Parking Rules in Chico, CA (2026)
7 verified parking rules for Chico, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Chico Municipal Code §10.20.200 restricts storage and parking of recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers on city streets and public rights-of-way. Cross-reference with CMC §9.20.030 (unlawful camping) which limits overnight occupancy of RVs/trailers parked on streets to seven days when in front of a residence the occupant is staying at or has permission from. Stays beyond that, or anywhere else overnight in an RV/trailer within city limits, are prohibited and enforced by Chico Police and Code Enforcement.
RV, Trailer, and Boat Parking on Streets and Public Rights-of-Way
Some RestrictionsDriveway Rules
Chico relies primarily on the California Vehicle Code to prohibit blocking driveways and parking on sidewalks. Off-street parking design - including driveway paving, dimensions, and surface materials - is set by Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.70 (Parking and Loading Standards), which requires all-weather paved surfaces for residential driveways and parking areas.
Driveway Parking and Blocking Rules
Some RestrictionsCommercial Vehicle Restrictions
Chico Municipal Code §10.20.160 prohibits parking any commercial vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more in residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-P, RD-1, RDH) between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Limited exceptions exist for active deliveries, permitted construction work, and public improvements. Title 19 zoning further restricts long-term commercial-vehicle storage in residential zones.
Commercial Vehicles Over 10,000 lbs — No Overnight Parking in Residential Zones
Some RestrictionsStreet Parking Limits
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 10.20 governs on-street parking citywide, supplementing the California Vehicle Code. Time-limited zones, preferential parking permit areas (CMC Ch. 10.30) near Cal State Chico, and metered downtown blocks (CMC Ch. 10.25) are the most actively enforced restrictions. Statewide AB 413 'daylighting' now bans parking within 20 feet of any crosswalk approach, and Chico Public Works began painting red curbs at ~55 intersections in April 2025.
Street Parking in Chico
Some RestrictionsOvernight Parking
Chico does not impose a citywide overnight street-parking ban. The key limit is Chico Municipal Code Section 10.20.200, which prohibits storing any vehicle, recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer on a city street or public right-of-way for more than 168 hours (7 days) in a row. Commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds GVW are separately banned from on-street parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. under CMC Section 10.20.160.
Overnight Parking in Chico
Some RestrictionsEV Charging
EV-charger permitting in Chico is governed by California state law: AB 1236 (Gov. Code §65850.7) requires the City to use an expedited, ministerial permit process limited to health-and-safety review, and Civil Code §4745 forbids landlords and HOAs from blocking tenant-funded EV charging stations. New construction is subject to the EV-ready and EV-capable parking-space mandates in Title 24, Part 11 (CALGreen) of the California Building Code. Chico does not impose a discretionary local ordinance that would override these state requirements.
Electric Vehicle Charging in Chico
Few RestrictionsAbandoned Vehicles
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 10.52 (Abandoned Vehicles) treats any abandoned, dismantled, wrecked, or inoperative vehicle - or vehicle parts - left on public or private property for more than 168 hours (7 days) as a public nuisance subject to abatement. Section 10.52.150 makes the parking, storing, or leaving of such vehicles unlawful, and the City may remove them at the owner's expense.
Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Butte County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chico city rules.
Parking Rules in Butte County →