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

The City of Ojai Municipal Code restricts the parking of oversized commercial vehicles on public streets in residential zones. Ojai is a small resort and artistic community of approximately 7,600 residents, and its downtown grid and residential neighborhoods feature many streets that are significantly narrower than modern California municipal standards. Several residential streets in the Ojai Valley lack curb-and-gutter improvements, have mature oak and pepper tree canopies that limit vertical clearance, and cannot safely accommodate large commercial vehicles without creating traffic obstructions and sight-line hazards. The city's parking restrictions reflect both safety needs and community character preservation.

Oversized commercial vehicles — generally those exceeding standard passenger vehicle dimensions, including box trucks, flatbed trucks, tractor-trailers, heavy construction equipment, and large work vans with mounted equipment — are prohibited from parking on residential streets overnight. During daytime hours, short-term parking directly associated with active loading, unloading, or delivery operations is permitted, but the vehicle must be removed promptly upon completion of the activity. Contractors performing work in Ojai's residential neighborhoods are expected to return their commercial vehicles to a commercial storage yard, their place of business, or a non-residential property at the end of each workday.

For construction projects requiring temporary staging of large vehicles or equipment near a residential worksite, the city's Public Works Department may issue a temporary encroachment or oversize vehicle permit on a case-by-case basis. These permits typically specify the duration, location, and conditions under which the vehicle may remain. Parking enforcement in Ojai is handled by the Ojai Police Department, which is staffed by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office under a contract services arrangement. Residents may report commercial vehicle parking concerns by contacting the Ojai Police Department at (805) 646-1414.