Parking Rules in Sonoma County, CA (2026)
9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Sonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.10 bars any oversized vehicle, trailer, boat or RV from sitting on a county highway or county right-of-way longer than six consecutive hours. After six hours it must relocate and stay away for at least 72 hours. Violators face removal under the California Vehicle Code plus penalties under Sec. 18-3.6.
Sonoma County RV, Boat and Trailer Parking Rules
Significant RestrictionsSonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.10 (Parking of Oversized Vehicles and Trailers Prohibited)
(a) Prohibited Parking. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing on any county highway or county right-of-way any vehicle defined in this section for a period longer than six (6) consecutive hours at which point it must relocate for a period of at least seventy-two (72) hours. (b) Definition. Oversized vehicle(s) shall be defined for this section as any motor vehicle, boat or trailer, whic...
Driveway Rules
In unincorporated Sonoma County, residential parking and driveway standards come from Zoning Code Chapter 26, Article 86. A single-family dwelling requires one covered off-street parking space, parking areas must be paved, and any new or upgraded driveway connecting to a County road needs an encroachment permit from Permit Sonoma / Sonoma Public Infrastructure.
Sonoma County Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code sec. 13-31(a) (Fire Safe Standards); Pub. Res. Code sec. 4290; 14 CCR div. 1.5
No road or driveway shall have a maximum grade in excess of twenty percent (20%). No road or driveway shall have a maximum grade in excess of fifteen percent (15%), without the approval of the County Fire Chief. The County Fire Chief may approve an exception or mitigated practice for a road or driveway which include grades over fifteen percent (15%) and up to twenty percent (20%) for distances ...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Sonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.10 bars any oversized vehicle from stopping or standing on a county highway or county right-of-way longer than six consecutive hours. After six hours the vehicle must relocate for at least 72 hours. Oversized means 24 feet long, 90 inches high or 96 inches wide, and buses, trailers, boats and recreational vehicles are covered regardless of size.
Sonoma County Oversized Vehicle and Trailer Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.10 (Parking of oversized vehicles and trailers prohibited)
Prohibited Parking. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing on any county highway or county right-of-way any vehicle defined in this section for a period longer than six (6) consecutive hours at which point it must relocate for a period of at least seventy-two (72) hours. (b) Definition. Oversized vehicle(s) shall be defined for this section as any motor vehicle, boat or trailer, which me...
Street Parking Limits
Street parking on County roads in unincorporated Sonoma County is governed by Sonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article III. Parking is generally allowed except where signs or curb paint prohibit it, near intersections and traffic controls, within six feet of the road center, and where the Board of Supervisors has designated no-parking or time-limited zones by resolution.
Sonoma County Street Parking
Heavy RestrictionsSonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article III (Parking Regulations Generally)
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street, roadway or parking lot for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours.
Overnight Parking
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no blanket overnight parking ban on all County roads. Instead, Sonoma County Code Sec. 18-3.3 allows parking to be prohibited between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on designated road portions, and Sec. 18-3.5 lets the Board of Supervisors create posted 'No Overnight Parking' zones by resolution.
Sonoma County Overnight Parking
Heavy RestrictionsSonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article III (Parking Regulations Generally)
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street, roadway or parking lot for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two (72) hours.
EV Charging
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no dedicated County ordinance governing parking in EV charging spaces. The controlling rules come from California Vehicle Code Sec. 22511, which lets local authorities designate charging-only spaces and makes it unlawful to occupy a posted EV charging space unless the vehicle is connected for charging.
Sonoma County Electric Vehicle Charging Parking
Heavy RestrictionsPermit Sonoma BPC-062, Expedited Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (eff. 10/01/2017); see Gov. Code sec. 65850.7
This process provides an expedited and streamlined permitting process for qualifying EVCS systems. Once all of the documentation is correctly and fully completed and submitted, a permit will be processed and approved for issuance in a timely manner (usually 1 to 3 business days). ... a) The Building Department will conduct the plan review and inspection for EVCS installations. b) Planning Depar...
Abandoned Vehicles
Sonoma County Code Chapter 18, Article IV declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on private or public property in the unincorporated area a public nuisance subject to abatement, under authority of California Vehicle Code Sec. 22660. Permit Sonoma Code Enforcement administers a free junk-vehicle removal program. Vehicles on public roads are handled by CHP and the Sheriff.
Sonoma County Abandoned Vehicles
Light RestrictionsCalifornia 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
Curb Color Rules
On County roads in unincorporated Sonoma County, curb colors follow the statewide system in California Vehicle Code Sec. 21458 - red, yellow, white, green, and blue. Only the Public Works Director / Sonoma Public Infrastructure may apply official curb markings under County Code Sec. 18-3.2, and private address-number curb painting in the unincorporated area requires an encroachment permit.
Sonoma County Curb Painting Rules
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Vehicle Code sec. 21458
(a)(1) Red indicates no stopping, standing, or parking, whether the vehicle is attended or unattended, except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signposted as a bus loading zone. (2) Yellow indicates stopping only for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight for the time as may be specified by local ordinance. (3) White indicates stopping for either of the following pu...
Loading Zones
Unincorporated Sonoma County caps loading-zone parking at 20 minutes for freight, 5 minutes for passenger drop-off, and reserves bus zones for commercial or school buses, all in effect 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless signs say otherwise.
Sonoma County Loading Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 18-3.3(d)
(d)Loading zones, passenger loading zones, and bus loading zones may be established to regulate parking. Parking in said zones shall be subject to the following limitations:(1)Loading Zones: Standing or parking in loading zones shall be for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight only, shall not extend beyond the time necessary therefore, but unless otherwise specified for not...
Parking Rules by City in Sonoma County
2 cities in Sonoma County have their own parking rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sonoma County ordinances
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