A New Rule Could Fine You for Parking too Close to a crosswalk in California
Across the U.S., cities and states have been tightening street-safety rules around intersections and pedestrian visibility. In California, that now includes a stricter parking rule near crosswalks that can bring a $63 citation in Los Angeles County.
California is now enforcing the daylighting rule
California’s daylighting law took effect in January 2025, and it bars drivers from parking within 20 feet of the approach side of a marked crosswalk, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. If a curb extension is present, that distance drops to 15 feet, which officials describe as about the length of a four-door sedan.
The statewide grace period ended in March 2025, and Los Angeles County’s local grace period ended in November 2025, according to the same department. Southern California parking enforcement agencies have now said they are stepping up ticketing rather than continuing education-only warnings.
In Los Angeles County, the fine for the violation is $63, officials said. The rule applies even if the curb is not painted red and even if there is no nearby sign marking the no-parking space.
What California drivers should expect locally
For drivers in Southern California, the practical change is simple: a legal parking space may no longer be legal if it sits too close to a marked crosswalk. Agencies in the region have said enforcement is increasing now that the education period has ended.
What is confirmed is the measurement standard and the $63 citation amount in Los Angeles County. What is not fully known is whether every city in California is issuing tickets at the same pace, and agencies have not released a comprehensive statewide list of current enforcement hotspots.
Costa Mesa offers one example of how cities handled the transition. Its police department handed out public flyers and produced online videos about the rule, and public affairs manager Roxi Fyad said residents had time to get familiar with the change.
Why the rule exists and what it means
The purpose of daylighting is to improve visibility at intersections by keeping the area nearest the crosswalk clear. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said legal parking near crosswalks helps pedestrians and motorists see one another and keeps roadways accessible.
Officials point to collision data behind the change. Nearly 36% of pedestrian deaths occur at intersections, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department fact sheet, and Long Beach has said 65% of all traffic deaths and serious injuries there are tied to pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist collisions.
For residents, that means crosswalk-adjacent parking requires more attention in 2026 than it did before January 2025. The current rule is already in effect statewide, and in places such as Los Angeles County, enforcement has moved from warnings to citations.
