Fountain Valley, CA Parking Rules: Commercial & Oversized Vehicles (2026)

Fountain Valley Municipal Code § 10.44.250 sets a size-based ban on every city street in the City of Fountain Valley, not just residential ones. It covers any vehicle in excess of eighty-four inches width (excluding mirrors), in excess of twenty-two feet in length, or in excess of ten thousand pounds in weight. Any one of the three thresholds triggers the ban, so a pickup carrying a wide camper shell or a box truck over twenty-two feet is caught the same way as a tractor-trailer. Liability reaches beyond the driver: the registered owner and any other person having control of the vehicle are guilty of the offense if aware that the vehicle had been so parked and the person parking had express or implied permission to operate it.

Four exceptions are written into the section. Subsection (b) exempts a vehicle making a delivery or pick up of goods, wares, merchandise, supplies or materials, or moving items to or from a location, including when construction activities are occurring. Subsection (c) exempts public transportation passenger buses. Subsection (d) exempts emergency vehicles, including ambulance or similar medical transportation services. Subsection (e) exempts parking authorized by a permit under the chapter.

Trailers are handled separately. Under § 10.44.260 no person can stop, stand or park any trailer on a city street unless the police department has issued a permit in advance. The permit rules draw hard lines for commercial trailers: a commercial truck trailer permit can be issued when the person proves the parking serves a business in the city, but no permit issues for a commercial vehicle trailer to park during the hours of darkness on any street, and no permit issues for a commercial truck trailer on a residential street. On one named street, § 10.44.270 sets a tighter cap: no vehicle over eighteen feet in length or over eight feet in width on Lilac Avenue from Richardson Street to Harbor Boulevard, and a vehicle parked there can be removed.

Parking offenses in the City of Fountain Valley are handled through the civil citation system in Chapter 10.56, with fine amounts set by City Council resolution (§ 10.56.020). Appeals from traffic engineer or traffic committee decisions go to the City Council under § 10.68.010.