Merced County, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

There is no general, countywide ordinance in unincorporated Merced County that bans overnight parking on all county roads. Under Chapter 11.12 of the Merced County Code, on-street parking is unlawful only where the Road Commissioner has marked or posted NO PARKING (Section 11.12.010); the County relies on posted signage to establish location-specific restrictions rather than a blanket overnight prohibition. California likewise has no statewide overnight parking ban. Instead, California Vehicle Code Section 22651 authorizes peace officers in unincorporated county areas to remove vehicles parked in violation of a local ordinance where signs are posted giving notice. The most commonly used time-based authority is Vehicle Code Section 22651(k), which allows removal of a vehicle that has been parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours. Long-term storage of an inoperative or abandoned vehicle is separately addressed by Merced County Code Chapter 9.14 and Vehicle Code Section 22660. Drivers should always check for posted signs, as Merced County and the state regulate overnight parking through signage and the 72-hour rule rather than a universal overnight ban.