Parking Rules in Sonoma, CA (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Sonoma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Driveway Rules
The City of Sonoma requires every driveway, parking area and other space built for vehicles to have a hard, all-weather surface, such as concrete, asphalt or pavers, for at least the first 20 feet behind the public sidewalk or driveway apron. Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.12.040(F) exists to keep dirt, mud and gravel from tracking onto public streets, and the city engineer can waive it only for tree protection or similar environmental reasons.
City of Sonoma Driveway Paving Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 19.12.040(F)
F. Hard Surface Behind Driveway Approach or Public Sidewalk. To help prevent dirt, mud, gravel and other debris from tracking onto public streets, all driveways, roads, roadways, parking areas and other areas designed for vehicular use shall be constructed with a hard, all-weather surface such as brick, concrete pavers, stone pavers, cement concrete, asphalt concrete or other similar hard surfa...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
In residential districts within the City of Sonoma, it is unlawful to park or stand a commercial vehicle rated 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or more under Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.56.051, unless it is actively delivering goods or permitted construction materials nearby. Personal-use RVs are excluded from the ban, and a violation is expressly an infraction.
Sonoma Commercial Vehicle Parking Ban
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.56.051
It is unlawful to park or stand on any street in a residential district any commercial vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, except commercial vehicles when actually in use to deliver or pick up goods, wares or merchandise from or to any building or structure in the vicinity, or when actually in use to deliver materials to be used in the bona fide...
Street Parking Limits
On a one-way street in the City of Sonoma, a vehicle must be stopped or parked within 18 inches of the left-hand curb and facing the direction of travel, per Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.200, unless posted signs say otherwise. A related rule, § 10.48.210, requires diagonal parking to sit entirely within a marked, signed space.
Sonoma One-Way Street Parking Direction
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.200
Subject to other and more restrictive limitations, a vehicle may be stopped or parked within 18 inches of the left-hand curb facing in the direction of traffic movement upon any one-way street unless signs are in place prohibiting such stopping or standing. ... The requirement of parallel parking imposed by this section shall not apply in the event any commercial vehicle is actually engaged in ...
Overnight Parking
The City of Sonoma does not ban overnight street parking outright; its old all-night parking prohibition was repealed in 2013. What remains in force is Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.050, which bars leaving any vehicle on a city street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours, day or night, after which police must remove it.
Sonoma 72-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.050
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours.
EV Charging
Every electric vehicle charging stall in a City of Sonoma parking facility must be clearly marked, under the striping standard at SMC 19.48.070(F). The underlying infrastructure requirements come from the state-adopted California Green Building Standards Code, which SMC 19.48.070(I) locally applies through Chapter 14.10.
City of Sonoma EV Charging Parking Rules
Light RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 19.48.070(F), (I)
F. Striping and Identification. Parking spaces shall be clearly outlined with four-inch-wide lines painted on the surface of the parking facility. Every stall designated to accommodate compact cars, motorcycles, handicap or electric vehicle charging shall be clearly marked as such. Parking spaces for the disabled shall be striped and marked according to the applicable state and federal standard...
Abandoned Vehicles
The City of Sonoma treats an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle left on private or public property, not including highways, as a public nuisance under Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.73.010, adopted under the authority of state Vehicle Code § 22660. The city abates and removes such vehicles through a formal notice-and-hearing process.
Sonoma Abandoned Vehicle Nuisance Rules
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.73.010
In addition and in accordance with the determination made and the authority granted by the state of California under Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the city council makes the following findings and declarations: ... the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or...
Curb Color Rules
In the City of Sonoma, only the city itself may paint curbs or street surfaces to mark parking and traffic restrictions. Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.20.090 bars anyone else from painting a curb, though residents may still paint address numbers on their own curb under separate city rules. Curb colors carry specific legal meaning set by the city traffic engineer and public works superintendent.
Sonoma Curb Painting Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.20.090
No person, unless authorized by this city, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided however, that this section shall not apply to the painting of address numbers on a curb subject to applicable city regulations.
Loading Zones
In the City of Sonoma, curb loading zones are marked with yellow paint and reserved for loading or unloading between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day except Sundays and holidays. Loading privileges are limited to commercial vehicles and cannot exceed one-half of a block's total curb length.
City of Sonoma Loading Zone Hours and Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code §§ 10.52.010, 10.52.020, 10.52.030
B. "Loading zone" means the space adjacent to a curb or other specifically designated area reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. ... ... D. In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes. E. Loading zones shall be indicated by yellow paint upon the top of all curbs ...
Preferential Parking Districts
The City of Sonoma runs a preferential parking permit program under Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.260, giving residents and merchants near designated streets priority parking. The police chief administers the program, issues permits street-by-street, and decides how many permits each block receives.
Sonoma Preferential Parking Permits
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.260
Pursuant to the authority granted under Section 22507 of the California Vehicle Code, a parking permit program is established which grants preferential parking privileges to residents and merchants adjacent to certain streets. Permits shall be issued and the program administered by the chief of police. Permits shall be for the benefit of adjacent residents and merchants and their guests and sha...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sonoma city rules.
Parking Rules in Sonoma County →