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Madera, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Time limit
120 consecutive hours (5 days) on any street/alley
Enforcement
Removal per state Vehicle Code, § 3-5.18(B)
Adopted
Ordinance 835 C.S., passed 5-21-08
Standard bail
$10 within 15 days, $20 after, § 3-5.07
Unpaid bail
DMV registration hold requested by city

Summary

Madera does not run a nightly parking curfew, but Municipal Code Section 3-5.18 makes it unlawful to park, leave standing, or store any vehicle on a city street or alley for more than 120 consecutive hours. A vehicle left past that limit is subject to removal under the state Vehicle Code.

It shall be unlawful to park, leave standing or store a vehicle, as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code, upon any street or alley of the city for any period exceeding 120 consecutive hours. ... Any vehicle parked contrary to the provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall be subject to removal in the manner provided by and subject to the requirements set forth in the Vehicle Code of the state.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-50: Current through Ordinance 1010 C.S., passed 6-5-24).

Full Breakdown

' Subsection (B) ties enforcement to state law, providing that any vehicle parked past the 120-hour mark 'shall be subject to removal in the manner provided by and subject to the requirements set forth in the Vehicle Code of the state,' letting the city have it towed rather than merely cited. 07 sets citation bail for ordinary parking violations at $10 if paid within 15 working days of issuance and $20 after that, escalating to a DMV registration hold if unpaid.

Violations & Fines

A vehicle left on a Madera street or alley past 120 consecutive hours is subject to towing under the state Vehicle Code's removal procedure, as Section 3-5.18(B) provides. Ordinary parking citations elsewhere in Chapter 5 carry bail of $10 if paid within 15 working days of issuance and $20 if paid later, per Section 3-5.07, and unpaid bail triggers a hold with the state DMV on the vehicle's registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Madera have an overnight parking ban?
No nightly curfew exists in the code. Instead, Section 3-5.18 bars leaving any vehicle parked, standing, or stored on a city street or alley for more than 120 consecutive hours, roughly five days, regardless of the time of day.
What happens if my car sits on a Madera street too long?
Once a vehicle passes 120 consecutive hours in one spot, Section 3-5.18(B) makes it subject to removal under the state Vehicle Code's towing procedure, not just a citation.
How much is a Madera parking ticket?
Section 3-5.07 sets bail at $10 if paid within 15 working days of the citation and $20 if paid later. If bail goes unpaid, the city asks the state DMV to hold the vehicle's registration until it's collected.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Madera

All Madera rules

How Madera compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Madera to another location·View the California parking rules overview

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