Bakersfield, CA Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Red curb
- No stopping/standing/parking at any time
- Yellow curb
- Loading only, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. except Sunday
- White curb
- Passenger loading, 3-minute max
- Green curb
- Parking capped at 36 minutes
- Blue curb
- Disabled placard/plate parking only
Summary
Bakersfield's traffic authority marks curbs in five colors under Municipal Code Section 10.32.020, each with a specific legal meaning: red bans stopping outright, yellow and white restrict loading windows, green caps parking at 36 minutes, and blue reserves disabled parking.
1. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time; except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone, and police vehicles may stop in red zones marked or signed "Police Zone." 2. Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time between seven a.m. and six p.m. of any day except Sunday for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers or materials; provided, that the loading or unloading of passengers shall not consume more than three minutes nor the loading or unloading of materials more than twenty minutes... 3. White means no stopping, standing or parking for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers which shall not exceed three minutes... 4. Green means no standing or parking for longer than the time indicated by appropriate signs, curb markings or other devices, which time shall not exceed thirty-six minutes. 5. Blue means no stopping, standing or parking at any time except by a vehicle which displays a distinguishing license plate or placard issued to physically handicapped persons or disabled veterans pursuant to California Vehicle Code requirements.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
A sets out five curb-marking colors and their exact legal effect. any day except Sunday for anything other than loading or unloading, passenger loading capped at three minutes, materials loading capped at twenty minutes, except a zone marked "Taxis Only" is reserved for taxis at all times. window, except zones in front of hotels are restricted at all times and zones in front of theaters are restricted whenever the theater is open. except Sundays and holidays unless signage states a longer period. Blue reserves the space at all times for vehicles displaying a distinguishing disabled-person or disabled-veteran placard or plate under California Vehicle Code requirements.
Subsection B makes it unlawful to stop, stand or park contrary to any legible sign, curb marking or device once placed, and Subsection C treats each period beyond a posted time limit as a separate violation, though repeat over-limit parking within one continuous excess period counts as only one violation.
Violations & Fines
Section 10.32.020.C makes each excess time period a separate violation, but only one violation is charged per continuous over-limit period. Citations are enforced under the citywide general penalty in Section 1.40.010: up to $50 for a first infraction, up to $100 for a second within a year, up to $250 for further violations, or a misdemeanor charge carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in county jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I park at a green curb in Bakersfield?
Can a bus stop at a red curb in Bakersfield?
How long can I load passengers at a white curb?
Who can park at a blue curb in Bakersfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
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