraTc | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 20 of 77

The city traTc 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 deRned and described in this chapter.

When such 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. 858

NCS §1; prior code §15.10.2.)

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 conSict with other traTc or in compliance with the direction of a police oTcer or

other authorized oTcer or traTc 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 an area where the city traTc engineer determines that the parking or stopping of a vehicle would

constitute a traTc hazard or would endanger life or property, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or

by red paint upon the curb surface;

D. In any area designated by the traTc committee as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by

appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

E. Upon, along or across any railway track in such manner as to hinder, delay or obstruct the movement of any

car traveling upon such track;

F. In an area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traTc hazard or would endanger

life or property;

G. 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 Sow of

traTc 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 eUective time of such no parking;

H. At any place within twenty feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the mid-block end of a safety

zone, when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface;

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 11 Vehicles and TraTc | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 21 of 77

I. At any place within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection (in the central traTc district or) in any

business district 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;

J. Within twenty feet of the approach to any traTc signal, boulevard stop sign or oTcial electric Sashing device.

(Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.3.)

No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park or leave standing such vehicle

upon any street or alley for more than seventy-two consecutive hours. For purposes of this section, a vehicle shall

be considered to have been parked or left standing for more than seventy-two consecutive hours if it has not been

moved at least one-half mile during such period. Any vehicle parked or left standing in violation of this section may

be removed in the manner and subject to the requirements of the California Vehicle Code. (Ord. 2159 NCS § 1,

2003; Ord. 997 NCS §l; Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.4.)

sale.

No operator of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street in this city for the principle purpose of

advertising or displaying it for sale, unless authorized by resolution of the council. (Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior code

§ 15.10.5.)

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, grease or cause to be

greased, dismantle or cause to be dismantled any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in this city.

Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street. (Ord. 858 NCS § 1; prior code § 15.10.6.)

No person shall wash or cause to be washed, polish or cause to be polished any vehicle or any part thereof upon

any public street in this city, when a charge is made for such service. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.7.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 11 Vehicles and TraTc | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 22 of 77

A. The city traTc 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 opinion, interfere with traTc or create a hazardous

situation.

B. When oTcial 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. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.8.)

A. The city traTc 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 oTcial 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. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.9.)

No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding

three percent (within any business or residence district) without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning

them against the curb or by other means. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.10.)

Except as otherwise provided in Sections 11.40.140 through 11.40.170, no person shall stand or park any vehicle,

wagon or pushcart from which goods, wares, merchandise, fruits, vegetables or food stuUs are sold, displayed,

solicited or oUered for sale or bartered or exchanged, or any lunch wagon or eating cart or vehicles. Wagons or

pushcarts may stand or park only at the request of a bona Rde purchaser for a period of time not to exceed ten

minutes at any one place. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons delivering such articles upon

order of, or by agreement with a customer from a store or other Rxed place of business or distribution. (Ord. 858

NCS §1; prior code §15.10.11(a).)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 11 Vehicles and TraTc | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 23 of 77

No person shall park or stand any vehicle or wagon used or intended to be used in the transportation of property

for hire on any street while awaiting patronage for such vehicle or wagon without Rrst obtaining a written permit

to do so from the city traTc engineer which shall designate the speciRc location where such vehicle may stand.

(Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.11(c).)

No person using a vehicle for the purposes described in Sections 11.40.130 through 11.40.150 shall hawk or use

any sound or music device within three hundred feet of any hospital at any time, nor within three hundred feet of

any school or any church while classes or services are being held or conducted therein, nor at any location

whatever after nine p.m. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.11(d).)

Whenever any permit is granted under the provisions of Sections 11.40.130 through 11.40.180 and a particular

location to park or stand is speciRed therein, no person shall park or stand any vehicle, wagon or pushcart on any

location other than as designated in such permit. In the event that the holder of any such permit is convicted in

any court of competent jurisdiction for violating any of the provisions of Sections 11.40.130 through 11.40.180

such permit shall be forthwith revoked by the city traTc engineer upon the Rling of the record of such conviction

with such oTcer and no permit shall thereafter be issued to such person until six months have elapsed from the

date of such revocation. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code § 15.10.11(e).)

A. Whenever the city traTc engineer determines that an emergency traTc congestion is likely to result from the

holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions or for other reasons, the city traTc engineer

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 traTc engineer 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 city traTc engineer 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. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.12.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 11 Vehicles and TraTc | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 24 of 77

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 darkness, shall be equipped with and carry at least

two Sares or two red lanterns or two warning lights or reSectors, which reSectors shall be of a type approved by

the state department of 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 insuTcient street lighting to reveal a vehicle at a distance of two hundred feet during

darkness, 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 Sashing of at least four approved class A-Type I turn-signal lamps, at least two

toward the front and at least two toward 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 darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street

or highway. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.13.)

certain hours.

No person shall park a truck having a length of more than thirty-Rve feet within the central traTc district and

where parking meters are installed between the hours of ten a.m. and six p.m. except on Sundays and legal

holidays. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.14.)

No person shall remove, obliterate, conceal, or otherwise interfere with any chalk mark or other distinguishing

mark used by any police oTcer or other oTcer, employee, or agent of the city in the enforcement of the parking

regulations of the city, for the purpose of evading said parking regulations. (Ord. 2159 NCS §2, 2003.)