Sonoma, CA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)
Key Facts
- Program administrator
- Sonoma Police Chief
- Authority
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 22507, cited in SMC § 10.48.260
- Eligible
- Adjacent residents, merchants, and their guests
- Permit scope
- Valid only on the street/segment named on the permit
- Exempt from
- SMC §§ 10.48.190 and 10.48.240 restrictions
- Current through
- Ordinance 13-2025 (Dec. 3, 2025)
Summary
The City of Sonoma runs a preferential parking permit program under Sonoma Municipal Code § 10.48.260, giving residents and merchants near designated streets priority parking. The police chief administers the program, issues permits street-by-street, and decides how many permits each block receives.
Pursuant to the authority granted under Section 22507 of the California Vehicle Code, a parking permit program is established which grants preferential parking privileges to residents and merchants adjacent to certain streets. Permits shall be issued and the program administered by the chief of police. Permits shall be for the benefit of adjacent residents and merchants and their guests and shall be effective only upon the street or street segment stated on the permit. The number of permits to be issued shall be determined by the chief of police. Permit holders shall be exempt from the restrictions of SMC 10.48.190 and 10.48.240.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025).
Full Breakdown
" A permit is not citywide: it is "effective only upon the street or street segment stated on the permit," so a permit issued for one block does not extend to a neighboring block. The chief of police also decides "the number of permits to be issued" for each qualifying street. 050 72-hour storage limit, still applies to permit holders. Current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.
Violations & Fines
The section does not set its own fine schedule; parking in a permit-restricted zone without a valid permit, where posted under a § 10.48.190 resolution, is enforced through the citywide general penalty in § 1.12.010, an infraction punishable by up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for a preferential parking permit in the City of Sonoma?
What law lets Sonoma create a resident parking permit zone?
Does a preferential parking permit exempt me from all city parking rules?
Is my Sonoma parking permit good anywhere in the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Preferential Parking Districts in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle preferential parking districts.