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El Dorado County, CA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
County Code Section 10.12.050
Time limit
One hour for loading/unloading, passengers or freight
Curb marking
Yellow curb paint
Passenger-only zone
15 minutes, white curb, Section 10.12.060
Established by
Board of Supervisors resolution
Penalty
Infraction under Vehicle Code Sections 42001, 42001.5

Summary

El Dorado County limits parking in a designated loading zone to loading or unloading passengers or freight for up to one hour, under Section 10.12.050 of the County Traffic Ordinance. The zones must first be established by Board of Supervisors resolution and are marked with yellow curb paint, distinguishing them from the shorter, passenger-only white-curb zones set up under Section 10.12.060.

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

Sec. 10.12.050. - Loading zones. It is unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight for periods not exceeding one hour in any loading zone as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Said zones are designated by yellow curb markings. (Prior Code, § 7636; Code 1997, § 10.12.050; Ord. No. 3165, § 14(part), 1981)

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 13 Update 4).

Full Breakdown

" The "whether occupied or not" language means a driver cannot avoid the one-hour cap simply by staying behind the wheel while freight is loaded. 060 creates a separate passenger loading zone, marked by white curb paint instead of yellow, that caps standing time at 15 minutes and covers only loading or unloading passengers from vehicles other than buses. 040 the County Road Department must place and maintain the curb markings before either restriction is enforceable. 080.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the one-hour limit in a freight loading zone, or the 15-minute limit in a white-curb passenger loading zone, is an infraction under Section 10.04.060, punishable in accordance with Vehicle Code Sections 42001 and 42001.5, since the parking chapter sets no separate fine schedule of its own. A vehicle parked in a zone for a purpose other than loading or unloading is treated the same way, and a zone additionally posted as a tow-away zone under Section 10.12.080 authorizes towing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I park in a yellow-curb loading zone in El Dorado County?
Up to one hour, and only while actually loading or unloading passengers or freight. Section 10.12.050 makes it unlawful to park or leave a vehicle standing in a designated loading zone, occupied or not, for any longer period or for any other purpose.
What's the difference between a loading zone and a passenger loading zone?
A yellow-curb loading zone under Section 10.12.050 allows up to one hour for passengers or freight. A white-curb passenger loading zone under Section 10.12.060 is shorter, capped at 15 minutes, and covers only passengers from non-bus vehicles, not freight.
What happens if I overstay a loading zone time limit?
It's an infraction under Section 10.04.060 of the County Traffic Ordinance, punishable under Vehicle Code Sections 42001 and 42001.5, and if the same curb is additionally posted as a tow-away zone under Section 10.12.080, the County can have the vehicle towed.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in El Dorado County

All El Dorado County rules

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