Parking Rules in Santa Monica, CA (2026)
7 verified parking rules for Santa Monica, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Trailers of any size and vehicles exceeding 8 feet wide, 8 feet tall, or 20 feet long are banned from all Santa Monica public streets and alleys between 9 PM and 6 AM unless the owner holds a City permit. This effectively prohibits overnight RV and boat-trailer street parking without authorization.
Parking: Rv Boat Parking
Significant RestrictionsSanta Monica Municipal Code § 3.12.860
§ 3.12.860. Overnight parking of trailers and large vehicles. Between the hours of nine p.m. and six a.m. on any public street or alley in the City no person shall park any hitched or unhitched trailer of any size, or any vehicle of which any part of the vehicle, together with all fixtures, accessories or property with the exception of single post radio antennas, measures more than eight feet i...
Driveway Rules
Any driveway crossing a public street, parkway, or sidewalk in Santa Monica requires written approval from the Superintendent of Streets, with maximum widths of 28% of lot frontage for residential uses and a 35-foot cap for commercial uses.
Parking: Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Monica Municipal Code § 7.04.180
§ 7.04.180. Driveways from public streets onto private property. No driveway shall cross a public street, parkway, or sidewalk without written approval of the Superintendent of Streets. The Parking and Traffic Engineer shall not approve a driveway or driveways to serve any lot zoned for multiple residential use under the provisions of Chapter 9.04, Article 9 of this Code, which would exceed in ...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Commercial vehicles that exceed 8 feet in width or 8 feet in height may not park on any residential district street or alley except when actively making commercial deliveries, in an emergency, or for loading and unloading. Smaller commercial vehicles face no special restriction.
Parking: Commercial Vehicles
Some RestrictionsSanta Monica Municipal Code § 3.12.870
§ 3.12.870. Height and width restrictions. No person shall park any commercial vehicle on a public street or alley in a residential district as established by Article 9 of this Code, except when actively engaged in commercial activities, in the event of an emergency, or for the purpose of loading and unloading, if any part of such commercial vehicle, together with fixtures or property thereon, ...
Street Parking Limits
Santa Monica has extensive preferential parking zones under SMMC Chapter 3.08 requiring resident permits. Metered parking and time-limited zones are enforced throughout the city.
Santa Monica Street Parking & Permit Zones
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 22651 (Street Parking Enforcement and Vehicle Removal)
22651. 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 ... under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left unattended upon a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or in a tube or tunnel where th...
Overnight Parking
On streets posted with overnight restrictions, no vehicle may remain parked for more than 30 minutes between 3 AM and 5 AM. City-wide, trailers and vehicles over 8 ft wide, 8 ft tall, or 20 ft long may not park on any public street between 9 PM and 6 AM without a City permit.
Parking: Overnight Parking
Some RestrictionsSanta Monica Municipal Code §§ 3.12.850, 3.12.860
§ 3.12.850. Early morning parking prohibited. No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle for a period longer than thirty minutes between the hours of three a.m. and five a.m. of any day on any street, alley or public place when posted in accordance with Section 3.12.840 of this Chapter. § 3.12.860. Overnight parking of trailers and large vehicles. Between the hours of nine p.m. and six ...
EV Charging
Santa Monica is a leader in EV infrastructure. CA AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums near major transit. CALGreen requires EV-ready wiring in new construction. The city offers streamlined permits for residential charger installation.
Santa Monica EV Charging Station Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1236 (2015) - Government Code Section 65850.7 (Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permits)
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 to install an electric vehicle charging station shall be limited to the building official's review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements...
Abandoned Vehicles
Under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) and Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 3.12, vehicles parked on public streets for 72 or more consecutive hours are considered abandoned and subject to citation and towing. Temporary No Parking signs require 24–72 hours advance posting.
Santa Monica Abandoned Vehicle Regulations
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 22651 (Removal of Abandoned and Repeatedly Cited Vehicles)
22651. A peace officer ... may remove a vehicle ... under the following circumstances: (f) If a vehicle, except highway maintenance or construction equipment, is stopped, parked, or left standing for more than four hours upon the right-of-way of a freeway that has full control of access and no crossings at grade, and the driver, if present, cannot move the vehicle under its own power. (i) (1) I...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Monica city rules.
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