Orange County, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Primary authority
- California Vehicle Code (enforced by OC Sheriff)
- Local restriction power
- CVC 22507 (signs/markings required)
- Daylighting rule
- No parking within 20 ft of crosswalk (AB 413, 2024)
- Curb colors
- Red/yellow/white/green per CVC 21458
- 72-hour limit
- Vehicle removable after 72 hrs (CVC 22651(k))
- Enforcing agency
- Orange County Sheriff's Department
Summary
On public streets in unincorporated Orange County, parking is primarily governed by the California Vehicle Code, enforced by the Orange County Sheriff. State law lets the county restrict parking by ordinance and now bars 'daylighting' parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk (AB 413). Curb-color rules under CVC 21458 also apply.
(b) If a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a highway in a position so as to obstruct the normal movement of traffic or in a condition so as to create a hazard to other traffic upon the highway.
(c) If a vehicle is found upon a highway or public land and a report has previously been made that the vehicle is stolen or a complaint has been filed and a warrant thereon is issued charging that the vehicle was embezzled.
(d) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway, and it is impractical to move the vehicle from in front of the driveway to another point on the highway.
(e) If a vehicle is illegally parked so as to prevent access by firefighting equipment to a fire hydrant, and it is impracticable to move the vehicle from in front of the fire h...
Full Breakdown
Orange County's property-maintenance code (Title 3, Division 13) regulates vehicles on private property, but on-street parking on public roads is controlled chiefly by the California Vehicle Code, enforced by the OC Sheriff's Department in the unincorporated areas. CVC 22507 authorizes local authorities, by ordinance or resolution, to prohibit or restrict the stopping, parking, or standing of vehicles on streets, including vehicles six feet or more in height within 100 feet of an intersection, but such restrictions generally do not apply until signs or markings giving adequate notice are posted.
Statewide, Assembly Bill 413 (effective January 2024) prohibits parking within 20 feet of the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or intersection - a rule known as 'daylighting' - which applies on county roads regardless of whether a curb is painted red. CVC 21458 defines curb colors used by local authorities: red means no stopping, standing, or parking; yellow is for loading; white is for passenger loading; green is time-limited parking set by local ordinance. Because rules vary block by block based on posted signs and curb paint, drivers in unincorporated communities should check for signage; absent a posted restriction, parking is allowed subject to the Vehicle Code (for example the 72-hour limit discussed under overnight parking).
Violations & Fines
Street-parking violations are enforced by the Orange County Sheriff's Department as Vehicle Code infractions, with fines set by the Superior Court's bail/penalty schedule rather than a county code. AB 413 daylighting violations (parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk) and posted no-parking zones under CVC 22507 are citable. A vehicle left on a street over 72 hours may also be cited and towed under CVC 22651(k).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Orange County have its own street-parking code for unincorporated areas?
Can I park within 20 feet of a crosswalk?
What does a curb color mean here?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange County
California rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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