Where You May Not Park
Transp. Code 545.302 — the places an operator may not stop, stand or park, and the distances in feet
Three verbs, three lists. The section sorts places by what is barred there. In some, a vehicle may not stop, stand or park at all. In others, it may not stand or park except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger. In the last, it may not park except while actually loading or unloading. The difference is how long the stop lasts and why.
- On the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
- On a sidewalk.
- In an intersection, or on a crosswalk.
- Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb, or within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a municipality designates a different length by signs or markings.
- Alongside or opposite a street excavation or obstruction, if stopping there would obstruct traffic.
- On a bridge or other elevated structure on a highway, or in a highway tunnel.
- On a railroad track, or where an official sign prohibits stopping.
Those are the places an operator may not stop, stand or park at all.
| The place | The distance |
|---|---|
| The placeIn front of a public or private driveway | The distanceNo standing or parking, except momentarily for a passenger |
| The placeA fire hydrant | The distance15 feet |
| The placeA crosswalk at an intersection | The distance20 feet |
| The placeA flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic control signal at the side of the roadway, on the approach | The distance30 feet |
| The placeThe driveway entrance to a fire station | The distance20 feet, and 75 feet on the opposite side of the street if the entrance is marked with a sign |
| The placeThe nearest rail of a railroad crossing | The distance50 feet, no parking except temporarily to load or unload |
When the lists give way. None of the three applies where avoiding conflict with other traffic makes it necessary, or where the operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police officer or an official traffic control device.
Bicycles. A person may stop, stand or park a bicycle on a sidewalk if it does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrians or other traffic there.
Cities, counties and posted signs set their own parking limits on top of these, and those are not on this page. What a particular ticket means is a question for a licensed Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Transp. Code 545.302 — Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in certain places
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.