OVERSIZED VEHICLE ORDINANCE

The City of Signal Hill has added a new chapter, 10.30, to the Signal Hill Municipal Code restricting the parking of oversized vehicles, trailers, and campers on public streets.   This includes, but is not limited to, recreational vehicles, buses, limousines, and boat trailers.  The ordinance is designed to discourage the use of public streets for the storage of oversized vehicles.

The ordinance applies to vehicles and trailers that are more than 20 feet in length or 7 feet in width or 8 feet in height.  Exceptions are made for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles that may slightly exceed these dimensions (i.e. Hummer H2).  Exemptions are also provided to oversized vehicles parked on a public street due to mechanical breakdown (not to exceed 72 hours), commercial vehicles making pickups or deliveries, tow trucks in the course of providing tow services, or public and utility vehicles in the course of providing services or any public emergency vehicle.   

Oversized Vehicle Parking Permits will provide the owners of oversized vehicles and trailers the opportunity, for a limited time, to park the oversized vehicle or trailer on a public street or highway directly in front of (or the side of the property if it is a corner lot) their residence, and to allow an out-of-town visitor who owns an oversized vehicle or trailer to park on a public street or highway directly in front of (or the side of the property if it is a corner lot) the residence which the out-of-town visitor is visiting for a limited time period. 

Oversized Vehicle Parking Permits can be obtained at the Signal Hill Police Department for a fee of $20.00, and will be valid for a period of up to 72 hours, with the exception of Oversized Vehicle Handicap Parking Permits, which will be valid for a period of one year.   Permit applicants can request two 72 hour Oversized Vehicle Parking Permits at one time.  Permit applicants also have the option of obtaining two 36 hour permits for the price of one 72 hour permit.  This permit will enable the applicant to ready their vehicle prior to leaving on a trip and then to return after their trip and unload the vehicle.  Residents of the City of Signal Hill will be issued no more than 12 Oversized Vehicle Parking Permits in a calendar year for vehicles registered at the resident’s address.  A maximum of six Oversized Vehicle Parking Permits per calendar year will be issued to non-residents and/or vehicles not registered within the City of Signal Hill.   

The ordinance also prohibits electrical cords, extension cords, hoses, cables, or other items to be run across, above, or on the parkway or sidewalk from a residential or commercial property to an oversized vehicle parked on a public street. 

The new Oversized Vehicle Parking Ordinance will become effective on December 12, 2008, with a 60-day grace period, during which no citations will be issued for violations of the ordinance.  Beginning Monday, February 16, 2009, illegally parked oversized vehicles will receive parking tickets.

For questions regarding the new Oversized Vehicle Ordinance, please contact the Signal Hill Police Department at (562) 989-7200 or view the Signal Hill Municipal Code, Chapter 10.30, at http://www.cityofsignalhill.org/city_clerk.