QUOTE(fivealive @ Aug 23 2014, 11:26 PM)
Also I can also add that I have successfully camped in San Francisco and other bay city's many times with no issues. Stay clear of Marin County, Sonoma County, and the city of Santa Cruz. San Jose, Oakland, and San Fran are all good for up to 72 hours in any legal parking spot not otherwise posted. Not sure on any of the other surrounding city's.
If your on vacation though I wouldn't bother sleeping in the city. Go down Hwy 1 and the good camping turn-outs start appearing just south of Half Moon Bay. There are a lot of good ones going all the way down to Santa Cruz.
Might be doing that coast this coming spring. So it is OK to spend the night at pull outs on Highway #1? We generally stay away from CA because of the cost being so high on everything.
BTW, as far as urban camping, hospital parking lots are great [they also always have an open cafeteria!], welcome center after their closing time which is generally 5pm [they always leave their WiFi on], garage parking lots as long as you are out of there early before they open. In little town in their park parking lots. It will generally say "no overnight parking" and I then go to the police staion, show them my credentials and ask them politely [while incredibly tired!] if I could just sleep there until morning. Has never been a problem and actually they will notify the night shift which will pass by/patrol and make sure you are alright. Of course 99.99% of the time we are on BLM or National Forest lands but we do have to go food shopping at times!
Hope this help.