Humboldt County, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard overnight window
- 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Longest continuous overnight ban
- Patrick's Point Drive (~5.5 miles, both sides)
- Scenic Drive overnight ban
- Both sides PM 0.00-2.39 (HCC §431-96.6(a))
- Beach Road, Redway
- 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (HCC §431-12)
- 72-hour tow rule
- CVC §22651(k)
Summary
Humboldt County prohibits overnight parking (typically 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) on many specific county roads including all of Patrick's Point Drive, both sides of Scenic Drive, Hatchery Road, King Salmon Avenue, and segments of New Navy Base Road, Elk River Road, Herrick Avenue, Beach Road in Redway, Drydens Road, Jackson Ranch Road, and Vance Avenue.
431-86.Parking on Patrick's Point Drive.
(b) The parking of vehicles is hereby prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., daily, including Sundays and holidays, along both sides of Patrick's Point Drive (County Road No. 3N010) from Post Mile 0.00 to Post Mile 5.51 (P.K. 0.00 to P.K. 8.87). (Ord. 2146, § 1, 4/29/1997)
431-96.6.Parking on Scenic Drive.
(a) The parking of vehicles is hereby prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. daily, including Sundays and holidays, along both sides of Scenic Drive (County Road No. 4M310) from Post Mile 0.00 to Post Mile 2.39 (P.K. 0.00 to P.K. 3.85). (Ord. 1897, § 1, 4/24/1990; Ord. 2074, § 1, 5/23/1995; Ord. 2527, § 1, 2/24/2015)
431-23.5. Parking on Drydens Road. The parking of vehicles on Drydens Road (County Road No. 4Q110) is hereby prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. from Post Mile 0.393 to Post Mile 0.559 (P.K. 0.632 to P.K. 0.899).
431-61.0.4 Parking on Jackson Ranch Road. The parking of vehicles on Jackson Ranch Road (County Road No. 3L020) is hereby prohibited between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. from Post Mile 0.539 to Post Mile 0.563 (P.K. 0.867 to P.K. 0.906).
Full Breakdown
Humboldt County uses 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. as its standard overnight no-parking window on county roads where it has determined overnight parking causes a public nuisance, blocks emergency access, or attracts vehicle camping. The most expansive sections are HCC §431-86(b), which bans all overnight parking on Patrick's Point Drive (Post Mile 0.00 to 5.51, ~5.5 miles), and §431-96.6(a), which does the same on both sides of Scenic Drive (Post Mile 0.00 to 2.39). Other named overnight no-parking zones include: Beach Road in Redway 9 p.m.-6 a.m. (§431-12); Hatchery Road 10 p.m.-5 a.m. from the Blue Lake city limit to West End Road (§431-53(a)); King Salmon Avenue (§431-62); segments of Elk River Road (§431-24(a)) and Herrick Avenue (§431-56); River Access Road in Garberville (§431-40(j)); the Sprowel Creek Road overpass (§431-40(k)); newly added Drydens Road (§431-23.5, 10 p.m.-5 a.m., Ord.
2024) and Jackson Ranch Road (§431-61.0.4, 12 a.m.-5 a.m., Ord. 2024); and Vance Avenue (§431-108.1, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.). Multiple segments of New Navy Base Road also have a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. ban under §431-79(c). California Vehicle Code §22651(k) separately authorizes any peace officer to tow a vehicle parked on a highway for more than 72 hours.
Violations & Fines
Overnight parking violations are infractions under HCC §431-1(d): up to $100 first offense, $200 second within a year, $250 third within a year. Vehicles left more than 72 hours on any highway can be towed under CVC §22651(k).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sleep in my car overnight on a county road?
Why so many overnight bans on coastal roads?
Do these rules apply inside Eureka or Arcata?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Humboldt County
How Humboldt County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Humboldt County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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