Santa Cruz County, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Overnight car ban on streets
- No general ban (72-hour limit applies)
- Overnight RV/mobile home on streets
- Prohibited (SCCC 9.70.620)
- County lots / parks overnight
- Prohibited (SCCC 9.36.080)
- North Coast / posted beach streets
- No parking 10 p.m.-6 a.m. (SCCC 9.36.050)
- Some night zones
- Tow-away (SCCC 9.36.040)
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no blanket overnight ban on ordinary cars on residential streets, but SCCC 9.70.620 bans overnight RV/mobile-home street parking, SCCC 9.36.080 bans overnight parking in county lots, and several beach areas (SCCC 9.36.050) close to parking from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Except as specifically authorized by the Director of the Department of General Services, it is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle overnight or camp therein overnight in any off-street parking area owned or operated by or leased to the County of Santa Cruz for any County operation other than County parks. Except as specifically authorized by the Director of the Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services, it is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle in any County park parking area after the posted closing hours of the park.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
There is no countywide ordinance banning overnight street parking of a standard passenger car in unincorporated Santa Cruz County; instead the 72-hour limit of SCCC 9.70.610 governs how long any vehicle may sit. Overnight rules are targeted. SCCC 9.70.620 makes it unlawful to park a mobile home or recreational vehicle overnight on any highway, street, or alley except for emergencies (with the 24-hour own-residence and 72-hour permitted host-property exceptions). SCCC 9.36.080 makes it unlawful to park a vehicle overnight, or camp in it overnight, in any off-street parking area owned, operated by, or leased to the County for a County operation other than parks, and bars parking in any County park lot after posted closing hours. SCCC 9.36.050 restricts North Coast Beach parking areas and certain streets, such as Oceanview Drive and Hillview Way, where parking is barred between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. where signs so indicate. Some of those streets are designated tow-away zones under SCCC 9.36.040.
Violations & Fines
Overnight violations in county lots/parks and posted night zones are citable; parking violations carry a civil penalty under CVC 40200 et seq. (SCCC 9.36.100). Posted tow-away zones allow removal at the owner's cost (SCCC 9.36.040).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overnight parking banned on residential streets in unincorporated Santa Cruz County?
Can I sleep in my car overnight in a county parking lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
How Santa Cruz County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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