Parking Rules in Sacramento, CA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Sacramento, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Sacramento requires that any vehicle parked in a yard area -- including boats, campers, trailers, and other recreational vehicles -- sit on a paved surface, under Sacramento City Code § 17.612.010(A)(1)(d). At a single-unit or duplex home, that paving is capped at 50% of the required front-yard and street side-yard setback, so an RV can't turn the whole front yard into a parking pad.
RV, Boat and Trailer Parking Rules Sacramento
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 17.612.010(A)(1)
17.612.010(A)(1): "a. Setback area paving restrictions. A maximum of 50% of each of the required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks may be paved for off-street parking, driveways, walkways, uncovered patios, and other forms of hardscape." "d. Vehicle parking requirements-all yard areas. Vehicles, including automobiles, boats, campers, trailers, and other recreational vehicles must be park...
Driveway Rules
Sacramento bans parking on dirt, gravel, or any other unpaved surface citywide. Sacramento City Code § 10.44.010 makes it "unlawful for any person to park... any vehicle... upon any unimproved surface," and § 17.612.020(A) backs it up for development sites: "unpaved areas shall not be used for storage, vehicle parking, driving, or maneuvering." A narrow grandfather clause covers driveways that were already dirt, gravel, or sand before June 13, 1964.
Sacramento Unpaved Surface Parking Ban
Significant RestrictionsSacramento City Code §§ 17.612.020(A), 10.44.010
17.612.020(A): "Paving required. Paving is required for all storage and service areas, outdoor merchandise and equipment sales and rental areas, as well as off-street parking, driveways, maneuvering, and loading areas for vehicles, including gas stations and auto sales. Unpaved areas shall not be used for storage, vehicle parking, driving, or maneuvering." 10.44.010: "It is unlawful for any per...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Sacramento bars parking any commercial vehicle rated 10,000 pounds or more on private property zoned R-1 through R-5, R-O or RMX unless five conditions are met: one vehicle per lot, a paved slab, a six-foot screening fence, and 25-foot front and side setbacks, per City Code § 10.44.020.
Commercial Vehicle Parking Rules in Sacramento
Significant RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 10.44.020
A. It is unlawful for any person to park or permit to be parked any commercial vehicle as defined in subsection B of this section, on any private property which falls within one of the following zoning classifications: R-1, R-1A, R-1 B, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-4A, R-5, R-O and RMX. B. For the purpose of this section only, "commercial vehicles" are defined as those vehicles having a m...
Street Parking Limits
Sacramento enforces a 72-hour move rule, residential permit districts in Midtown and Central City, and street sweeping restrictions with signed enforcement windows.
Street Parking Rules in Sacramento
Some RestrictionsCal. Veh. Code § 22651
A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the offic...
Overnight Parking
Sacramento has no blanket nightly parking ban; instead, City Code §10.36.080 lets police and city parking staff tow any vehicle left parked on the same street or highway for 72 or more consecutive hours. The same section also authorizes removal of vehicles with year-expired registration, unattached trailers and campers, and vehicles blocking posted construction or utility work.
Sacramento's 72-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 10.36.080
Any regularly employed and salaried officer of the police department of the city or any regularly employed and salaried employee of the city who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of the city may remove or cause to be removed: 1. Any vehicle that has been parked or left standing on a street or highway for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours. (Ord. 2...
EV Charging
Every off-street parking facility built or altered in Sacramento must provide electric vehicle charging stations and charging spaces, per Sacramento City Code § 17.608.040(O). The zoning code sets the mandate; stall counts, wiring, and equipment specs are fixed by the Sacramento City Building Code. Stations must be posted "EV CHARGING ONLY," and one Level 2 or DC fast charger can replace two standard parking spaces.
Sacramento EV Charging Space Mandate
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code §§ 17.608.040(F)(2)(c), 17.608.040(O), 17.608.060(A)(1)(h)
17.608.040(F)(2)(c): "The number of electric vehicle charging spaces and electric vehicle charging stations are determined by the Sacramento city building code. Electric vehicle charging stations shall be clearly marked 'EV CHARGING ONLY.'" 17.608.040(O): "1. Electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle charging spaces shall comply with the requirements in the Sacramento city buildin...
Abandoned Vehicles
Sacramento abates abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles on public or private property as a public nuisance under Chapter 8.16, acting on state authority in Vehicle Code § 22660. Owners get a 10-day notice, a right to a hearing, and can face liens for removal costs.
Abandoned Vehicle Abatement in Sacramento
Significant RestrictionsSacramento City Code §§ 8.16.010, 8.16.090
It is the intent of the council to provide that the abatement of public nuisances consisting of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled and inoperative vehicles may be carried on either concurrently with or separately from the abatement of other conditions, if any, constituting a public nuisance on any premises within the city, as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. ... The provisions of this ch...
Curb Color Rules
A red curb in Sacramento means no stopping, standing, or parking at any time: the only exceptions are what the California Vehicle Code allows and a transit bus using a marked red bus zone, under City Code §10.36.130(A). The same section defines yellow, white, green, and blue curb meanings, and only the parking manager may place them.
What Sacramento's Red Curb Markings Mean
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 10.36.130
The parking manager may place and when required by this title shall place the following curb markings to indicate parking or standing regulations. Such curb markings shall have the following meanings: A. Red means 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. (Ord. 2019-0009 § ...
Loading Zones
Yellow curb zones in Sacramento are reserved for loading and unloading only during posted hours. Commercial vehicles get thirty minutes and cannot sit unattended past ten, while noncommercial vehicles are capped at five minutes, under City Code § 10.36.130(B). Alleys carry a matching thirty-minute commercial limit.
Sacramento Loading Zone Curb Marking Rules
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 10.36.130(B)
Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking during the days and hours indicated on appropriate signs or markings for any purpose other than the loading and unloading of passengers or materials; provided that the loading or unloading of materials or passengers shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefor and in no event exceed the time limits as follows: 1. Commercial vehicles stopping,...
Preferential Parking Districts
The city council may designate any residential area as a residential permit parking area by resolution under City Code § 10.48.040, exempting permit holders from posted parking limits within three blocks of home. Designation requires an 85%+ occupancy study and a two-thirds resident vote before the council acts.
Sacramento Residential Permit Parking Program
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code § 10.48.040; § 10.48.060(C)
The city council may, by resolution, designate any residential area as a residential permit parking area. The resolution shall state the boundaries of the area, applicable parking regulations, and fees, if any, to be charged upon permit issuance. ... The parking study occupancy rates shall determine the parking restrictions as follows: occupancy rates of eight-five (85) percent or more shall su...
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sacramento city rules.
Parking Rules in Sacramento County →