Signal Hill Municipal Code Ch. 10.28 Stopping, Standing, and Parking

A. The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this chapter, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device.

B. 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 specified places or at specified times.

(Prior code § 11.32.010 (Ord. 581 § 10, 1965))

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within any parkway.

(Prior code § 11.32.020 (Ord. 581 § 10.1, 1965))

A. The public works director 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 defined and described in this chapter.

B. When said 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 title.

(Prior code § 11.32.030 (Ord. 581 § 10.2, 1965))

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 conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or traffic 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 any area where the public works director determines that the parking or stopping of a vehicle would constitute a traffic 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 established by resolution of the council as a no-parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb;

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 any way where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic 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 flow of traffic 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 area are erected or placed at least twenty-four hours prior to the effective time of such no parking;

H. At any place within twenty feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the midblock 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 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 traffic signal, boulevard stop sign, or official electric flashing device.

(Prior code § 11.32.040 (Ord. 581 § 10.3, 1965))

No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two hours.

(Prior code § 11.32.050 (Ord. 581 § 10.4, 1965))

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.

(Prior code § 11.32.060 (Ord. 581 § 10.5, 1965))

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.

(Prior code § 11.32.070 (Ord. 581 § 10.6, 1965))

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.

(Prior code § 11.32.080 (Ord. 581 § 10.7, 1965))

A. The public works director 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 traffic or create a hazardous situation.

B. When official 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.

(Prior code § 11.32.090 (Ord. 581 § 10.8, 1965))

A. The public works director is 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 official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized in this section, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.

(Prior code § 11.32.100 (Ord. 581 § 10.9, 1965))

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 the vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.

(Prior code § 11.32.110 (Ord. 581 § 10.10, 1965))

This Section 10.28.120/Peddlers and vendors was rescinded by Ord. 2023-11-1545 § 4, 2023.

A. Whenever the police chief determines that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings, or functions, or for other reasons, the police chief 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 police chief 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 police chief 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.

(Prior code § 11.32.130 (Ord. 581 § 10.12, 1965))

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 flares or two red lanterns or two warning lights or reflectors, which reflectors shall be of a type approved by the Department of California Highway Patrol. When any vehicle above-mentioned or any trailer or semitrailer is disabled upon streets or highways outside of any business or residence district within this city and upon which street or highway there is insufficient 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 flashing 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 mentioned in this section shall be displayed continuously during darkness while such vehicle remains disabled upon such street or highway.

(Prior code § 11.32.140 (Ord. 581 § 10.13, 1965))

A. The city council may by ordinance or resolution prohibit or restrict the parking or standing of vehicles on any street or highway within the city, or any portion thereof during all or certain hours of the day; provided, however, that such regulations, insofar as they apply to state highways, shall not be effective until they have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department of Public Works.

B. With the exception of alleys, the prohibitions or restrictions contained in such ordinance or resolution shall not apply until signs or curb markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed. The director of public works is authorized to determine the dimensions, design and location of, and shall place, such signs or markings.

C. When authorized signs or curb markings have been placed by the director of public works, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle adjacent to any such legible sign, curb marking or parking meter in violation thereof.

D. The specification of particular time limits for parking in this chapter shall not prevent the council from adopting other time limits for certain streets or highways by resolution.

(Ord. 84-09-935 § 1 (part): prior code § 11.36.010 (Ord. 581 § 11, 1965))

Unless otherwise posted with authorized signs, green curb marking shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for a period of time longer than twenty minutes at any time on any day except Sundays and holidays. If signs are posted, the green curb marking shall mean no stopping, standing or parking for the period of time specified by the signs.

(Ord. 84-09-935 § 1 (part): prior code § 11.36.020 (Ord. 581 § 11.1, 1965))

When authorized signs have been determined by the public works director to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle for a period of time longer than one hour between the hours of seven a.m. and five p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays.

(Ord. 84-09-935 § 1 (part): prior code § 11.36.030 (Ord. 581 § 11.2, 1965))

When authorized signs have been determined by the public works director to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle for a period of time longer than two hours between the hours of seven a.m. and five p.m. of any day except Sundays and holidays.

(Ord. 84-09-935 § 1 (part): prior code § 11.36.040 (Ord. 581 § 11.3, 1965))

A. Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within eighteen inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are in place prohibiting such stopping or standing.

B. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadway unless signs are in place permitting such standing or parking.

C. The public works director is authorized to determine when standing or parking shall be prohibited upon the left-hand side of any one-way street or when standing or parking may be permitted upon the left-hand side on any one-way roadway of a highway having two or more separate roadways and shall erect signs giving notice thereof.

D. The requirement of parallel parking imposed by this section shall not apply in the event any commercial vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading freight or goods, in which case such vehicle may be backed up to the curb, provided that such vehicle does not extend beyond the centerline of the street and does not block traffic thereby.

(Prior code § 11.36.050 (Ord. 581 § 11.4, 1965))

A. On any of the streets or portions of streets established by resolution of the council as diagonal parking zones, when signs or pavement markings are in place indicating such diagonal parking, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park such vehicle except as follows:

1. At the angle to the curb indicated by signs or pavement markings allotting space to parked vehicles and entirely within the limits of the allotted space;

2. With the front wheel nearest the curb within six inches of the curb.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply when such vehicle is actually engaged in the process of loading or unloading passengers, freight, or goods, in which event the provisions applicable in Section 10.28.190 shall be complied with.

(Prior code § 11.36.060 (Ord. 581 § 11.5, 1965))

A. The public works director is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbings where authorized parking is permitted.

B. When such parking space markings are placed on 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.

(Prior code § 11.36.070 (Ord. 581 § 11.6, 1965))

A. The public works director shall designate established no-stopping zones by placing and maintaining appropriate signs indicating that stopping of vehicles is prohibited and indicating the hours and day when stopping is prohibited.

B. During the hours and on the days designated on the signs, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to stop such vehicle on any of the streets or parts of streets established by resolution of the council as no-stopping zones.

(Prior code § 11.36.080 (Ord. 581 § 11.7, 1965))

A. A person shall not park any trailer or semitrailer upon any highway, street, alley, public right-of-way or public place unless the trailer or semitrailer is at all times while so parked attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer in a normal manner upon the highway, street, alley, public right-of-way or public place.

B. This section shall not apply to trailers or semi-trailers in the process of being loaded or unloaded, nor shall it apply to any trailer or semitrailer which is disabled in such a manner and to such an extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the disabled trailer or semitrailer on that portion of the highway, street, alley, public right-of-way or public place ordinarily used for vehicle parking.

(Ord. 85-06-949 § 1)

A. Authority to Establish Preferential Parking Zones. The city council may designate, by resolution, certain residential streets or any portion thereof as preferential parking zones for the benefit of residents within such zone, in which zone vehicles displaying a permit may be exempt from parking prohibitions or restrictions otherwise posted, marked or noticed. Each preferential parking zone shall be designated only upon findings that such zone is required to enhance or protect the quality of life in the area of the proposed zone which is threatened by noise, traffic hazards, environmental pollution, or devaluation of real property resulting from nonresident vehicular parking or traffic, and that such zone is necessary to provide reasonably available and convenient parking for the benefit of the residents within such zone. No resolution designating a preferential parking zone shall be enforceable until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed.

B. Criteria for Findings. The findings set forth in subsection A of this section shall be based upon the existence of one or more of the following conditions established to the satisfaction of the city council:

1. Nonresident vehicles regularly and substantially interfere with the use of available public street parking spaces by the residents in the area of the proposed zone;

2. A shortage of reasonably available and convenient residential-related parking spaces exists in the area of the proposed zone;

3. Extended parking during the day or night by a substantial number of nonresident vehicles in the area of the proposed zone;

4. Overnight parking by a substantial number of nonresident vehicles in the area of the proposed zone.

C. Establishment of Specific Zones.

1. Upon receipt and verification of a petition on a form supplied by the public works director, signed by residents of two-thirds of the dwelling units of the area and proposed for designation, the public works director and chief of police shall jointly review the petition and submit a report to the city council.

2. After receipt of the report, the city council shall conduct a public hearing thereon, for the purpose of determining whether such preferential parking zone should be established by resolution. Notice of such public hearing shall be given at least ten days prior to the hearing, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation and by mailing to the property owners as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, and to the occupants, of each parcel in the area proposed for designation as a preferential parking zone.

3. As an alternative to the petition described in subsection (C)(1) of this section, the city council, on its own motion, may initiate the public hearing process described in subsection (C)(2) of this section if the city council finds that a petition by two-thirds of the residents is unnecessary. Prior to the public hearing, the public works director shall notify the neighborhood residents of the city council's interest in establishing a preferential parking zone, and shall conduct neighborhood outreach, through a neighborhood meeting or other means, to ascertain the neighborhood residents' interest in the establishment of a preferential parking zone. After the neighborhood outreach effort, the public works director shall prepare the report as described in subsection (C)(1) of this section.

D. Issuance of Permits.

1. Bumper Sticker Permits. The chief of police shall issue permits, in the form of adhesive labels or decals, for preferential parking to qualified applicants who have completed an application form supplied by the chief of police. Applicants for such permits shall present such proof as may be required by the chief of police of residence within the area designated as a preferential parking zone. Not more than three permits shall be issued for each qualified dwelling unit to any qualified applicant. Applicants requesting more than three permits for any dwelling unit may be granted additional permits by the chief of police upon a showing that there are more than three vehicles registered at the address of such dwelling unit and that insufficient off-street parking is available to the applicants during the effective hours of the preferential parking zone. The finance department shall collect a fee for each permit issued.

2. Duration of Permit. Permits issued pursuant to this section, with the exception of visitor permits, shall remain effective so long as the applicant continues to reside at the address set forth on the application and continues to own the vehicle to which the permit is attached, and so long as the zone for which the permit was issued remains in effect.

3. Visitor Permit. Any resident eligible for a preferential parking permit may also apply to the chief of police for a visitor preferential parking permit for the use of visitors to the home of the applicant. The chief of police shall collect a refundable fee for each such permit issued. No more than two visitor preferential parking permits shall be issued for any one dwelling at any time. Visitor preferential parking permits shall be valid for a period of thirty days. Visitor preferential parking permits shall not be replaced if lost or stolen, except upon the payment of an additional fee as required herein.

4. Placement. Permits shall be placed upon the left rear bumper of each vehicle to be accorded preferential parking privileges, except that visitor permits shall be placed on the left front vehicle dashboard.

5. Conditions of Permit. Each permit shall be subject to all conditions and restrictions set forth in this section and of the preferential parking zone for which it is issued. The issuance of such a permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or approval of, any violation of any provision of this code or any other laws or regulations.

6. Fees. Such fees as may be required herein shall be set from time to time by resolution of the city council. Fees shall be waived for those residents whose monthly income meets the current standards used for Southern California Edison's California Alternate Rates for Energy (C.A.R.E.) program.

E. Prohibitions.

1. No vehicle shall be parked or stopped adjacent to any curb in a preferential parking zone in violation of any posted or noticed prohibition or restriction unless such vehicle shall have prominently displayed upon the left rear bumper thereof a permit indicating the exemption from such restriction or prohibition, or a visitor preferential parking permit suspended from the rear view mirror therein indicating such exemption; except that the following vehicles shall be exempted from this prohibition:

a. A motor vehicle identified, in a manner prescribed by the public works director, as owned by or operated under contract to a utility, whether privately, municipally or publicly owned, when used in the construction, operation, removal, or repair of utility property or facilities or engaged in authorized work in the designated preferential parking zone;

b. A motor vehicle identified in a manner prescribed by the public works director, as owned by or operated under contract to a governmental agency, when used in the course of official government business;

c. A commercial vehicle or trailer engaged in loading or unloading property, or parked in connection with or in aid of the performance of a service to or on a property located in the block in which such vehicle is parked.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, rent or lease, or cause to be sold, rented or leased, for any value or consideration, any preferential parking permit. Upon conviction of a violation of this paragraph, all preferential parking permits issued to, or for the benefit of, the dwelling unit to which the sold, rented or leased permit is authorized shall be void.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person to buy or otherwise acquire for value or use any preferential parking permit, except as provided for in this section.

F. Termination of Preferential Parking Zones.

1. Upon receipt and verification of a petition supplied by the public works director, signed by residents living in two-thirds of the dwelling units of an area established as a preferential parking zone, or upon a motion by one of its members, the public works director and chief of police may jointly recommend to the city council that any preferential parking zone be terminated.

2. Upon such a recommendation by the public works director and chief of police, the city council shall conduct a public hearing thereon, for the purpose of determining whether a proper basis exists for terminating such preferential parking zone. Notice of such public hearing shall be given in the same manner as required for establishment of the zone.

3. Such a determination shall be based upon a finding that the conditions set forth in subsection A of this section no longer exist or have diminished in degree to such an extent as to make unnecessary the continuation of the zone.

(Ord. 99-09-1262 §§ 1--4; Ord. 86-12-984 § 1)

A. No person shall park or leave standing any large commercial vehicle on any street or highway or portion thereof between the hours of two a.m. and six a.m., or for more than three hours on any street or highway or portion thereof within a residential district, except as provided herein.

B. For the purposes of this section, the terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth below:

1. "Large commercial vehicle" means any truck tractor as defined by Section 655 of the California Vehicle Code with or without attached trailer; or any trailer as defined by Section 630 of the California Vehicle Code not attached to a motor vehicle, except recreational vehicles as defined in Section 18010.5 of the Health and Safety Code; or any house car, as defined in Section 362 of the Vehicle Code; or any commercial vehicle as defined by Section 260 of the California Vehicle Code having a manufacturer's gross weight rating of ten thousand pounds or more as determined by Section 26455 of the California Vehicle Code, or a width of ninety inches or more at any point (excluding mirrors).

2. "Street in a residential district" means any street or highway or portion thereof either within or bordering any district zoned for residential uses under the city's zoning ordinance.

C. Large commercial vehicles shall be exempt from the restrictions contained in this section under the following circumstances:

1. Where the large commercial vehicle is making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the restricted streets or highways; or

2. Where the large commercial vehicle is being used to deliver materials in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon the restricted streets or highways for which a building permit has been previously obtained; or

3. Where the large commercial vehicle, other than a trailer not attached to a motor vehicle, is mechanically disabled and incapable of moving under its own power, for a period of seventy-two hours or less.

D. Certain areas may be excepted from the provisions of this section by resolution of the city council, which resolution may be amended from time to time. Exceptions may be granted for industrial streets having an off-street parking deficiency under existing law or a de-facto deficiency. The smallest area that may be excepted is one city block, either one or both sides. An exception issued pursuant to this subsection shall be valid only for relief from this section and shall not be construed to allow the violation of other provisions of this chapter or of the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 88-12-1022 § 1)