Modesto, CA Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

Section 3-2.1101(a) authorizes the Director of Public Works to place curb markings that signal parking and standing rules, and the code gives each color a fixed meaning. The current text also says the Director places the markings and, when required by the chapter, shall cause them to be placed, so some markings are a duty and not only a power. Red means no stopping, standing or parking at any time, subject to the California Vehicle Code, with one carve-out: a bus can stop in a red zone that is marked or signed as a bus zone.

Yellow bars stopping, standing and parking during the designated times of day for any purpose other than loading or unloading. Passenger loading cannot consume more than 3 minutes, and loading or unloading materials cannot exceed 20 minutes. White is narrower: it allows only loading or unloading of passengers, or depositing mail in an adjacent mailbox, for no more than 3 minutes, and the restriction runs at the times designated. Green limits standing or parking to 24 minutes, and the limit applies at all times unless the marking is specifically designated otherwise.

Blue bars stopping, standing and parking at any time, except for vehicles displaying a disabled person's or disabled veteran's license plate or placard issued under the California Vehicle Code. Subsection (b) puts the duty on the driver: once the Director has caused markings to be placed, no person can stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any legible curb marking in violation of the section. The word legible ties the offense to markings a driver can actually read. Section 3-2.1104 repeats the loading-zone limits, 3 minutes for passengers and 20 minutes for materials, whenever authorized signs or markings under § 3-2.1101 give notice, unless posted signs say otherwise.

Section 3-2.1103 separately lets the Director establish loading, bus loading, freight loading and passenger loading zones, effective with curb markings or appropriate signs. Section 3-2.1102 closes the loop: no person other than the Director of Public Works is authorized to cause any curb surface to be painted unless the City grants permission. The article was reenacted by Ord. No. 3716-C.S., effective March 12, 2020.