Monterey County, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

In the unincorporated areas of Monterey County, public on-street parking is primarily regulated by the California Vehicle Code rather than by a comprehensive county street-parking code. Under Vehicle Code Section 22507, local authorities 'may, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles' on streets under their jurisdiction, but, except in alleys, such restrictions do not take effect 'until signs or markings giving adequate notice thereof have been placed.' This means a posted sign or painted curb is required before a county parking restriction is enforceable. The baseline statewide limit is Vehicle Code Section 22651(k): a vehicle 'parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours' may be removed where authorized by local ordinance. Vehicle Code Section 22500 separately prohibits stopping or parking in front of a driveway, in crosswalks, and in marked loading zones countywide. The county's Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic) includes targeted parking chapters such as Chapter 12.40 (Parking at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas) and Chapter 12.72 (Abandoned Vehicles), but most everyday on-street parking enforcement on county roads falls to the Sheriff applying state law.