Huntington Beach Driveway Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Huntington Beach regulates vehicle parking on private residential property through its zoning code and building standards. All vehicle parking on residential lots must occur on an approved paved surface — concrete, asphalt, or permeable pavers that meet city standards. Parking on front lawns, bare dirt, gravel, or landscaped areas is a code violation and a common enforcement priority. The city limits driveway and paved areas in front yards to prevent the conversion of residential streetscapes into continuous parking lots.

Vehicles parked in driveways must be entirely within the property boundaries and may not overhang the public sidewalk. Blocking the sidewalk impedes pedestrian access, may violate ADA requirements, and is a violation of both the Huntington Beach Municipal Code and the California Vehicle Code. Driveways must maintain a minimum width and clear path to any required garage or parking spaces.

Inoperable, dismantled, or unregistered vehicles visible from the public right-of-way constitute a nuisance and code violation. Such vehicles must be stored inside an enclosed garage or behind a solid fence that completely screens them from public view. Tarp-covered vehicles in the front driveway generally do not satisfy the screening requirement.

Huntington Beach requires that garage spaces counted toward the minimum off-street parking requirement retain their vehicle-parking function. Converting a garage to a bedroom, office, or storage room without proper permits and provision of replacement parking on the lot is a zoning violation. The city's coastal zone overlay adds further restrictions in certain areas: properties within the California Coastal Zone may have additional requirements for parking and impervious surface limits. Contact Code Enforcement at (714) 375-5155 or the Community Development Department at (714) 536-5271 for property-specific requirements.