Oversized Vehicle & Parking Ordinance Updates
The Port of San Diego has updated San Diego Unified Port District (SDUPD) Code Sections 8.09 and 8.11, which regulate parking along the San Diego Bay waterfront. Oversized vehicles include recreational vehicles, campers, trailers, and boat trailers. Amendments include an updated and clarified definition of an oversized vehicle, expanded oversized vehicle rules to include all Port areas around the San Diego Bay waterfront, and designated areas where oversized vehicles will and will not be permitted to park.
The Port’s goals are to improve public access to the bayfront, protect views of the bay, protect landscaping and the cleanliness of Port parks and parking areas, improve and maintain health and safety conditions, and offer a better balance of parking options for bayfront visitors and employees.
CLICK HERE TO VIEw OVERSIZED VEHICLE PARKING REGULATIONS ON TIDELANDS
Key Changes
Key amendments to the oversized vehicle parking regulations and administrative updates include:
- Updating the definition of oversized vehicles to vehicles greater than 20-feet long OR 7-feet wide OR 7.5-feet tall (This will apply to most camper vans, campers, buses, vehicles converted into campers, and other recreational/camping vehicles)
- Prohibiting oversized vehicles from standing, stopping or parking on Port tidelands where posted, except in designated oversized vehicle parking spaces, with some exceptions for commercial and service vehicles.
- Expanding regulations from Shelter Island in San Diego to all of tidelands.
- Converting 17 oversized vehicle parking spaces within Shoreline Park to regular parking spaces due to access, placement, and maintenance issues. The use of these spaces has resulted in significant damage to landscaping and curbs.
- Preserving the 10 oversized vehicle parking spaces on Shelter Island Drive.
- Preserving the designated parking for vehicles with attached boat trailers at all Port boat launch facilities.
- Adjusting time limitations on parking in various areas.
- Adding awnings, tents, and generators to the list of camping and personal items that are prohibited to be in parking spaces or adjacent driveways and sidewalks.
- Imposing a no parking limit from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. in lots outside of Shoreline Park and along the streets (some areas are currently 3-4:30 a.m. others are 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.). This change is to help further regulate no overnight parking and to provide consistent rules throughout the island.
- Clarifying where and when vehicles attached to boat trailers can park at the four boat launches on the bay, increasing standard parking availability by reducing some red curb (where public safety and access aren’t impeded) on Shelter Island Drive to gain additional standard parking spaces and loading zones for businesses on Shelter Island (for reference, a standard parking stall is approximately 18-20 feet in length and 8.5 - 9 feet wide).
Public and Stakeholder Outreach
The Port and parking consultant, Dixon Resources Unlimited, conducted stakeholder and community outreach to provide information about the existing regulation and conditions, and to gather input to help guide ordinance updates and other potential improvements.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the Board of Port Commissioners approved changes proposed by Port staff. See details below. If you have any questions, please email parking@portofsandiego.org.
Timeline
Port staff and Dixon team met with various stakeholders and community members including residents, visitors, business owners, and oversized vehicle owners.
Public meeting at which Port staff will present proposed changes to the ordinance based on the feedback collected to date during a meeting at the Port Administration Building. The public and stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide additional feedback.
Board of Port Commissioners approved ordinance updates.
New regulations are effective.
Informational and educational outreach period regarding updated ordinance.
Enforcement of updated regulations begins.