Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Mendocino County, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Encroachment permit required
MCC 15.20.030 (new driveway approach to County highway)
Issuing agency
County Road Department / Department of Transportation
Drainage
Culverts required where approach obstructs highway drainage
Insurance
Liability policy naming County as additional insured
Blocking a driveway
CVC § 22500(e) (state law)

Summary

Constructing a new driveway approach onto a County highway in unincorporated Mendocino County requires an encroachment permit from the County Road Department under Code Section 15.20.030. Blocking a driveway with a parked vehicle is governed by the California Vehicle Code.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Mendocino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person shall construct new road or driveway approaches to any County highway, install any culvert or pipe within the right of way of any County highway, or perform any other work within the right of way of any County highway, without first securing a permit for that purpose, from the Road Department of the County of Mendocino.

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 75).

Full Breakdown

030 governs work in the County highway right-of-way. No person may construct new road or driveway approaches to any County highway, install a culvert or pipe within the right-of-way, or perform other right-of-way work without first securing an encroachment permit from the County Road Department (now the Department of Transportation). Where a driveway approach would obstruct the normal drainage of a County highway, culverts or drain pipes must be installed under the approach, sized and located as the Road Department determines, at the applicant's expense and under Road Department supervision.

Applicants must carry liability insurance naming the County as additional insured. Penalties for violating the chapter mirror those in Chapter 6, Division 2 of the California Streets and Highways Code. The County Code does not set a separate ordinance on parking that blocks a private driveway; that conduct is controlled by the California Vehicle Code, which (under CVC Section 22500(e)) prohibits stopping, parking, or leaving a vehicle in front of a public or private driveway. For driveway dimensions and access standards on a parcel, the County's Road Standards and the Zoning Code apply.

Violations & Fines

Building a driveway approach or working in the County right-of-way without an encroachment permit violates MCC 15.20.030, with penalties under the Streets and Highways Code. Parking that blocks a driveway is enforced under California Vehicle Code Section 22500(e).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to build a new driveway onto a county road?
Yes. MCC 15.20.030 requires an encroachment permit from the County Road Department (Department of Transportation) before constructing a new road or driveway approach to any County highway or doing other work in the right-of-way. Drainage culverts may be required at your expense if the approach affects highway drainage.
Is it illegal to park in front of someone's driveway in unincorporated Mendocino County?
Yes, under state law. The County Code does not have its own driveway-blocking ordinance, but California Vehicle Code Section 22500(e) prohibits stopping or parking in front of a public or private driveway, and that rule is enforced countywide.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Mendocino County

All Mendocino County rules

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

Get notified when Driveway Rules in Mendocino County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.