Monterey Park, CA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

Chapter 10.68 lets the city council designate a residential or business specified area as a permit parking district by resolution, but only after making three specific findings under § 10.68.150: that nonresident vehicles substantially and regularly interfere with the majority of available public street or alley parking used by adjacent residents, that the interference recurs at regular and significant daily or weekly intervals, and that there is a shortage of reasonably available and convenient residential parking in the area. Residents start the process under § 10.68.160(a) by petition, requiring signatures from residents in at least 66 percent of the dwelling units in the proposed district, verified by the director of public works, who then studies the area and reports findings to the council.

A qualifying district must cover at least one parking block, generally at least 750 feet long absent an intersecting street, though the council can approve a shorter block if smaller boundaries are shown necessary for public health and safety without unfairly displacing parking from nearby properties, under § 10.68.160(b). Before circulating a petition, residents must first notify everyone else affected and document that notice for the director of public works under § 10.68.160(c). Once a district exists, residents can obtain parking permits from the director of public works under § 10.68.190, plus up to fifteen free temporary guest permits per day, each good for no more than 24 hours. A district can later be dissolved through the same 66 percent petition threshold or by council resolution, under § 10.68.170.