San Diego County, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Overnight street ban
- None in unincorporated County
- Governing limit
- 72-hour rule, Sec. 72.122
- County property
- Marked spaces only, Sec. 73.107
- County lots authority
- Sec. 73.101 / Vehicle Code 21113
- Parks/facilities
- Posted operating hours apply
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County has no general overnight on-street parking ban. Overnight parking on a public street is allowed as long as the vehicle does not exceed the 72-hour storage limit in County Code Sec. 72.122. County-owned lots and parks are restricted to posted hours and marked spaces under Sec. 73.107.
711] ( Article 1 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. ) 22651. A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left unattended upon a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or in a tube or tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
Full Breakdown
Unlike the City of San Diego, the unincorporated County does not prohibit overnight street parking outright. A vehicle may legally remain on an unincorporated County street overnight; the controlling limit is County Code Sec. 5 mile. So overnight parking is fine unless it stretches past that 72-hour window or violates a posted restriction or the Vehicle Code. The County's separate oversized-vehicle approach also relies on this 72-hour rule rather than a nightly ban. Different rules apply on County property: under County Code Sec. 101 the Board of Supervisors permits parking on County land subject to Vehicle Code Sec.
21113 and Board resolutions, and Sec. 107 provides that no person may park or leave a vehicle on any County property except in areas marked for parking and in designated spaces, and not in driveways, entrances, exits, or aisles. County parks and facilities therefore enforce their own posted operating hours, and overnight stays in those lots are only allowed where expressly permitted.
Violations & Fines
Overnight street parking itself is not an offense, but a vehicle exceeding 72 hours is subject to removal under Sec. 72.122 and Vehicle Code Sec. 22651/22652. Parking outside marked spaces or after hours on County property violates Sec. 73.107 and can result in citation or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overnight parking allowed on the street in unincorporated San Diego County?
Can I park overnight in a County park or facility lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
How San Diego County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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