San Mateo, CA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

San Mateo County handles loading in two ways: at the curb on public streets and on-site for new development. At the curb, the County Department of Public Works follows standard California curb colors on unincorporated roads. A yellow curb marks a freight loading zone for active freight loading and unloading only within a reasonable time frame, and the County specifically notes these are not intended for parking vehicles with commercial license plates. A white curb marks a passenger loading zone for active passenger loading and unloading only within a reasonable time frame and is not intended for parking. Like other parking restrictions, loading-zone curbs are installed only after Board of Supervisors approval. For private development, the Title 8 Zoning and Development Code sets off-street loading standards: any use that requires the receipt or distribution of material or merchandise by vehicles or trucks must provide at least one permanent loading space for the first 5,000 square feet of floor area, plus one additional loading space for each additional 10,000 square feet, and each loading space must be at least 10 feet wide by 25 feet long with 15 feet of vertical clearance, exclusive of driveways, aisles, and maneuvering areas. Some district-specific standards in the Code apply a similar one-space requirement for new retail, hotel, or theater space over set floor-area thresholds.