Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.52 Stopping for Loading or Unloading

A. The city public works superintendent is authorized to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones.

B. “Loading zone” means the space adjacent to a curb or other specifically designated area reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.

C. “Passenger loading zone” means the space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers.

D. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes.

E. Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top of all curbs within such zones, or in the absence of curbs, a loading zone shall be marked with a yellow stripe along the entire perimeter of such zone.

F. Passenger loading zones shall be indicated by white paint upon the top of all curbs in the zones. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

When authorized signs or curb markings have been determined by the city traffic engineer or city council to be necessary and are in place giving notice thereof, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park the vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation thereof. The curb markings shall have the meanings as herein set forth:

A. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone;

B. Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day except Sunday(s) and holiday(s) for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers or materials;

C. White means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers, or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox, which shall not exceed three minutes and such restrictions shall apply between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. of any day except Sunday(s) and holiday(s);

D. Green curb marking shall mean no standing or parking for a period of time longer than 15 minutes at any time on any day;

E. It is unlawful for any person in charge of any vehicle to permit such vehicle to remain standing at any time for a continuous period of time longer than as posted at locations so designated, except by permit as provided in SMC 10.48.260. (Ord. 05-2025 § 2, 2025; Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

A. Permission herein granted to stop or stand a vehicle for purposes of loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial vehicles and shall not extend beyond the time necessary.

B. The loading or unloading of materials shall apply only to commercial deliveries, also the delivery or pickup of express and parcel post packages and United States mail.

C. Permission herein granted to stop or park for purposes of loading or unloading passengers shall include the loading or unloading of personal baggage but shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor.

D. The provisions of this section shall be enforced so as to accommodate necessary and reasonable loading or unloading but without permitting abuse of the privileges granted. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).