San Diego County, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Most everyday parking restrictions on unincorporated County streets come from the California Vehicle Code as enforced by the San Diego County Sheriff, supplemented by County Code Title 7. The cornerstone County provision is Sec. 72.122, 'Use of Streets for Storage of Vehicles Prohibited.' Under subsection (a), no person who owns or controls a vehicle may park it on any street or alley for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours; a vehicle is deemed parked the full 72 hours unless it is moved at least five-tenths (0.5) of a mile from its original stopped location within that period. Under subsection (b), once the 72-hour limit is exceeded, the Sheriff or any member of the California Highway Patrol may remove the vehicle in the manner and subject to Vehicle Code Sec. 22651 and 22652. Separate County sections address related conduct: Sec. 72.123 limits parking for certain purposes such as displaying a vehicle for sale, Sec. 72.126 restricts heavy commercial vehicles in residential areas, and Sec. 72.135 authorizes curb markings (red and yellow) to indicate stopping and parking rules. Posted local restrictions, signed time limits, and Vehicle Code rules (such as parking within an intersection or blocking a driveway) also apply.