San Clemente, CA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max time in one spot
- 72 consecutive hours
- No-parking buffer near crosswalk
- 20 feet
- Narrow street, no parking either side
- 20 feet wide or less
- One-way street rule
- No parking on left side
- Typical citation
- Infraction, $100 first offense
Summary
San Clemente's Chapter 10.28 sets baseline rules for stopping, standing and parking on City streets: a list of places where parking is always off-limits, a 72-hour cap on leaving a vehicle in the same spot, tighter limits on narrow streets, and a ban on parking against traffic on one-way streets.
No operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand, park or leave standing such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or other authorized officer, or traffic sign or signal: ... B ... In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one (1) direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of such one-way roadway unless signs are in place permitting such standing or parking.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Traffic: Supplement 30 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040 lists places where no one may stop, stand or park a vehicle, including within any divisional island, within 20 feet of an intersection crosswalk or a boulevard stop sign or signal in a business district, alongside railroad tracks in a way that blocks a train, in an area the Traffic Engineer marks with red curb paint or signs as hazardous, and on any street posted for construction, repair or utility work at least 24 hours in advance. 050 caps how long any vehicle can occupy a street or alley: no owner may leave a vehicle parked in the same spot for more than 72 consecutive hours.
100 tightens things further on narrow streets: no parking on either side where the roadway is 20 feet wide or less, and no parking on one side where it runs up to 30 feet. 190 addresses direction of travel on one-way streets: a vehicle may stop within 18 inches of the left curb only while facing the direction of travel, and on a divided one-way highway with two or more roadways, standing or parking on the left-hand side of a roadway is barred unless signs specifically permit it, meaning parking against the posted direction of a one-way street is not allowed. 010, typically as an infraction escalating from $100 to $200 to $500 for repeat violations within a year.
Violations & Fines
Violating the parking restrictions in Sections 10.28.040, 10.28.050, 10.28.100 or 10.28.190 is enforced under the Code's general penalty, Section 1.16.010, since Chapter 10.28 sets no fine of its own. Most citations are treated as infractions: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for each later offense of the same provision within a year; the City may instead charge a misdemeanor with up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I leave my car parked on the same San Clemente street?
Can I park facing the wrong way on a one-way street?
Is street parking limited near a stop sign or crosswalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Clemente
California rules heatmap·Compare San Clemente to another location·View the California parking rules overview
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle street parking limits.