Glendale, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway blocking
- Banned by § 10.64.035
- State tow authority
- Cal. Veh. Code § 22651(b),(d)
- Wait period
- None; removal is immediate
- Left-side parking
- Allowed only on 3 named streets
- Max local fine
- $500 per violation
Summary
Blocking a driveway or leaving a vehicle where it obstructs traffic on a Glendale street is grounds for immediate towing under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(b) and (d), the same authority the city relies on for its local parking enforcement. Glendale Municipal Code Section 10.64.035 separately makes it unlawful to obstruct the ingress or egress of any parking lot, public street, roadway or alley.
A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (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. ... (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.
Full Breakdown
California Vehicle Code Section 22651 gives Glendale police officers and regularly employed parking enforcement staff authority to remove a vehicle from within city limits under a list of specific circumstances. Subdivision (b) covers a vehicle 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; subdivision (d) targets a vehicle illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway where moving it to another point on the highway is impractical.
035: the driver of a vehicle shall not stop, park or otherwise obstruct the ingress or egress to or from any parking lot and any public street, roadway or alley in the city. Together the state and local provisions mean a car left across a driveway apron, whether a private home's or a commercial lot's, can be cited and towed without the 72-hour wait that applies to ordinary overstays. 050 requires a commercial vehicle unloading at a curb to park with its right-hand wheels parallel to and within eighteen inches of the curb.
A vehicle parked facing the wrong direction, or stopped on the wrong side outside those three exempted streets, is out of position under the code's parking-manner rules even before any curb-color restriction applies.
Violations & Fines
Driveway-blocking and traffic-obstruction violations under Vehicle Code Section 22651(b) and (d) authorize immediate vehicle removal rather than a warning period, and towing and storage fees fall on the registered owner. Glendale charges an obstruction under Municipal Code Section 10.64.035 as an infraction subject to the Title 10 penalty schedule in Section 1.20.010(C), a fine set by council resolution and capped at $500 per violation, in addition to any towing charge assessed by the storage yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Glendale tow my car for blocking a driveway?
Do I have to wait 72 hours before the city tows a car blocking traffic?
Which streets in Glendale allow parking on the left side?
What's the fine for blocking a driveway in Glendale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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