[1]
Prior Legislation: Ords. 516, 533, 570, 622, 648, 656, 708, 842, 944, 1080, 1082, 1085, 1086, 1104, 1244, 1255, 1278, 1322, 1354, 1365, 1386, 1404, 1450, 1471, 1480, 1505.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the parking of vehicles on public streets and city-owned properties in a manner that:
A. 
Protects the public safety and welfare;
B. 
Promotes safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic;
C. 
Provides for the most efficient use of limited parking spaces; and
D. 
Minimizes the adverse impacts of parked vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025)
The rules in this chapter apply to any private or commercial vehicle stopped in a public street, or on public property, for more than two minutes. The regulations set forth in this chapter do not apply to vehicles owned by the city or used for emergency response.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])
A. 
Compliance with Posted Regulations. All parked vehicles must be parked in compliance with all posted signs regulating location, orientation, time limits, fees, and other factors.
B. 
Vehicle Orientation. Unless angled or head-in parking is expressly authorized by traffic control signs or street markings, all vehicles within the city must parallel park with the front of the vehicle headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement and with the right-hand wheels no farther than 12 inches from the curb or shoulder.
C. 
Parking Locations.
1. 
Parked Vehicles May Not Obstruct a Roadway. At least 10 feet of roadway in the direction of lawful traffic movement must remain free.
2. 
Prohibited Outright. Parking is prohibited on all sidewalks, planting strips, bridges, overpasses, underpasses, and trestles.
3. 
Emergency Exits. Vehicles may not block or obstruct access to a fire exit, fire escape, or any entrance or exit door in a building intended for public assembly.
D. 
Designated Spaces. Vehicles may only be parked in areas designated for parking. Drivers must park all portions of the vehicle fully within the markings of a single parking space.
E. 
Minimum Distances from Certain Features. Regardless of signage or curb paint vehicles must be parked a minimum of:
1. 
5 feet from any private driveway or sidewalk curb cut.
2. 
10 feet from a mailbox between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, excluding postal holidays.
3. 
15 feet from a fire hydrant.
4. 
20 feet from a crosswalk or intersection.
5. 
30 feet from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
6. 
30 feet from any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal unless designated otherwise.
7. 
50 feet from the driveway entrance to any fire or police station.
F. 
Time Limits.
1. 
General 24-Hour Limit. Vehicles may not remain in the same parking spot for more than 24 consecutive hours. Vehicles remaining for more than 24 hours will be considered a hazard or abandoned and may be impounded.
2. 
Alleys. The maximum length of time a vehicle may be parked in an alley is five minutes, unless the vehicle is being actively loaded or unloaded.
3. 
No Overnight Parking of Recreational or Commercial Vehicles in Residential Areas. Motorhomes, campers, boats, trailers, mobile homes, and commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW (gross vehicle weight) are not allowed to be parked on streets abutting residentially zoned property between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
4. 
City Parks and Properties. Parking in parks and on other city-owned property is only allowed while facilities are open to the public. For facilities without posted hours, no parking is allowed between the hours of dusk and 6:30 a.m. unless in an area specifically designated for overnight or commuter parking.
5. 
Paid Parking Areas. It is unlawful to park a vehicle within a paid parking zone without submitting payment in the manner described by the posted instructions within 15 minutes of arrival or to stay parked beyond the amount of time purchased for that space.
G. 
Unattended Vehicles.
1. 
Vehicles waiting in the ferry-holding lane on, or adjacent to SR-525, must have a driver present at all times.
2. 
In designated parking spaces, vehicles may only be left unattended after the motor is turned off, the brakes are set, and the wheels are turned to the curb or the side of the street as appropriate to keep the vehicle from moving in the event of break release.
H. 
License Plates and Current Registration required. All vehicles parked on public streets or city-owned properties must have displayed license plates and possess proper and current vehicle registration.
I. 
Open Until Occupied. Parking spaces must remain open and available until occupied by a vehicle. Individuals may not reserve space for a vehicle not currently present.
J. 
Parking for Commercial Purposes. No person may park any vehicle for the principal purpose of displaying advertising, campaigning, offering the vehicle for sale, or selling merchandise from the vehicle, except when authorized.
K. 
Sleeping in Vehicles. It is unlawful to camp or sleep in a parked vehicle.
L. 
Maintenance and Repair. No person shall work on, maintain or repair any vehicle on a public street or city-owned property except for emergency situations.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])
A. 
Types of Restricted Areas. The city may designate any of the following zones:
1. 
Time Limited Zones. Zones that restrict parked vehicles from remaining for longer than the posted amount of time, unless authorized by a city-issued parking permit. These zones may be designated 30-minute, one-hour, two-hour, or four-hour increments.
2. 
Restricted Hour Zones. Zones that restrict parked vehicles from being parked during certain hours of the day, unless authorized by a city-issued parking permit. These zones may prohibit parking between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or during normal school hours.
3. 
Use Restricted Zones. Zones that restrict vehicles to those associated with a particular use or purpose. These include: loading zones, bus zones, handicap zones, commuter parking zones, employee parking zones, and residential parking zones.
4. 
Paid Parking Zones. Zones that require vehicles to pay for the use of parking spaces, unless authorized by a parking permit issued by the city.
B. 
Responsibility for Designating and Marking Restricted Areas.
1. 
City Engineer. Unless otherwise assigned, the city engineer is responsible for designating no parking and restricted parking areas and for ensuring installation of the appropriate signage and/or curb markings associated with such areas. It is unlawful for any person to install signage or paint curbs without the permission of the City Engineer. The City Engineer may designate up to 300 feet of restricted parking without council resolution for safety purposes.
2. 
Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal is responsible for designating fire lanes.
3. 
City Council. The City Council is responsible for designating paid parking zones when needed to maintain adequate turnover of on-street parking spaces and reduce congestion caused by drivers seeking on-street parking. The City Council is also responsible for adopting by resolution the boundaries and regulations and administrative procedures for any commuter, residential, or employee parking zones established to provide relief from standard parking restrictions.
C. 
Visual Indicators for Restricted areas. Restricted areas may be designated by curb paint and/or signage. The city will use the following standard indicators for restricted areas:
Restricted Area
Curb Paint Color
Signage
No Parking
Red
Optional if curb is painted
Fire Lane
Red
Optional if curb is painted
No Truck Parking
Red
Required
Bus Loading
Yellow/Red alternating every 5 feet
Required
Loading Zone
Yellow
Required
Restricted
Yellow
Required - with type of restriction clearly noted
Handicapped Parking
 
Required – Visual painted on surface and pole sign
Commuter
 
Required
D. 
Validity of Restricted Areas. No regulations imposing parking restrictions are effective unless and until signs or curb markings authorized in this chapter are in place.
E. 
Changes to Restricted Parking Areas. Any person may submit a written request for a change to parking restrictions to the City Engineer. The request should include a statement outlining the type of change requested and the reason the change is needed as well as any documentation supporting the need for the change. Any changes require review and approval by the appropriate authority, identified in subsection B of this section.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])
A. 
Allowed. The city engineer, after consultation with the police department, is authorized to issue permits allowing deviation from the requirements of this chapter.
B. 
Criteria. Permitted deviations must be for a limited time and may not create an undue hazard.
C. 
Scope. Deviations from the standards may be issued for:
1. 
Service vehicles to reserve parking space adjacent to a temporary work site;
2. 
Loading, unloading, or movement of buildings or other oversize loads;
3. 
Authorized construction work on street rights-of-way or adjacent property;
4. 
Parades and processions approved by the city council; and
5. 
Other similar uses deemed appropriate by the city engineer.
D. 
Conditions. Permits issued under this section may be conditioned as necessary to ensure compliance with criteria. Failure to comply with conditions constitutes a violation of this chapter.
E. 
Fees. The city may adopt permitting fees to recover the costs of reviewing requests for exceptions.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])
A. 
Responsibility and Authority for Enforcement. The police department is responsible for enforcing the regulations set forth in this chapter.
B. 
Presumption of Registered Owner Responsibility. Proof of registered ownership of a vehicle found to be in violation shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle was the person who committed the violation, unless:
1. 
The party having custody of the vehicle at the time of the violation admits liability and pays the applicable penalty; or
2. 
A car rental agency declares that the vehicle was under lease at the time of the violation and supplies the name and address of the lessee; or
3. 
There is a preponderance of evidence that either:
a. 
The vehicle was reported stolen before the date of the violation and had not been returned to the registered owner by the date of the violation; or
b. 
The registered owner had transferred ownership of the vehicle in compliance with RCW prior to the date of the violation.
C. 
Violations as Traffic Infractions. Violations of this chapter are designated as a traffic infraction and may not be classified as a criminal offense. All traffic infractions shall be processed in the manner provided in accordance with Chapter 46.63 RCW.
D. 
Notices. Whenever a vehicle is found to be in violation of this chapter, a notice of infraction may be placed conspicuously on the vehicle. A notice of traffic infraction represents a determination that an infraction has been committed and is considered final unless contested.
E. 
Response to Notice Required. Any person who receives a notice of traffic infraction must do one of the following with 15 days:
1. 
Submit payment as instructed on notice; or
2. 
Submit a written request for a hearing to contest the infraction notice; or
3. 
Submit a written request for a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances.
4. 
Failure to respond to the notice or appear at a requested hearing will result in the court entering an appropriate order assessing the monetary penalty prescribed for the traffic infraction and any other penalty authorized by this chapter and shall notify the Department of Licensing in accordance with RCW 46.20.270 of the failure to respond to the notice of infraction or to appear at a requested hearing.
F. 
Hearing to Contest.
1. 
A hearing held for the purpose of contesting the determination that an infraction has been committed shall be without a jury.
2. 
The court may consider the notice of traffic infraction and any other written report made under oath submitted by the officer who issued the notice or whose written statement was the basis for the issuance of the notice in lieu of the officer's personal appearance at the hearing. The person named in the notice may subpoena witnesses, including the officer, and has the right to present evidence and examine witnesses present in court.
3. 
The burden of proof is upon the city to establish the commission of the infraction by a preponderance of the evidence.
4. 
After consideration of the evidence and argument, the court shall determine whether the infraction was committed. Where it has not been established that the infraction was committed, an order dismissing the notice shall be entered in the court's records. Where it has been established that the infraction was committed, an appropriate order shall be entered in the court's records. A record of the court's determination and order shall be furnished to the Department of Licensing in accordance with RCW 46.20.270 as now or hereafter amended.
G. 
Hearing to Explain Mitigating Circumstances.
1. 
A hearing held for the purpose of allowing a person to explain mitigating circumstances surrounding the commission of an infraction shall be an informal proceeding. The person may not subpoena witnesses. The determination that an infraction has been committed may not be contested at a hearing held for the purpose of explaining mitigating circumstances.
2. 
After the court has heard the explanation of the circumstances surrounding the commission of the infraction an appropriate order shall be entered in the court's records. A record of the court's determination and order shall be furnished to the Department of Licensing in accordance with RCW 46.20.270 as now or hereafter amended.
H. 
Appeals.
1. 
There is no appeal from the court's determination or order in a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances.
2. 
An appeal from the court's determination or order in a hearing to contest shall be to the superior court. The decision of the superior court is subject only to discretionary review pursuant to Rule 2.3 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])
A. 
Revoking Permits. Permits authorized by this chapter may be revoked if the permit holder has made any false, misleading or incomplete statement in the application.
B. 
Fines.
1. 
General. Violations of this chapter are considered parking infractions, punishable by a monetary penalty of $50.
2. 
Additional Fees for Delay. If the parking infraction is not responded to within 30 days of issuance (or 33 days of mailing), an additional $20 penalty will be added to the original fine amount.
3. 
All traffic infractions shall be processed in the manner provided in accordance with Chapter 46.63 RCW.
C. 
Impoundment.
1. 
Authorized. Pursuant to RCW 46.55.010(14) and 46.55.240, any law enforcement officer may direct a registered tow truck operator to impound any vehicle that:
a. 
Is creating a substantial risk to public health, safety or welfare;
b. 
Is parked in a disabled space or handicap zone, or in violation of a fire lane or in violation of a posted "no parking at any time zone";
c. 
Is parked at a city park or on other city-owned property in violation of the restrictions in this chapter; or
d. 
Has three or more unpaid notices of violation for parking.
2. 
Procedures. In accordance with RCW, all vehicles so impounded shall be taken to the nearest storage location available to the tow truck operator. The officer shall mail the legal and registered owner notice of the impoundment of the vehicle by first-class mail within 24 hours after the impoundment. The notification shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the impounding tow firm and the location and time of the impound, as well as the name and badge number of the officer granting authority for an impoundment. All expenses of towing and storage, as well as the amount of all unpaid notices of violation, shall be borne by the owner of the vehicle and shall be paid by such owner to the towing or storage operator. No liability shall attach to the city, or any of its agents, for damages arising from such impoundment; provided, that the city may provide for.
(Ord. 1522, 7/21/2025])