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San Mateo County, CA Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Ordinance Code § 7.28.020
Authority
Director of Public Works
Red curb
No stopping/standing/parking, ever
Green curb
Time-limited, per posted period
Scope
Unincorporated area only

Summary

In unincorporated San Mateo County, the Director of Public Works assigns red, yellow, white, green and blue curb colors, each with a specific legal meaning drivers must follow.

City-specific rules exist: Redwood City has its own curb color rules rules that differ from San Mateo County's county-level regulations. If you live in Redwood City, check the city-specific page instead.

The Director of Public Works is authorized to place signs and/or curb markings to indicate parking regulations. Curb markings shall have the following meanings:

(a)Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time except as permitted by the Vehicle Code, and except that a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone.(b)Yellow means no stopping, standing or parking at any time for any purpose other than the loading of passengers or materials.(c)White means no stopping, standing or parking at any time for any purpose other than loading or unloading of passengers, or for the purpose of depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox.(d)Green means no stopping, standing or parking for longer than the period of time authorized by resolution of this Board. To facilitate use and maintenance of green zones, the Director of Public Works may cause the curb to be stenciled with the allowed period of time and/or erect signs indicating the allowed period of time.(e)Blue means no stopping, standing or parking by other than a vehicle displaying a disabled parking license plate or current disabled parking placard issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles. (Prior code § 3731.1; Ord. 850, 07/21/49; Ord. 3113, 06/16/87; Ord. 4268, 07/12/05)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).

Full Breakdown

County Ordinance Code § 7.28.020 authorizes the Director of Public Works to place curb markings on unincorporated roads. Red bars all stopping, standing or parking except by a bus in a marked bus zone; yellow is loading only; white is passenger/mail loading only; green limits parking to a posted time period; blue reserves the space for vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard or plate. This applies only in the unincorporated county, not the peninsula's incorporated cities.

Violations & Fines

Parking in violation of a posted curb color is a citable parking infraction enforced by the County; blue-zone misuse also risks separate disabled-placard penalties under the Vehicle Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a green curb mean in unincorporated San Mateo County?
Parking is limited to the time period posted or stenciled on the curb by the Director of Public Works under § 7.28.020.
Do these curb colors apply in Redwood City or San Mateo?
No. § 7.28.020 only governs unincorporated county roads; incorporated cities set their own curb-marking rules.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Mateo County

All San Mateo County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California parking rules overview

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