Guide to Laws about Parking RVs, trailers, commercial vehicles and other oversized vehicles in the Los Angeles area

The following generally to public streets, and not necessarily on private property. Keep in mind, as always, if the sign says you can’t park there, you can’t park there. Also see our full Guide to Parking Laws.

Can you park a trailer, RV, or oversize vehicle in the city of Los Angeles?

Trailers or semi-trailers may not be parked throughout the city of Los Angeles except for the following:¹LAMC 80.69.1

• Recreational vehicles (RVs), or campers
• Those less than 22 feet long
• when loading/unloading
• when you have a permit (such as for filming)

Also, many areas in the city prohibit oversize vehicle parking from 2am-6am, which would be indicated by signs. In Los Angeles, an “oversize vehicle” is defined as longer than 22 feet or higher than 84 inches. ²LAMC 80.69.4

Heavy duty commercial vehicles are prohibited in residential areas except to load/unload goods or carry out other business in the immediate vicinity³LAMC 80.69.2

Can you park a trailer, RV, or oversize vehicle in unincorporated Los Angeles County (including Marina del Rey and Altadena)?

In unincorporated LA County (Where is unincorporated LA County?), including the unincorporated parts of Ladera Heights, View Park/Windsor Hills, Marina del Rey, Altadena, Long Beach, South Whittier/East Whittier/East La Mirada, West Whittier/Los Nietos, and Whittier Districts, you must get a permit to park an oversize vehicle on the street. Oversize is defined as wider than 8 feet, higher than 7.5 feet, or longer than 20 feet.⁴LACMC 15.64.075

Also, trailers and semitrailers may not be parked on the street unless they are at all times attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer.⁵LACMC 15.64.100

Can you park a trailer, RV, or oversize vehicle in the city of Santa Monica?

In the city of Santa Monica, you can’t park an oversized commercial vehicle (defined as higher than 7 feet or wider than 7 feet) in any residential area, except for active loading/unloading.⁶SMMC 3.12.870 Also, throughout the city, you can’t park a trailer or “large vehicle” (over 8 feet wide, or over 8 feet high, or over 20 feet long) during the hours of 9PM – 6AM, unless you have a permit.⁷SMMC 3.12.860

Can you park a trailer, RV, or oversize vehicle in the city of Malibu?

In Malibu, commercial oversized vehicles must be moved at least every 2 hours to at least 1,000 ft away from the prior spot.⁸MMC 10.18.030

Non-commercial oversized vehicles and trailers may not park at the same spot for more than 2 hours between the hours of 12am (midnight) and 5am. They must move at least 1,000 ft away from the prior spot.⁹MMC 10.18.030

But some exceptions are as follows:

• A vehicle owned or operated by a utility, whether privately or publicly owned, when used in the course of business.
• A vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency when used in the course of official government business.
• A vehicle that has been issued an authorized emergency vehicle permit by the commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, when that vehicle is used in the course of business.
• Commercial oversize vehicles and trailers making pickups or deliveries of goods, wares, and merchandise from or to any building or structure located on the street or highway in a residential district.
• Commercial oversize vehicles and trailers delivering materials to be used in the actual and bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling, or construction or any building or structure located on the street or highway for which a valid building permit, where required, has been obtained.
• A vehicle or trailer that is visibly displaying a valid permit issued pursuant to MMC Section 10.18.050.

An oversized vehicle is defined as longer than 23 feet, or more than 80 inches wide, or higher than 82 inches. But this does not include pickup trucks as long as they do not have an oversized camper shell.¹⁰MMC 10.18.020