10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated San Mateo County, oversized vehicles over six feet high and trailers of any size may be barred from designated residential and public streets under Ordinance Code Section 7.28.070. On residential lots, the Title 8 Development Code limits where vehicles may be parked, and a recreational vehicle may only serve as temporary living quarters during construction of a permanent home.
The County Title 8 Zoning and Development Code limits where on-lot vehicles may be parked: no required parking space is allowed within a required front yard except in narrow circumstances, and on-site parking must connect to the street by access driveways. For accessory dwelling units, up to three spaces may be in the front or side yard, but no more than 600 sq. ft. of the front yard may be used for parking.
Under County Ordinance Code Section 7.28.030, it is unlawful to park a commercial vehicle for more than one hour on any street in a residential zone of unincorporated San Mateo County, except while actually transacting lawful business there or when temporarily disabled. On private commercial sites, the Title 8 Development Code bars commercial-vehicle storage in required front-yard setbacks.
On unincorporated County roads, on-street parking is governed by the County Ordinance Code Title 7 (Vehicles and Traffic) and the California Vehicle Code. The County Department of Public Works installs curb-color and time-limit restrictions only after Board of Supervisors approval. Curb colors follow statewide meanings, and unposted streets default to the state 72-hour rule.
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no blanket overnight on-street parking ban. The County Ordinance Code instead targets oversized vehicles and trailers on designated streets (Section 7.28.070) and limits commercial vehicles in residential zones to one hour (Section 7.28.030). Otherwise, the state 72-hour rule and any posted local time limits control overnight parking.
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 insta...
For new construction in unincorporated San Mateo County, the County's local amendments to the California Building and Energy Codes require EV charging infrastructure. Adopted February 25, 2020 and effective for permits, the rules require commercial buildings (excluding office) to install Level 2 EV charging at 6% of parking spaces and Level 1 circuits at 5%. Residents apply for EV charger permits through County Planning and Building.
Cal. AB 1236 (2015) - Local Ordinances for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Existing law, the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open Access Act, prohibits the charging of a subscription fee on persons desiring to use an electric vehicle charging station, as defined, and prohibits a requirement for persons to obtain membership in any club, association, or organization as a condition of using the station, except as specified. The bill would require a city, county, or ci...
Under County Ordinance Code Chapter 7.60, it is unlawful and an infraction to abandon, park, store, or leave any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle on public or private property for more than ten days unless fully enclosed in a building. The County adopts this abatement authority under California Vehicle Code Section 22660, and Section 7.60.140 makes violation an infraction.
Cal. Vehicle Code Sec. 22651 (Authority to Remove Parked or Abandoned Vehicles)
22651. A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, 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 located within the territorial limits in which th...
Curb markings on unincorporated County roads are installed by the Department of Public Works and only after Board of Supervisors approval. Standard California curb colors apply: red means no parking, green means time-limited parking, yellow and white are loading zones, and blue is disabled parking. The County charges $80 plus $10 per foot for paint and/or signs; residents may not paint County curbs themselves.
On unincorporated County streets, yellow curbs are freight loading zones for active loading and unloading only (not for parking commercial-plated vehicles), and white curbs are passenger loading zones. On private development sites, the Title 8 Development Code requires off-street loading spaces sized at least 10 feet by 25 feet with 15 feet of vertical clearance for uses that receive or distribute merchandise.
County Ordinance Code Section 7.28.070 ("No Oversized Vehicle Parking") lets the Board of Supervisors bar oversized vehicles over six feet high from designated residential streets and trailers of any size from designated public streets in the unincorporated area. Exceptions cover loading, public-utility service, up to eight hours for emergency repairs or a tow, emergency vehicles, and wheelchair-accessible vans.
4 cities in San Mateo 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
8 verified rules • Abandoned Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Restrictions
4 verified rules • Commercial Vehicle Restrictions, Driveway Rules
4 verified rules • Commercial Vehicle Restrictions, Driveway Rules
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