Parking Rules in San Francisco, CA (2026)
11 verified parking rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
San Francisco caps on-street parking of RVs, trailers, mobilehomes and vehicles over 22 feet long or 7 feet tall at two hours under Transportation Code Section 7.2.54.
SF Large Vehicle and RV Parking Limit
Significant RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code § 7.2.54 (Large Vehicle Parking Restrictions)
To Park a vehicle over twenty-two feet in length or seven feet in height, or camp trailers, fifth-wheel travel trailers, house cars, trailer coaches, mobilehomes, recreational vehicles, or semi-trailers as defined by the California Vehicle Code and Health and Safety Code, for more than two hours, except: ...
Driveway Rules
San Francisco lets homeowners park at most two operable vehicles in a residential driveway per lot, bans boats, trailers, RVs, mobile homes, and buses from driveways, and forbids overhang into the public right-of-way.
SF Driveway Parking Rules for Homes
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Planning Code § 152.3 (Permitted Off-Street Accessory Parking in Driveways)
Off-street accessory parking for Residential Uses shall be permitted in driveways... Operable vehicles may be parked within the confines of such driveways, subject to the following limitations: (1) Boats, trailers, recreational vehicles, mobile homes, and buses shall not be parked in the driveway; (2) No more than two vehicles may be parked in a driveway per Lot, regardless of the Lot size, num...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
San Francisco bars trucks and other commercial vehicles over 22 feet long or 7 feet tall from parking more than two hours in designated residential and public-use districts.
SF Commercial Vehicle Parking Time Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code Sec. 7.2.84 (Commercial Vehicle Parking in Certain Districts)
To Park any motor truck, truck tractor, road tractor, van, trailer, delivery wagon, or any vehicle used for commercial purposes over twenty-two feet in length or seven feet in height specified in Division II, Article 500, for a period in excess of two hours on any street designated in Division II Article 500, except while in the course of delivery or removal of goods, merchandise or other perso...
Street Parking Limits
San Francisco makes it a citable infraction to park a vehicle so it blocks a private driveway, with a narrow exception for the driveway's own owner or lessee.
Blocking a Driveway Is a Parking Infraction
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code Sec. 7.2.24 (Parking in Driveways)
To Park a vehicle in a manner that blocks a private driveway, except as authorized in Division II, Section 1004.
Overnight Parking
San Francisco enforces California Vehicle Code 22651(k) 72-hour parking limit citywide, plus local Residential Permit Parking in designated neighborhoods. No general overnight ban, but street-cleaning, commercial-vehicle, and oversized-vehicle rules apply, and vehicles longer than 22 feet or taller than 7 feet face overnight restrictions.
Overnight Parking Rules in San Francisco
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 22651(k)-(n)
(k) If a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance authorizing removal. (l) If a vehicle is illegally parked on a highway in violation of a local ordinance forbidding standing or parking and the use of a highway, or a portion thereof, is necessary for the cleaning, repair, or construction of the highway, or for the insta...
EV Charging
San Francisco Environment Code Chapter 22 and Building Code require EV-ready infrastructure in new construction. CA Civil Code 4745 protects condo EV-charger rights, and SF Planning Code allows curbside charging with SFMTA permits. Blocking an EV stall while not charging is a citable violation.
EV Charging Rules in San Francisco
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Government Code Sec. 65850.7 (AB 1236 — Streamlined Local Permitting for EV Charging Stations)
65850.7. (b) A city, county, or city and county shall administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit. Review of the application shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law... (c) A city,...
Abandoned Vehicles
San Francisco treats abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property as a public nuisance the Department of Public Health can abate and remove.
SF Declares Abandoned Vehicles a Nuisance
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code § 5.1
The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or vehicle parts on private property or on Public Property creates conditions tending to reduce property values, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create harborage fo...
Curb Color Rules
Only the SFMTA City Traffic Engineer may install color curb markings in San Francisco, including red no-parking zones capped at 20 continuous feet for safety, meter spacing, or driveway access.
San Francisco Curb Painting and Color Zones
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco Transportation Code § 201(a)(3)
Install color curb markings, including painting red zones not to exceed 20 (continuous) feet in length where needed to ensure public safety, proper Parking Meter spacing, or vehicular access to private or public driveways and Streets. (4) Design, install, operate, and maintain Traffic Control Devices as necessary to guide, warn, and control moving vehicular and pedestrian traffic. ...
Loading Zones
San Francisco yellow curb zones are reserved for loading and unloading passengers or freight, with non-commercial vehicles capped at three minutes.
SF Yellow Zone Loading Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code, Division II, Sec. 7.2.26 (Curb Parking – Yellow Zones)
To Park in a yellow zone indicated by yellow paint on the curb or signage, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight, during any time in which Parking is restricted or prohibited at that yellow zone. Non-commercial vehicles shall not be Parked in a yellow zone in excess of a period of three minutes, during which the operator must be in attendance, under any circumstan...
Preferential Parking Districts
San Francisco issues Residential Parking Permits letting resident vehicles park past posted time limits inside a designated Residential Parking Permit Area, but the permit does not guarantee a space.
Residential Parking Permits in San Francisco
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Transportation Code, Division II, Sec. 905(a)(1), (a)(3)
The Director of Transportation shall issue a Residential Parking Permit for use by a specified vehicle upon receipt of a written application from a qualifying property resident. No more than one Parking permit shall be issued to each vehicle for which application is made. (2) The Parking privileges of a Residential Parking Permit do not extend to any non-Electric Vehicle with a gross ve...
Towing & Impound Rights
San Francisco's Transportation Code sets no dollar tow charge on its face. Division II, Section 305 makes the SFMTA bill the owner, agent or renter under Vehicle Code Section 22850.5, cuts the administrative fee by $50 on a first tow, and creates a Low Income Tow Fee plus a one-time waiver for people certified as experiencing homelessness, while the actual amounts live in the SFMTA Fee and Fine Schedule adopted by board resolution and indexed every July 1.
SF Tow Fee Waivers and Release Rules
Significant RestrictionsTransportation Code, Division II, Sec. 305
(a) Fees. (1) The SFMTA shall charge the registered owner of a towed vehicle, or the registered owner’s agent claiming a towed vehicle, or the renter of a towed vehicle, to reimburse the City for its costs related to the removal, storage, sale, or release of vehicles towed from the public right-of-way, public property, or private property a fee as authorized under California Vehicle Code Sectio...