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Gardena, CA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Districts
Five, numbered 1 through 5
District No. 4
No permit parking, any day
District No. 5
Restricted 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Guest permits per dwelling
Four
Guest permit lead time
14 days advance
Issuing authority
Chief of police
Signage required
Two signs per block face

Summary

Gardena's preferential parking program posts five numbered districts where street parking is restricted to permit holders during set hours, under Gardena Municipal Code §§ 10.28.280 through 10.28.310. The chief of police issues permits to residents of adjacent dwelling units and their guests, and parking without one during posted hours is unlawful.

It is the intent of special district regulations to protect the public health, welfare, and safety of persons residing in the areas described in Section 10.28.290 by limiting parking on the streets fronting their homes within certain hours to residents, thereby to eliminate the vehicular congestion occasioned by persons attending events at facilities located in close proximity to such areas and the presence of hundreds of transient persons who continually threaten the security, peace and quiet of such residential neighborhoods. ... Except by duly issued permit, parking is unlawful where posted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within the areas designated as follows: A. District No. 1. 1. No parking between the hours of seven-thirty a.m. and seven-thirty p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

Full Breakdown

The city created its preferential parking program to shield residential streets near event venues and business centers from the congestion and transient traffic those uses draw, per the intent language in § 10.28.280. Section 10.28.290 designates five numbered districts, each with its own restricted hours: District No. 1 bars non-permit parking 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekends; District No. 2 restricts hours to 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except weekends; District No. 3 mirrors District 1's weekday hours; District No.

4 bars non-permit parking every day of the week; and District No. 5 restricts parking nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The boundaries of each district are separately described by street segment in §§ 10.28.370 through 10.28.387. To get a permit, a resident applies in writing to the chief of police under § 10.28.300, and once the application and a council-set fee clear, § 10.28.310 entitles the household to one resident permit per registered vehicle, one permit for a non-occupant owner, four guest permits per dwelling, and temporary guest permits filed at least fourteen days ahead of need.

Permits are void once the vehicle is sold, the resident moves, or off-street parking makes the permit unnecessary, and the chief of police can revoke a permit for cause under § 10.28.330. Licensed physicians making a house call are exempt from the districts under § 10.28.350, and enforcement requires at least two signs posted on each block face per § 10.28.360.

Violations & Fines

Parking without a valid permit during a district's posted hours is enforced through the citywide infraction schedule in § 1.16.010 once signs are erected under § 10.28.360, running up to $100 for a first offense and $500 by a third within a year. Vehicles may also be towed under Vehicle Code § 22651 at the Gardena Police Department's direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guest parking permits can a Gardena resident get?
Section 10.28.310 grants four guest permits to each resident per adjacent dwelling unit, plus temporary permits filed with the chief of police at least fourteen days before they're needed, each subject to a limited duration printed on the permit itself.
What are the restricted hours in Gardena's District No. 4?
District No. 4 is the strictest of the five: § 10.28.290 bars non-permit parking every day of the week, Monday through Sunday, with no daily loosening the way Districts 1 through 3 allow during limited weekday or weekend windows.
Can a doctor park in a preferential district without a permit?
Yes. Section 10.28.350 exempts a licensed physician's vehicle from the district rules in §§ 10.28.280 through 10.28.380 while the physician is making a professional house call, regardless of posted hours or district signage.

Sources & Official References

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