San Jose, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Restricted hours
- 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM
- Where it applies
- Only zones posted with signs
- Who designates zones
- City traffic engineer, per studies
- Towing authority
- § 11.56.060, Veh. Code § 22561(n)
Summary
San Jose designates specific streets as no-overnight-parking zones where, once signs are posted, no one may stop, stand, or park a vehicle between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, under Municipal Code § 11.36.255.
A.No person shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle on or along those streets or highways, or portions thereof that have been designated as a no overnight parking zone between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.B.Signs shall be posted to provide notice of the prohibition under this Section.C.No overnight parking zones may be designated by the traffic engineer on the basis of traffic engineering studies which address the need for efficient use by the public of affected contiguous properties taking into account available parking facilities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
San Jose Municipal Code § 11.36.255 lets the city traffic engineer designate specific streets or portions of streets as no-overnight-parking zones based on traffic engineering studies of efficient public use of the affected properties. Once signs are posted, no one may stop, stand, or park a vehicle in that zone between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The restriction is zone-specific, not citywide, it only applies where signage has actually gone up. Under § 11.56.060, the City Council may separately authorize towing of vehicles left in a designated no-overnight-parking zone, citing California Vehicle Code § 22561(n).
Violations & Fines
Parking in a posted no-overnight-parking zone between 10 PM and 6 AM is a citable violation; under § 11.56.060 the City Council may authorize towing per Vehicle Code § 22561(n).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the overnight parking ban apply citywide in San Jose?
Can my car be towed for overnight parking in San Jose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
How San Jose compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Overnight Parking in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle overnight parking.