San Rafael, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- San Rafael Municipal Code § 5.40.210
- Time limit
- 3 hours max, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Scope
- Any street within the city
- Violation class
- Infraction under § 5.12.020
- Maximum fine
- $500 under § 1.42.010
- Separate rule
- 72-hour tow trigger under § 5.12.090
Summary
San Rafael bars parking any vehicle on a city street for more than three hours between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Municipal Code § 5.40.210. The rule applies citywide, is a police-enforced infraction under § 5.12.020, and sits alongside a separate 72-hour tow rule and a full recreational-vehicle overnight parking ban.
5.40.210 - Overnight parking. No person shall park or cause or permit to be parked any motor vehicle or other vehicle for a greater period than three hours in or upon any street within the city between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the same day. (Ord. 958 § 1, 1969).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
of the same day. 145, which bars parking a recreational vehicle on a public street or right-of-way at all, day or night, unless the owner holds a temporary RV parking permit from the parking services manager. 090 a vehicle left on a street for 72 or more consecutive hours, or beyond a posted time limit, may be towed. 020 layer on top of the overnight limit in marked zones, since red, yellow, white, green and blue curbs each carry their own separate time restriction, so a single vehicle can violate more than one parking provision at once.
Violations & Fines
Overnight parking beyond three hours between 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. is an infraction under Section 5.12.020, because Chapter 5.40 is on the list of chapters the city classified as infractions, punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Section 1.42.010 rather than by a misdemeanor's jail exposure. A vehicle left on the street 72 consecutive hours or more may also be towed under Section 5.12.090, independent of the overnight citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on a San Rafael street overnight if I move my car every couple hours?
Is the three-hour overnight limit different from San Rafael's 72-hour rule?
Does the overnight parking limit apply to RVs too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Rafael
How San Rafael compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Rafael to another location·View the California parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.