Tulare's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Tulare, California, there are 7 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.

Driveway Rules

Off-street parking and driveway standards are set in Tulare Municipal Code Title 10 Zoning. Chapter 10.192 establishes the number of required parking spaces by use, and zoning development standards govern driveway dimensions, surfacing, and location.

Key details: Parking quantity standard: Tulare Mun. Code § 10.192.040. Permit authority: Community Development / Engineering (curb cut). Surfacing: Durable, dustless surface required for parking areas. Department phone: (559) 684-4218 — Planning/Building.

Insufficient off-street parking, unpaved front-yard parking, or an unpermitted curb cut is a zoning violation handled by Community Development Code Enforcement. Standard remedy is a notice to correct followed by administrative citations under Title 1 if uncured.

Abandoned Vehicles

Tulare uses Municipal Code § 9.48.160 together with California Vehicle Code §§ 22651, 22658, and 22660 to tow vehicles parked or abandoned for more than 72 hours on public streets. Inoperable vehicles on private property visible from the street are abated as a nuisance.

Key details: Street trigger: 72 consecutive hours (§ 9.48.160). Move-the-clock: At least 1/10 mile (Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(k)). Private-property authority: Cal. Veh. Code §§ 22658, 22660. Report to: Tulare Police Department.

Abandoned-vehicle citations are issued under § 9.48.160; tow fees and storage are owner-paid per Cal. Veh. Code § 22651. Nuisance vehicles on private property may be abated administratively after notice.

Street Parking Limits

Tulare regulates on-street stopping, standing, and parking under Municipal Code Chapter 9.48 (Title 9 Traffic). The chapter governs commercial-vehicle limits, alley stops, state-highway parking, and removal of long-stay vehicles, layered on top of the California Vehicle Code.

Key details: Local chapter: Tulare Mun. Code Ch. 9.48 (Title 9 Traffic). 72-hour rule: § 9.48.160 + Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(k). School zones: § 9.48.190 — no parking 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. school days. State highway segments: § 9.48.150 restrictions on Hwy 99 / Hwy 137.

Tulare PD issues parking citations under Chapter 9.48 and the CVC. A vehicle left over 72 hours, parked in a posted school zone during restricted hours, or blocking an alley is subject to citation and tow at owner expense per Cal. Veh. Code § 22651.

Overnight Parking

Tulare does not have a citywide nightly parking ban, but Municipal Code § 9.48.120 bans large commercial vehicles in residential districts and § 9.48.160 enforces a 72-hour street-parking limit that is actively used against RVs and trailers parked overnight on residential streets.

Key details: RV street limit: 72 consecutive hours (§ 9.48.160). Commercial vehicles >2 tons: Banned in residential districts (§ 9.48.120). Refrigeration units: Cannot operate within 300 ft of any residence. Setback from centerline: 12 ft minimum for commercial vehicles on street.

Commercial-vehicle parking in a residential district under § 9.48.120 and any 72-hour overstay under § 9.48.160 are subject to citation and tow per Cal. Veh. Code § 22651. RVs marked by chalk and not moved are prioritized for towing.

Compared to other cities, Tulare takes a harder line on overnight parking. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

EV Charging

California Government Code § 65850.7 (AB 1236) requires every city, including Tulare, to provide expedited, streamlined permitting for residential and commercial EV charging stations. Installations also follow the California Electrical Code and CALGreen Title 24 Part 11.

Key details: State law: Cal. Gov. Code § 65850.7 (AB 1236). New-construction EV: CALGreen § 4.106.4 (homes), § 5.106.5.3 (multifamily/non-res). Permit type: Electrical permit, ministerial expedited review. Apply at: City of Tulare Community Development / Building.

Unpermitted electrical work is corrected through Building Division NOVs; failure to provide required EV-capable infrastructure at new construction triggers Title 24 plan-check corrections before certificate of occupancy.

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

RV & Boat Parking

Tulare regulates recreational vehicle (RV), trailer, and boat parking on public streets and rights-of-way under Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 9.48 (Standing, Stopping, Parking) within Title 9 (Traffic). The general 72-hour rule under Cal. Vehicle Code § 22651(k) applies — any vehicle, RV, trailer, or boat left in the same spot on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours may be cited and towed. Tulare's existing RV-on-residential-street restrictions were the subject of a March 21, 2023 City Council hearing in which residents asked the Council to temporarily lift them so flood-displaced family members from Porterville, Corcoran, and Springville could shelter in driveway-parked trailers; staff explained the rule was adopted because RVs and trailers in neighborhoods pose a traffic hazard. On-private-property storage (driveways, side yards, rear yards) is the typical compliant location, subject to Title 10 zoning screening rules at §§ 10.16.160 / 10.18.160 (fences and walls) for visibility from the street.

Key details: Primary code: TMC Ch. 9.48 (Standing, Stopping, Parking), Title 9 Traffic. 72-hour rule: Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(k) — towable after 72 hrs on public street. Oversized vehicle authority: Cal. Veh. Code §§ 22507, 22507.5 (signage required). On-property storage: Generally allowed; screening per TMC §§ 10.16.160 / 10.18.160. Living in RV on street: Prohibited — Council reaffirmed restriction 3/21/2023.

Parking an RV, trailer, or boat on a public street for more than 72 hours allows towing under Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(k). Violating any posted oversized-vehicle restriction is a Vehicle Code infraction — base fine plus tow and storage costs. Using a parked RV as a dwelling on a public street or in a residential driveway without proper permits can be cited as a public nuisance under TMC Title 7 Ch. 7.28 and may trigger Building Code / Health & Safety Code enforcement. Repeated violations escalate from warning to citation to abatement.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Tulare Municipal Code § 9.48.120 (Commercial vehicle parking restrictions / Large trucks — Parking in residential district) makes it unlawful to leave or park any commercial vehicle of more than two-ton capacity — including trucks, truck trailers, trailers, or tractors — whether attended or unattended, in any residential district as established under the Tulare zoning code. The rule applies on public streets and rights-of-way in any R-zone. State law (Cal. Veh. Code § 22507.5) lets the City further restrict commercial vehicles and trailers between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. citywide once entry signs are posted, and § 22507 authorizes additional posted restrictions on any street. Commercial vehicles parked in a residential district in violation of § 9.48.120 are subject to citation and tow.

Key details: Primary code: TMC § 9.48.120 (Commercial vehicle parking restrictions). Weight threshold: More than 2-ton capacity (trucks, trailers, tractors). Where prohibited: Any residential district under Tulare zoning, any hour. State backup: Cal. Veh. Code §§ 22507, 22507.5, 22651(k). Off-street parking required: TMC § 10.192.040 (commercial / industrial uses).

Parking a >2-ton commercial truck, trailer, or tractor in any Tulare residential district at any time is a violation of TMC § 9.48.120, citable as a Vehicle Code infraction with tow authority. Violating a posted 2:00 a.m.–6:00 a.m. commercial-vehicle prohibition under Cal. Veh. Code § 22507.5 is similarly citable. Any commercial vehicle left more than 72 hours in one spot is towable under Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(k). Fines are set by the Vehicle Code bail schedule plus tow and storage charges.

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

The Bottom Line

Tulare is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Tulare, 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 Tulare 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.