Chico, CA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 22507
- Permit limit
- 5 per single-unit parcel
- Guest pass limit
- 7 for multi-unit parcels
- Permit term
- 1-3 years, July-June cycle
Summary
Chico's city council can designate congested residential streets as preferential parking areas, restricting on-street parking during posted hours to permit holders, their guests with passes, and exempt vehicles like emergency and delivery vehicles.
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle on any street within an area designated by resolution of the city council as a preferential parking area on the days and during the hours when preferential parking restrictions are in effect, except: A. A vehicle registered to or controlled and exclusively used by a person residing or employed in the designated preferential parking area when such vehicle properly displays a valid preferential parking permit issued in the manner hereinafter provided by this chapter...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains local legislation current through: Codified Resolution No. 53-26, adopted 7-14-26 and Ordinance No. 2622, adopted 6-2-26).
Full Breakdown
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 10.30, adopted under California Vehicle Code § 22507, lets the city council designate residential or residential/professional streets as preferential parking areas when non-resident vehicles create congestion. Once designated, only vehicles displaying a valid preferential parking permit or a resident's guest pass may park on the restricted streets during posted hours; emergency vehicles, service providers, and vehicles with disabled placards are exempt. A single-unit parcel may hold up to five combined permits and guest passes; multi-unit parcels may hold up to seven, issued annually for terms up to three years.
Violations & Fines
Parking on a restricted street without a displayed permit or guest pass during posted hours is a citable parking violation enforced by Chico parking enforcement and police.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for a Chico preferential parking permit?
How many guest passes can a household get?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chico
California rules heatmap·Compare Chico to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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