San Rafael, CA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SRMC § 5.44.010
- Loading zone color
- Yellow, 'Loading Only' curb
- Passenger zone color
- White, 'Passenger Loading Only'
- Max curb reserved
- Half of block's total length
- Materials time limit
- 20 minutes (§ 5.44.030)
Summary
San Rafael's traffic engineer marks yellow loading zones and white passenger zones on business-district curbs, capping each block's reserved curb at half its length, under SRMC § 5.44.010.
The city traffic engineer is authorized to determine and to mark loading zones and passenger loading zones as follows: At any place in any business district... In no event shall more than one-half of the total curb length in any block be reserved for loading zone purposes. Loading zones shall be indicated by a yellow paint line stenciled with black letters, "Loading Only," upon the top of all curbs within such zones.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
The city traffic engineer designates loading zones at any spot in a business district, or in front of a place of business, hall or assembly space, and may never reserve more than half of a block's total curb length for loading purposes (SRMC § 5.44.010). Loading zones get a yellow curb stenciled 'Loading Only'; passenger zones get a white curb stenciled 'Passenger Loading Only.' The companion section § 5.44.020 sets yellow-zone hours, no non-loading stopping between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except Sundays and holidays, and § 5.44.030 limits material loading to 20 minutes and passenger loading to 3 minutes, restricted to commercial deliveries, mail and passenger drop-off.
Violations & Fines
Stopping, standing or parking in a marked loading or passenger zone beyond the permitted time, or for a non-loading purpose, is a citable parking violation enforced by San Rafael police/parking services under Title 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color curb marks a loading zone in San Rafael?
How long can a delivery truck use a San Rafael loading zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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