Parking Rules in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
8 verified parking rules for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Santa Maria's 72-hour limit and Section 7-5.17 (Long Vehicles) restrict RV, boat, and trailer parking on streets, while Section 12-32.27 prohibits parking any vehicle in the front yard or street-side yard setback except on a paved driveway. Maximum 50% of front-yard area or frontage may be paved for parking.
RV, Boat & Trailer Parking on Streets & Yards
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 12-32.27 (Parking in front yard setback and/or street side yard setback); Section 7-5.17 (Long Vehicles)
No landowner, tenant, vehicle owner, vehicle operator or property manager shall park, or allow to be parked, any vehicle, as defined by the California Vehicle Code, in the front yard setback or corner side yard setback of a property with a residential use except on a driveway with paving, or upon another area with paving or behind a solid fence or wall a minimum of six (6) feet in height. No mo...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Santa Maria Section 7-5.18 prohibits any CVC-defined vehicle, including a bus, from parking in residential districts between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for more than 30 minutes. Section 7-5.04.1 bans parking any vehicle (including RVs) on a public street for more than 2 hours when offered for sale. California Vehicle Code Section 22507.5 authorizes the City to restrict commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs.
Trucks, Buses & Vehicles for Sale Restrictions
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 22507.5(a) (state authority for local commercial-vehicle parking restrictions)
Notwithstanding Section 22507, local authorities may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit or restrict the parking or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways, or portions thereof, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., and may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit or restrict the parking or standing, on any street, of commercial vehicles having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight...
Street Parking Limits
Santa Maria Municipal Code Title 7, Chapter 7-5 prohibits parking any vehicle in one location on any street, alley, or City-owned property (including City parks and parking structures) for more than 72 consecutive hours. Vehicles exceeding the limit may be impounded under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k).
72-Hour Street Parking Limit (Title 7)
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code, Title 7 (Traffic Regulations), Chapter 7-5 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) - 72-hour rule
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle in one location on any street or alley, or City owned property, including City parks and parking structures, within corporate limits of the City for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. For the purpose of this section "that location" means the area, to the extent that it is on a public street ...
Overnight Parking
Santa Maria has no city-wide overnight curfew on ordinary cars parked on residential streets. The 72-hour rule applies to all vehicles, and Section 7-5.18 imposes an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. ban on trucks, buses, and CVC-defined vehicles parked longer than 30 minutes in residential districts. Resident permits are available for posted permit zones.
No Blanket Overnight Ban; 72-Hour & Truck/Bus Curfew
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 7-5.18 (Trucks and Buses in Residential Districts)
It is unlawful for any person to stop, park or leave standing any vehicle as defined by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) including a bus, whether attended or unattended, on any street in any residential district, for a period of time longer than thirty (30) minutes or as reasonably necessary to accomplish the loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers, between the hours of eight (8:00) ...
EV Charging
Santa Maria uses an expedited, streamlined permit process for home and business electric vehicle charging stations under Municipal Code Chapter 9-56, matching state law AB 2136. The Building Official must adopt a compliance checklist and cannot make approval contingent on HOA sign-off.
Santa Maria EV Charging Station Expedited Permits
Light RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 9-56.030 (Permitting Process)
Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, the Building Official shall implement an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations, and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply with in order to be eligible for expedited review. The expedited, streamlined permitting process and checklist may refer to ...
Abandoned Vehicles
Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 5-1 declares any wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle stored in public view on private or public property a public nuisance. Police and code compliance officers can order it removed after a 10-day notice, and keeping one in violation is an infraction under Vehicle Code Section 22523(c).
Santa Maria Abandoned Vehicle Nuisance Law
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 5-1.03, 5-1.14
The City Council finds that the accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof on public or private property in public view... constitutes a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. ... it is unlawful for any person to park or leave, or permit the parking or leaving of any vehicle which is...
Curb Color Rules
Painting a house number on a Santa Maria curb takes the property owner's or occupant's prior written consent, and the contractor doing the work must be identified by name, address, phone and City business license number. Chapter 4-17 bars any unauthorized address sign on a street, curb, sidewalk or right-of-way and limits it to the curb abutting the property.
Santa Maria Curb Address Painting Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 4-17.1 (Chapter 4-17, Curb Painting)
It shall be unlawful for any person to paint, write, or otherwise inscribe on any street, curb, sidewalk or in any portion of the right-of-way, any address or sign which identifies the address of property without the prior written consent of the owner or occupant of the property which would be identified by such address or sign. The written consent shall state the name, street address, telephon...
Loading Zones
Santa Maria requires nonresidential buildings over 25,000 square feet to build dedicated off-street loading spaces, sized 12 feet wide and 30 feet long with 14 feet of overhead clearance. Larger developments need more bays, and multifamily complexes without adequate street or alley frontage must provide their own loading spaces too, sized and located as the Zoning Administrator approves.
Santa Maria Off-Street Loading Space Requirements
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 12-32.04
Section 12-32.04. Off-street loading requirements. Off-street loading requirements are as follows: (a) Multifamily Structures. Multifamily dwelling complexes which do not have adequate street or alley frontage shall provide off-street loading spaces having a minimum width of 12 feet and a minimum length of 30 feet exclusive of necessary ingress and egress. The number and location of such loadin...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Maria city rules.
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