Downey Commercial Vehicle Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Downey Municipal Code Section 3173 prohibits commercial motor vehicles, commercial equipment, and trailers from being parked, stored, or left standing in violation of city regulations. In residential zones, commercial vehicles — generally defined as vehicles used for business purposes or bearing commercial markings — are not permitted to park on public streets or be stored on residential properties beyond what is incidental to normal delivery activity.

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 8,500 pounds or more are restricted to operating on streets designated as truck routes. Parking such vehicles on residential streets is prohibited except for active loading and unloading. When a vehicle qualifies as both an oversized vehicle under Section 3120.5 and a commercial vehicle under Section 3173, the more restrictive of the two regulations applies. The home occupation code reinforces this by prohibiting home-based businesses from using commercial vehicles for deliveries to or from the residence beyond what is normal for a residential address (such as USPS, UPS, or FedEx).

Civil penalties for violations are assessed under California Vehicle Code Section 40200 rather than the city's standard infraction process. The City Manager or designee may establish no-parking zones for commercial vehicles with posted signage; vehicles parked in such zones are subject to towing. One exception applies: commercial vehicles operated by registered transient guests of a motel or hotel may park in Planning Commission-approved designated vehicle parking areas on the business premises.