In a side vehicle body structure for a vehicle, a reinforcing panel includes: a main reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a side face portion along a first straight portion, a second straight portion, and a portion of a body panel which connects the first straight portion and the second straight portion; a first upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the front of a vehicle body from an upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a first curved portion; and a second upper-end reinforcing portion disposed so as to extend upward toward the rear of the vehicle body from the upper edge of the main reinforcing portion along a second curved portion.