Santa Clara County, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Limits available
- 2hr, 1hr, 30min, 15min
- Effective hours
- 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Excepted
- Sundays and holidays
- Required before enforcement
- 2 signs per block
Summary
In unincorporated Santa Clara County the Board of Supervisors can post 2-hour, 1-hour, 30-minute, or 15-minute parking limits in congested areas, generally enforced only between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sundays and holidays excepted.
Any or all of the following time limitations may be placed on motor vehicles parking in congested areas, holidays excepted:
(a)Two-hour parking.(b)One-hour parking.(c)Thirty-minute parking.(d)Fifteen-minute parking. Unless otherwise specified, the limitations set forth above shall be effective only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Sundays and holidays excepted).
(Ord. No. NS-1004.121, § 1, 11-3-80)
Sec. B12-107. - Parking prohibited authorized. Parking may be prohibited in any sections of congested areas when it is shown that such parking would be detrimental to the best use of the street, or where such prohibition is necessary in order to facilitate the proper movement of traffic or to prevent congestion.
(Ord. No. NS-1004.121, § 1, 11-3-80)
Sec. B12-108. - Angle parking authorized. Angle parking may be permitted in any section of a congested area.
(Ord. No. NS-1004.121, § 1, 11-3-80)
Sec. B12-109. - Marking for angle parking. Whenever the Board of Supervisors designates a street or portion thereof where angle parking is permitted, the street shall be marked to indicate the angle at which vehicles shall be parked; and signs may be erected indicating that angle parking is permitted on said street or portion thereof.
(Ord. No. NS-1004.121, § 1, 11-3-80)
Sec. B12-110. - Obedience to angle parking.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Sec. B12-106 lets the Board of Supervisors impose two-hour, one-hour, thirty-minute, or fifteen-minute parking limits on any congested area of unincorporated Santa Clara County, effective 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified, with Sundays and holidays excepted. Sec. B12-107 lets the Board prohibit parking outright in a congested-area section where it would hinder street use or traffic flow. Under Sec. B12-111 and related sections, at least two signs giving notice of the limit and its effective hours must be erected in each affected block before the restriction is enforceable.
Violations & Fines
Parking beyond the posted time limit, or in a posted no-parking congested-area section, violates the applicable obedience section (e.g., Sec. B12-112) and is enforceable only where the required signs have actually been erected in that block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there timed parking zones on unincorporated Santa Clara County streets?
How do I know if my street has a posted time limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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