San Diego Municipal Code Div. 22 Valet Parking

The purpose of this division is to set forth the criteria to be used by the City of San Diego for the installation, removal, and regulation of selected areas for valet parking, in the public right-of-way. This division is enacted in response to the need to supplement on-street parking. The intent is to provide the public with another parking option in parking impacted areas. Valet parking areas can create parking relief of on- street parking. For the reasons set forth in this division, a system of valet parking permits is enacted for the City of San Diego. (Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)

Defined terms appearing in this Division are shown in italics. For the purposes of this Division:

Valet parking means parking arrangements provided where patrons leave their cars at the street curb line and attendants park and retrieve them for a fee.

Valet parking zone means the area for passenger vehicles on the public right-of-way which has been set aside by the City Manager for valet parking.

Valet parking permit means a permit issued in accordance with this Division for the approved use of valet parking in a valet parking zone. (Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004) (Amended 6-18-2025 by O-21971 N.S.; effective 7-18-2025.)

(a) The City Manager shall consider the following in evaluating approval of valet parking zones:

(1) safety and convenience for the people of the City of San Diego;

(2) actual number of passengers to be served by the zone;

(3) proximity of existing valet parking zones;

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(4) existing demands for curb use such as the number and location of
existing transit and taxi loading zones, and existing commercial
loading zones in the general area of the requested zone;

(5) overall determination of available on-street parking for the area;

(6) whether designation of the valet parking zone will cause no significant
impact on the environment;

(7) availability of off-street parking for businesses; and

(8) proximity and availability of off-street parking facility for storage of
vehicles.

(b) Valet parking zones may also be used for loading and unloading of persons or
property.
(Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)
(Amended 6-18-2025 by O-21971 N.S.; effective 7-18-2025.)

(a) The City Manager is authorized to issue, upon written application, a valet parking permit. Applications for a valet parking permit shall be made upon application forms provided by the City Manager. Prior to the City issuing a valet parking permit, the applicant will pay all required permit fees. The permit fees shall be based on the reasonable cost of application, plan review, study, and other services as required for permit approval. Other fees based on the cost of private usage of the public right-of-way, including loss of revenue in parking meter zones, will also be assessed for each valet parking zone. The fees shall be paid in accordance with the amount provided in the City’s User Fee Rate Book maintained by the Department of Finance.

(b) The application shall include: (1) the business name and address of the
corporation, partnership or other business entity seeking the permit; (2) the
identifying number of the applicant's San Diego business license; and (3) any
other information consistent with this division, which the City Manager
deems necessary for persons applying for valet parking permits.
(Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)
(Amended 6-18-2025 by O-21971 N.S.; effective 7-18-2025.)

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Each valet parking permit issued by the City Manager shall be valid for one year from date of issuance, and may be renewed annually. Each application renewal of a valet parking permit will be in accordance with Municipal Code section 86.2204, and is subject to an annual valet parking zone inspection. The inspection fee shall be set forth in the User Fee Rate Book maintained by the Department of Finance. (Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004) (Amended 6-18-2025 by O-21971 N.S.; effective 7-18-2025.)

(a) The valet parking permit shall authorize the permittee to provide valet parking in a designated valet parking zone.

(b) The permittee shall operate the valet parking zone in such a manner as to
provide ample opportunities for its use by motorists who do not wish to utilize
the valet parking service.

(c) The valet parking operator shall be the business owner, under contract to or
employed by the business or businesses to be served.

(d) The permittee shall agree to provide and maintain portable pedestal signs as
required. The pedestal signs shall be 24 inches wide and not more than four
feet high. The message on the pedestal sign shall only read "Passenger
Loading-Valet Parking Optional" and shall have three-inch black letters on a
white background. The sign pedestal must be located within 24 inches of the
face of the curb and be placed in such a manner as not to create an
impediment to pedestrians.

(e) The permittee shall not allow the valet parking zone or any other public right-
of-way to be used for the storing of valet parked cars.

(f) The applicant shall provide a map of the immediate area showing the location
of the valet service and the off-street parking lot(s) to be used for the storage
of vehicles. Any changes in this provision shall require the approval of the
City Manager.

(g) The applicant shall provide a copy of the agreement between the valet
operator and the off-street parking lot operator for the storage of vehicles.

(h) The applicant shall agree to indemnify the City of San Diego with an
indemnification agreement satisfactory to the City Manager and City
Attorney.

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(i) The applicant shall maintain a policy of liability insurance in an amount
satisfactory to the City Manager in order to protect the City of San Diego
from any claims which may arise from the valet parking operation.

(j) Nothing in this division is intended to authorize, or authorizes, the parking of
motor vehicles by the applicant or valet parking operators in a manner
contrary to applicable state laws or local parking and traffic regulations.

(k) The permittee shall have the required valet parking permit required in its possession at the place where it is conducting any valet parking activity under the permit(s), and shall exhibit the permit(s) in a place that is conspicuous to the public. The permits must be available for inspection on demand of any peace officer, enforcement official, or City Manager. (Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)

(a) The permittee is responsible for the proper operation of the valet parking zone. Any violation of the conditions enumerated in this division shall be sufficient cause for revocation of the valet parking permit by the City Manager.

(b) A valet parking permit may be temporarily suspended without a hearing if the
City Manager determines that the continued operation is a hazard to public
safety or is in violation of this division. The suspension will be effective for
60 days or until a hearing, whichever is less. Once a hearing has convened,
the suspension will continue through its conclusion.

(c) The City Manager shall revoke a valet parking permit if, after a hearing on
the matter, the hearing officer finds that grounds exist which would have
constituted just cause for refusal to issue the permit, or that the permittee has
failed to comply with any requirements imposed by this division or conditions
of the permit. Written notice of the revocation hearing, setting forth the time
and place of hearing and a brief statement of the reason(s) for the proposed
revocation, shall be served on or mailed to the permittee at the business
address listed in the permit application no less than 10 days prior to the
hearing.
(Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)

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(a) It is unlawful and a violation of this division for any person to operate, engage in, conduct, manage, or cause to be operated on any public street or right-of-way any valet parking without a valid valet parking permit issued by the City Manager.

(b) It is unlawful and a violation of this division for a person to falsely represent
himself as eligible for a valet parking permit or to furnish false information in
an application for a valet parking permit.

(c) It is unlawful and a violation of this division for a person holding a valet
parking permit to permit the use or display of the permit for any purpose other
than that for which the permit is issued.

(d) It is unlawful and a violation of this division for a person to copy, produce or
otherwise bring into existence a facsimile or counterfeit valet parking permit
without written authorization from the City Manager. It shall further be
unlawful and a violation of this division for a person to transfer the beneficial
ownership of or a continuous right to use a valet parking permit.

(e) Any violations of the provisions of this division shall be punishable in
accordance with this Code.
(Added 8/10/2004 by O-19310 N.S.; effective 9/9/2004)

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