Capt. Nicholas,
Thank you for the opportunity to address parking safety concerns in Seal Beach.
Are there any limitations or restrictions regarding the number of vehicles that may belong to a single-family residence?
Is there any requirement that residents use their garages to park at least one vehicle?
May vehicle owners block their driveway by parking in front of it?
Do vehicle owners have the right to park in the street in front of their neighbors’ homes for days and nights? (I am aware of the 72-hour time limit and so are they.)
I live in College Park East. The situation I am facing has become a safety issue, not just an inconvenience. My neighbor’s garage is packed with supplies and recreational vehicles. Their driveway is used for parking an old jalopy that is not drivable and for charging an electric vehicle.
There are three adults who reside on the property. Other vehicles and pickup trucks are parked in front of their house, extending in front of the house next door. Their overnight visitors park their pickups in front of my house.
When they park one of their heavy-duty pickup trucks to block their driveway, I cannot exit my garage driveway without turning diagonally to miss it. My vision is blocked and an accident was barely avoided just a couple of weeks ago. A driver on the street approaching my house could not see me exiting my driveway and I could not see their vehicle. Thank goodness we were both moving slowly enough to stop and avoid a crash.
I appreciate any information and guidance you can provide. This family is not interested in talking about the negative effects their vehicles are having on their neighbors. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Catherine
Hi Catherine,
Thank you for your question! You’ve raised several great questions about neighborhood parking, and I suspect quite a few Seal Beach residents have wondered about the same things.
You’ve asked four questions, so I’ll give you four short answers before getting into the details.
The short answers? No, not necessarily, generally no, and yes.
Clear as mud, right? Welcome to the wonderful world of California parking regulations! Let’s take a closer look.
First, there is no general citywide limit on the number of vehicles a household can own. Whether someone owns two cars or enough vehicles to host their own little auto show, the number alone generally isn’t a violation. What matters is where those vehicles are parked and whether they comply with applicable parking regulations.
This brings us to garages. Believe it or not, the city does not require residents to actually park their vehicles inside their garages.
Now, what about parking across your own driveway?
California Vehicle Code Section 22500 generally prohibits parking in front of a public or private driveway. That includes your own driveway. State law allows cities to establish certain permit-based exceptions, but owning the property does not automatically give someone permission to block the driveway from the street.
Of course, the issue becomes more complicated when a large vehicle is legally parked near a driveway but obstructs a driver’s view. A vehicle that makes backing out difficult isn’t automatically parked illegally. However, that doesn’t mean the safety concern should be ignored.
Finally, let’s discuss parking in front of someone else’s house.
This may be the most frustrating answer of all: Yes, your neighbors can generally park in front of your house. Nobody owns the curb.
Public streets are exactly that, public. The curb in front of your house doesn’t come with the deed, and unfortunately, we can’t reserve your favorite parking space just because you’ve been parking there since 1987.
As long as vehicles are legally parked, residents and visitors have the same right to use available public street parking.
There are, however, some important restrictions.
Seal Beach Municipal Code Section 8.15.025 prohibits vehicles from remaining parked on a public street for 72 or more consecutive hours. But the 72-hour rule isn’t the only parking restriction that matters.
For example, Municipal Code Section 8.15.090 generally limits street parking to two hours for trucks and certain other vehicles exceeding 80 inches in width, unless a valid permit applies.
Additionally, under Section 8.15.085, oversized vehicles exceeding 20 feet in length, 90 inches in width, or 90 inches in height generally cannot park on public streets between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. without a valid permit or another applicable exception.
That means some larger pickup trucks may be subject to restrictions beyond the usual 72-hour limit. Whether a particular truck qualifies depends on its actual dimensions and the applicable rules.
You also mentioned a vehicle that is no longer operable. Inoperable vehicles on private property can raise separate code enforcement concerns, depending on their condition and circumstances.
Now, back to the most important part of your letter: the near-collision.
I understand how frustrating it can be when neighborhood parking becomes crowded, particularly when larger vehicles make it difficult to enter or exit a driveway safely. Nobody should have to feel like they’re taking a chance every time they back out of their garage.
Although we cannot prohibit otherwise legal parking simply because it is inconvenient, we can evaluate potential violations and legitimate traffic safety concerns. I will share the concerns raised in your letter with our parking team so they can review the circumstances.
Residents who encounter illegally parked vehicles or potentially hazardous parking conditions can also contact our non-emergency dispatch line at (562) 594-7232. Reporting a concern while the vehicles are present gives our personnel the best opportunity to evaluate the situation.
Ultimately, there’s a difference between what the law allows and what makes someone a considerate neighbor. Not every parking frustration requires a police response, and sometimes a little courtesy accomplishes more than a parking citation.
We all share these streets. A little consideration, some common sense, and leaving your neighbors enough room to get out of their driveways safely can go a long way.
Keep your questions coming, Seal Beach! Email us at as*****@*********ca.gov today.