How San Bernardino Handles Parking Rules: A Practical Guide

San Bernardino maintains 124 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with parking rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where San Bernardino falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Overnight Parking

San Bernardino does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles, but the 72-hour rule under CVC 22651(k) applies along with permit districts, street sweeping hours, and posted restrictions.

Key details: General Overnight Ban: None citywide. 72-Hour Rule: CVC 22651(k). Permit Districts: Downtown, CSUSB, courthouse. Commercial Overnight: Restricted 2am-6am. City Lots: Closed after posted hours.

Curb Color Rules

San Bernardino codes curb colors by rule, not custom: red means no stopping or parking, green caps parking at 20 minutes, and yellow or white marks loading zones. The Director of Public Services paints and maintains every color under Municipal Code Chapters 10.16 and 10.36.

Key details: Red curb: No stopping, standing or parking. Green curb: 20-minute parking limit. Yellow curb: Loading zone for freight or passengers. White curb: Passenger loading zone only. Who paints curbs: Director of Public Services.

Stopping, standing or parking against posted curb color is a misdemeanor under the general penalty provisions of the Municipal Code and is separately citable as a parking infraction under state Vehicle Code authority the city adopts locally. Police officers and Public Services staff issue citations, and vehicles blocking a marked zone can be towed under Cal. Vehicle Code § 22651 once warning signs are posted.

Preferential Parking Districts

Residents on streets zoned for time-limited parking can get a preferential parking permit exempting their vehicle from those restrictions under SBMC § 10.16.180. The Director of Facilities Management/Parking Control issues up to four free permits per dwelling once the City Council designates the street by resolution.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 10.16.180. Permits per dwelling: Up to 4, no fee. Issuing office: Facilities Management/Parking Control. Valid area: Same block, or 2 blocks on corners. Carpool permits renew: June and December.

Parking without a valid displayed permit on a designated preferential street offers no exemption; the vehicle remains subject to the underlying time-limit citation and the citywide infraction fines in SBMC § 1.12.010 ($100 first offense, $200 second, $500 third within a year). Misusing or displaying an expired permit defeats the exemption and exposes the vehicle to the same enforcement.

Loading Zones

San Bernardino caps commercial loading and unloading stops at 40 minutes for freight and 3 minutes for passengers under SBMC § 10.16.050, with a 10-minute passenger allowance at hotel entrances. The City Engineer designates the zones, marked with yellow curb paint reading 'loading zone' under § 10.36.010.

Key details: Freight time limit: 40 minutes (SBMC § 10.16.050). Passenger time limit: 3 minutes; 10 min at hotels. Zone marking authority: City Engineer / Public Services. Curb color code: Yellow = loading zone. Excluded locations: Alleys and grades over 12%.

Exceeding the loading-zone time limit, or stopping in a marked passenger or bus zone without loading passengers, is an infraction under the citywide penalty schedule in SBMC § 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, $500 for a third, and a misdemeanor on a fourth violation within 12 months. Parking control checkers and police officers issue the citations under Cal. Vehicle Code § 40202.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

San Bernardino bars commercial vehicles, truck tractors, semitrailers and trailers of 10,000 pounds GVWR or more from parking on any street, alley or parkway in a residential district, or on residentially zoned property, under SBMC § 10.16.120. In non-residential districts the same vehicles get only two continuous hours before each additional two-hour block becomes a separate infraction.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 10.16.120. Weight threshold: 10,000 lbs GVWR or more. Residential districts: Parking banned outright. Non-residential limit: 2 continuous hours. Tow authority: After 24 hrs, Cal. Veh. Code §22651(n).

Violating § 10.16.120 is an infraction; each excess two-hour block in a non-residential district is charged as a separate offense, and every day a heavy vehicle sits unlawfully in a residential district is a new violation under SBMC § 1.12.020. Fines follow the citywide schedule of § 1.12.010: up to $100 first offense, $200 second, $500 third, misdemeanor on a fourth within a year.

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

RV & Boat Parking

San Bernardino restricts on-street RV and boat storage to 72 hours under state law, and private property storage of recreational vehicles is regulated by the zoning code with side and rear yard placement standards.

Key details: Street Storage Limit: 72 hours. Trip Prep Window: 48-72 hours before and after. Required Placement: Side or rear yard. Screening Height: 6 foot solid fence or landscaping. Permanent Habitation: Prohibited in residential zones.

Abandoned Vehicles

San Bernardino uses CVC 22651(k) to tow vehicles left on public streets more than 72 hours. Abandoned vehicles on private property can be removed under CVC 22658 with owner authorization.

Key details: 72-Hour Statute: CVC 22651(k). Private Property Tow: CVC 22658. Nuisance Abatement: CVC 22660. Lien Sale: Civil Code 3068 after 30 days. Report Hotline: (909) 384-5742.

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

Street Parking Limits

San Bernardino enforces on-street parking under the Municipal Code and CVC. Vehicles parked on a public street more than 72 hours are subject to tow under CVC 22651(k).

Key details: 72-Hour Limit: CVC 22651(k). Red Curb: No stopping. Blue Curb: Disabled placard only. AB 2097 Transit Rule: No parking minimums near transit. Parking Services: (909) 384-5742.

Driveway Rules

San Bernardino bans parking on any unpaved parcel of real property, but the ordinance carves out a specific exception for residential driveways: an unpaved driveway or a durable drive approach or pad built for parking is exempt. Parking control checkers and Facilities Management enforce the rule under § 10.16.240, ticketing bare-dirt parking that falls outside that residential driveway carve-out.

Key details: Governing section: SBMC § 10.16.240. Residential exception: Paved/durable driveway or pad only. Enforcing agency: Facilities Management / parking control checkers. First-offense fine: Up to $100 (SBMC § 1.12.010). Adopted: Ord. MC-1064, 2000.

A first violation is an infraction: fines start at $100 under the citywide penalty schedule in § 1.12.010, rising to $200 for a second offense within a year and $500 for each further offense in that year; a fourth violation within 12 months becomes a misdemeanor. Enforcement authority runs through Facilities Management, parking control checkers and police officers citywide.

The Bottom Line

San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on San Bernardino's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.