• Complete List of Municipal Codes
• California Vehicle Code (C.V.C.)

Compliance with Curb Markings: F.M.C. 8.44.120

Whenever curbs are painted pursuant to parking regulations imposed or authorized by the Fullerton Municipal Code or as authorized by the California Vehicle Code (CVC), and the colors thereof are clearly visible, no person shall:

Stop, stand or park a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, at any red curb, except that a bus may stop at a red curb marked or signposted as a bus loading zone; or

Stop, stand or park a vehicle at a yellow curb except to load or unload passengers or personal property for such time as is necessary therefore but not longer than three minutes for the loading or unloading of passengers or twenty minutes for the loading or unloading of personal property. The prohibition shall not apply at any time six p.m. and before six a.m. of any day, or any time on any Sunday or Holiday; or

Stop, stand or park a vehicle at a white curb except to load or unload passengers for not to exceed three minutes. The prohibition shall not apply at any time after six p.m. and before six a.m. of any day, or at any time on any Sunday or Holiday; or

Stop, stand or park a vehicle at a green curb longer than fifteen minutes. The prohibition shall not apply at any time before six a.m. or after six p.m. of any day or at any time on any Sunday or Holiday; or

Stop, stand or park a vehicle at a blue curb unless said vehicle displays one of the distinguished license plates or placards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Permit Parking: F.M.C. 8.44.230

The City of Fullerton has three areas within the City where parking permits are issued.

The first area allows residents and their guests to park on select streets near the California State University of Fullerton fraternity area. Those residents living on Sherwood Avenue, Shawn Avenue, and portions of Amherst Avenue, Teri Place, and Derek Drive, are eligible for a residential parking permit for each of their vehicles plus up to five guest permits per year. The permits do not exempt the holder of the permit from the 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. overnight parking restriction. Permits may be obtained through the Finance Department at City Hall.

The second area allows employers and employees in the Downtown Fullerton business district to park within Parking District No.1 and Parking District No.2 for extended periods of time in yellow marked stalls only while displaying the permit in the vehicle. Both Parking Districts are within the area surrounded by Commonwealth Avenue to the south, Whiting Avenue to the north, Pomona Avenue to the east, and Malden Avenue to the west. Permits may be obtained through the Engineering Department at City Hall.

The third area allows Amtrak commuters to park for extended periods of time within select areas of the Transportation Center Parking Structure when traveling on Amtrak. Permits may be obtained through the conductors office at the train station. For further information, please contact Traffic Engineering at (714) 738-6899.

Overnight Parking 2:00AM - 5:00AM: F.M.C. 8.44.080

No person shall park a vehicle, which is subject to provisions of Section 25100 of the California Vehicle Code, on any street or highway, or any City-controlled parking facility, in the City between the hours of two a.m. and five a.m. of any day (F.M.C. 8.44.080) unless the street has been exempted from the ordinance. Certain areas may be exempted from the provisions of the 2:00 a.m to 5:00 a.m. parking prohibition by resolution of the City Council and listed below:

Select Street Exemption

Property owners may apply for a “Select Street Exemption” for an entire block, either one side or both. Property owners must submit a petition signed by a majority of the property owners on both sides of the street. Petitions may be obtained at the front desk of the Engineering Department in City Hall. There is a $475 non-refundable fee required to forward the petition to the Transportation and Circulation Commission for an exemption. Exemptions are only granted for those areas having an off-street parking deficiency under existing City ordinances. The current standards specify that anything less than a two-car garage, for a typical single-family home, is considered parking deficient; other standards apply to multi-family units/developments. The smallest area which may be exempted is one city block. A street that has been exempted from the ordinance, allowing overnight parking between the hours of two a.m. and five a.m., will be sign posted at the entrance to the street and/or tract indicating that overnight parking is permitted. The signs will clearly read, "Parking Permitted 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.". Contact the Traffic Engineering Department at 738-6858 for further information.

Hardship Exemption

Property owners may be eligible for a “Hardship Exemption” permit for an interim parking deficiency due to changing family/residents needs.This permit is provided only to those residents who currently utilize all available off-street parking and have an interim parking deficiency due to a hardship as defined by Council.Said permit shall be available in one-year increments from date of issuance.The applicability of the requested Hardship Exemption shall be determined and approved at the sole discretion of the Police Department.Contact the Police Department Traffic Division at 738-5313 for further information.

Temporary Exemption

Property owners may be eligible for a “Temporary Exemption” permit for short-term parking deficiencies such as, but not limited to, emergencies, out of town visitors, or short-term construction 9driveways, home repair, etc.).The applicability of the requested Hardship Exemption shall be determined and approved at the sole discretion of the Police Department.Contact the Police Department Traffic Division at 738-5313 for further information.

Posted Speed Limits: F.M.C. 8.56.010

Speed limits are often taken for granted and until a problem arises, most people pay little attention to the theory behind them.

Speed Limit Misconceptions

When traffic problems occur concerned citizens frequently ask why we don't lower the speed limit. There are widely held misconceptions that speed limit signs will slow the speed of traffic, reduce accidents and increase safety. Most drivers drive at a speed which they consider appropriate, regardless of the posted speed limit. "Before and after" studies have shown that there are no significant changes in average vehicle speeds following the posting of new or revised speed limits. Furthermore, research has found no direct relationship between speed limits and accident frequency.

Speed Laws

All fifty states base their speed regulations on the Basic Speed Law. "No person shall drive a vehicle...at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent...and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property". Under California law, the maximum speed limit in an urban area is 55 mph. All other speed limits are called prima facie limits, which are considered by law to be safe and prudent under normal conditions. Certain prima facie limits established by State law include the 25 mph speed limit in residential districts, 25 mph in school zones when children are present, and the 15 mph speed limit in alleys, and at intersections and railroad crossings, where visibility is limited. These speed limits do not need to be posted to be enforced. Speed limits between 25 and 55 mph must be established on the basis of traffic engineering surveys. These surveys include an analysis of roadway conditions, accident records, and a sampling of the prevailing speed of traffic. A safe and reasonable limit is set at or below the speed at which 85% of average traffic moves. Traffic flowing at a uniform speed improves increased safety through fewer accidents; i.e. Drivers are less impatient, pass less often, and tailgate less which reduces rear-end collisions. The posting of the appropriate speed limit simplifies the job of enforcement officers, since most of the traffic is voluntarily moving at the posted speed. Blatant speeders are easily spotted, safe drivers are not penalized, and traffic officers aren't asked to enforce unrealistic and arbitrary speed limits.

Speed Radar Feedback Signs

Those signs you see along the side of the road indicating your vehicles speed are the latest device used by the City to curtail excessive speed in the vicinity of our schools. The signs do not record or result in the issuance of a citation but are intended to bring greater awareness to a driver of his/her current vehicle speed and to act as a deterrent to higher speeds.

Speed Humps

Although speed humps are used in parking lots and within "private" developments, they are not a recognized in the State of California Traffic Manual as an appropriate device for reducing vehicle speeds on public streets. Those cities that have chosen to implement them have done so under very strict requirements and guidelines.

It should also be noted that in many cases speed humps worsen the situation with increased braking and acceleration noise associated with the approach and departure from a speed hump, as well as noise associated with the impact with the speed hump. As such, the City does not endorse a policy for the installation of speed humps on public streets.