San Diego Municipal Code Art. 5 Special Regulations

It shall be unlawful for the driver of any of the following vehicles to drive or park the same in the central traffic district between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day, except Sundays and holidays;

(a) Any vehicle so loaded that any part of its load extends more than three (3) feet
to the front, or more than ten (10) feet to the rear of said vehicle;

(b) Any vehicle carrying building material that has not been loaded or is not to be
unloaded at some point in the central traffic district;

(c) Any freight vehicle with a trailer;

(d) Any vehicle carrying crude oil.

The City Council is hereby authorized by resolution to establish over an appropriate
street or streets and to designate by appropriate signs through traffic routes for the
movement of vehicles of two or more tons capacity designed for carrying
merchandise, freight, or material. When any such through traffic route or routes are
established and designated by appropriate signs, the driver of any vehicle mentioned
in this paragraph shall drive on such routes, and none other, except when it is
impractical to do so, or when necessary to traverse another street or streets to a
destination for the purpose of loading or unloading, but then only by such deviation
from the nearest freight route as is reasonably necessary.
(Amended 9–15–2003 by O–19214 N.S.)

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(a) It shall be unlawful for the driver of a motor truck and/or equipment exceeding 24 feet in length to drive the same in, or to allow such motor truck and/or equipment to remain parked within the central traffic district of The City of San Diego between the hours of 10:00 o’clock a.m. and 6:00 o’clock p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays.

(b) The City Council may by resolution establish the location of bus or truck
parking prohibited zones and bus or truck parking restricted zones outside of
the central traffic district. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall be effective
when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon such streets.

(c) When bus or truck parking prohibited zones or bus or truck parking restricted
zones are established by the Council it shall be unlawful for the driver, owner,
or lessee, lessor, consignee or consignor of a bus, motor truck or equipment,
to allow such bus, truck and/or equipment to remain parked at upon such
street in violation of the established prohibition or restriction.

(d) Definitions:

(1) A “bus,” as used in this section, shall mean a commercial vehicle
designed or constructed primarily for the purpose of carrying more
than 15 persons.

(2) The term “equipment,” as used in this Section, shall mean and include,
but without limitation, trailer, semi–trailer, pole or pipe dolly, special
mobile equipment, specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed
vehicle, and/or any load placed thereon.

(3) The term “truck,” as used in this section, shall mean a motorized
commercial vehicle with gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000
lbs. and includes a truck tractor with or without an attached trailer or
equipment.
(Amended 1–22–1985 by O–16362 N.S.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 8: Traffic and Vehicles (6-2025)

No person shall ride, drive or lead any livestock or drive any animal–drawn vehicle into or within the Central Traffic District unless he shall have first obtained a permit therefor from the Chief of Police. (Amended 4–10–1956 by O–6936 N.S.)

(a) The City Council may by resolution designate and describe any street or portion thereof as a street the use of which is prohibited by any commercial vehicle of the rated capacity of one (1) ton or more. The City Manager shall erect and maintain appropriate signs on such streets.

(b) No person shall operate a commercial vehicle of the rated capacity of one (1)
ton or more on a street designated and posted as established in (a) of this
section. The provisions of this section shall not apply to passenger buses or
public utility vehicles under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission
nor to commercial vehicles having a destination or point of origin on such
street.
(Amended 4–10–1956 by O–6936 N.S.)

The City Manager is authorized to regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner at speeds at variance from the speeds otherwise applicable within the district or at intersections, and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. (Amended 4–10–1956 by O–6936 N.S.)

(a) The City Manager, or designee, will conduct all engineering and traffic surveys when necessary under Division 11, Chapter 7, Article 1 of the California Vehicle Code, as may be amended, to establish, maintain, and enforce prima facie speed limits on all streets or highways, or portions thereof, within the jurisdiction of the City. The prima facie speed limit will be based upon an engineering and traffic survey and will be appropriate, reasonable and safe to facilitate the orderly movement of traffic.

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(b) Prima facie speed limits applicable on streets or highways, or portions thereof,
will be established by resolution of the City Council, when required by
Division 11, Chapter 7, Article 1 of the California Vehicle Code, as may be
amended.
(Amended 3–4–1996 by O–18266 N.S.)
(Amended 10-29-2013 by O-20316 N.S.; effective 11-28-2013.)
(Amended 5-22-2025 by O-21959 N.S.; effective 6-21-2025.)

Control Devices

Whenever the City Manager finds that any hedge, shrubbery, tree, or other foliage obstructs the view of any intersection of any traffic upon the streets approaching an intersection, or the view of any traffic signal or traffic control device, he shall cause the hedge, shrubbery, tree or other foliage to be immediately removed or trimmed so as to permit visibility of such intersection, traffic signal or traffic control device. (Amended 8–24–1977 by O–12133 N.S.)

(a) The operator of a vehicle or the person in charge of any animal involved in any accident resulting in damage to any property publicly owned or owned by a public utility, including but not limited to any fire hydrant, parking meter, lighting post, telephone pole, electric light or power pole, resulting in damage to any traffic control device or other property of a like nature located in or along any street, shall within twenty–four (24) hours after such accident make a written report of such accident to the Police Department of this City.

(b) Every such report shall state the time when and the place where the accident
took place, the name and address of the person owning and of the person
operating or in charge of such vehicle or animal, the license number of every
such vehicle, and shall briefly describe the property damage in such accident.

(c) The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident shall not be subject to the
requirements or penalties of this section if and during the time he is physically
incapable of making a report, but in such event he shall make a report as
required in subdivision (a) within 24 hours after regaining ability to make
such report.
(Renumbered from former Section 81.07 on 8-5-2013 by O-20281 N.S.; effective
9-4-2013.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 8: Traffic and Vehicles (6-2025)

The Chief of Police may furnish to any person so requesting, reproductions or reports of Police Department investigative materials and activities upon payment by such person of the sum required. The Chief may also furnish to any person so requesting, the services of Police Department personnel and/or equipment when such is in the best interests of local law enforcement.

The Chief of Police shall establish a schedule of such charges, to be reviewed quarterly and revised in accordance with changing costs of labor and material to the department. This schedule and such revisions as may be required shall be subject to approval by the City Manager.

The Chief of Police may waive the above–mentioned charges for such services when the services are provided for any City of San Diego General Fund department, for other governmental agencies in cases where The City of San Diego has mutual interest as determined by the Chief of Police, or where the services are provided as a part of a regularly established program of reciprocal police services with other governmental agencies, such as the State Department of Justice, the F.B.I. and the United States Navy. (Renumbered from former Section 81.07.1 on 8-5-2013 by O-20281 N.S.; effective 9-4-2013.)

(a) Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose and intent of the Council to permit the controlled operation and moving of vehicles or loads upon highways under its jurisdiction in excess of size and weight of vehicles allowed to be moved or operated on highways under the provisions of the Vehicle Code of the State of California, and protect the public safety and welfare by requiring a permit and the filing of a policy of insurance protecting the public against personal injury and property damage.

(b) Transportation Permit Required. No person shall move or cause to be moved
over or across any public right of way under the jurisdiction of The City of
San Diego any vehicle, load, trailer, or combinations thereof, which exceed
the height, width, length, size or weight of vehicle or load limitations
provided in Division 15 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California,
without first obtaining a transportation permit therefor from the City
Engineer.

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Said permit may be designated by the City Engineer as either a single–move transportation permit for the movement of a vehicle or load over a designated route and for a move on a specified date or dates, or a continuing transportation permit issued for the period specified on the permit but not to exceed six (6) months. Continuing transportation permits may be issued on the type of vehicle carrying the load in the case of nonself– propelled vehicles and on the specific vehicle in the case of the self–propelled vehicles. Continuing permits shall authorize the movement of the vehicles or loads specified on the permit; provided, however, that the vehicle or load shall not exceed a width of thirteen (13) feet, a height of sixteen (16) feet, or a length of one hundred (100) feet. If the load proposed under the continuing transportation permit exceeds the weight limits as prescribed in Division 15 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California by more than twenty–five per cent (25%), said move shall be subject to such route restrictions as designated by the City Engineer.

(“Overload Moving — Permit Required” added 3–17–1964 by O–8982 N.S.)

Any person desiring a transportation permit shall make application in writing to the City Engineer, which application shall specifically describe the vehicle or load to be operated or moved, the type of permit requested, and such other information as the City Engineer may require.

Thereafter, the City Engineer may issue a transportation permit to applicant when:

(a) Applicant has provided the City Engineer with a policy of insurance which
has been approved by the City Attorney, executed and delivered by a reliable
insurance company authorized to carry on an insurance business in the State
of California, by the terms of which said insurance company assumes
responsibility for injuries to persons and property as a result of moving the
vehicle or load by permittee, in the following amounts, to wit:

Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for property damage;

One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for death or injuries to any
person in any one occurrence;

Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) for death or injuries to two or
more persons in any one occurrence.

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Governmental agencies, including the State of California and its political
subdivisions, shall not be required to provide the insurance required by this
Article, but shall be required to hold the City harmless as hereinafter
provided.

(b) The City Engineer has satisfied himself as to qualifications of applicant and
that applicant has complied with all requirements of this Division.

(c) All fees provided for in Section 85.25 have been paid.

Duplicate copies of a transportation permit designated as a continuing permit
may be obtained when the permit is intended to authorize the movement of
more than one nonself–propelled vehicle. Transportation permits shall be
carried on the vehicle whose movement is authorized by such permit and shall
be available for inspection by any police officer or any authorized agent of
The City of San Diego. Transportation permits issued pursuant hereto shall be
nontransferable.
(“Overload Moving — Application — Insurance Required” added 3–17–1964 by
O-8982 N.S.)

The City Engineer shall not issue a transportation permit if any one of the following exists:

(a) If the overweight per axle exceeds the limits provided in Division 15 of
Vehicle Code of the State of California by fifty per cent (50%);

(b) If the move is determined by the City Engineer to be prohibitive from the
standpoint of public safety or contrary to the public interest;

(c) If the applicant has repeatedly violated conditions of previously issued
permits, or if the applicant has unsettled claims against him for damages
resulting from past moves.
(“Overload Moving — Permit Denial” added 3–17–1964 by O–8982 N.S.)

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(a) All moving operations under a transportation permit shall be in conformance with all general and special conditions set forth by the City Engineer on said permit.

(b) The permittee shall have the responsibility to ascertain the adequacy of the
route requested for the move. When an overheight load is authorized (over
thirteen (13) feet, six (6) inches), the permittee shall check all underpasses,
bridges, overhead wires, and other limiting structures or facilities for adequate
clearance. The permittee shall notify the owners of all overhead lines or
structures subject to disturbances or damage by his move and shall make
arrangements for the temporary removal or relocation of the conflicting
facility if required. The permittee shall bear all costs for such relocation where
the facility is located in accordance with State and local regulations.

(c) For any move involving a load or vehicle whose vertical height is twenty
(20) feet or over, the permittee shall submit to the agencies whose facilities
will be affected by such move the proposed route for approval at least
seventy–two (72) hours in advance of the move. No permit shall be issued
until clearances have been received from the Fire Department, power
company, and telephone company. Clearance or objection by such
departments or companies must be submitted to the City Engineer within
three (3) working days after receipt of the application by such company or
department. Applicant shall be responsible for obtaining such clearances.

(d) Permittee shall hold the City harmless from any loss arising out of injury to
persons or damage to property resulting directly or indirectly from the
operation permitted by the overload permit, including the defense of any
action arising therefrom at no cost to City.
(“Overload Moving — Regulations” added 3–17–1964 by O–8982 N.S.)

Transportation permit fees shall be established by the City Manager and collected by the City Engineer. The fees established shall be filed in the City Clerk’s office and included in the City’s “Ratebook of Fees and Charges.” The fees shall be reviewed annually by the City Manager and revised at that time to assure that the fees accurately represent the City cost.

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 8: Traffic and Vehicles (6-2025)

Governmental agencies, including the State of California and any of its political subdivisions, shall make application for permits under the provisions of this Article and shall be issued a no–fee permit in accordance with the provisions herein. A contractor working for a governmental agency shall not be considered to be acting on behalf of that governmental agency and shall not be exempt from the payment of fees.

An extension of the effective date or an amendment to a single– move permit may be made without payment of additional fees if approved by the City Engineer, provided that the request for such extension or amendment is received before the expiration of the permit. (Amended 2–12–1979 by O–12578 N.S.)

For moves which, because of their emergency nature, require approval during periods other than the regularly scheduled working hours of The City of San Diego, the City Engineer, Director of Public Works, or Chief of Police, or authorized representatives thereof, may grant interim approval for such moves on the condition that a permit will be acquired during the next regularly scheduled working day. (“Overload Moving — Emergency Moves” added 3–17–1964 by O–8982 N.S.)

The requirements of this Article shall not affect the requirements of any other Article of the Municipal Code requiring permits, fees, and bonds, including the requirements for moving and relocating structures as provided in Article 1, Chapter 9. (“Overload Moving — Moves Excluded” added 3–17–1964 by O–8982 N.S.)

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