El Cerrito, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

El Cerrito's overnight street-parking rules are in the El Cerrito Municipal Code, Title 11 (Vehicles and Traffic), hosted on Municode. Headline provisions: (1) 72-hour rule — the Municipal Code prohibits leaving a car parked on the street for more than 72 consecutive hours; in the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of 72 consecutive hours, the police chief may remove the vehicle from the street under California Vehicle Code procedures; (2) Trailer/RV overnight ban — no person shall camp, leave, or park a trailer coach, motor home, utility trailer, boat trailer, or trailer used in carrying personal goods, for a period exceeding one hour between 2 AM and 6 AM upon any public street or alley; this rule does not apply where the trailer or RV is parked for the purpose of making bona fide emergency repairs that can be and are completed within no more than 12 consecutive hours; (3) Residential Parking Permit (RPP) — Chapter 11.68 (Permit-Parking Privileges) authorizes the Residential Parking Program created by Ordinance 82-1 in 1982. The RPP provides on-street parking for residents who live near the El Cerrito del Norte and El Cerrito Plaza BART stations and exempts permit-holders from posted 4-hour daytime time limits on RPP streets; visitor passes are also available; (4) Posted restrictions — block-specific signage controls street cleaning, snow events (rare in El Cerrito), and additional time-limit zones; (5) Commercial vehicle parking — commercial vehicles over a stated weight or with commercial plates are restricted in residential zones outside of active service calls. State law (Cal. Veh. Code §22507.5, §22651(k)) provides the towing authority. Contact El Cerrito Police Parking Enforcement for tickets and the Public Works Maintenance Division for permits.