Bishop's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Bishop, California, there are 10 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Street Parking Limits

Bishop prohibits stopping, standing or parking in a long list of places — crosswalks, within 15 feet of a hydrant, in front of driveways, on sidewalks, in disabled stalls without a placard, and in council-designated no-parking areas marked by signs or red curb (BMC 10.28.050).

Key details: Governing chapter: BMC Chapter 10.28. Fire hydrant clearance: 15 feet. Crosswalk/signal clearance: 20 feet. Curb parking: Within 18 inches, right wheels. Fine payment window: 21 calendar days.

Citation and fine set by council resolution; payment due within 21 days or a late penalty applies (BMC 10.28.270). Unpaid fines can block DMV registration renewal.

RV & Boat Parking

Bishop has no dedicated RV/boat storage ordinance, but street rules govern: no vehicle (including an RV or boat trailer) may sit on any street or public lot for 72+ consecutive hours without a city permit. On private lots, inoperable vehicles must be enclosed.

Key details: Dedicated RV ordinance: None — general rules apply. Street time limit: 72 consecutive hours. Private-lot storage: Enclosed unless self-mobile. Governing code: BMC 10.28.190, 17.76.060(D). Occupied trailer: Permit required (BMC 8.20.040).

72-hour street violations are citable and the vehicle may be towed under Vehicle Code § 22651(k). Occupying a trailer without a permit is an infraction.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Bishop bans commercial vehicles from streets the City Council designates and posts as off-limits (BMC 10.48.030). Trucks must also stick to designated truck routes (BMC Chapter 10.44). General street limits, including the 72-hour cap, still apply.

Key details: Prohibited streets: Council-designated, sign-posted. Governing section: BMC 10.48.030. Truck routes: BMC Chapter 10.44. Bus exemption: PUC passenger buses exempt. Employer liability: Principal also liable (10.48.024).

Driving a commercial vehicle on a posted prohibited street is a citable violation; employers/principals are also liable for employee violations (BMC 10.48.024).

EV Charging

Bishop's Municipal Code sets no local EV-charging parking ordinance. Home and commercial EV-charger installations are governed by California statewide rules — the streamlined permitting mandate of Government Code § 65850.7 and the California Electrical/Building Codes enforced by the City's building division.

Key details: Local EV ordinance: None in Bishop code. State permitting mandate: Gov. Code § 65850.7. Installation standard: CA Electrical Code (Title 24). Permit authority: Bishop building division. Curbside charging: 72-hour cap still applies.

No local EV-specific penalty exists; installation violations are enforced under the state building/electrical codes, and curbside parking violations under BMC Chapter 10.28.

Overnight Parking

Bishop has no blanket overnight-parking ban, but no vehicle may be parked on any street, highway, or public parking lot for 72 or more consecutive hours without a city permit — and you cannot dodge it by re-parking within 500 feet (BMC 10.28.190).

Key details: Overnight ban: No blanket ban. Continuous-parking cap: 72 consecutive hours. Re-park distance: Must exceed 500 feet. Governing section: BMC 10.28.190. Permit exception: City-issued permit.

Over-72-hour vehicles may be cited and towed under Vehicle Code § 22651(k); parking fines are set by council resolution and due within 21 days (BMC 10.28.270).

Driveway Rules

You may not block a driveway from the street (BMC 10.28.050(J)). On your own property, a motor vehicle in a residential or commercial zone must be kept in an enclosed space unless it can move under its own power (BMC 17.76.060(D)). Off-street parking needs street/alley access.

Key details: Blocking driveways: Prohibited (BMC 10.28.050(J)). Inoperable-vehicle storage: Must be enclosed (17.76.060(D)). Off-street access: From street or alley (17.76.030). One-way access width: At least 12 feet. Two-way access width: At least 24 feet.

Blocking a driveway is a citable parking violation (BMC 10.28.050); improper vehicle storage in a residential zone is a zoning-enforcement matter under BMC Chapter 17.88.

Oversized Vehicle Parking

Bishop has no separate oversized-vehicle ordinance. Large vehicles are governed by the general street rules — the 72-hour continuous-parking cap (BMC 10.28.190), council-designated commercial-vehicle prohibitions (BMC 10.48.030), and truck routes (Chapter 10.44).

Key details: Dedicated oversized rule: None — general rules apply. Continuous-parking cap: 72 hours (BMC 10.28.190). Commercial-street bans: BMC 10.48.030. Narrow-street no-parking: Roadway ≤ 20 feet. Truck routes: BMC Chapter 10.44.

Oversized vehicles are cited under the general parking rules (BMC 10.28.270) and may be towed under Vehicle Code § 22651 for 72-hour or hazard violations.

Abandoned Vehicles

Under BMC Chapter 8.16, keeping an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property for more than 10 days is an infraction and a public nuisance the City can abate and remove after a 10-day notice (BMC 8.16.160).

Key details: Private-property limit: 10 days when inoperative. Governing chapter: BMC Chapter 8.16. State authority: Vehicle Code § 22660. Notice before removal: 10-day certified notice. Street removal: Vehicle Code § 22651.

Infraction; the City may remove the vehicle and assess administrative and removal costs as a lien on the property under Government Code § 38773.5 (BMC 8.16.150–.170).

Loading Zones

Bishop loading zones are set by City Council resolution and signed/marked by public works (BMC 10.28.210). Yellow zones are for commercial loading only, passenger (white) zones for loading passengers up to three minutes, and standing beyond that is prohibited (BMC 10.28.230–.250).

Key details: How zones are set: By council resolution (10.28.210). Yellow zone: Commercial loading only. Passenger loading limit: Three minutes max. Alley use: Loading/unloading only (10.28.260). Marking authority: Public works director.

Misuse of a loading zone is a citable parking violation with a fine set by council resolution, due within 21 days (BMC 10.28.270–.290).

Curb Color Rules

In Bishop, painted curbs carry the meanings set by California Vehicle Code § 21458 (BMC 10.28.220). The public works director — not private residents — places curb markings; red curb means no stopping or parking, and only official markings are enforceable.

Key details: Color meanings source: Vehicle Code § 21458. Who paints curbs: Public works director. Red curb: No stopping or parking. Governing section: BMC 10.28.220. Resident-painted curbs: Not enforceable.

Parking against a legible curb marking or sign is a citable violation (BMC 10.28.040); fines are set by council resolution and due within 21 days (BMC 10.28.270).

The Bottom Line

Bishop's parking rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bishop is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Bishop can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.