Mountain View, CA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)
Key Facts
- Legal basis
- Cal. Veh. Code Sec. 22507
- Zone initiation
- Neighborhood petition or council motion
- Permit types
- Resident, guest, contractor, visitor (24-hr)
- Fee policy
- Set by resolution; non-prorated, nonrefundable
- Revocation appeal window
- 21 calendar days
- Misuse penalty
- Infraction plus 1-year revocation
Summary
Mountain View's Residential Parking Permit (RPP) program lets the city council designate neighborhood zones, under state Vehicle Code Sec. 22507, where only permit holders may park past posted time limits. Neighbors petition for a zone; the city council sets its boundaries and hours by resolution.
"Residential parking permit zone" or "RPP zone" shall mean a geographical area in which city council has established a preferential parking permit system pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22507.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 34 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. " A zone can be initiated two ways under Sec. 14: by neighborhood petition, or by city council motion directing staff to study it. Once neighborhood support is confirmed, Sec. 15 routes the request through the council transportation committee for input and recommendation before the council adopts a resolution fixing the zone's boundaries, name, and the hours and days nonpermit holders face restrictions. After adoption, the public works director posts signs showing the time limits, hours of application, and any exemptions (Sec.
16), and different zones may use different sign colors. Permits are issued by the city manager's designee under Sec. 19, with fees set by council resolution under Sec. 20 that are non-prorated and nonrefundable. The program issues resident, guest, contractor, and 24-hour visitor permits (Sec. 13). Emergency vehicles, disabled-placard vehicles, public utility and government vehicles on business, and delivery vehicles are exempt from RPP time limits (Sec. 22), but a valid permit never guarantees an open space and permit holders remain bound by all other state and local traffic rules.
Residents may later petition to annex a contiguous area into an existing zone (Sec. 17), and the council can modify or terminate a zone once it no longer meets the designation criteria (Sec. 18).
Violations & Fines
Parking in an RPP zone past a posted time limit or prohibition without a valid, displayed permit is an infraction under Sec. 19.99.21(a). Selling, copying, or misusing permits, or submitting false information to obtain one, is also an infraction and triggers a one-year permit revocation; a revocation may be appealed to the director in writing within 21 calendar days, and the director must respond within 21 calendar days with a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a preferential parking zone created in Mountain View?
What happens if I park in an RPP zone without a permit?
Can I lose my Mountain View parking permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mountain View
California rules heatmap·Compare Mountain View to another location·View the California parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Preferential Parking Districts in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle preferential parking districts.