National City, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Section 7.20.140 of the National City Municipal Code governs where vehicles can sit on residential lots. Subsection A applies 'notwithstanding the provisions of Title 18,' so the Land Use Code (Title 18) cannot override it: it is unlawful to park, repair or store any vehicle within or upon any unpaved portion of any public or private property. The only carve-out is washing a vehicle on an unpaved portion of private property, provided that no liquids used in the washing drain onto a public street, with the exception of potable water.

Subsection C is the front-yard rule. Except in paved areas or driveways specifically designed for parking, it is unlawful to park any vehicle, including a recreational vehicle or boat trailer, within the front yard or the exterior side yard setbacks of private residential property, or on the parkway or landscape area of the public right-of-way. The exterior side yard language reaches the street-facing side of a corner lot. Subsection B adds that it is unlawful to repair, store or wash any vehicle on any paved or unpaved portion of public property, or to park a vehicle except in an area designated for parking.

Other sections in the On-Street Activities chapter back this up. Section 7.18.020 makes it unlawful to park or leave unattended a vehicle with any part overhanging a public sidewalk, a street parkway, or the space between the property line and the curb or edge of roadway. Section 7.18.030 bars any vehicle from being parked or left unattended within or upon a public street parkway. Section 7.18.130 prohibits operating a vehicle from a public way onto private property anywhere other than an approved driveway, and 'climbing' or 'jumping' concrete curbs or asphalt berms where there is no driveway is prohibited. The public works director or city engineer can allow temporary access over curbs during construction that includes driveway approaches, subject to protective devices and limits.

A vehicle parked in violation of § 7.20.140 is declared a public nuisance, subject to abatement and removal under Chapters 1.44 and 11.48. Citations wait until twenty-four hours after a notice of warning is placed on the vehicle or the property.