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

38 of the Hawthorne Municipal Code, the city council may by resolution designate certain residential streets, or portions of them, as preferential parking zones for residents living adjacent to those streets. Vehicles displaying a valid permit are exempt from otherwise posted or marked parking prohibitions and restrictions, except restrictions imposed for street cleaning, which the permit does not override. To obtain a permit, a resident must apply to the city clerk and present proof of residence adjacent to the designated zone; no more than three permits may be issued per qualified dwelling unit.

The permit fee is set at ten dollars per permit. A permit stays valid only until the holder stops residing in a qualified dwelling unit tied to that permit, until the zone itself is eliminated by the city, or until the holder disposes of the vehicle listed on the permit, whichever happens first. Every permit is also subject to whatever conditions and restrictions apply to the specific zone, and those conditions can be altered or amended over time without invalidating the underlying permit program. Holding a permit does not excuse any other violation of the municipal code or state law; it only exempts the vehicle from the specific posted restriction tied to the zone.

The permit must be displayed prominently on or by the left lower corner of the rear window of the vehicle to be honored by enforcement.