How Ridgecrest Handles Parking Rules: A Practical Guide

Ridgecrest maintains 74 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with parking rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Ridgecrest falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Overnight Parking

Ridgecrest bars parking any vehicle on a street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours without a police-chief permit, covering overnight and long-term parking alike.

Key details: Time limit: 72 consecutive hours. Permit authority: Chief of police. Permit standard: No traffic safety hazard. Consequence: Tow at owner's expense.

Leaving a vehicle in one on-street spot past 72 consecutive hours without a chief-of-police permit is an infraction and can trigger towing at the owner's expense.

EV Charging

Ridgecrest must approve electric vehicle charging station permits within five business days for 25 or fewer stations, or ten days for more, under a state-mandated expedited review process the city adopted in 2022.

Key details: Approval deadline (≤25 stations): 5 business days. Approval deadline (>25 stations): 10 business days. Deemed-approved trigger: 20 or 40 business days. Adopted by: Ord. No. 22-04, 9-7-2022. State authority: Gov. Code §§ 65850.7, 65850.71.

There's no fine on the applicant: missing the review deadline forces automatic approval instead. An incomplete application instead gets a written correction notice detailing every deficiency the building official found.

Driveway Rules

Ridgecrest's zoning code sets minimum residential driveway widths: ten feet of clear width at minimum, twenty feet for driveways one hundred feet or longer (or two ten-foot one-way drives), and twenty feet for any driveway serving four or more dwelling units.

Key details: Minimum width: 10 feet clear. 100+ ft driveways: 20 feet, or two 10-ft drives. 4+ unit driveways: 20 feet minimum. Building clearance: Access must stay unobstructed.

Building without meeting these widths is an infraction under section 106-64(a) of the Ridgecrest Municipal Code, and the planning director can require the driveway widened or an access easement corrected before final inspection.

RV & Boat Parking

Ridgecrest permits recreational vehicles, boats, and boat trailers in residential side or rear yards under Municipal Code section 106-366(o); if that space isn't accessible, they may move to the front setback, but only for storage: never as a dwelling, and never hooked to sewer, water, or permanent power.

Key details: Location priority: Side or rear yard first. Front setback: Allowed only if rear access blocked. Dwelling use: Never permitted. 72-hour rule: Cannot block sightline to street. Ownership: Must belong to resident or guest.

Any violation of Chapter 106 is an infraction under section 106-64(a); the city can also treat a noncomplying RV or boat setup as a public nuisance and seek abatement through the city attorney.

Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned vehicles in Ridgecrest may be cited and towed after 72 hours under California Vehicle Code §22651 and RMC provisions.

Key details: 72-hour rule: Vehicles unmoved 72+ hours may be towed. CVC §22651. Private property: Inoperable or junk vehicles visible from street may be cited. Report: Ridgecrest Police: (760) 499-5500. Topic: Abandoned Vehicles.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Ridgecrest lets oversize vehicles park on private property in yard areas but bars the required front yard setback, with specific rules for trailers on driveway aprons.

Key details: Oversize threshold: 25 ft long / 7 ft wide or tall. Front yard setback: Off-limits for storage. Apron surface required: Paved or graveled. Area upkeep: Free of trash, debris, parts.

Storing an oversize vehicle in a prohibited yard setback or on an unpaved, cluttered apron violates this section; code enforcement can order removal.

Loading Zones

Ridgecrest curb-paints loading zones yellow and passenger zones white, with strict time caps enforced by the city traffic engineer during business hours.

Key details: Freight loading limit: 20 minutes. Passenger loading limit: 3 minutes. Restricted hours: 7 a.m.–6 p.m., non-holidays. Zone marking: Yellow = freight, white = passengers.

Exceeding the posted time limit or parking in a color-coded zone outside its permitted use is a citable parking violation enforced by Ridgecrest police under the traffic code.

Street Parking Limits

Ridgecrest bans stopping, standing or parking in medians, driveway aprons, marked hazard zones, work zones, parkways, and within 20 feet of crosswalks or traffic signals under its traffic code.

Key details: No-parking zones: Medians, red curbs, parkways. Near crosswalks: 20 feet clearance required. Near signals: 20 feet clearance required. Alley driveways: Blocking entrance prohibited. Marked by: Signs or red curb paint.

Stopping, standing or parking in a location prohibited by § 15-360, blocking an alley driveway entrance under § 15-362, or leaving less than ten feet of roadway clear under § 15-361 is a citable parking violation, treated as a civil violation under the city's administrative review process.

The Bottom Line

Ridgecrest'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 Ridgecrest is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Ridgecrest's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.