Title 11 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 11.40 Stopping, Standing and Parking
Petaluma Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Petaluma
Cite as: Petaluma Municipal Code Chapter 11.40 · Text as of 2026-10-04
11.40.010 Applicability of provisions.¶
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).)
11.40.020 Chapter not to supersede more restrictive provisions.¶
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).)
11.40.030 Stopping or standing in parkways.¶
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway. (Ord. 858 NCS §1; prior code §15.10.l.)
11.40.040 Restricted and prohibited stopping or parking.¶
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.)
11.40.050 No parking areas designated.¶
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;
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.)
11.40.060 Parking on street or alley in excess of seventy-two hours.¶
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.)
11.40.070 Parking vehicle for purpose of advertising or displaying it for¶
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.)
11.40.080 Repairing or greasing vehicles on public streets.¶
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.)
11.40.090 Washing or polishing vehicles.¶
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.)
11.40.100 Parking adjacent to schools.¶
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.)
11.40.110 Parking on narrow streets.¶
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.)
11.40.120 Parking on grades.¶
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.)
11.40.130 Permit required for parking of certain vehicles—Generally.¶
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).)
11.40.150 Public transportation vehicles.¶
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).)
11.40.160 Sound vehicles near hospital, school or church.¶
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).)
11.40.170 Compliance with permit to stand vehicle.¶
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).)
11.40.180 Temporary emergency signs.¶
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.)
11.40.190 Display of warning signals required for disabled vehicles.¶
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.)
11.40.200 Certain trucks prohibited from parking in traFc district during¶
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.)
11.40.210 Interference with parking regulation.¶
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.)
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