Fullerton Street Parking Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Fullerton Police Department Parking Services division enforces parking regulations on all public streets within the city. Under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k), which Fullerton actively enforces, no vehicle may remain parked in the same spot on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. This rule applies citywide on all public roadways, including residential streets, even where no time-limit signs are posted. Vehicles that exceed the 72-hour limit are subject to citation and may be towed at the owner's expense.

Fullerton's two major institutions of higher education — California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) with approximately 40,000 students and Fullerton College with approximately 23,000 students — create significant spillover parking demand on surrounding residential streets. Many neighborhoods adjacent to these campuses have posted time-limited parking, commonly 2-hour maximums during daytime hours, to prevent all-day student parking. Some blocks near CSUF have adopted preferential parking permit programs that restrict parking to permit holders during designated hours. Residents in these zones may apply for parking permits through the Fullerton Police Department.

The downtown Fullerton entertainment district along Harbor Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue attracts substantial nightlife and dining traffic, particularly on weekends. Metered and time-limited parking is enforced in the downtown core, with meters typically active during evening hours. Public parking structures downtown supplement on-street supply. Parking on the wrong side of the street (against the direction of traffic) is prohibited under state vehicle code provisions and is actively cited.

Street sweeping is conducted on a regular rotating schedule throughout Fullerton's residential neighborhoods. Posted signs indicate the specific days and time windows during which parking is prohibited for sweeping. Vehicles left on the street during posted sweeping hours are subject to citation. Red-painted curbs indicate fire lanes or no-stopping zones, and white curbs designate short-term passenger loading areas. For questions about parking regulations, permit programs, or to report abandoned vehicles, contact Fullerton Parking Services at (714) 738-6836.