Santa Ana Commercial Vehicle Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Santa Ana Municipal Code restricts the parking of commercial vehicles on public streets in residential zones and on private residential property. Santa Ana's residential neighborhoods are among the densest in Orange County, with narrow streets, limited on-street parking, and closely spaced homes. Large commercial vehicles parked in these areas create traffic obstructions, block sight lines at intersections, and impede emergency vehicle access. The city's parking restrictions address both safety and quality-of-life concerns for residential neighborhoods.

Oversized commercial vehicles — generally those exceeding 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), including box trucks, flatbed trucks, tractor-trailers, heavy construction equipment, and large work vehicles with mounted equipment — are prohibited from parking on residential streets overnight. During business hours, short-term parking directly associated with active loading, unloading, or delivery operations is permitted, but the vehicle must be removed promptly upon completion of the activity. Contractors performing work in Santa Ana's residential neighborhoods are expected to return their commercial vehicles to a commercial yard or non-residential location at the end of each workday.

On private residential property, commercial vehicles must comply with the same zoning setback and screening requirements that apply to RVs and other oversized vehicles. Commercial vehicles must be stored behind the front building line and screened from public view. Parking a commercial truck or large work vehicle in a front yard or visible driveway area violates the zoning code. Semi-trailers, detached cargo containers, and heavy equipment may not be stored on residential property at all, regardless of screening.

Temporary construction staging permits may be available through the Public Works Department for projects that require short-term placement of commercial vehicles or equipment on or near a residential street. Contact Parking Enforcement at (714) 245-8200 for parking questions or Code Enforcement at (714) 667-2780 for property storage issues.