Parking

How to Park Legally in San Bruno

This brochure provides guidance to help drivers comply with San Bruno parking regulations, with the goal of helping drivers avoid getting a citation or having their vehicle towed.

Residential Permit Parking Program (RPPP)

Residents have expressed concerns over the lack of available parking within residential neighborhoods throughout the City at various City's public meetings and requested the City to evaluate the implementation of a residential permit parking program. The City Council and the Traffic Safety and Parking Committee (TSPC) members formed a joint subcommittee in March 2017 to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the residential permit parking program and discussed the process and guidelines to establish such a program. Several additional meetings were held along with a Study Session with City Council in July 2019 to obtain input on the detail policies such as: enactment process, enforcement window, quantity of permits, permit cost, visit/guest parking permits, parking exemptions, and implementation process.

The City Council has approved the residential parking permit program and its guidelines. Residents interested in a residential perming parking district must follow the process outlined in the guidelines and as stated in the San Bruno Municipal Code Chapter 7.18 unless otherwise specifically modified in the guidelines.

In most cases, the total process from initial request to establishment of a permit parking district may take approximately six to nine months. A maximum of two permits can be issued per dwelling unit. Only primary dwelling units will be eligible to receive a permit; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will not be eligible.

Parking Restrictions

The San Bruno Municipal Code Section 7.16.020 defines the following curb markings for parking restrictions on public streets:

  • Red: No stopping, standing, or parking
  • Yellow: Freight and passenger loading
  • Green: 24 minute, short term
  • White: Passenger loading or depositing mail
  • Blue: Accessible parking

From time to time, the City is asked to establish a parking restriction zone or to establish time limited parking on City streets. Such requests shall be processed and evaluated by the Public Works Department following the procedures and criteria described as follows:

Parking Restriction CategoryPolicy
A: Blue Curb Handicapped Parking/Accessible Path of Travel Zone
  • There is no on-site ability to provide handicapped parking
  • Other considerations:
    • Is existing on-street parking congested (>85% of existing parking capacity occupied at peak parking demand time)
    • Does requesting party possess Handicapped Parking Placard?
    • Have abutting property owners/tenants provided written concurrence regarding proposed parking restriction?
    • Parking to be evaluated to peak demand times for that land use, street and/or neighborhood, within proximity of the congested affected area
    • Would the proposed parking restriction be in compliance with ADA requirements?
B: Time-Limited Parking Establishment of new time limit or zone, or Change in existing time limit or zone:
  • 1-Hour
  • 2-Hour
  • 6-Hour, etc.
  • Only considered in areas of commercial land use designation
  • Time-limited parking will be based on demand established through study (parking survey, parking demand and occupancy data)
  • Evaluation should also consider associated impacts from change in parking time limit
    • Consideration should also be given for unique and isolated locations
  • If applicable, parking restriction requests shall be consistent with the Transit Corridor Plan, latest General Plan, and existing residential permit parking policy (City Municipal Code Chapter 7.18)
C: Short Term Parking
  • Green Curb: 20-Minute Zone
  • Yellow Curb: Loading Zone
  • White Curb: Passenger Loading Zone
  • Only considered in areas of commercial land use designation
  • There is no on-site ability to provide requested short term parking
  • Existing on-street parking is congested (greater than 85% of existing parking capacity occupied)
  • If applicable, parking restriction requests shall be consistent with the Transit Corridor Plan and latest General Plan
  • Prefer written concurrence from abutting property owners and tenants
D: Red Curb: No Parking Zone
  1. Only considered for arterial and collector streets
  2. Locations with speed limit over 25 miles per hour
  3. Safety sight distance deficiency or collision history showing pattern that could be corrected with No Parking designation
E: No Parking Adjacent to Driveway
  • Generally not considered
  • Driveway widening, as an alternative, instead of red curb to improve access to driveway when it is in compliance with applicable City Municipal Codes
F: Tall/Large Vehicle No Parking Zone
  • Not considered. This is covered through City Municipal Code Sections 7.24.010 and 7.24.050
  • Not necessary to establish a new restriction category. Utilize existing design criteria to address sight distance issues

Fiscal Impact

  • Initial application fee of $247; subject to change pending on master fee schedule
  • If staff determines the requested parking restriction benefits the impacted community, then City may assume responsibility for costs associated with establishment and maintenance of parking restriction
  • If staff determines the requested parking restriction only benefits the requesting party, then requesting party agrees to be responsible for the costs associated with establishment, maintenance, annual renewal, and removal of parking restriction