It is unlawful for any person to stop, park or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a Peace Officer or traffic-control signal device, in any of the following places; subject, however, to the exceptions mentioned in this section:
(a) 
In an intersection;
(b) 
In a crosswalk;
(c) 
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 20 feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the end of a safety zone;
(d) 
Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to the fire station;
(e) 
In front of a private or public driveway;
(f) 
On a sidewalk;
(g) 
At or along any curb within 15 feet of the entrance to any hospital;
(h) 
At or along any curb within 15 feet of the entrance to any police station;
(i) 
At or along the curb within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or within five feet of a fire hydrant fronting on a single-family residence where authorized and identified by the Fire Chief, except when such vehicle is attended by a licensed operator or chauffeur who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity;
(j) 
On any street other than as provided in Section 7-5.24;
(k) 
On any City street or right-of-way other than upon the public roadway where authorized;
(l) 
On any parking area or vehicular way within the area bounded by South Pine Street on the west, East and West Main Street on the north, South Miller Street on the east and East and West Cook Street on the south:
(1) 
between the hours of two (2:00) a.m. and five (5:00) a.m., except in an area specifically designated therefor with appropriate signs and markers; or
(2) 
in a manner prohibited by Section 7-5.24.
(m) 
In an area reserved for preferential permit parking privileges for residents, merchants and their guests, under terms set forth in the resolution of City Council designating the geographical area.
(n) 
On any street portion which has been temporarily closed for a celebration or local special event as authorized by Vehicle Code Section 21101(e), for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.
(Prior Code § 16-46(1)—(12); Ord. 88-21 § 2, eff. 12/15/88; Ord. 92-13, eff. 10/15/92; Ord. 2015-02, eff. 2/19/2015)
Any vehicle left parked or standing in an area wherein parking or standing have been prohibited by the provisions of Section 7-5.01 may be removed or caused to be removed by any officer of the City Police Department in accordance with the provisions of Sections 22651 and 22652 of the California Vehicle Code.
(Prior Code § 16-46)
(a) 
Regulation of Catering Vehicles on Public Property. In order to prevent traffic congestion and hazard, and protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is necessary to regulate vending from catering vehicles (as defined in this title), parked on any public street, City park, City parking lot, sidewalk, square or parkway in the City:
(1) 
Between the hours of six (6:00) p.m. and seven (7:00) a.m., it is unlawful for any person to sell, display or disperse, or permit or authorize the sale, display, or dispersal of any food, beverage or other product from a catering vehicle.
(2) 
It is unlawful for any person to sell, display or disperse, or permit or authorize the sale, display or dispersal of any food, beverage or other product from a catering vehicle within 500 feet of any public or private school.
(3) 
No catering vehicle may park for a period exceeding 30 minutes in one location. After each parking period, regardless of length, the vehicle shall be removed from that location and at least two hours shall pass before that or any other catering vehicle of (i.e., operating under permit(s) issued to) that business may return to that location.
(b) 
Regulation of Catering Vehicles on Private Property. It is unlawful to sell, display, disperse, or permit or authorize the sale, display or dispersal of any food, beverage or other product from a catering vehicle (as defined in this title), parked on private property, unless all of the following requirements are met:
(1) 
The seller has first obtained the written consent of the owners and tenants; and
(2) 
The parking period in one location does not exceed 70 minutes. After each parking period, regardless of length, the vehicle shall be removed from that location and at least two hours shall pass before that or any other catering vehicle of (i.e., operating under permit(s) issued to) that business may return to that location.
For purposes of this section, "one location" means the area described by one street address, or the area described by a circle with a radius of 300 feet, with its center being the catering vehicle at its parking place, whichever is greater.
Compliance with this section shall not excuse compliance with any and all other applicable provisions of this Code, including, but not limited to, laws relating to licensing, permits and zoning. Violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 94-2, eff. 3/3/94, renumbered 7-5.04; Ord. 96-14, eff. 10/17/96; Ord. 2008-01, eff. 3/20/08)
(a) 
In order to prevent traffic congestion, public safety hazards, and parking problems, and to protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is necessary to regulate vehicles which are parked within the City for the purpose of advertising or displaying the vehicle for sale.
(b) 
As used herein, the term "vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, "recreational vehicles" as defined in Section 12-2.122 of this Code.
(c) 
By authority of State law (see Streets & Highway Code Section 731), no vehicle shall be parked wholly or partly on State Highway 135 or State Highway 166 for the purpose of selling the vehicle. This State law shall prevail notwithstanding any other provision of this section.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle on a public street for more than two hours, or to permit any vehicle owned or controlled by such person to be so parked, when a purpose of such parking is to display, advertise, offer for sale, or sell the vehicle, unless one or more of the following exceptions apply:
(1) 
The vehicle is parked on the street frontage directly contiguous to the personal residence of the vehicle owner, as reflected on the registration records of the vehicle. This exception is limited to one vehicle per owner, and only applies to the personal residence of an individual owner; or,
(2) 
The vehicle is parked on the street frontage directly contiguous to the vehicle owner's principal place of employment. This exception does not apply where the employer is in the business of buying, selling or leasing vehicles.
If the parking location of a vehicle is moved from one non-exempt location to another non-exempt location, within a 500 foot radius, in less than two hours, time shall run consecutively from the initial parking of the vehicle in the first non-exempt location, and shall not be extended, enlarged, or interrupted by any time spent driving or moving the vehicle.
(e) 
In addition to the restrictions contained in subsection (d) above, the City Engineer may further restrict or prohibit the parking of vehicles for sale on public streets by posting the area as a "no parking of vehicles for sale" zone upon making the following findings:
(1) 
That the restrictions contained in subsection (d) above do not adequately prevent the traffic congestion, public safety hazards, and/or parking problems associated with the parking of vehicles for sale at the location in question; and,
(2) 
That the parking of vehicles at this location significantly interferes with the flow of traffic or with vehicular or pedestrian safety; and,
(3) 
That there are a reasonable amount of public streets in the City which are not designated as a "no parking of vehicles for sale" zone to provide vehicle owners with other locations to display their vehicles for sale under the conditions set forth in subsection (d).
(f) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle on private property not owned or legally possessed by such person or to permit any vehicle owned or controlled by such person to be so parked, when a purpose of such parking is to display, advertise, offer for sale, or sell the vehicle, unless the written consent of the owner, lessee or authorized representative of the property has first been obtained, as follows:
(1) 
The written consent shall specify the location where the vehicle may be parked, the date(s) on which the vehicle can be parked, and the license number of the vehicle; and
(2) 
The written consent shall be displayed in the vehicle so as to be visible from the outside of the vehicle, and shall be signed by the owner, lessee or authorized representative of the property. Regardless of the owner's consent, the parking of vehicles for sale on the property must be consistent with the local zoning ordinances and regulations governing the property.
(g) 
In addition to whatever other remedies may be available under this Code, vehicles parked on public streets in violation of this section may be removed from the public street by the Police Department pursuant to the procedures set forth in Vehicle Code Section 22651.9.
(h) 
For purposes of this section, a vehicle will be deemed parked for the purpose to display, advertise, offer for sale, or sell the vehicle when the parked vehicle displays a sign or other marking which indicates that the vehicle is for sale or lease.
(Ord. 98-2, eff. 05/07/98)
(a) 
No person shall stop a vehicle in an alley or in a designated loading zone for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of merchandise, provided that the loading or unloading of merchandise shall not extend beyond 20 minutes.
(b) 
No person shall stop a vehicle in a designated passenger loading zone for any purpose other than the loading or unloading of passengers, provided that the loading or unloading of such passengers shall not extend beyond five minutes.
(c) 
The City Council shall have the authority to locate and designate loading zones and passenger loading zones, and such zones shall be so indicated with signs or curb markings. If curb markings are used to indicate the zones, the color of the paint shall be as specified in the California Vehicle Code.
(Prior Code § 16-41; Ord. 97-15, eff. 01/01/98)
(a) 
No person shall cause a vehicle to stand, be parked, or use a street, or a portion thereof, which is needed for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street, or for the installation of underground utilities, when signs giving notice that such vehicle may be removed are erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the removal of the vehicle.
(b) 
In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street or alley in excess of the 24 hour notice, any member of the Police Department authorized by the Chief of Police may remove such vehicle from such street or alley in the manner and subject to the requirements of Sections 22850 to 22853 of the Vehicle Code.
(Prior Code § 16-41.1; Ord. 84-1076 § 1, eff. 8/2/84)
Parking space sufficiently large for one automobile shall be plainly marked with white paint on the curb surface in front of the entrance to each hotel and be stenciled with black letters "HOTEL GUESTS ONLY." No person shall park any automobile or other vehicle in such parking spaces for a period of time longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers and baggage, and in no event for a period of time more than 10 minutes; provided, that any hotel having a front entrance on two or more streets shall be entitled to a parking space on each of such streets.
(Prior Code § 16-42(a))
Parking space sufficiently large for two automobiles shall be plainly marked with white paint on the curb surface in front of all theaters and be stenciled with black letters "NO PARKING BETWEEN 2:15 P.M. and 5:00 P.M., and 7:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M."
(Prior Code § 16-42(b))
Parking space sufficiently large for 10 automobiles shall be plainly marked with white paint on the curb surface in front of the United States Post Office and by stencil with black letters in each parking space "FIVE-MINUTE PARKING ONLY."
(Prior Code § 16-42(c))
The City Council shall determine the location for taxi stands and bus loading zones, and the same when so determined shall be plainly marked with red paint on the curb surface and stenciled "TAXI ONLY" and "BUS LOADING ZONE ONLY" respectively.
(Prior Code § 16-42(d))
"No parking" signs, the make, size and height of which shall first have been approved by the City Engineer, may be maintained and used to indicate hotel, theater, taxi and bus loading zones; provided, that the use of any such sign, after its approval by the City Engineer, shall be at the sole risk and responsibility of the person making use of the same.
(Prior Code § 16-42(e))
Any vehicle left parked or left standing in violation of any of the provisions of Sections 7-5.01, 7-5.05 through 7-5.10, 7-5.14 and 7-5.16, or any other property of any description, whether a vehicle, animal or other obstruction, that is found existing, standing, parked, erected or lying in or on any part of any public street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, thoroughfare, parkway, park or other public place within the City in violation of and contrary to the rules, regulations and ordinances of the City that are in effect as of the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives or is thereafter in effect is a nuisance and may be removed and conveyed by or under the direction of a member of the Police Department or a duly constituted agent thereof to a place of impounding to be kept until redeemed or sold as provided in Sections 7-5.12 and 7-5.13.
(Prior Code § 16-43; Ord. 2012-14, eff. 10/4/12)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of the Police Department of the City immediately following the impounding of any vehicle or other property, where the ownership is ascertainable, to send through the mails to such owner a registered letter, stating that such vehicle or other property is impounded, giving the date and location of its keeping, together with the information that before the owner or person in charge of such vehicle or other property is permitted to remove the vehicle or other property from the custody of the Police Department, he shall furnish evidence of his identity and ownership and shall sign a receipt and pay a fee to cover the cost of removal, storage and redemption.
(b) 
Any vehicles or other property impounded as provided in this chapter shall be retained until all costs of impounding, giving notice and redemption have been paid.
(Prior Code § 16-44)
If the owner or person having custody of any impounded vehicle, or other property, fails or neglects to call and redeem it within five days from the date of giving notice as provided in Section 7-5.12, then the Chief of Police, or his designated agent, shall proceed to sell such vehicle or other property at public auction after giving notice of the time and place of such sale in the manner as required for the giving of notice of the sale of personal property under execution. He shall apply the proceeds of such sale to the payment of the costs and expenses of such sale and to the payment of the costs and expenses of impounding and storing of such vehicle or other property. The balance remaining of such proceeds shall be paid to the person who furnishes satisfactory evidence of his identity and ownership in such vehicle or other property, as his interest appears.
(Prior Code § 16-45)
(a) 
The City Council shall have the power, by resolution, to locate and designate certain areas where parking is limited or prohibited during certain hours.
(b) 
It is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle in an area so located during the days and hours indicated for a period of time longer than specified.
(c) 
The areas subject to limited parking shall be indicated with signs or curb markings.
(Ord. 99-07, eff. 3/2/99)
(a) 
The City Council shall have the power by resolution to locate and designate certain areas within the City as "NO STOPPING ANY TIME," or to restrict the hours within which stopping is prohibited. The areas shall be signposted or painted with red paint on the curb surface.
(b) 
It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park any vehicle in any space so located, designated or painted. This section shall not prevent a bus from stopping, standing or parking in a red zone marked or signposted as a bus loading zone.
(Prior Code § 16-47(c); Ord. 2001-01, eff. 3/8/01; Ord. 2017-10 § 11, eff. 8/31/17)
(a) 
The City Council, by order duly entered in the minutes of a regular or adjourned regular meeting thereof, shall designate the particular streets or highways or portions thereof upon which parking by vehicles whose overall length exceeds 22 feet is prohibited and shall cause signs to be erected on such streets or highways or portions thereof at a distance of not more than 165 feet apart. Such signs shall be clear and legible and state in substance as follows: "Parking By Vehicles Exceeding 22 feet in Length Prohibited By Order of the City Council."
(b) 
It is unlawful for an operator of a vehicle to park any vehicle whose overall length exceeds 22 feet upon any street or highway or portion thereof so designated and upon which signs have been so erected.
(Prior Code § 16-48)
It is unlawful for any person to stop, park or leave standing any vehicle as defined by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) including a bus as defined by CVC Section 233, subdivision a & b, whether attended or unattended, on any street in any residential district, for a period of time longer than 30 minutes or as reasonably necessary to accomplish the loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers on, or from, such vehicle and while anything connected with such loading or unloading is being executed, between the hours of eight (8:00) p.m. and six (6:00) a.m. of any day. As used in this section, "residential district" shall mean those properties zoned RA, R-1, RSL-1, R-2, R-3, or RMH; or in residential use as defined by Section 12-2.123 of this Code. This section shall not apply to the following vehicles:
(a) 
Trailers not requiring special identification plates;
(b) 
Utility trailers;
(c) 
Semi-trailer not requiring weight fee;
(d) 
Trailer coach;
(e) 
House car (camper, motor home);
(f) 
Motorcycles;
(g) 
Motor-driven cycle;
(h) 
Passenger vehicle;
(i) 
"Van" registered with automobile plates;
(j) 
Motor truck of 6,000 pounds or under, gross vehicle weight.
(Prior Code § 16-49; Ord. 94-10, eff. 6/2/94; Ord. 2001-01, eff. 3/8/01)
(a) 
All of the streets and highways in the City existing as of the effective date of the ordinance from which this section derives or created or dedicated thereafter are "boulevards" for the purpose of this section.
(b) 
The City Council shall by order entered in the minutes designate the places where vehicles shall stop before crossing the intersecting streets or boulevards.
(c) 
The City Engineer is authorized and required to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained in the street at the designated places appropriate signs, devices or marks to bear the word "SLOW" or "STOP" or the words "BOULEVARD STOP" in such places with letters thereon of a size to be legible from a distance of 50 feet along the street intersecting the boulevard.
(d) 
Every operator of a vehicle traversing any street intersecting any boulevard shall stop such vehicle at the place where such street meets the nearest property line of the boulevard before entering such boulevard; provided, that the property line is clearly marked or sign posted as required in this section.
(Prior Code § 16-51)
(a) 
Definitions.
"Mobile Billboard"
means an advertising display that is attached to a mobile, nonmotorized vehicle, device, or bicycle, that carries, pulls, or transports a sign or billboard, and is for the primary purpose of advertising.
"Improper Advertisement Signs"
shall mean any advertising signs not Permanently Affixed to a motor vehicle or any advertising signs placed entirely over the windows of a motor vehicle or that exceed the length, width or height of the vehicle as such signs pose a safety risk to vehicular traffic and to pedestrians.
"Permanently Affixed"
means:
(1) 
Painted directly on the body of a motor vehicle;
(2) 
Applied as a decal on the body of a motor vehicle;
(3) 
Placed in a location on the body of a motor vehicle that was specifically designed by a vehicle manufacturer as defined in Section 672 of the California Vehicle Code and licensed pursuant to Section 11701 of the California Vehicle Code, in compliance with both state and federal law or guidelines, for the express purpose of containing an advertising sign; or
(4) 
If a license plate frame is installed in compliance with Section 5201 of the California Vehicle Code, paper advertisements issued by a dealer contained within that license plate frame or any advertisements on that license plate frame.
(b) 
Unlawfulness. It shall be unlawful for any person to park a Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs on any public street or public lands in the City of Santa Maria.
(c) 
Removal of Mobile Billboards and Vehicles with Improper Advertisement Signs Authorized. Pursuant to Section 22651, subdivisions (v) and (w) of the California Vehicle Code and sections amendatory or supplementary thereto, any peace officer, or any regularly employed and salaried employee of the City, who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations in areas where the Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs is located may remove the Mobile Billboard or the vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs located within the territorial limits of the City when the Mobile Billboard or the vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs is found upon any public street or any public lands, if all of the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) 
When a Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs and is parked or left standing in violation of this Code, if the registered owner of the Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs was previously issued a warning citation for the same offense;
(2) 
A warning citation was issued at least twenty-four hours prior to the removal of the Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs; and
(3) 
The previously issued warning citation advised the registered owner of the Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs that he or she may be subject to penalties upon a subsequent violation of this chapter that may include the removal of the Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs.
(d) 
Post-Storage Impound Hearing.
(1) 
Section 22852 of the California Vehicle Code applies to this Section of the Code with respect to the removal of any Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs.
(2) 
Section 22852 of the California Vehicle Code is incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein.
(3) 
Section 22852 of the California Vehicle Code provides, in summary, that whenever an authorized member of a public agency directs the storage of a Mobile Billboard or a vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs, the City shall direct the storage operator to provide the Mobile Billboard's or the vehicle with Improper Advertisement Signs' registered and legal owner(s) of record, or their agent(s), with the opportunity for a post-storage hearing to determine the validity of the storage.
(4) 
Notice of the storage shall be mailed or personally delivered to the registered and legal owner(s) within 48 hours, excluding weekends, as specifically provided for under Section 22852 of the California Vehicle Code.
(5) 
To receive a post-storage hearing, the owner(s) of record, or their agent(s), must request a hearing in person, in writing, or by telephone within 10 days of the date appearing on the notice.
(6) 
The City may authorize its own officer or employee to conduct the hearing as long as the hearing officer is not the same person who directed the storage of the vehicle.
(e) 
Violations and Penalties. Violations of this Chapter may be prosecuted under any Chapter of Title 1 of this Code as either a misdemeanor or an infraction.
(Ord. 2020-06 § 1, eff. 7/2/20)
(a) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle, as such term is defined in Section 7-1.01, shall park such vehicle in one location on any street or alley, or City owned property, including City parks and parking structures, within corporate limits of the City for more than a consecutive period of 72 hours. If any vehicle is parked in one location for a period of 72 consecutive hours, the vehicle shall be removed from that location, and at least 72 hours shall pass before that vehicle may return to that location.
For the purpose of this section "that location" means the area, to the extent that it is on a public street or alley, described by a circle with a radius of 75 feet, with its center being a chalk marking placed on a tire of the vehicle by an authorized representative of the City.
(b) 
In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon any street or alley in excess of a consecutive period of 72 hours, any member of the Police Department authorized by the Chief of Police or any City Ranger authorized by the Director of Recreation and Parks may remove such vehicle from such street or alley or City-owned property in the manner and subject to the requirements of Sections 22850 to 22853 of the Vehicle Code.
(c) 
Any person violating any of the terms of this section is guilty of an infraction and is punishable as provided in Chapter 1-6 of this Code.
(Prior Code § 16-37; Ord. 2016-05 § 17, eff. 3/2/16; Ord. 2019-01 § 26, eff. 3/21/19)
(a) 
No person shall park a vehicle in a private driveway or on private property without the direct or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such driveway or property.
(b) 
Posting of any signs prohibiting parking in a private driveway or on private property shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or person in lawful possession of such property.
(Prior Code § 16-37.1)
(a) 
The operator of a vehicle shall not stop, stand or park such vehicle in a roadway within the City other than parallel with the curb and with the two right-hand wheels of the vehicle within 18 inches of the regularly established curblines. Provided, however, that on those roadways marked or posted for angle (45 or 90 degree) parking, as provided in this section, the operator of a vehicle shall stop, stand or park the vehicle only in the manner posted or indicated by curblines or wheelstops and/or painted markings, with the right front portion of the vehicle's bumper within 18 inches of the curbline, wheelstop or painted marking serving as a curbline or wheelstop.
(b) 
The City Council, by order duly entered in the minutes of a regular meeting or adjourned regular meeting of the Council, shall determine the streets and highways, or portions thereof, on which vehicles shall be angle-parked and shall cause lines to be painted on the surface of the roadway thereof indicating the streets or highways or portions thereof on which all vehicles shall be so parked.
(c) 
It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park it on any street or highway so marked for angle parking or for parallel parking as provided in this section except within the limits of a single space so specified, indicated and set apart for the parking of a single vehicle.
(d) 
It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to park it on any publicly owned parking lot except within the limits of a single space which is marked for the parking of a single vehicle, and with the right front portion of the vehicle's bumper within eighteen inches of the curbline, wheelstop, or painted marking serving as a curbline or wheelstop.
(Prior Code § 16-38; Ord. 89-7 § 1, eff. 4/6/89; Ord. 2015-02, eff. 2/19/2015)
(a) 
No person shall repair, or make any repairs, or add or install any part or accessory to or on any vehicle while the vehicle is upon any public street or alley.
(b) 
The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the driver of any vehicle, which is disabled while upon any public street or alley to such extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping, from making or causing to be made the repairs necessary to enable such vehicle to be moved from the public street or alley.
(Prior Code § 16-39.1)
Pursuant to authority granted the City by Vehicle Code Section 21113, no person shall drive any vehicle, nor shall any person stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended upon the grounds, driveways, paths or interior parking facilities of the Santa Maria Transit Center, located at 400 East Boone Street, Santa Maria. This section shall not apply to buses, vans and maintenance vehicles on the premises with the permission of the City of Santa Maria.
(Ord. 2013-02, eff. 4/4/13)