Parking Rules in Monterey, CA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Monterey, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Monterey's zoning code caps residential vehicle parking under City Code § 38-26(L). Only one commercial vehicle may sit on a lot, and one over 22 feet long, 7-1/2 feet tall, or with a 7-foot bed must stay behind the front setback; none may weigh 20,000 pounds or more. Inoperable or unregistered vehicles need a garage or screened rear placement. Recreational vehicles and trailers may sit in a driveway or yard, but never be used for sleeping, cooking or living.
Monterey RV, Trailer and Vehicle Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 38-26(L)
L. Vehicle Parking. 1. Commercial Vehicle Parking.Not more than one commercial vehicle, as defined in the State Vehicle Code, may be parked on or adjoining any one lot. A commercial vehicle over 22 feet in length and/or over 7-1/2 feet in height and/or having a bed width of 7 feet or greater, shall be kept behind the required setback line. No commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight o...
Driveway Rules
In Monterey's R-E Residential Estate District, parking in a required front-yard setback is limited to the driveway apron in front of covered parking and any required open space. There is no parking allowed on non-apron ground within the setback, whatever the lot size.
Monterey Front-Yard Parking on Driveway Apron
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 38-22(D)(5)(b)
b. Parking of Vehicles in Required Front Yard Setback Other than Driveway Apron.On substandard lots less than 5,000 square feet and on lots with a street front footage of less than 50 feet, parking in the front yard setback area shall be limited to the driveway apron in front of covered parking and in front of any required open parking space. There shall be no parking in the front yard setback ...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
In residential zones the City Council can designate no-parking areas where it is unlawful to park a vehicle or trailer over 20 feet long and 6 feet 6 inches tall, on the street or in a front yard, between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., under City Code Article 12. The rule only bites once signs go up; emergency, utility, and repair-service vehicles are exempt.
Monterey Oversized Vehicle Overnight Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code §§ 20-180, 20-184
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park any vehicle or trailer in excess of 20 feet in length and in excess of 6 feet 6 inches in height on any street, alley, parking lot, or other public place, or within the front yard area in any residentially-zoned area between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. when said area has been established as a no parking area pursuant to S...
Street Parking Limits
Monterey City Code § 20-67 bars stopping, standing or parking in a list of specific street locations, from divisional islands to areas the Traffic Engineer flags as hazardous, whenever signs or red curb paint mark the spot. A separate rule, § 20-72, caps how long any vehicle can sit on a street or alley at all.
Monterey Street Parking Restrictions
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 20-67
No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, park or leave standing such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal: a.Within any divisional island, unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings. ... ...
Overnight Parking
On streets where the City posts signs, § 20-85.5 bans stopping, standing or parking any vehicle between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The City Council can carve out permits exempting residents, their guests and disabled persons from the ban by resolution.
Monterey Overnight Street Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 20-85.5
Sec. 20-85.5. Regulation of overnight parking. No person shall stop, stand or park on any street, when authorized signs are in place giving notice of the restriction, any vehicle between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The Council may authorize, by resolution, the streets or portions of the streets upon which parking of any vehicle shall be restricted between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The Co...
EV Charging
Monterey runs an expedited, streamlined building permit process for electric vehicle charging stations under Monterey City Code § 9-93, following Government Code § 65850.7. Routine maintenance or like-kind replacement of an existing charger needs no new permit, and the Zoning Administrator cannot deny one without a written, evidence-based safety finding.
Monterey Expedites EV Charging Station Permits
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 9-93(b); § 9-93(c)(v)
b. Applicability.This article applies to applications for expedited building permits for electric vehicle charging stations pursuant to Government Code Section 65850.7. Electric vehicle charging stations legally established or permitted prior to the effective date of this article are not subject to the requirements of this article unless physical modifications or alterations are undertaken that...
Abandoned Vehicles
Monterey declares an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on private or public property (not counting highways) a public nuisance under City Code Article 11. The Chief of Police and City Manager can order it removed after a 10-day certified-mail notice, the owner can demand a hearing, and refusing to abate the nuisance once ordered is a misdemeanor.
Monterey Abandoned Vehicle Removal Rules
Significant RestrictionsMonterey City Code §§ 20-150, 20-157, 20-166
the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private or public property not including highways, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this Article. ... A ten day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or parts the...
Curb Color Rules
Only the City may paint a Monterey street or curb surface. Section 20-38 makes unauthorized curb painting unlawful, while § 20-37 sets the official meaning of each curb color the Traffic Engineer applies: red, yellow, white and blue.
Monterey Curb Painting Restrictions
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 20-38
Sec. 20-38. Unauthorized painting of curbs. No person, unless authorized by this City, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, that this Section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the provisions of any resolution or ordinance of this City pertaining thereto.
Loading Zones
Monterey's Traffic Engineer marks commercial loading zones with yellow curb paint under City Code Article 7, and a vehicle may stop there to load or unload materials for up to 20 minutes citywide, stretched to 30 minutes in Parking Lot 6 at Fisherman's Wharf. No more than half the curb length on any block may be reserved for loading. Using a yellow zone for anything else is a citable violation.
Monterey Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code §§ 20-87, 20-88, 20-89
c.Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top of all curbs within such zones. ... a.Vehicles may stop, stand or park in a loading zone to load or unload materials. In Parking Lot 6 at Fisherman's Wharf the time limit is 30 minutes. In the remainder of the City the time limit is 20 minutes. b.Whenever the Traffic Engineer has designated a loading zone for commercial vehicles on...
Preferential Parking Districts
Monterey City Code § 20-81.3 lets the City post streets as permit-parking-only, and once signed, only vehicles displaying a valid City-issued permit may stop, stand or park there. Permits are personal and cannot be sold, assigned or copied.
Monterey Permit-Only Street Parking
Some RestrictionsMonterey City Code § 20-81.3
Sec. 20-81.3. Parking in permit spaces. Whenever permit parking spaces are established pursuant to ordinances of the City, and when adequate signs are in place giving notice that said spaces are for permit parking only, it shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such space unless such person possesses a valid, unexpired, permit for parking issued by the City, an...
Looking for Monterey County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Monterey city rules.
Parking Rules in Monterey County →