Parking Rules in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Santa Clara homeowners may park one recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer in a residential front setback, but only on the owner's own property, on a paved or approved driveway, stored perpendicular to the curb, clear of the sidewalk, and at least three feet from side and rear property lines under City Code Section 18.38.100.
Santa Clara RV & Boat Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 18.38.100(B)(1) (Recreational Vehicle Parking in Residential Zones)
In residential zones, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers may be stored only on property on which the vehicle's owner resides. Storage is permitted outside a structure on a continuously paved, graveled, or approved alternative material driveway, provided all of the following conditions exist: a. The vehicle is stored perpendicularly to the front curb; b. No part of the vehicle extends ove...
Driveway Rules
Santa Clara's zoning code bars required parking from front and side-corner setbacks and requires any parking that is allowed there to sit on a continuously paved or all-weather surface. In the R1-6L, R1-8L and R2 zones, no more than 65 percent of the required front setback may be paved at all.
Santa Clara Front-Yard and Driveway Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA Zoning Code Title 18, § 18.10.040(A)(6)-(8)
6. Parking. Except as expressly allowed in this Chapter, required parking shall not be provided in the required front or side corner setbacks. 7. Parking Surface. Parking areas in the front setback shall be limited to a continuously paved or all-weather surfaces (i.e., concrete, asphalt, brick, pavers, stone, or gravel), which are directly accessible from the driveway approach. All-weather surf...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Santa Clara can close specific streets to commercial vehicles entirely: Section 10.05.780 of the City Code lets the City Manager designate a street off-limits, and once signs go up, driving a commercial vehicle contrary to those signs is unlawful. Trucks over three tons are separately confined to designated truck routes under Section 10.05.770, with exceptions for local pickups, deliveries and construction access.
Santa Clara Commercial Vehicle Street Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code §§ 10.05.780, 10.05.770
§ 10.05.780. Commercial vehicles prohibited on certain streets. (a) Whenever the City Manager or designee designates any street, or portion thereof, as a street on which the operation of commercial vehicles shall be prohibited, the traffic engineer shall place proper signs on such streets to give notice thereof. (b) When signs are in place, no person shall operate a commercial vehicle contrary ...
Street Parking Limits
Santa Clara limits continuous street parking to 72 hours under CVC 22651(k), posts time zones near downtown, and operates residential permit districts near SCU and Levi's Stadium.
Street Parking Rules in Santa Clara
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code § 22651(a)-(b)
A peace officer ... 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 officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left unattende...
Overnight Parking
Santa Clara has no citywide overnight parking ban but enforces CVC 22651(k) 72-hour limits and residential permit zones near SCU and Levi's Stadium.
Overnight Parking Rules in Santa Clara
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code § 22651(k)-(l)
(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
Santa Clara requires EV-ready wiring in new construction under CALGreen, and Silicon Valley Power offers rebates for residential Level 2 charger installations.
EV Charging Rules in Santa Clara
Some RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1236 (2015) — Gov. Code § 65850.7 (EV Charging Station Permit Streamlining)
AB 1236, Chiu. Local ordinances: electric vehicle charging stations. ... The bill would require a city, county, or city and county to approve an application for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, as defined, through the issuance of specified permits unless the city or county makes specified written findings based upon substantial evidence in the record that the proposed ins...
Abandoned Vehicles
Santa Clara treats an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle sitting on private or public property (not a highway) for more than three days as a public nuisance under Chapter 10.10 of the City Code. The City Manager can enter the property, order removal, and, after a ten-day notice and hearing process, tow the vehicle at the owner's expense; refusing to remove it is a misdemeanor.
Santa Clara Abandoned Vehicle Removal Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code §§ 10.10.010, 10.10.140, 10.10.070, 10.10.120, 10.10.150
§ 10.10.010. Purpose - Definitions. ...under Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances... 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 con...
Curb Color Rules
Only the City Council can authorize painting a Santa Clara street or curb surface: Section 10.05.250 of the City Code makes any unauthorized curb paint job unlawful, with a narrow carve-out for licensed curb-numbering. The color that appears on an authorized curb, red, yellow, white, green or blue, carries its own legally defined parking meaning under Section 10.05.680.
Santa Clara Unauthorized Curb Painting Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code §§ 10.05.250, 10.05.680
§ 10.05.250. Unauthorized painting of curbs. No person, unless authorized by the City Council, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, 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. ... § 10.05.680(a). The traffic engineer is hereb...
Loading Zones
Santa Clara paints loading zones yellow and passenger loading zones white on the curb, per Section 10.05.670 of the City Code. A yellow zone allows loading or unloading of passengers for up to three minutes or materials for up to twenty minutes, only between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on non-holiday weekdays and Saturdays, under Section 10.05.680.
Santa Clara Commercial Loading Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code §§ 10.05.670, 10.05.680, 10.05.690, 10.05.700
§ 10.05.670. Loading zones. (a) Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top of all curbs within such zones. (b) Passenger loading zones shall be indicated by white paint upon the top of all curbs in said zones. ... § 10.05.680(a)(2)-(3). Yellow shall mean no stopping, standing or parking at any time between 7:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M., of any day, except Sundays and holidays, for ...
Preferential Parking Districts
Santa Clara creates residential permit parking districts by City Council resolution under Municipal Code Section 10.40.020, using criteria the City Manager sets in written guidelines. Once a street inside the district is posted with signs, parking is barred during the posted days and hours unless the vehicle displays a valid permit, and the City issues five distinct permit types covering residents, nonresident owners, guests, employees and special uses.
Santa Clara Preferential Parking District Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 10.40.020 (Designation of residential permit parking areas)
Guidelines for Designation of Residential Permit Parking Areas. City Manager shall prepare guidelines for the designation of residential permit parking areas setting forth process and criteria. Those guidelines, and any revisions thereto, shall be effective upon approval by the City Manager. Resolution for Designation of Residential Permit Parking Area. Residential permit parking areas may be d...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Parking Rules in Santa Clara County →