- Q: Are there regulatory mechanisms other than permit parking that we should be exploring? What is the process for revising the criteria for residential parking permit areas?
- A: The only mechanism is the Residential Permit Parking for certain neighborhoods. The process for revising residential parking would require a change of legislation, which may prove to be difficult in San Francisco. SF Codes 905
- Q: Is there any way to regulate the number of vehicles allowed per household?
- A: Only indirectly, by discouraging the ownership of cars via the use of residential parking permits or via planning policies such as allowing new housing units to be built without parking spaces attached. Amending the SF transportation code to provide for regulating the number of vehicles per household would require legislative action.
- Q: Is there any way to regulate the overall number of vehicles in a neighborhood?
- A: Only indirectly, by discouraging the ownership of cars via residential parking permits or planning policies such as allowing new housing units to be built without parking spaces included. Also, it is possible to limit the number of on-street parking spaces in a neighborhood or to ban parking along a street entirely. Amending the SF transportation code to provide for directly regulating the number of vehicles in a neighborhood would require legislative action.
- Q: Can I parallel park my own car in the curb cut across my driveway?
- A: It is legal to park parallel across your driveway as long as you are not obstructing the sidewalk per the Traffic Code Section 1004 which states: “The owner or lessee of property shall be permitted to park the owner’s or lessee’s vehicle across the private driveway of said property, provided that such vehicle displays a valid license plate registered to the address of that property with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and provided that such driveway serves no more than two family dwelling units. This Section does not permit the parking of vehicles across sidewalks or in red zones.
So, the traffic code states that you can park across your driveway. Note that it is not legal to park across a curb cut that is a designated accessibility ramp. Note that not all accessibility ramps are marked as such. For example, ramps at crosswalks are not specifically marked as being accessible.
The California Vehicle Code Section 22500 states: No person shall 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 official traffic control device, in any of the following places: (e) In front of a public or private driveway, except that a bus engaged as a common carrier, school bus, or a taxicab may stop to load or unload passengers when authorized by local authorities pursuant to an ordinance."
SF Codes 1004, 1005 / CA Codes 22507.2 - Q: Can I park in a curb cut where the driveway does not lead to a garage which is used for off-street parking? What if the garage is in use as storage or living space?
- A: It is legal to park across your driveway as long as you are not obstructing the sidewalk per the Traffic Code Section 1004 (See next question). SF Codes 150, 1004, 1005 / CA Codes 22507.2
- Q: Can I park in my driveway? Can I block part of the sidewalk? What if I'm parking there only temporarily?
- A: You can park across your driveway as long as your vehicle does not obstruct any part of the sidewalk. You cannot park across the sidewalk temporarily. SF Codes 1004 / CA Codes 22500
- Q: Are curb cuts considered accessible access to the sidewalk, and if so under what circumstances?
- A: No, most automobile ramps (driveways) do not meet the ADA requirements for accessible access. Note that California code says accessibility ramps must be clearly marked with a sign or red paint, but ramps such as those at crosswalks are obviously for accessibility and are not separately marked. CA Codes 22522
- Q: Is there a minimum curb height along which I can parallel park? (There's a business nearby with long curb cuts but no one is using the building now, so I park along the perimeter of what used to be their parking lot.)
- A: There is no minimum curb height, but note also that the definitions of what constitute both a legal curb and a legal curb cut are up to the DPW. Parking enforcement can exercise some discretion in issuing a citation, but when in doubt the motorist should assume that any curb cut is legitimate and should avoid parking there.
- Q: How long a vehicle be parked without moving it? Can I call DPT before the vehicle is there 72 hours? After DPT is called regarding an abandoned car, how long does DPT wait to come out and ticket the vehicle?
- A: Vehicles are allowed to park in a certain, except for signed street cleaning, 72 hours. You can call 311 to report a vehicle parked over 72 hours. SF Codes 1008
- Q: Is it ever legal to park on the sidewalk?
- A: No, it is never legal to park on the sidewalk. However, parking control officers have a certain amount of discretion in issuing tickets and may choose not to cite vehicles which are temporarily parked on the sidewalk during street cleaning times, and may choose not to cite vehicles partially blocking the sidewalk on narrow and heavily-congested streets CA Codes 22500, 22507.2
- Q: Can I parallel park partially on the sidewalk on a narrow street to allow more room for cars or bicycles to get by? I'm still leaving plenty of space on the sidewalk for pedestrians.
- A: It is never legal, but parking control officers have a certain amount of discretion in issuing tickets and may choose not to cite vehicles partially blocking the sidewalk on narrow and heavily-congested streets. CA Codes 22500, 22507.2
- Q: What's the minimum space I need to leave on the sidewalk for pedestrians to get by? Who "owns" the sidewalk and how wide is it supposed to be? Is there an ADA rule about the minimum allowed width of the sidewalk?
- A: It is never legal to park on the sidewalk. Sidewalk widths vary on a site-by-site basis and are under the purview of the DPW, which keeps the records on sidewalk widths around the city. The sidewalk is owned by the city, but the property owner is liable for maintaining it. The minimum sidewalk width conforming to ADA requirements is 36 inches, but it is generally accepted that new construction should be at least 60 inches wide, if possible. SF Codes / CA Codes 22500, 22507.2
- Q: What are the rules for motorcycle parking? Is it OK to park a motorcycle or scooter on the sidewalk if I leave plenty of room for pedestrians to get by?
- A: You cannot park a motorcycle or scooter on the sidewalk. Motorcycles are subject to the same rules and regulations as automobiles. CA Codes 22502, 22503.5
- Q: What is the size and weight limit for vehicles parked in residential areas?
- A: There is a weight limit of 10,000 lbs (5 tons) for commercial vehicles but no limit on the physical size of the vehicle. Note also that San Francisco has limits on the operation (as distinct from parking) of vehicles on certain parts of the streets in the city (SF Code Section 501). SF Codes 502 / CA Codes 35720, 22507.5
- Q: Define the limitations for commercial vehicle parking, and what is the definition of a commercial vehicle?
- A: See the preceding answer to the question about size and weight limitations on commercial vehicle parking. The definition of a commercial vehicle is the purview of the state DMV (see links 260 & 15210). SF Codes 502 / CA Codes 22502, 22507.5, 260, 15210
- Q: Is it ever legal to double park, and if so under what conditions?
- A: It is legal to double-park a commercial vehicle for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or goods, but only for the time it reasonably takes to perform such loading or unloading, and not if the area is posted with signs prohibiting commercial vehicle double parking. SF Codes 72
- Q: How can "fleets" of cars parked for a business be managed (e.g.: car repair, car sales, limos, schoolbuses, etc)?
- A: There are some restrictions on the parking of vehicles for hire in some use districts in the city, but unless the vehicle is a commercial vehicle weighing in excess of 10,000 lbs, there are no specific parking restrictions for the types of “fleets” mentioned. Note that, strictly speaking, the CA DMV definition of a fleet is 50 vehicles or more, although in one special case it can be as few as 25 vehicles. Note also that there are many types of school buses, with a few types, such as Class A-1, weighing less than 10,000 lbs. However, most larger school buses do weigh in excess of 10,000 lbs and are therefore subject to the city’s weight restrictions.
- Q: Is it legal for City-owned maintenance trucks to be parked in residential parking?
- A: Only for DPH and SFMTA vehicles, and only while the City employee is on duty. Certain other restrictions also apply to City-owned vehicles. SF Codes 106 / CA Codes 22512
- Q: Is it legal for someone to put cones out in the street to "reserve" himself or herself a parking spot?
- A: No. Cones, barricades, etc. are governed by DPW rules and regulations and require a permit. SF Codes 724
- Q: What is required to change parallel parking in an area to angle or perpendicular parking?
- A: 50% plus one of the residents and/or business owners in the area must want it. Sustainable Streets must then survey the specific street conditions, such as the width of the street and the amount of traffic along it, then hold public hearings, and then, if angle parking is deemed to be feasible, the plan must be approved by the MTA board.
- Q: What about getting parking stall lines painted so drivers don’t take up two spaces when they park?
- A: Studies have shown that painting parking stall lines actually reduces the amount of parking available. In part this is because the stalls are painted a standard size required by full-size cars, although it is possible to have compact-car stall lines painted in a given area. Painting stall lines is expensive and Sustainable Streets (DPT) has found that painting them in one area causes people in adjoining areas to request stall lines, too. The practice is therefore discouraged, but if a majority of residents and/or business owners want stall lines, and especially if they are willing to pay for them, then Sustainable Streets will do it. As with other parking changes, public hearings are required and the MTA board has to approve of the plan.