Culver City, CA

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Apply & Renew Online for Residential Parking Permits

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For Parking Permit Program questions and information, please call Richard Solis, in the Engineering Division's Traffic Engineering Section, at (310) 253-5615, send your written correspondence to Parking Permit Program, Traffic Engineering, 9770 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232, or to richard.solis@culvercity.org.

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Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Are there any plans to from change manual chalking for parking enforcement?
Yes, there are plans to use technology to change the existing manual chalking method used in parking enforcement. The City Council awarded a contract to a consultant to provide automated digital chalking and parking enforcement on two parking enforcement vehicles. The new enforcement vehicles will be operational in the very near future. The Police Department will use these two vehicles to drive all the parking-restricted streets in the City, at residential-driving speeds, and capture the license plates and location of all vehicles on parking-restricted streets. On follow-up enforcement visits, vehicles not registered in the permit parking program will be cited, if they exceeded the posted parking restrictions and if they do not have a guest parking permit displayed.

It is anticipated that parking enforcement will be more frequent than by use of the present manual method. It is also anticipated that greater compliance to the posted permit parking restrictions will be achieved. Please ensure that you and your guests display a valid permit to avoid being cited.
Are there any plans to make parking permits available online?
Yes, there are plans to make the program available online. The City Council awarded a contract to a consultant to develop a web-based permit parking management system; you will be able to manage your household’s parking permits through it. It is anticipated that the system will be available for use by the participating residents and City staff in the very near future. You are encouraged to provide your e-mail address so that we may keep you informed on the status.
Can I get a refund if I no longer require a permit(s)?
The adopted rules and regulations do not accommodate refunds under any circumstances.
How can I get a replacement permit if mine is lost or stolen?
Simply fill out a lost/stolen parking permit replacement form at the Engineering counter at City Hall and pay a replacement fee of $20.00 per permit. The lost or stolen permit will then be revoked and the Culver City Police Department will be notified, ensuring that it can no longer be used.
Is there a minimum amount of neighborhood participation necessary to maintain the permit parking restrictions in place?
Yes, there is a provision in the Program that requires a minimum of 66% of the dwelling units on the block purchase parking permits in order to maintain the parking restrictions. An audit can be conducted at any time during the year, and blocks that do not meet the minimum participation will be notified in writing, and given 30 days to raise participation to the minimum required. If after expiration of the 30 days’ notice participation has not been raised to the minimum of 66%, the City Engineer may dissolve the parking restrictions administratively on such block(s). Once permit parking restrictions have been dissolved, a new petition to re-establish permit parking restrictions will not be considered for one year from the date of dissolution.
How can I rescind the parking permit restrictions on my block?
The permit parking restrictions on your block were adopted as part of a democratic petition process. It may be removed by the same process. A petition with 66% consensus is required from the residences of the block with existing parking restrictions. The required City form petition must be used, and is available from the Traffic Engineering Section by calling (310) 253-5615.
Why does my block have parking permit restrictions?
Parking permit restrictions were installed through a petition process, at the request of a supermajority of 75% of the residents of each block that has such parking restrictions. Such parking restrictions may be removed by a petition submitted by a supermajority of 66% of the residents of the block containing parking restrictions, if the majority of the residents do not wish to have the parking restrictions.
How does the parking permit protect my vehicle from being cited?
The permit exempts the vehicle on which it is displayed from the posted time-limited parking restrictions, but only if the posted sign contains the phrase “permit exempt” or “except by permit” or other similar language. It does not exempt the vehicle from any other parking restrictions, regulations, or laws.
I’m planning a gathering in my home. What do I do to make sure my visitors don’t get a citation?
If the number of vehicles you expect your visitors to arrive in can be accommodated with the visitor paper passes you have on-hand, you may simply issue them the paper passes. If you don’t have sufficient paper passes, you may purchase 25 visitor paper passes (per calendar quarter), at the rate of $1 per permit in 2014. Between the supply you have on-hand and the available purchase of 25 more, most gatherings will be accommodated.
Can I share my visitor paper passes with my friend who works nearby so that he can park on my street?
No, you may not. Visitor paper passes are for your visitors, only. The visitor paper passes indicate this limitation at the bottom. Misuse of visitor paper passes will not prevent your friend’s vehicle from being cited when he displays the paper pass when he is at his place of employment in the vicinity. Additionally, your visitor paper passes may not be given or sold to any employees who work anywhere in the City, or to anyone who is not your visitor at your home while their vehicle is parked on a parking-restricted street anywhere in the City. Misuse of the visitor paper passes (and any other parking permits) will be cause for suspension or revocation of your household’s permits.
Can I use my visitor paper passes on my own vehicles?
No, you may not. Visitor paper passes are for your visitors’ use, only. The paper passes indicate this limitation at the bottom. Misuse of visitor paper passes by placing them on your own vehicles will result in your vehicle being cited.
Where should the Visitor Parking Permit be placed within my visitor’s vehicle?
There are two types of Visitor Parking Permits under the Program:
- Visitor paper passes must be placed on the driver’s side of the dashboard and be oriented so as to be clearly visible and readable through the windshield by Parking Enforcement Officers. Visitor paper passes must have all fields filled out in ink and contain no erasures, alterations, or other visible changes.
- The other type of Visitor Parking Permits available, are hang-tags. They measure 8-1/2”x11”, and are oversize to prevent your visitor from inadvertently driving away with it – the hang-tag needs to be removed before placing the vehicle in motion, as required by State law, under penalty of a citation. The hang-tags do not require any data to be written on them; they are simply hung from the rear-view mirror in your visitor’s vehicle, so that they are visible and readable through the windshield by Parking Enforcement Officers. Up to three Visitor hang-tags may be purchased per qualifying residence, at the rate established by the City Council.
How many Guest Passes can I get?
Residents who reside on a parking-restricted street in a parking District may obtain 36 one-day visitor paper passes per calendar quarter, or 12 three-day visitor paper passes per calendar quarter – each type of permit cover the same number of calendar days. The total of 36 calendar days per calendar quarter may be accomplished by any combination of one-day and three-day visitor paper parking passes you desire.

The first 144 one-day visitor paper passes or 48 three-day visitor paper passes are free of charge (distributed as 36 one-day or 12 three-day paper passes per calendar quarter). Additionally, you may purchase 144 one-day visitor paper passes (12 per calendar month, at the rate established by the City Council).

For special events at your home, such as for birthday parties or other gatherings, you may purchase at the rate established by the City Council, 25 one-day visitor paper passes per calendar quarter. Further, in case of a funeral reception, the celebration of a memorial, or the like, at your home, you may obtain 25 one-day visitor paper passes per year.

In total, you may obtain a combined 413 visitor paper passes, between the free and purchased visitor paper passes, during any calendar year.

The City Council may, at their discretion, modify the fees for visitor paper passes in the future.
For how long are Visitor Paper Parking Passes valid?
One-day visitor paper passes are valid for the one-calendar day for which the qualifying resident issues them. Three-day visitor paper passes will only be valid for the three consecutive calendar days the issuing resident indicates in the fields on the paper pass. With either visitor paper pass, please be sure to fill out all fields on the visitor parking passes in ink – if fields are left blank or not filled out in ink, the visitor pass will be invalid and your visitor’s vehicle may be cited. Additionally, visitor paper passes with erasures are null and void.
Can my guests and visitors park on my street without being cited?
Yes, your guests may park beyond the posted time-limited parking restriction indicated on the posted signs on your parking-restricted street and any other parking-restricted street within your District, if you issue them and they display a Visitor Paper Pass that is properly filled-out in pen, and compliant with the instructions on the paper pass, when they will be parked for a longer period of time than the posted restriction allows.
Who can buy parking permits?
The City Council, by Resolution, mandates that only persons who reside on a street with parking restrictions within an adopted parking permit District are eligible to purchase parking permits. A maximum of four annual permits may be purchased by each household at a cost of $20 for each of the first two parking permits. The fee for Permit three and four are $100/$222 and $150/$222, respectively, depending on the number of California licensed drivers residing in the applicant’s home. The fee may be adjusted annually by the City Council.
How long does it take to obtain my parking permit?
Generally, new applicants to the program, who submit all the required documentation, will be able to purchase a parking permit over-the-counter, and the time it takes will vary depending on how many other customers arrived before you, the complexity of the matter for which they need assistance, and the number of staff available at the front counter. Occasionally, our public counter is closed for lunch; please call (310) 253-5600 prior to your arrival, to confirm that we are open during your lunch time. Also, City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.

During November and December, existing program participants must renew their permits by mail—renewal applications submitted prior to December 15th, will be fulfilled prior to December 31st. If we receive your renewal application in the mail after December 15th, you will receive your permits in January.
I just moved to a street with permit parking in Culver City. Can I obtain a parking permit if my vehicle has out-of state license plates or if the vehicle registration lists a different address?
Please be aware that State law requires that you update your home address with the Department of Motor Vehicles and update your vehicles registration within 10 days from the day you move. Please see Q3 on page one of this F.A.Q., for assistance on updating your address and vehicle’s registration with the California DMV.

You will need to provide the documents indicated in Q2, at the time of application. While your information is being updated, you may obtain 45-day temporary parking permit(s) which will prevent your vehicle from being cited, when used appropriately. The purpose of the temporary parking permit is to allow time for your new registration to arrive, and has a specific date of expiration. The temporary permit is subject to revocation. If you do not provide the evidence and updated California DMV vehicle registration, your temporary parking permit will not be renewed. However, if you need a short extension due to extenuating circumstances, please request it in writing.

Once you submit the updated California DMV registration, you will be provided annual resident’s static cling parking permit(s).
Why must the parking permit be adhered in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield?
The California Vehicle Code, Section 26708(a)(2), states that, “No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.” However, Section 26708(b)(3) states that “this section does not apply to signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.” The static cling parking permit is compliant in size, and the instructions provided to Program participants for the permit’s installation comply with State law.
Why are the Parking Permits numbered?
The parking permits are serialized and can be linked to the vehicle’s registered owners, residence address, home District, and one or more registered vehicles at the resident’s home address. Your parking permit is valid, when properly displayed on a vehicle registered with the Program and linked with the specific parking permit, on any parking-restricted street in the District in which you reside, which is also identified in the parking permit. The street name on which you reside is no longer indicated on the permit starting in 2014, due to new regulations adopted by the City Council in November of 2013. Any alteration of the permit or misuse of it, will cause the permit to be revoked, a citation may be issued, and the household’s permits may be suspended.
Where in my vehicle must I place my static cling parking permit?
Per California Vehicle Code Section 26708(3)(b), the parking permit must be adhered to the lower left hand corner of the vehicle’s windshield (from the perspective of the driver), facing out so that it is visible to Parking Enforcement personnel. Parking Enforcement personnel will look for it only in this location. If it is anywhere else, including on the dashboard, it will not be considered properly displayed, and the vehicle will be cited. If your vehicle is cited because your parking permit is not in the proper place, the citation will be considered proper and valid. A diagram indicating the proper placement of the 2014 parking permit is printed on the last page of this FAQ, and will be available by request from the Engineering Division office.
For how long is my parking permit valid?
Annual parking permit hang tags are valid through December 31 of the year noted on the permit.

What is different about this year’s permits?

The new 2017 parking permit is exactly the same type of permit as was used in 2016. The only difference will be the color of the ‘static cling’ permit. This year’s resident’s parking permit will be orange in color. As in the last three years, in-home service providers to your residence, such as baby sitters, housekeepers, nannies, and medical care givers, may obtain their own permit. Each will need to fill out an application (available for download at the website indicated in Q1), submit California DMV registrations, and provide certain proof of employment at your residence (or in-lieu written statements from you and from your in-home service provider), and pay the City Council-adopted permit fee. Also available is an 8-1/2"x11" Visitor hang-tag; up to three may be purchased per qualifying residence, at the Council-adopted fee. Parking permits are also available for a fee, for 1) Summertime Students/House Guests, up to two per qualifying residence, for a duration of three months; 2) Contractors and construction workers, 30-day duration, additional permits may be purchased upon proof of continuing construction work. For additional details on the new parking permits, please see the document entitle Summary of Some Salient Point, New Permit Parking Program, mailed to each Program participant’s residence in November.

Another aspect related to the Program is that any vehicle that is parked on a time-limited parking-restricted street (1-hour, 2-hour, etc.), may park on that street, and on any other parking-restricted street within the same District, only once per day per District. This means that any vehicle that parks up to the posted time limit must relocate to a different District after expiration of the allowed parking time. Once parked at a different District, the vehicle must relocate to a third District upon reaching the posted time-limit. To remain parked in the same District, on any other parking-restricted street within that District, even if it is a different street than the first instance of parking, constitutes a violation and the vehicle may be cited and towed.

Where is my parking permit valid?
Within your own permit parking District, your parking permit allows you to park for a period of time beyond the time limit indicated on the signs in the District (1-hour, 2- hours, or other), but only when the signs posted indicate "Except By Permit" or "Permit Exempt." Your parking permit indicates your District number. Your parking permit is valid on any parking-restricted street in the District in which you reside -- your parking permit is not valid on any other District than your own.

If the posted time-limited parking restriction signs do not indicate "Except By Permit" or "Permit Exempt,” – such as on commercial streets or segments -- then your parking permit does not give you privileges to park on such blocks beyond the posted parking limitation. In this case, you are required to comply with the parking limitation posted. Similarly, your permit does not exempt you from parking at fire hydrants, red curbs, blue curbs, loading zones, or when street sweeping occurs, among other restrictions. Enforcement of the permit parking restrictions does not have a grace period. Additionally, please be aware that possessing a valid parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.
How do I notify the California DMV when I change my address?
California law states that you must notify the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days of changing your address. There is no charge to change your address, and you may notify the DMV by any of the following ways:
1. Complete your change of address online.
2. Visit any DMV office, complete a change of address form, and give it to a technician. The technician will give you a Change of Address Certificate card (DL 43) to complete and carry with your license.
3. Download the Change of Address form DMV 14 from the DMV website. Complete the information, and mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
4. Call any DMV office at 1 (800) 777-0133 and request that a change of address form be mailed to you. It will take 5 days for you to receive it. Complete the information required on the form, then mail it to the address listed at the top of the form.
If you do 3 or 4 above, type or write in ink your new address on a small piece of paper, sign and date it. Carry this piece of paper with your license. Do not tape or staple the change of address information to your driver license.
What documentation do I need to provide when purchasing my parking permit?
You will need 1) a valid California DMV registration for each vehicle for which you will purchase a parking permit (up to four). The address on your registration(s) must be the same as your residence address on your Permit Parking Program application, as required by California State law, or you will be provided a 45-day temporary parking permit for any non-compliant registrations so that you may pursue complying with California law. Once an updated registration is submitted, you will be issued an annual static cling resident’s permit for the subject vehicle(s); 2) two proofs to substantiate that you reside in the permit parking district, such as Deed, property tax bill, California Driver’s License, rental/lease agreement, or other formal documents. To reiterate, your vehicles’ registration must show your Culver City home address.
Who manages the Parking Permit Program?
The Program, adopted by the City Council, is operated and managed by the Engineering Division.