(a) 
The provisions of this title prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times herein specified, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device.
(b) 
The provisions of this title imposing a time limit on standing or parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions of the vehicle code or the ordinances of this city prohibiting or limiting the standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times.
(Code 1960, § 3410.0; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
The transportation services manager is hereby authorized to establish and maintain, by appropriate signs or by paint upon the curb surface, all no stopping zones, no parking areas, and restricted parking areas, as defined and described in this title. When said curb markings or signs are in place, no operator of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park a vehicle adjacent to any such legible curb marking or sign in violation of any of the provisions of this title.
(Code 1960, § 3402.2; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 87-26, § 2, 12-7-87; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
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:
(a) 
Within any divisional island unless authorized and clearly indicated with appropriate signs or markings.
(b) 
On either side of any street between the projected property lines of any public walk, public steps, street or thoroughfare terminating at such street, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.
(c) 
In any area where the transportation services manager determines that the parking or stopping of a vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.
(d) 
In any area established by resolution of the city council as a no parking area, when such area is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.
(e) 
Upon, along or across any railroad track in such manner as to hinder, delay or obstruct the movement of any railroad car traveling upon such track.
(f) 
In any area where the parking or stopping of any vehicle would constitute a traffic hazard or would endanger life or property.
(g) 
On any street or highway where the use of such street or highway or a portion thereof is necessary for the cleaning, repair or construction of the street or highway, or the installation of underground utilities, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is authorized for a purpose other than the normal flow of traffic, or where the use of the street or highway or any portion thereof is necessary for the movement of equipment, articles or structures of unusual size, and the parking of such vehicle would prohibit or interfere with such use or movement; provided that signs giving notice of no parking are erected or placed at least 24 hours prior to the effective time of such no parking.
(h) 
At any place within 20 feet of a point on the curb immediately opposite the midblock end of a safety zone, when such place is indicated by appropriate signs or by red paint upon the curb surface.
(i) 
Within 20 feet of the vehicle approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk or within 15 feet of any crosswalk where a curb extension is present.
(Code 1960, § 3410.3; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
(a) 
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
Chief of police
means the chief of police of the City of Costa Mesa, or their designee.
Commercial vehicle
shall mean any vehicle having more than two axles, or any single commercial vehicle or combination of said vehicles which exceed 20 feet in length, any single commercial vehicle or combination of said vehicles 84 inches or more in width, or any single commercial vehicle or combination of said vehicles having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. A commercial vehicle includes a truck tractor, but does not include a large motor vehicle or nonmotorized vehicle as defined herein or a pick-up truck without a camper or sports utility vehicle.
Large motor vehicle
shall mean any house car, pick-up truck with camper, recreational vehicle or other vehicle that measures more than 22 feet in length or is both more than 84 inches in width and more than 84 inches in height. The term "large motor vehicle" does not include a commercial vehicle as defined herein, a pick-up truck without a camper or sports utility vehicle.
Motor vehicle
shall mean a passenger vehicle, pick-up truck without a camper, sports utility vehicle, motorcycle and motor-driven cycle but shall not include a house car.
Nonmotorized vehicle
shall mean any trailer or any other device that is not self-propelled.
Residential district
shall mean any area within the city which is zoned R1, R2-MD, R2-HD, R3, and those portions of planned community districts and specific plan districts which are specified for residential uses.
(b) 
Measurements. To determine the width or length of the vehicles defined in this section, any extension to the vehicle caused by mirrors, air conditioners, or similar attachments shall not be included.
(c) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any motor vehicle shall park, or leave standing, such a motor vehicle upon any public street, highway or alley for more than a period of 72 consecutive hours.
(d) 
No person shall, at any time, park or leave standing any large motor vehicle or nonmotorized vehicle on any public street, highway or alley except:
(1) 
In residential districts, large motor vehicles or, nonmotorized vehicles attached to a motor vehicle or large motor vehicle, parked adjacent to the owner's residence are allowed for the purposes of loading, unloading, cleaning, battery-charging, or other activity preparatory or incidental to travel for a period of time not to exceed 48 consecutive hours.
(2) 
In residential districts, large motor vehicles or, nonmotorized vehicles attached to a motor vehicle, parked adjacent to the owner's residence may be allowed for up to an additional 24 consecutive hours, but no more than a total of 72 consecutive hours, provided an extension has been granted by the chief of police. The chief of police shall establish general standards for an extension provided for by this section.
(3) 
Any large motor vehicle, or nonmotorized vehicle which is attached to a motor vehicle or large motor vehicle that is parked on a public street pursuant to either subsections (1) or (2) hereinabove shall, at the end of the permitted period of time, whether 48 or 72 hours, be removed from its location and shall not be parked on any public street for the purposes stated hereinabove for a period of at least 48 hours.
(e) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle or nonmotorized vehicle which is six feet or more in height (including any load thereon) shall park or leave standing any such vehicle on a street or highway within 45 feet of any intersection.
(f) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commercial vehicle exceeding a manufacturers gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, shall park or leave standing any such commercial vehicle on a street or highway which is prohibited to commercial vehicle traffic pursuant to section 10-248 of this Code.
(g) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commercial vehicle exceeding a manufacturers gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, shall park or leave standing any such commercial vehicle on any restricted street between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(h) 
No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of a commercial vehicle exceeding a manufacturers gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, shall park or leave standing any such commercial vehicle for more than three hours on any public street, highway, roadway, alley or thoroughfare, except:
(1) 
For such reasonable time in excess of three hours that may be necessary for the purpose of making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure or for the purpose of delivering materials to be used for repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction of any building or structure upon a restricted street or highway; or
(2) 
For such reasonable time in excess of three hours that may be necessary when such vehicle is parked in connection with the performance of a service to or on a property in the block in which such vehicle is parked; or
(3) 
For such reasonable time in excess of three hours that may be necessary time to make emergency repairs.
(i) 
Vehicles found in violation of this section may be cited or removed, or both cited and removed in accordance with section 10-69.
(j) 
The minimum fine for any violation of this section shall be set by the city council by separate resolution.
(Ord. No. 02-15, §§ 1, 2, 8-5-02; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
No person shall construct or dismantle or cause to be constructed or dismantled, repair or cause to be repaired, grease or cause to be greased any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in the city. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street.
(Code 1960, § 3410.6; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
No person shall wash or cause to be washed, polish or cause to be polished any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in the city, when a charge is made for such service.
(Code 1960, § 3410.7; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
(a) 
The transportation services manager is hereby authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon that side of any street adjacent to any school property when such parking would, in their opinion, interfere with traffic or create a hazardous situation.
(b) 
When official signs are erected prohibiting parking upon that side of a street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
(Code 1960, § 3410.8; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
(a) 
The city transportation services manager is hereby authorized to place signs or markings indicating no parking upon any street when the width of the roadway does not exceed 20 feet, or upon one side of a street as indicated by such signs or markings when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 feet.
(b) 
When official signs or markings prohibiting parking are erected upon narrow streets as authorized herein, no person shall park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of any such sign or marking.
(Code 1960, § 3410.9; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle unattended on a highway when upon any grade exceeding three percent without blocking the wheels of such vehicle by turning them against the curb or by other means.
(Code 1960, § 3410.10; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
(a) 
Whenever the city transportation services manager or chief of police shall determine that an emergency traffic congestion is likely to result from the holding of public or private assemblages, gatherings or functions, or for other reasons, the city transportation services manager shall have power and authority to order temporary signs to be erected or posted indicating that the operation, parking or standing of vehicles is prohibited on such streets and alleys as the city transportation services manager shall direct during the time such temporary signs are in place. Such signs shall remain in place only during the existence of such emergency and the city transportation services manager shall cause such signs to be removed promptly thereafter.
(b) 
When signs authorized by the provisions of this section are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall operate, park or stand any vehicle contrary to the directions and provisions of such signs.
(Code 1960, § 3410.11; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
It is unlawful for any person to sleep in or on any motor vehicle parked any place in the city, other than upon private residential property, at any time between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or to dwell and/or live in or on any motor vehicle parked upon any city owned, operated, or maintained street, sidewalk, alley, public right-of-way, or any other public property or any private property within the city at any time. This section is not intended to prohibit the use of campers or motor coaches or motor vans for sleeping and/or dwelling purposes where the same are parked in an authorized trailer court or campsite within the city. As used in this section, "dwell" means to use as a basic residence for shelter, sleeping and/or cooking purposes in lieu of traditional code compliant building structures designed for human habitation.
(Code 1960, § 3418.1; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 68-31, 7-15-68; Ord. No. 19-09, § 4, 4-2-19; Ord. No. 19-10, § 3, 4-16-19; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
Any motor vehicle parked on the public streets shall have curtains or window obstructions in such a position that there shall be a full view of the interior at all times.
(Code 1960, § 3418.2; Ord. No. 66-35, 8-15-66; Ord. No. 68-31, 7-15-68; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
It is unlawful for any person to park other than publicly owned and operated vehicles on any of the property owned by the city presently occupied by the Placentia Avenue Fire Station and the city corporation yard, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(Ord. No. 74-68, § 2, 12-17-74; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
Signs designating no parking between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which conform to the manual on uniform traffic control devices shall be placed at the vehicle entryways to the Placentia Avenue Fire Station and corporation yard, and the parking area therein shall be posted with said signs at intervals of not less than 200 feet.
(Ord. No. 74-68, § 2, 12-17-74; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
(a) 
Any owner or person in possession of private property may cause the removal of a parked vehicle from such private property when either of the following conditions is satisfied:
(1) 
The property is improved with a single-family dwelling; or
(2) 
There is displayed, in plain view at all entrances to the property, a sign at least 18 inches by 24 inches prohibiting public parking and indicating that vehicles will be removed at the owner's expense, and containing the telephone number of the Costa Mesa Police Department.
(b) 
The person causing removal of a vehicle pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall comply with all applicable requirements of California Vehicle Code section 22658.
(c) 
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall also apply to city-owned property and property rented or leased by the city from another person or entity; the request for removal may be made by any employee of the police department, who shall comply with the applicable provisions of section 10-69 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 85-12, § 2, 5-6-85; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)
It is unlawful for any person to fail to display a handicapped placard or license that has been lawfully issued to that person on any vehicle parked in a stall or space designated for handicapped persons pursuant to the vehicle code. Any violation of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $35. For purposes of this section, handicapped placard or license shall mean the distinguishing placard issued pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22511.55 or 22511.59 or the special identification license plate issued pursuant to Vehicle Code section 5007.
(Ord. No. 00-15, § 1, 9-18-00; Ord. No. 2024-09, 7/16/2024)