10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in Orange County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Orange County, RVs, campers, trailers, and boats/watercraft may be stored on residential property only on a paved area outside the required building setback abutting a public street AND screened by a 6-foot opaque fence or wall, OR on a paved driveway connecting the garage/carport to the street. Storage on any unpaved surface is prohibited.
Orange County's Zoning Code Sec. 7-9-70.3 sets residential driveway standards: a single-family driveway must be paved at least 10 feet wide from the street/alley to the garage maneuvering area. Vehicles and RVs may be stored on a paved driveway connecting a garage/carport to the street, but driveways may only serve approved parking areas.
In unincorporated Orange County, Codified Ordinance Sec. 3-13-4(15) makes it unlawful to keep or store in any residential zone (or on residentially-developed property) construction or business equipment, commercial containers, buses, tow trucks, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, tractors, tractor-trailers, truck trailers, or any commercial vehicle over 25 feet long, 8 feet high, or 90 inches wide.
On public streets in unincorporated Orange County, parking is primarily governed by the California Vehicle Code, enforced by the Orange County Sheriff. State law lets the county restrict parking by ordinance and now bars 'daylighting' parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (AB 413). Curb-color rules under CVC 21458 also apply.
California Vehicle Code § 22651
(b) If a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway in a position so as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or in a condition so as to create a hazard to other traffic upon the highway. (c) If a vehicle is found upon a highway or public land and a report has previously been made that the vehicle is stolen or a complaint has been filed and a warrant thereon is issued charging that...
Unincorporated Orange County does not impose a blanket overnight on-street parking ban; on public streets the California Vehicle Code controls. A vehicle may not be left standing on a street for 72 or more consecutive hours, after which it can be cited and towed under CVC 22651(k). Posted local signs may add stricter overnight or time-limit rules.
California Vehicle Code § 22651
(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 inst...
In unincorporated Orange County, electric vehicle charging stations are addressed by Zoning Code Sec. 7-9-107, which requires that they be installed and operated in compliance with the applicable California Building Code(s) and be approved by the Building Official. New multifamily and nonresidential projects must also provide EV-ready parking under the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).
California AB 1236 (Chiu, 2015) — Local ordinances: electric vehicle charging stations (Gov. Code § 65850.7)
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 installation would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or...
In unincorporated Orange County, keeping any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle (or part) on private property is prohibited except as allowed by Table 3-13-6(c) of Codified Ordinance Sec. 3-13-4(11). On public streets, a vehicle left 72+ hours can be removed under CVC 22651(k), and the state abatement framework (CVC 22660) applies.
California Vehicle Code § 22651
(c) If a vehicle is found upon a highway or public land and a report has previously been made that the vehicle is stolen or a complaint has been filed and a warrant thereon is issued charging that the vehicle was embezzled. (d) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway, and it is impractical to move the vehicle from in front of the driveway to another p...
Curb colors in unincorporated Orange County follow California Vehicle Code 21458: red means no stopping, standing, or parking; yellow is for loading freight/passengers; white is for passenger loading; green is time-limited parking set by local ordinance. Only the local authority may paint or designate these curb markings - residents cannot paint curbs to reserve parking.
Orange County's Zoning Code Sec. 7-9-70.8 requires non-residential uses to provide off-street loading spaces, scaled by floor area - for example one loading space at 7,500-14,999 sq ft, rising to six spaces at 80,000-100,000 sq ft. On public streets, yellow and white painted curbs designate loading zones under California Vehicle Code 21458.
In unincorporated Orange County, any commercial vehicle over 25 feet long, 8 feet high, or 90 inches wide is barred from residential property under Codified Ordinance Sec. 3-13-4(15). On public streets, CVC 22507 lets the county restrict parking of vehicles six feet or more in height within 100 feet of an intersection, once signs are posted.
10 cities in Orange County have their own parking rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
8 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
7 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
8 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
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