Sonoma County Municipal Code Art. III Parking Regulations Generally

(a) The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall for the purposes of this article have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section.

"Divisional Island" means a raised island located in the roadway and separating opposing or conflicting streams of traffic.

"Government Code" means the government code of the State of California.

"Holidays" within the meaning of this article, holidays are every Sunday, the first day of January, the last Monday in May, the fourth day of July, the first Monday of September, the 25 day of December, and every day appointed by the president of the United States or the governor of California for a public fast, thanksgiving or holiday.

"Loading Zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

"Passenger Loading Zone" means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

"Police Officer" means every officer of the California highway patrol, any regularly employed and salaried deputy of the sheriff's office of the County of Sonoma or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.

"Public Works Director" means the director of Sonoma Public Infrastructure and/or the road commissioner for the county of Sonoma, state of California.

"Vehicle Code" means the vehicle code of the state of California.

(b) Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined in this article, but are defined in the Code of Sonoma County, California, and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

(c) Whenever any words or phrases used herein are not defined, but are defined in the vehicle code of the state of California and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Application of Regulations: The provisions of this article prohibiting the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified, 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 article 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 of the ordinances of this county prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.

(c) Public Works Director to Maintain No Stopping Zones and No Parking Zones: The public works director is hereby 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 in this article. 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 article.

(d) No Parking Areas: No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or in compliance with an official traffic control device, in any of the following places:

(1) Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings.

(2) In any area established by this article as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.

(3) 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.

(4) In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property.

(5) 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 vehicles 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 (24) hours prior to the effective time of such no parking.

(6) At any place within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection in any business or residential 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 loading zone.

(7) Within twenty (20) feet of the approach to any traffic signal, stop sign, or official electric flashing device.

(8) Within six (6) feet of the center of any road, whether or not the road has a painted centerline.

(e) Repairing or Greasing Vehicles on Public Street: 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 highway in this county. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a highway.

(f) Emergency Parking Signs: Whenever the public works director shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings, or functions, or for other reasons, the public works director 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 public works director 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 public works director shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.

(g) When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs.

(h) Any vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this section are subject to being removed.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Parking may be prohibited on certain portions of county highways in the interest of public safety or to facilitate the safe, orderly and expeditious movement of traffic.

(b) Parking may be prohibited on certain portions of county highways between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Any vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this subsection is subject to being removed.

(c) Any or all of the following general time limitations may be placed on motor vehicle parking, holidays excepted.

(1) Two (2) hour parking.

(2) One (1) hour parking.

(3) Thirty (30) minute parking.

(4) Fifteen (15) minute parking.

(5) Unless otherwise specified, the limitations set forth in this subsection shall be effective only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

(d) Loading zones, passenger loading zones, and bus loading zones may be established to regulate parking. Parking in said zones shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Loading Zones: Standing or parking in loading zones shall be for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight only, shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefore, but unless otherwise specified for not more than twenty (20) minutes, holidays excepted.

(2) Passenger Loading Zones: Standing or parking in passenger loading zones shall be for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers only, shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor, but unless otherwise specified, for not more than five (5) minutes, holidays excepted.

(3) Bus Loading Zones: Only commercial or school buses may stand or park in any bus loading zone at any time.

(4) Effective Hours: Unless otherwise specified, the effective hours for loading and passenger loading zones shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; provided, however, that when a passenger loading zone is established in front of a theatre, the limitations shall apply at all times except when the theatre is closed.

(e) Angle Parking May be Authorized.

(f) Tow-away zones: Any vehicles standing or parking in a designated tow-away zone are subject to removal to a garage or other place as authorized by the California vehicle code.

(g) Parking or standing may be prohibited on any street, or portion thereof, in a residential district, of commercial vehicles having a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, as allowed by California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Obedience to Parking Regulations: Whenever this article establishes any time limits for motor vehicle parking, and authorized signs and/or curb markings have been erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended in violation of said time limits during the effective hours thereof.

(b) Whenever this article establishes loading zones, passenger loading zones, or bus loading zones, and authorized signs and/or curb markings have been erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended in violation of the regulations specified herein for said zones during the effective hours thereof.

(c) Whenever this article prohibits vehicle parking, and the authorized signs and/or curb markings have been erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended in violation of said prohibition during the effective hours thereof.

(d) Angle Parking: Whenever this article authorizes angle parking, and authorized signs and/or street markings have been erected giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended except:

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

(2) With the front wheel nearest the curb within six (6) inches of said curb.

(e) Whenever angle parking is authorized, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended that exceeds twenty (20) feet in length in said angle space.

(f) Parking Space Markings.

(1) The public works director is authorized to install and maintain parking space markings to indicate parking spaces adjacent to curbs where authorized parking is permitted.

(2) When such parking space markings are placed on the highway, subject to other and more restrictive limitations, no person shall stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended other than within a single space unless the size or shape of such vehicle makes compliance impossible.

(g) Removal of Vehicles.

(1) Any member of the California highway patrol or any regularly employed and salaried deputy of the sheriff's office of the county of Sonoma is authorized to remove to the nearest garage or other place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by this county, any vehicle which has been parked or left standing in violation of Section 18-3.4(e) and Section 18-3.5(b) of this article.

(2) In the event any such officer removes a vehicle from a public street or highway as authorized by this article, such officer shall give the notices as provided in Article 3, Chapter 10, Division 11 of the vehicle code and the keeper of any garage in which any such a vehicle is stored may have a lien upon such vehicle for his compensation for towage and for caring for and keeping such vehicles and may satisfy such lien upon compliance with and under the conditions stated in Article 3, Chapter 10, Division 11 of the Vehicle Code.

(h) Exceptions for Certain Vehicles.

(1) The provisions of this article shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe any applicable provisions of the vehicle code.

(2) The provisions of this article regulating the parking and standing of vehicles shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle when such authorized emergency vehicle is operated in the manner specified in the vehicle code in response to an emergency call or the apprehension of a violation of law.

(3) The provisions of this article regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any vehicle of a county department or public utility while necessarily in use for construction or repair.

(4) The provisions of this article regulating the parking or standing of vehicles shall not apply to any person who qualifies under Section 22511 or Section 22511.5 of the California vehicle code.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Prohibiting parking; erection of signs. The board of supervisors may by resolution duly adopted pursuant to this section, prohibit or restrict the stopping, parking or standing of vehicles on any streets, roads, highways, parking lots or off-street parking facilities under its jurisdiction. Violation of any such resolution shall be punishable as a civil penalty in the manner described by Section 40200 et seq. of the vehicle code. Such resolution may additionally or alternatively authorize removal of the vehicle at the owner's expense. No resolution shall be effective until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been conspicuously erected or placed.

(b) When 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 in any area designated as a "no parking" zone by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(c) When 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 in any area designated as a "no overnight parking" zone by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(d) The director of public works for the county of Sonoma shall maintain at the offices of Sonoma public infrastructure a list of roads or other the areas that have been designated as restricted parking zones by resolution of the board of supervisors and shall also maintain the list of roads and other areas that have been designated as restricted parking zones by resolution of the board of supervisors areas website for Sonoma public infrastructure.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Pursuant to Section 40200 et seq. of the California vehicle code, the board of supervisors shall set by resolution a schedule of parking penalties for parking violations, late payment penalties, and other related charges for parking violations.

(b) Unless otherwise stated in this article, the procedures set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 40200, et seq., where applicable, shall apply to the processing, administration, and review of the parking violations parking penalties set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

No person shall park or leave standing a vehicle upon a street or highway within the unincorporated territory of the county for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours.

Any member of the state highway patrol or any regularly employed and salaried deputy of the sheriff's office of the county is hereby authorized to remove to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by this county, any vehicle which has been parked or left standing upon a street or highway within the unincorporated area in the county for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours.

(Ord. No. 6535, § II, 11-4-2025)

(a) Prohibited Parking. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing on any county highway or county right-of-way any vehicle defined in this section for a period longer than six (6) consecutive hours at which point it must relocate for a period of at least seventy-two (72) hours.

(b) Definition. Oversized vehicle(s) shall be defined for this section as any motor vehicle, boat or trailer, which meets or exceeds at least one (1) of the following criteria, exclusive of fixtures and accessories:

(1) 24 feet in length; or

(2) 90 inches in height; or

(3) 96 inches in width.

(c) Notwithstanding the length, width, and height requirements for an oversized vehicle, the following vehicles shall also be considered oversized vehicles and subject to this section:

(1) Buses as defined in the California Vehicle Code Section 233;

(2) Trailers whether hitched to a vehicle or not, including boat trailers, and semi-trailers, as defined in the California Vehicle Code Section 630, and stand-alone boats not connected to trailers;

(3) Trailer coaches, whether hitched to a vehicle or not, as defined in the California Vehicle Code Section 635; and

(4) Recreational vehicle, defined as follows: Recreational vehicle shall be defined as a motor home, slide in camper, travel trailer, or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation, for recreational, or emergency occupancy. Recreational vehicle shall also include:

a. Camping Trailer. A vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial sidewalls which fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite designed for human habitation.

b. Motor Home. A motor vehicle designed to provide temporary living quarters, built as an integral part of, or permanently attached to, a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, chassis cab or van.

c. Slide-In Camper. A portable unit, consisting of a roof, floor and sides, designed to be loaded onto or unloaded from the bed of a pick-up truck, and designed for human habitation.

d. Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailer. A vehicle designed for recreational purposes to carry persons or property on its own structure and constructed to be drawn by a motor vehicle with a kingpin connecting device.

(5) Exemptions. The prohibited parking of oversized vehicles and trailers under this section shall not apply to the following:

a. Oversized vehicles actively making pick-ups or deliveries of goods, wares, services, or merchandise parked immediately adjacent to the property with which the pick-up and delivery is being made.

b. Moving vans, recreational vehicles, or other oversized vehicles actively being used for loading or unloading of items from the business or residence immediately adjacent to where it is parked, for a period of no more than forty-eight (48) hours consecutive hours for the purpose of loading or unloading only.

c. Fully permitted and licensed food trucks open and operating for business in accordance with other state and local laws and codes; so long as they are not parked immediately adjacent to a property zoned as residential.

d. Any ambulance, paramedic, fire, police, or public safety vehicle.

e. Any vehicle being repaired under emergency conditions for less than twenty-four (24) hours. For purposes of this section, emergency repairs mean sudden and unexpected repairs.

f. Any vehicle belonging to federal, state, and local authorities while conducting official government business.

g. Vehicles registered under a program with the California department of motor vehicles as a vehicle that serves a person or persons with disabilities and is parked immediately adjacent to the address which it is registered or providing transportation services.

h. Agricultural vehicles, implements, equipment, or trailers actively used in connection with commercial farming or ranching operations; and

i. Vehicles temporarily parked while servicing or supporting agricultural operations, including but not limited to deliveries, crop transport, irrigation, and maintenance.

(d) Any vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this section are subject to being removed as authorized by the California vehicle code, in addition to the penalties established under Section 18-3.6 of the Sonoma County Code.

(Ord. No. 6535, § III, 11-4-2025)