Fontana's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Fontana, California, there are 8 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.

EV Charging

Fontana processes electric vehicle charging station system permits through an expedited, nondiscretionary review track adopted under Article XXI (Sec. 5-609 et seq.) to comply with state AB 1236. Applicants get electronic submittal and a standard city checklist, and the city must issue a permit within a reasonable time of a complete application.

Key details: Adopted: Ord. No. 1751, 12-13-16. State mandate: AB 1236 (2015). Electrical standard: CEC Article 625 supply equipment. Submittal: Electronic, e-signature accepted. HOA approval: City cannot require it first.

The article carries no separate fine schedule; deficient applications are handled through the Sec. 5-614 correction-notice process, and installing a charging station without a permit is enforced as an ordinary Code violation under the general penalty, Sec. 1-7, up to $1,000.00 or six months' imprisonment as a misdemeanor.

Fontana is more permissive than most cities when it comes to ev charging. That said, there are still limits.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Fontana bars commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW, and any trailer used for commercial purposes, from stopping, standing or parking on any public street under Municipal Code Sec. 17-147. Narrow exceptions cover active deliveries, permitted construction material drop-offs and utility work; violators face civil fines starting at $100.

Key details: Weight trigger: Commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVW. Trailers: Any commercial-use trailer also banned. Coverage: Any public street or highway citywide. Delivery exception: Time reasonably needed to deliver/collect. First fine: Up to $100.

Any person violating Sec. 17-147 is subject to a civil penalty of up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation within one year, and up to $500 for each additional violation within that year. Vehicles left in violation for 72 or more hours, or otherwise illegally parked, can also be towed under Sec. 17-148.

Compared to other cities, Fontana takes a harder line on commercial & oversized vehicles. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Loading Zones

Fontana's traffic engineer designates loading zones in business districts under Municipal Code Sec. 17-191, marked with yellow "LOADING ONLY" or white "PASSENGER LOADING ONLY" curb paint, capped at half a block's curb length. Commercial loading is limited to 20 minutes and passenger loading to three minutes under Sec. 17-193.

Key details: Curb cap: Max half of block curb length. Commercial limit: 20 minutes to load/unload. Passenger limit: 3 minutes to load/unload. Loading zone marking: Yellow curb, "LOADING ONLY". Passenger zone marking: White curb, "PASSENGER LOADING ONLY".

Stopping, standing or parking in a yellow loading zone or white passenger zone for any purpose other than loading or unloading within the permitted time (20 minutes for commercial material, three minutes for passengers) violates Sec. 17-194. Occupying a marked bus zone with a non-bus vehicle or a taxistand with a non-taxicab also violates the article.

Overnight Parking

Fontana generally allows overnight residential-street parking. No citywide overnight ban exists; the main limits are the CVC 22651(k) 72-hour rule and posted street-sweeping schedules.

Key details: Citywide Ban: None. State Rule: 72 hours (CVC 22651(k)). Sweeping: Enforced on posted days. Permit Zones: Posted neighborhoods only. AB 2097: Near-transit parking reform.

72-hour tow carries tow and storage fees around $200 to $400. Street-sweeping citations run about $54 to $75. Permit-zone violations are roughly $75 to $100 for a first offense.

RV & Boat Parking

Fontana caps parking of oversized vehicles, including RVs, campers, trailers and boats, at four consecutive hours on residential streets under Municipal Code Sec. 17-162. Residents can get a free 72-hour police-issued permit up to six times a month under Sec. 17-165, but the vehicle can never be used for overnight camping or lodging.

Key details: Time limit: 4 consecutive hours on residential streets. Size trigger: Over 22 ft long, 94 in wide or 92 in tall. Permit length: Up to 72 hours, free of charge. Permit cap: 6 permits per vehicle/resident monthly. Camping ban: No overnight lodging while permitted.

Sec. 17-168 makes any violation of the oversized-vehicle parking division an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation within one year, and up to $500 for each additional violation, with each day or portion of a day treated as a separate offense.

Compared to other cities, Fontana takes a harder line on rv & boat parking. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Abandoned Vehicles

Fontana removes abandoned vehicles under CVC 22651(k) on public streets. Inoperable, unregistered, or dismantled vehicles on private property are abated under FMC property-maintenance rules.

Key details: Street Trigger: 72 hours (CVC 22651(k)). Private Property: FMC Title 15 / Title 9. Abate Window: 10-30 days typical. Must Be Registered: Current DMV tags. Operable: Or hidden from view.

Street tow fees run $200 to $400 plus storage at about $50 per day. Private-property abatement adds administrative fees of $200 to $500 and a recorded lien for tow and disposal costs if the owner fails to cooperate.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fontana actively enforces its abandoned vehicles requirements.

Street Parking Limits

Fontana regulates on-street parking under FMC Title 10 and CVC 22500 and 22651. Cars cannot park at colored curbs, block driveways, or exceed the state 72-hour rule under CVC 22651(k).

Key details: Governing Law: FMC Title 10 + CVC 22500. 72-Hour Rule: CVC 22651(k) tow eligible. Hydrant Clearance: 15 ft minimum. Crosswalk Clearance: 20 ft minimum. Street Sweeping: Posted days enforced.

Parking citations range from about $54 for basic time violations to $100 for street-sweeping violations and $500 for fire-lane or hydrant violations. The 72-hour tow under CVC 22651(k) adds tow fees of $200 to $400 plus storage charges.

The rules around street parking limits in Fontana lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Driveway Rules

Fontana bars parking or storing a vehicle in the space between a home's setback line and the street unless it sits within a paved driveway. The rule sits inside the city's residential vehicle-repair ordinance alongside a two-hour cap on roadside repair work, keeping cars off front lawns and unpaved yard areas.

Key details: Governing rule: Vehicles must park within the driveway, not front yard. Time limit off-driveway: 2 hours max unless in garage/6-ft enclosure. Enclosure standard: Solid fence, hedge or screen at least 6 feet high. Purpose stated in code: Protect neighborhood appearance and property values.

Parking or storing a vehicle between the setback line and the street outside a driveway violates Sec. 16-1(c). The same section also caps any vehicle parked, stored, or repaired in a residential zone at two hours unless it sits in a garage or a solid enclosure at least six feet high, so code enforcement can cite a car left in the front-yard zone regardless of whether repair work is underway.

The Bottom Line

Fontana is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Fontana, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Fontana 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.