REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Thoby Archer, Lieutenant and Kimberly Rodriguez, Management Analyst
Subject:
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Approve for Introduction Ordinance No. 4338 Amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 10.44.060 – Oversized Vehicle Parking Regulations
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Statement of Issue:
Staff recommends amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 10.44.060 to clarify and expand regulations concerning oversized vehicle parking on public city streets and alleys. The proposed changes add a new restriction on non-motorized trailers and make the language clearer to ensure it can be better enforced. This addresses community concerns and meets operational needs.
Financial Impact:
There is no direct financial impact associated with the adoption of this ordinance. The amendment does not require a change to the existing parking bail schedule.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve for introduction Ordinance No. 4338, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Amending Section 10.44.060 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code Relating to Oversized Vehicle Parking.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Oversized vehicle parking remains a recurring issue in the City of Huntington Beach, particularly in residential neighborhoods where large vehicles and trailers can obstruct visibility, limit street access, and negatively impact neighborhood aesthetics. The existing language in Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 10.44.060 restricts the parking of motor vehicles that exceed 22 feet in length or 84 inches in width, and prohibits recreational vehicles of any size, as defined by the California Health and Safety Code. However, the current ordinance language is not specific enough and has caused confusion among residents about which vehicles are actually restricted. Because the wording “over 84 inches wide” appears without being clearly linked to the 22-foot length standard, some have interpreted the code to mean that only vehicles both over 22 feet long and over 84 inches wide are prohibited. This has created a loophole that members of the public have used to dispute citations, particularly in cases involving vehicles that exceed one dimension limit but not the other. Additionally, the ordinance lacks specific provisions addressing non-motorized trailers, further complicating enforcement.
Ordinance No. 4338 addresses these concerns by making two key updates to the existing code. First, Section A has been revised to clearly state that vehicles are restricted if they exceed either 22 feet in length or 84 inches in width, and to clarify how both dimensions are measured, specifying that length and width must be taken from the furthest or widest point of the vehicle, including any extensions or attachments. This clarification will ensure consistent enforcement and eliminate ambiguity about which vehicles qualify as oversized. Second, a new Section C has been added to prohibit the parking of any non-motorized trailer, regardless of size or whether it is attached to a vehicle. This addition aims to close a common enforcement gap and provide tools to manage the long-term storage of trailers, such as boat trailers and utility trailers.
The revised ordinance maintains the City's flexibility to grant exemptions through HBMC Section 10.44.062 and 10.44.065, allowing residents to obtain temporary permits for oversized vehicles in certain cases, including loading and unloading, visitor accommodations, or short-term work or medical needs.
Ordinance No. 4338 will take effect 30 days after adoption, in accordance with California Government Code Section 36937.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 8 - Public Safety, Strategy A - Community-wide comprehensive risk reduction program to optimize public safety's emergency response and reduce the number of calls.
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance No. 4338
2. HBMC 10.44.060
3. Exceptions to 10.44.060