Hawthorne, CA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Loading zones in Hawthorne are established and regulated under the city's own municipal code (Chapter 10.44, Loading and Unloading Zones, and the curb-marking rules in Chapter 10.24). The chief of police, with the approval of the city manager, is authorized to determine loading zones and passenger-loading zones other than bus zones. Such zones must be indicated by the proper curb marking and have the words 'LOADING ONLY' or 'PASSENGER LOADING ONLY' stenciled in black letters on top of the curb, as applicable. In a passenger-loading zone, the permission to stop or park for loading or unloading passengers includes loading personal baggage but may not extend beyond the time necessary and in no event for more than three minutes; no person may stop, stand, or park in a passenger-loading zone for any other purpose. Curb colors reinforce these limits under Chapter 10.24: a yellow curb means no stopping for any purpose other than loading between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with passenger loading limited to three minutes and material loading to twenty minutes; a white curb means loading or unloading of passengers only, not exceeding three minutes, generally between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. (all times in front of a hotel, and during open hours for a theater). Commercial vehicles separately get only one hour to load or unload under 10.36.060.