City of Commerce
Policy and Procedures for
Driveway Parking Permit Program
Approved by:
City of Commerce City Council
Date of Approval:
POLICY
Objective: It is the objective of this policy to accommodate the needs of the residential community in the City of Commerce for the issuance of single-family residential driveway parking permits. This Policy does not apply to properties with more than 1 (one) unit, industrial or commercial properties. Each application will be reviewed on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the Public Works Department.
Purpose: The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the process and criteria by which driveway parking permits may be issued by the Public Works Department and to identify the conditions which the permit applications may be approved. For purposes of this policy, the term “public street” shall not include alleys, whether public or private.
A driveway is a short private road that leads from a public road to a house or garage. The owner or lessee of property may park a vehicle in front of the owner's or lessee's private driveway when the vehicle displays a driveway parking permit. The driveway parking permit will allow the owner or lessee to block their own driveway by parking parallel to the curb or street as long as the vehicle does not extend over the sidewalk. It is preferred that the vehicle does not extend beyond the width of the driveway but if the vehicle does extend beyond the width of the driveway, the vehicle must extend over in front of the applicant’s own property frontage. Typical vehicle lengths will be longer than the standard driveway width of 10-feet.
Principles:
The decision to issue a driveway parking permit will be based on an evaluation of the property, driveway width, available parking options and the specific needs of the applicant.
The driveway for which the driveway parking permit is sought must be designated for the exclusive use of one (1) household.
The driveway for which the driveway parking permit is sought must be at least 10-feet in width.
Driveway parking permits are address and location specific. They may be transferred between vehicles registered to the same address Issuance of a driveway parking permit does not guarantee a parking space if there is insufficient space between other legally parked vehicles.
Requests for a driveway parking permit on industrial and commercial properties shall NOT be considered.
Requests for a driveway parking permit for apartments (or dwellings) with 2 or more units or for entrance to driveways on alleys shall NOT be considered.
Requests for a driveway parking permit where a driveway is shared with an adjacent property which would block access of the adjacent property’s driveway shall NOT be considered.
Driveway parking permits shall be issued by the Public Works Department on a calendar year basis, and each such permit shall expire at midnight (12:00 a.m.), December 31st following its issuance. The fee charged for driveway parking permits issued for less than twelve (12) months may be reduced in proportion to the time already lapsed in the current calendar year for which the permit would be valid. Fees paid for permits which are revoked by the Public Works Director may not be refunded. Permits may be renewed annually by mail.
A driveway parking permit will not be issued for driveways located within twenty-five feet (25') of a corner or within fifteen feet (15') of a fire hydrant.
A driveway parking permit will not be issued where parking in front of such driveway would pose a safety hazard in the opinion of the Public Works Director.
A driveway parking permit may be revoked at any time by the Public Works Director without notice or hearing if it is determined that parking authorized by the permit creates traffic safety or other public health and safety problems.
Driveway parking permits shall be displayed so as to be readily visible from the rearview mirror or by such other method as directed in instructions contained in the permit itself and shall include the address of the owner or lessee of the private property at which the vehicle is to be parked.
Permits are valid only at the address contained upon the permit and are effective while the holder owns or leases the property for which the permit is issued for one year and subject to annual permit fees.
All issued and existing driveway parking permits will be documented.
Driveway parking permits not properly displayed are subject to citation.
A driveway parking permit will not be valid where signs are posted restricting parking for any other reason, i.e., No parking this side, etc. or during certain hours.
The length of the vehicle utilizing the privileges granted by the driveway parking permit shall not extend over the sidewalk at any point.
It is preferred that the vehicle does not extend beyond the width of the driveway but if the vehicle does extend beyond the width of the driveway, the vehicle must extend over in front of the applicant’s own property frontage. The width of the driveway shall be that portion between the curb slopes, measured at the street level.
PROCEDURES
Screening and Submittal Process
To process an application for a driveway parking permit, an applicant must complete and submit a “Driveway Parking Permit Request Form” application available from the City, please refer to Attachment 1 for the application. Applications for driveway parking permits shall be reviewed and if appropriate, approved by the Public Works Department. An application for driveway parking permits shall require, at a minimum, the following information:
Name of the applicant for the driveway parking permit.
Address of the property where the driveway is located.
Proof of current residence or ownership of the property for which the permit is requested.
Identification of household vehicles, including license number, make and year of each vehicle registered at that address or to the household.
Identification of off-street parking spaces available at the property.
A certification stating the reason existing off-street parking at the property is insufficient to meet the applicant's parking needs.
Such additional information as the Public Works Director may require and the statement that misuse of a permit issued under this Section is grounds for revocation of the permit by the Public Works Director.
The length of the vehicle utilizing the privileges granted by the driveway parking permit shall not extend over the sidewalk at any point. It is preferred that the vehicle does not extend beyond the width of the property’s driveway but if the vehicle does extend beyond the width of the driveway, the vehicle must extend over in front of the applicant’s own property frontage. The width of the driveway shall be that portion between the curb slopes, measured at the street level.
Analysis of Application
Review submitted material from applicant.
Based on this policy and application, determine if there is adequate justification to allow or not allow the issuance of the driveway parking permit.
If not justified, after denial applicant will explore other options, such as the widening of the driveway at the applicant's or property owner's expense.
Review the existing accessibility of the applicant's driveway. If the driveway width is currently narrower than 10-feet, the application shall be denied.
Conduct site investigation. The site (applicant’s property) is surveyed for parking utilization and existing driveway width.
Evaluate existing parking conditions on the street block. How many street parking spaces are available (assume a vehicle length of 18-feet)? How many units are along the block? Review any written support documents submitted by the applicant from neighbors in the area. If necessary, confer with the adjacent neighbor and property owner regarding the possible driveway parking permit issuance.
The Public Works Department will complete the necessary administrative and field work and respond to the applicant in a timely manner from the date of a complete application submittal.
Appeals
If the request is denied by the Public Works Department, the request may be appealed by the applicant to the Traffic Commission. The applicant shall submit their request for appeal in writing to the Public Works Department within 14 calendar days from date of action.
Annual Re-Application
For a driveway parking permit to remain active, the applicant will be required to fill out and submit an annual application form to the Public Works Department and pay the annual parking permit fee.
The annual re-application period shall be from January to December every year.
Procedure Review
The Policy and Procedures for the Driveway Parking Permit Program will be reviewed by the Public Works Department periodically to determine their applicability and approach to customer service. Any significant changes to the procedures will be submitted to the Traffic Commission for review.
Conditions
If the Applicant meets all the above criteria, the following requirements must be met, and conditions agreed to before implementation:
The Applicant must observe and obey all parking regulations.
A driveway parking permit shall not be misused. Any misuse shall result in the removal of the permit. Misuse shall be determined by the City, in its discretion. In ascertaining whether a driveway parking permit has been misused, the City shall consider the following factors:
The length of time in which the applicant has left the vehicle in the space without operating it.
The length of the vehicle extends beyond the width of the driveway or over the sidewalk at any point. The width of the driveway shall be that portion between the curb slopes, measured at the street level.
Any other factors the City deems reasonable and relevant to the issue.
The driveway parking space shall not to be used for long-term storage of vehicles. The vehicle must be kept in good repair and shall be operational, as outlined in the California Vehicle Code. For the purpose of this policy, long-term storage of vehicles is defined as any vehicle parked or left standing on a public street in the same location and not driven or moved in excess of 14 consecutive calendar days.
The above conditions are "non-negotiable" and are deemed final.
Application and Permit Fees
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DRIVEWAY PARKING PERMIT REQUEST FORM
The owner or lessee of property may park a vehicle in front of the owner's or lessee's private driveway when the vehicle displays a driveway parking permit. The driveway parking permit will allow the owner or lessee to block their own driveway by parking parallel to the curb or street as long as the vehicle does not extend over the sidewalk. It is preferred that the vehicle does not extend beyond the width of the driveway but if the vehicle does extend beyond the width of the driveway, the vehicle must extend over in front of the applicant’s own property frontage. Misuse of permit is grounds for revocation of the permit by the Public Works Director.
Print NamePrint NameApplicant Name: _____________________________________________________Date: _________________________ Print Name
Print Name
Phone Number: ______________________________ Email: ________________________________________________ Property Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ Are you a tenant or owner of your residence? Tenant Owner Are the following attached to the application? (Name and address on all attachments must match the name and address on application, if not a valid reason must be given.) Yes No Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Proof of current residence or ownership of the property:
Yes No Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Copy of Valid CA Driver’s License or CA I.D. Card:
Please answer the following questions to help us determine the feasibility of your request:
Number of vehicles in household or at this address:
License Number Make Year
Is your residence part of an apartment complex or has more than 1 unit? Yes No Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Do you have a garage? If yes, how many parking spaces Yes No Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Do you have a driveway? If yes, how many parking spaces Why is the parking in your property insufficient to meeting your parking needs? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Applicant’s Signature: _____________________________________________ Date:_____________________________ OCTOBER 2022
CITY OF COMMERCE | Page 2 of 8
2535 Commerce Way Commerce, CA 90040 www.ci.commerce.ca.us (323) 722-4805 Policy and Procedures for
Driveway Parking Permit Program
Policy and Procedures for Driveway Parking Permit Program Public Works Department