Merced, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Street parking in the incorporated City of Merced is governed by a mix of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the city's own Municipal Code (Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, and Chapter 9.84 for recreational vehicles). The CVC supplies the baseline rules that apply on every city street, prohibiting stopping or parking in places such as in front of a public or private driveway (CVC 22500(e)), within crosswalks and intersections, and wherever signs or painted curbs restrict parking. The City of Merced's Parking Enforcement Unit, staffed by two Parking Enforcement Officers in the Police Department, is responsible for maintaining order in the parking of vehicles in the city and also handles abandoned and oversize vehicles in neighborhoods. Parking citations issued within Merced are handled by a contracted Citation Processing Center; moving violations are handled separately at the Merced County Superior Court Traffic Division. A driver who corrects the violation and has a police officer sign the back of the ticket within 21 days can have the citation reduced to $10.00. Drivers may appeal in writing or via a 'Request for Administrative Review' within 21 days of issuance; the penalty clock stops during review, and no appeals are accepted after the citation liens at 35 days from the date of issue.