Santa Maria, CA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

Unlike some California cities, Santa Maria does not impose a blanket 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. overnight ban on cars parked on residential streets. The primary overnight controls are: (1) the citywide 72-hour rule in Chapter 7-5; (2) Section 7-5.18 (Trucks and Buses in Residential Districts) which provides that it is unlawful for any person to stop, park or leave standing any vehicle as defined by the California Vehicle Code, including a bus, on any street in any residential district for a period of time longer than 30 minutes (or as reasonably necessary to load/unload merchandise or passengers) between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any day; (3) Section 7-5.19 (Early Morning Parking in Business Districts) restricting commercial-district overnight parking; and (4) posted permit-only or time-limited blocks under Section 7-5.14 (Limited Time Parking). A "residential district" for Section 7-5.18 means properties zoned RA, R-1, RSL-1, R-2, R-3, or RMH; or in residential use as defined by Section 12-2.123. Resident parking permits can be purchased at the City Finance Department at 206 East Cook Street (up to 5 permits per residence or business) for blocks subject to permit-only restrictions. Note that Section 7-5.18 is broad - it covers "any vehicle as defined by the California Vehicle Code" including buses, so even a passenger bus or RV used as a temporary dwelling between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on a residential street is restricted. Ordinary passenger cars parked at the curb in front of a residence are not restricted overnight unless the 30-minute rule's literal text is enforced (typical enforcement focus is RVs/trucks/buses).