Manteca's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Manteca, California, there are 9 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.

Loading Zones

Manteca marks commercial loading zones with yellow curb paint and passenger zones with white, capping commercial loading at 20 minutes and passenger loading at 3 minutes.

Key details: Commercial loading limit: 20 minutes maximum. Passenger loading limit: 3 minutes maximum. Yellow curb: Commercial loading zone. White curb: Passenger loading zone.

Standing in a loading zone past the time limit, or for a non-loading purpose, violates §§ 10.48.020–.030 and is citable.

Overnight Parking

Manteca bars parking any vehicle on a city street or alley for more than a consecutive 72 hours: the code's standard for long-term or overnight vehicle storage on public streets.

Key details: Time limit: 72 consecutive hours max. Applies to: Any city street or alley. Enforced by: Manteca Police Department. Governing code: § 10.44.050.

Exceeding the 72-hour limit is an infraction under Chapter 10.44 and can lead to citation and towing of the vehicle by Manteca police.

Street Parking Limits

Manteca bars parking wherever the city has posted signs or painted curb markings for no-stopping, no-parking, or restricted zones, and caps any single stretch of on-street parking at 72 consecutive hours.

Key details: Zones: set by signs or curb paint. Storage limit: 72-hour cap on street parking. Coverage: covers streets, roads, alleys, city lots. Default penalty: default fine up to $100–$500.

No penalty is specified in these sections, so violations default to Manteca's general infraction penalty under § 1.16.010: up to $100 for a first offense, rising to $500 for repeat violations within 12 months.

EV Charging

Manteca processes electric vehicle charging station installations through an administrative expedited-permitting ordinance authorized by Government Code Section 65850.7, rather than requiring standard discretionary review.

Key details: Authority: Gov. Code §65850.7. Process: administrative, expedited. Citation: §15.62.010. Adopted: Ord. O2017-16.

The ordinance sets an expedited administrative track, not penalties; a charging station that doesn't qualify for expedited review instead goes through the standard building permit process, with its usual fees and inspections.

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

Abandoned Vehicles

Manteca declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles on private or public property a public nuisance under Vehicle Code § 22660 authority, and the police or fire chief can abate and remove them after a 10-day notice.

Key details: Declared: Public nuisance under § 8.20.020. Notice required: At least 10 days. Enforced by: Police or fire chief. Exempt: Vehicles enclosed in a building.

Keeping an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle on private or public property beyond the notice period lets the city abate and remove it and bill the owner for removal and administrative costs.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Manteca bars parking an oversized vehicle or trailer, over 20 feet long, or 7 feet tall or wide, on any public street or alley on weekdays without a city permit or exception.

Key details: Oversized threshold: 20 ft long or 7 ft tall/wide. Restricted days: Monday through Friday. Permit limit: 10 days per 90-day period. Governing code: § 10.46.060.

Parking a qualifying oversized vehicle or trailer on a city street on a weekday without a permit or exception violates Chapter 10.46 and can draw a citation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Manteca actively enforces its commercial & oversized vehicles requirements.

Curb Color Rules

Manteca marks curbs red to bar stopping, standing, or parking there at any time, including near crosswalks, fire hydrants, and spots the traffic engineer flags as hazards: buses at signed stops excepted.

Key details: Red curb meaning: No stopping, standing, or parking ever. Bus exception: Buses may stop in signed bus zones. Who designates it: Traffic engineer or council resolution. Governing code: Manteca Municipal Code § 10.44.270.

Stopping in a legally marked red zone is an infraction enforceable by Manteca police under Chapter 10.44; a vehicle left in violation can be cited and, if it creates a hazard, towed.

RV & Boat Parking

Manteca bans parked RVs, boats, and trailers from front yards on lots built after July 19, 1978, limiting residential properties to one recreational vehicle or boat in the side or rear yard at a time.

Key details: Front yard: Banned except 24-hr loading/unloading. Side/rear yard limit: One RV or boat at a time. Clearance from buildings: At least 3 feet. Temporary occupancy permit: 7 days, via Police Department. Applies to parcels: Built after July 19, 1978.

Illegal front-yard RV or boat parking, or an unpermitted overnight stay in a parked RV, is a zoning violation the Police Department and Code Enforcement can cite and order removed.

This is one of the stricter rules in Manteca's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Driveway Rules

Manteca requires single-family homeowners to park vehicles only on paved driveways: parking on lawns, landscaping, or other yard areas within the front or street-side yard is prohibited under the city's residential parking standards.

Key details: Parking location: Designated driveways only. Yard/landscape parking: Prohibited in front/street-side yard. Corner-lot driveway setback: 20 feet from radius return. Garage/carport driveway depth: 20 feet minimum. Curb cuts: Must meet city street standards.

Code Enforcement can cite homeowners for parking on grass, dirt, or landscaped areas instead of a designated driveway; continued noncompliance is enforced as a zoning code violation.

The Bottom Line

Manteca is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Manteca, 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 Manteca 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.