Overnight Parking: El Cajon vs San Diego
How do overnight parking rules compare between El Cajon, CA and San Diego, CA?
El Cajon has fewer restrictions than San Diego.
El Cajon, CA
San Diego County
El Cajon restricts overnight street parking for commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM under ECMC 10.28.070. The city also enforces a 72-hour vehicle storage limit on public streets under ECMC 10.28.060. Overnight parking of RVs requires a valid city permit.
View full El Cajon rules →San Diego, CA
San Diego County
SDMC §86.0139 prohibits oversized and recreational vehicles from parking on public streets between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Oversized vehicles are defined as exceeding 27 feet in length AND 7 feet in height. Parking any such vehicle within 50 feet of an intersection is prohibited at any time. Residents may obtain a Temporary Overnight Recreational Vehicle Permit (TORVP) at $1.50 per 24-hour period, with a maximum of 72 permits per address per year.
View full San Diego rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | El Cajon | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial (10k+ lbs) | Max 1 hour 9 PM–6 AM | - |
| 72-Hour Rule | All vehicles on public streets | - |
| RV/Trailer Permit | Free — up to 52 per year | - |
| Code Reference | ECMC 10.28.060 and 10.28.070 | - |
| Abandoned Vehicles | Police Traffic — 619-441-1632 | - |
| Code Section | - | SDMC §86.0139 |
| Curfew | - | Oversized/RV vehicles prohibited 2 AM - 6 AM on streets |
| Size Threshold | - | Over 27 ft long AND 7 ft high |
| TORVP | - | $1.50/day; max 72 permits/year per address |
| Intersection Rule | - | No oversized vehicle within 50 ft of intersection |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
El Cajon FAQ
Can I park my car on the street overnight in El Cajon?
Personal vehicles may park on the street overnight but cannot remain in the same spot for more than 72 hours under ECMC 10.28.060.
Can I park my RV on the street overnight?
Yes, with a valid permit. The city issues free parking permits for RVs registered to El Cajon addresses, up to 52 permits per calendar year.
What about commercial trucks overnight?
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW may not park on any street or alley for more than one hour between 9 PM and 6 AM under ECMC 10.28.070.
San Diego FAQ
Can I park my RV on the street overnight?
Not between 2-6 AM without a TORVP permit. Permits cost $1.50/day and are limited to 72 per year per address. The RV must be parked on your block.
What about regular cars parked overnight?
Standard vehicles may park on public streets overnight unless posted otherwise. No vehicle may remain in one spot for more than 72 consecutive hours.
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