Mayor's Office on Disability: Sidewalk Obstruction Policies Sections 22500(f) CVC AND 675(b) MPC

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Sidewalk Obstruction Policies Sections 22500(f) CVC AND 675(b) MPC

Vehicles parked on sidewalks constitute an inconvenience for pedestrians and a hazard
for people who are blind or otherwise visually impaired. Officers are to renew their
efforts to cite violation Section 22500(f) CVC, parking on sidewalks, to discourage this
ongoing and increasing problem.

In addition, officers should pay special attention to violations of Section 675(b) MPC,
particularly illegal a-frame signs on sidewalks, which also pose a hazard to pedestrians.

Sidewalk Obstruction - VC 22500 - Sections 22500(f)

CVC Prohibited Stopping, Standing, or Parking

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:
a) Within an intersection except adjacent to curbs as may be permitted by local
ordinance.

b) On a crosswalk, except that a bus engaged as a common carrier or a taxicab may stop
in an unmarked crosswalk to load or unload passengers when authorized by the
legislative body of any city pursuant to ordinance.

c) Between a safety zone and the adjacent right-hand curb or within the area between
the zone and the curb as may be indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb which sign
or paint as erected or placed by local authorities pursuant to ordinance.

d) Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station. This paragraph does not
apply to any vehicle owned or operated by a fire department and clearly marked as a fire
department vehicle.

e) In front of a public or private driveway, except that a bus engaged as a common

carrier, schoolbus, or a taxicab may stop to load or unload passengers when authorized
by a local authorities pursuant to ordinance.

In unincorporated territory, where the entrance of a private road or driveway is not

delineated by an opening in a curb or by other curb construction, so much of the surface
of the ground as is paved, surfaced, or otherwise plainly marked by vehicle use as a
private road or driveway entrance, shall constitute a driveway.

f) On a sidewalk, except electric carts when authorized by local ordinance, as specified in

Section 21114.5

g) Alongside or opposite any street or highway excavation or obstruction when stopping,

standing, or parking would obstruct traffic.

h) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped, parked, or standing at the curb or edge
of a highway, except for a schoolbus when stopped to load or unload pupils in a business
or residence district where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.

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Mayor's Office on Disability: Sidewalk Obstruction Policies Sections 22500(f) CVC AND 675(b) MPC

i) Except as provided under Section 22500.5 alongside curb space authorized for the
loading and unloading of passengers of a bus engaged as a common carrier in local
transportation when indicated by a sign or red paint on the curb erected or painted by
local authorities pursuant to ordinance.

j) In a tube or tunnel, except vehicles of the authorities in charge, being used in the
repair, maintenance, or inspection of the facility.

k) Upon a bridge, except vehicles or the authorities in charge, being used in the repair,
maintenance, or inspection of the facility, and except that buses engaged as a common
carrier in local transportation may stop to load or unload passengers upon a bridge where
sidewalks are provided, when authorized by local authorities pursuant to ordinance, and
except that local authorities pursuant to ordinance or the Department of Transportation
pursuant to order, within their respective jurisdictions, may permit parking on bridges
having sidewalks and shoulders of sufficient width to permit parking without interfering
with the normal movement of traffic on the roadway. Local authorities may, by
ordinance or resolution, permit parking on such bridges on state highways in their
respective jurisdictions if the ordinance or resolution is first approved in writing by the
Department of Transportation. Parking shall not be permitted unless there are signs in
place, as may be necessary, to indicate the provisions of local ordinances or the order of
the Department of Transportation.

Sections 21114.5 Electric Carts On Sidewalks

Notwithstanding Section 21663 or any other provision of this code, local authorities may,
by ordinance authorize the operation of electric carts by physically disabled persons, by
persons 50 years of age or older, or, while in the course of their employment, by
employees of the United States Postal Service, state and local governmental agencies, or
utility companies, on public sidewalks. Any ordinance shall, however contain provisions
requiring any disabled person or person 50 years of age or older who owns or leases an
electric cart to apply to local authority for a permit and an identification sticker to so
operate it on the sidewalk. The permit and sticker shall become invalid if the person
ceases to operate, own, or lease the cart.

Sidewalk Obstruction - VC 22500 Section 675(b) MPC

Section 63. Obstructions On Streets and Sidewalks.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, occupying or having charge or
control of any premises, to place or cause to be placed, or suffer to remain upon the
sidewalk, or upon the half of the street in front of such premises, any Article or substance
which shall obstruct the passage of such street or sidewalk.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to enter into a lease, rental
agreement or contract of any kind, written or oral, with or without compensation, for the
use of any street or sidewalk. ( Amended by Ord. 169-87. App. 5/4/87)
Section 64. Exceptions.
The provisions of Section 63(a) of this Article shall not apply to:
(a) Goods or merchandise in actual course of receipt, delivery or removal;
(b) Lamp posts or hydrants, erected by permission of the Director of Public Works;
(c) Any tree, plant, or shrub planted in the sidewalk area, or any boxed or potted tree,
plant or shrub set on the sidewalk area when the containers are not attached to the
building;
(d) Watering troughs placed by permission of the Director of Public Works upon sidewalks
for the accommodation of the public;
(e) Bicycle racks or motorcycle racks placed upon the sidewalks by permission of the
Director of Public Works and the adjoining property owners for the accommodation of
persons using such bicycle or motorcycle, the same not to exceed three feet in width and
three feet in height and to be entirely devoid of advertising matter; provided, that
motorcycle racks hall be supplied with a metallic pan for the purpose of catching oil
drippings;
(f) Hitching posts placed by permission of the Director of Public Works upon sidewalks, in
accordance with pattern indicated in the design approved by end of file in the office of
said Director.
(g) Sockets to be placed upon the outer line of the sidewalk within the curb line for the

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Mayor's Office on Disability: Sidewalk Obstruction Policies Sections 22500(f) CVC AND 675(b) MPC

support of flagpoles to be used for the display of flags. The said sockets shall be
approved by, and installed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Director of
Public Works;
(h) "A" board or advertising signs, placed and displayed by authorized representatives of
the Armed Forces of the United States, in aid of their respective recruitment programs:
(i) A display stand placed on the sidewalk, within a certain area as set forth in Sections
153 and 183-1 of Article 5.3 of the Public Works Code, for display of fruits and
vegetables or nonfood merchandise. The display stand shall be approved by, placed
under the supervision of, and maintained under conditions established by, the Director of
Public Works. (Amended by Ord. 525-83, App. 11/4/83)
Section 69. Piling of Lumber and Timber Regulated.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to place or pile, or cause to be
placed or piled, any lumber or timber to a greater height than 35 feet measured
vertically from the general level of the ground on which it is placed or piled. (Added by
Ord. 1,075, App. 10/11/38)

Nov. 22. 09

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