Parking Rules in Santa Monica, CA

If you live in Santa Monica or are thinking about moving there, parking rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Santa Monica has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of parking rules, and some of them might surprise you.

EV Charging

Santa Monica is a leader in EV infrastructure. CA AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums near major transit. CALGreen requires EV-ready wiring in new construction. The city offers streamlined permits for residential charger installation.

Key details: AB 2097: No parking mins near transit. CALGreen: EV-ready wiring required. Permit: Streamlined for residential. City Leadership: Strong EV infrastructure support.

Overnight Parking

On streets posted with overnight restrictions, no vehicle may remain parked for more than 30 minutes between 3 AM and 5 AM. City-wide, trailers and vehicles over 8 ft wide, 8 ft tall, or 20 ft long may not park on any public street between 9 PM and 6 AM without a City permit.

Key details: Early-morning stay limit (posted streets): 30 minutes, 3 AM – 5 AM. Overnight ban for large vehicles: 9 PM – 6 AM, all streets. Size threshold (overnight ban): >8 ft wide, >8 ft tall, or >20 ft long. Resident overnight permit: Up to 1 month; 1 permit per address. Non-resident overnight permit: Up to 7 consecutive days per month.

Civil parking penalties apply to violations. Vehicles illegally parked for more than 72 consecutive hours may be towed under § 3.12.990. General chapter violations carry fines up to $250 (infraction) or $1,000 plus up to 6 months jail (misdemeanor).

RV & Boat Parking

Trailers of any size and vehicles exceeding 8 feet wide, 8 feet tall, or 20 feet long are banned from all Santa Monica public streets and alleys between 9 PM and 6 AM unless the owner holds a City permit. This effectively prohibits overnight RV and boat-trailer street parking without authorization.

Key details: Overnight ban hours: 9 PM – 6 AM. Vehicle width limit: 8 feet. Vehicle height limit: 8 feet. Vehicle length limit: 20 feet. Permits per residence: 1 at a time.

Violation is a civil parking penalty (amount set by City resolution). Vehicles parked in violation may be towed and impounded; owner is responsible for towing and storage fees. After 72 consecutive hours an illegally parked vehicle may be removed by police under § 3.12.990.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Santa Monica actively enforces its rv & boat parking requirements.

Driveway Rules

Any driveway crossing a public street, parkway, or sidewalk in Santa Monica requires written approval from the Superintendent of Streets, with maximum widths of 28% of lot frontage for residential uses and a 35-foot cap for commercial uses.

Key details: Approval required: Written approval from Superintendent of Streets for any new driveway. Multi-family max width: 28% of lot width; 14 ft if frontage under 50 ft. Multi-family min width: 12 feet. Single-family max width: 28% of street frontage; 14 ft single driveway always allowed. Single-family min width: 10 feet.

Work without required written approval violates the Municipal Code. The City may remove non-compliant driveway aprons and assess the cost against the property as a special lien.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Commercial vehicles that exceed 8 feet in width or 8 feet in height may not park on any residential district street or alley except when actively making commercial deliveries, in an emergency, or for loading and unloading. Smaller commercial vehicles face no special restriction.

Key details: Maximum width in residential zones: 8 feet. Maximum height in residential zones: 8 feet. Applies in: All residential districts (Article 9). Exemptions: Active commercial work, emergency, loading/unloading.

Violation is a civil parking penalty. Oversized commercial vehicles parked in violation in residential areas may be cited and towed. General traffic chapter penalties are up to $250 (infraction) or $1,000 (misdemeanor) plus up to 6 months imprisonment.

Abandoned Vehicles

Under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) and Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 3.12, vehicles parked on public streets for 72 or more consecutive hours are considered abandoned and subject to citation and towing. Temporary No Parking signs require 24–72 hours advance posting.

Key details: Time Limit: 72 consecutive hours. Inoperable: Immediate tow eligible. TNP Signs: 24–72 hr advance posting. Code: CVC §22651(k), SMMC Ch. 3.12.

72-hour violations result in parking citations and towing at the owner's expense. Impound release and daily storage fees apply. Inoperable vehicles may be towed immediately. Repeated violations on the same vehicle may result in lien sale proceedings.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Santa Monica gives residents more flexibility on abandoned vehicles.

Street Parking Limits

Santa Monica has extensive preferential parking zones under SMMC Chapter 3.08 requiring resident permits. Metered parking and time-limited zones are enforced throughout the city.

Key details: Code Section: SMMC Chapter 3.08. Permit Zones: Citywide preferential parking. STR Guest Limit: 2 visitor permits. Metered Areas: Commercial/beach zones. Oversized Permit: SMMC §3.12.900.

Parking violations are enforced by Parking Enforcement. Fines vary by violation type. Vehicles may be towed from no-parking zones or after accumulating unpaid citations.

The Bottom Line

Santa Monica'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 Santa Monica is broadly strict or permissive.

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