What Is Daylighting?

“Daylighting” is a traffic safety measure that improves visibility near intersections and crosswalks by keeping parked vehicles and other obstructions farther away. Creating clear sightlines helps drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians better see one another, reducing the risk of collisions and improving overall roadway safety.

Key Provisions of AB 413

• 20-Foot No-Parking Requirement: Vehicles may not park, stop, or idle within 20 feet of the approach side of any crosswalk, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked.
• No Red Curbs Required: Under AB 413, the restriction is enforceable even if curbs are not painted red and signage is not present. Drivers are still required to follow the 20-foot rule.

Why It Matters

Daylighting is designed to improve safety and help prevent avoidable crashes.

• For Drivers: Clearer visibility at intersections provides more time to see and react to pedestrians, cyclists, and approaching vehicles.
• For Pedestrians and Cyclists: Improved sightlines make it easier to be seen, especially in busy or high-traffic areas.

How will it be enforced?

• Drivers must follow the 20-foot parking restriction at all times, even if curbs are not painted red or signs are missing.
• Enforcement will target vehicles parked too close to intersections or crosswalks where visibility and pedestrian safety may be impacted.
• Violations may result in fines or penalties, regardless of whether curb markings have been updated.

On-Street Parking Hours of Enforcement  

Monday - Saturday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday: 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm

24 HR Enforcement by SLO PD in Residential Districts and Downtown

Curb Color Meaning

Red Curbs

Red curbs are no parking zones, which means no stopping, standing or parking at any time.

No portion of the vehicle, including the bumper, can cover a red curb, and there is no parking anytime in these zones.

Yellow Curbs

 General regulation: commercial loading only. Vehicles with a commercial license plate are allowed to park in yellow zones, only if they are actively loading or unloading freight, for a maximum of 30 minutes

Yellow curb zone restrictions are in effect Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted on signs; all other parking regulations are in effect outside hours noted

Vehicles without a commercial license plate may load and unload passengers or baggage in these zones, but only for a maximum of 5 minutes

White Curbs

A white curb means the area is a loading zone, where you can park for a short time while unloading things like passengers, mail or luggage. Loading zones are short term, and have a cap of around 3 minutes, except at hotels which allow people to park for around 10 minutes.

There is no long term parking anytime in these zones.

Blue Curbs (Accessible Parking Zones)

Blue curbs are reserved for people with disabilities with a disabled person parking placard or plate issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. No one else can park at blue curbs.

72HR Ordinance/Abandon Vehicle: 

To report an abandoned vehicle or a vehicle that has been parked without moving for a period of 72 hours or more, please contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department directly at 805-781-7312. Please include a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, and the address of where it is parked.

Overnight Street Parking and Street Sweeping

No parking from 3:00 am – 5:00 am in the downtown core. Click here for more information about street sweeping.

Automated License Plate Recognition: Click here to learn more

Effective July 23, 2018, the Parking Enforcement began using Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology to conduct parking enforcement.

The Parking Officer will no longer need to physically “chalk/mark” tires to enforce time zone parking.  The use of ALPR technology allows parking officers to enforce parking regulations more quickly and efficiently by electronically chalking/marking vehicles. This should result in more parking spaces being available for downtown customers, residents and visitors. 

Additional Rules and Regulations 

Municipal Codes and Rules

Fee Schedule for Violations 

Violations Enforced by the Parking Services Division: Click here to learn more