Downey, CA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Municipal Code Section 3192 authorizes the City Traffic Engineer to establish passenger and freight loading zones at any location in a business district and in front of the entrance to any place of business, hall, or place of public assembly. Except where the Traffic Engineer permits otherwise, no more than 60 feet of a block's total curb length may be set aside for loading purposes. Passenger loading zones are marked by painting the curb face and top white and stenciling PASSENGER LOADING ONLY, while freight loading zones are painted yellow and stenciled FREIGHT LOADING ONLY; the Traffic Engineer decides whether supplemental signs are also needed.

Section 3118 defines a loading zone as curb space reserved by markings or signs for the exclusive use of vehicles loading or unloading passengers, freight, or handicapped passengers, or for buses loading passengers. The actual time limits come from Section 3194: loading or unloading materials is restricted to commercial vehicles delivering commercial goods, mail, or express and parcel packages, and cannot run longer than 20 minutes, while loading or unloading passengers and their personal baggage is capped at three minutes. daily except Sundays and holidays, with the three-minute passenger and 20-minute freight caps enforced within that window.