Parking Rules in Novato, CA (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Novato, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Driveway Rules
In the City of Novato, California, Municipal Code § 19.34.170 limits outdoor parking and storage at a home in a residential zone to four vehicles. Only operable vehicles can sit in the front yard, and they must be on a paved driveway. Inoperable vehicles must be inside a building or screened in a rear or side yard.
Novato Front-Yard and Driveway Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 19.34.170
B.Outdoors. A maximum of four vehicles including all types of operable or inoperable motor or recreational vehicles, motorcycles, campers, snowmobiles, jet skis, off-road vehicles, boats, and trailers may be parked or stored outdoors only under the following conditions:1.Only operable vehicles may be parked in the front yard area. The parking area shall be on a paved driveway in compliance with...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
In the City of Novato, no one can park a commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds unladen gross weight on a city street in a residential, planned residential, community facilities, agricultural or parks/open space district for more than one hour. A one-year exception permit from the public works department lifts the limit.
Novato Commercial Truck Parking Limits in Residential Districts
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 18-10.4
a.Residential Districts. No person shall park any commercial vehicle, as defined by Section 260 of the California Vehicle Code, of more than 10,000 pounds unladen gross weight for more than one hour upon any city street or portion thereof, within any residential district (division 19.10), planned residential development district (division 19.14), community facilities district (division 19.14), ...
Street Parking Limits
In the City of Novato, California, no vehicle or trailer can sit on a street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours, parking on parkways and bicycle lanes is banned, and curb markings and signs bind drivers. Novato Municipal Code § 18-7 also bars parking in a private driveway without the owner's consent.
Novato On-Street Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code §§ 18-7.2, 18-7.3, 18-7.11, 18-7.15
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any parkway, bicycle lane, bicycle path or horse trail. ... No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle or trailer shall park such vehicle or trailer upon any street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. ... When authorized signs or curb markings giving notice of parking regulations, restrictions or prohibitions...
Overnight Parking
In the City of Novato, California, nobody can leave a vehicle or trailer on any street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. A separate rule bars vehicles longer than 24 feet or wider than 96 inches from parking more than 30 minutes between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on streets in or next to residential areas.
Novato 72-Hour and 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Street Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code §§ 18-7.3, 18-7.4, 18-7.19
18-7.3 Parking for More Than Seventy-Two Hours Prohibited. No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle or trailer shall park such vehicle or trailer upon any street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours. ... 18-7.4 Same — Removal of Vehicle from Street. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing on a street or highway in excess of 72 consecutive hours, a...
EV Charging
In the City of Novato, electric vehicle charging stations go through an expedited permit process run by the chief building official, who publishes an adopted checklist on the city website. Review is limited to health and safety, and an application can be denied only on written findings of a specific, adverse impact with no feasible way to mitigate it.
Novato Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting
Light RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 4-19.4
a.As part of a complete application, the applicant shall include documentation of verification that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes, but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurren...
Abandoned Vehicles
In the City of Novato, leaving an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle on public or private property for more than ten days is an infraction unless it is fully enclosed in a building or stored lawfully for a licensed business. The city council declares such vehicles a public nuisance and can order them removed.
Novato Abandoned and Inoperative Vehicle Rules
Significant RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code §§ 18-13.2, 18-13.14
c."Inoperative vehicle" shall mean a vehicle that cannot be moved under its own power or vehicles not currently registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles excluding those vehicles that have been filed as a non-operational status. ... 18-13.14 Abandoned Vehicles on Public or Private Property Prohibited. It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to abandon, park, store, or leave...
Curb Color Rules
Under Section 18-7.12 of the Novato Municipal Code, each curb color in the City of Novato has a fixed meaning. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time, yellow limits loading to three minutes for passengers and one hour for freight, and white allows three minutes for passenger loading or mail deposit.
Novato Curb Colors: Red, Yellow, White, Green and Blue
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 18-7.12
18-7.12 Curb Markings to Indicate Standing, Stopping and Parking Regulations. Curb markings for regulation of parking pursuant to Section 21458 of the Vehicle Code shall have the following meanings: a.RED shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the vehicle code and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.b.YELLOW shall mean ...
Loading Zones
In the City of Novato, a yellow curb is a loading zone from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day except Sunday and holidays. Passenger loading is capped at three minutes and freight loading at one hour. A white curb allows passenger loading only, for three minutes, at all times unless the signs say otherwise.
Novato Loading Zone Curb Hours and Time Limits
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 18-7.12
18-7.12 Curb Markings to Indicate Standing, Stopping and Parking Regulations. Curb markings for regulation of parking pursuant to Section 21458 of the Vehicle Code shall have the following meanings: ... b.YELLOW shall mean no stopping, standing, or parking at any time between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. of any day, except Sunday and holidays, for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passeng...
Preferential Parking Districts
Section 18-7.21 lets the Novato City Council designate streets by resolution where adjacent residents and merchants can be issued preferential parking permits. A permit exempts the holder from parking restrictions set by the city traffic engineer, and the Novato Police Department issues permits under rules the council adopts by resolution.
Novato Preferential Parking Permits for Residents and Merchants
Some RestrictionsNovato Municipal Code § 18-7.21
18-7.21 Preferential Parking Privileges. The city council may by resolution designate certain streets or portion of streets upon which preferential parking privileges shall be given to residents and merchants adjacent to such streets under which the residents or merchants may be issued a permit which exempts them from the prohibition or restriction of such parking restrictions as may be establi...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Novato city rules.
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