Where You May Not Park
RCW 46.61.570 — the places a vehicle may not stop, stand or park, the distances in feet, and saving a spot
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 curb.
- On a sidewalk or street planting strip.
- Within an intersection, or on a crosswalk.
- Between a safety zone and the curb, or within 30 feet of points on the curb opposite its ends, unless signs or markings indicate a different area.
- Alongside or opposite an excavation or obstruction, where stopping would obstruct traffic.
- On a bridge or other elevated structure, or in a highway tunnel.
- On railroad tracks, or between the roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers.
- Where official signs prohibit stopping.
| The place | The distance |
|---|---|
| The placeA public or private driveway, or the end of the curb radius leading to it | The distanceNo standing or parking in front of it, or within 5 feet of the end of the curb radius |
| The placeA fire hydrant | The distance15 feet |
| The placeA crosswalk | The distance20 feet |
| The placeA flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic control signal at the side of a 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 when signposted |
| The placeThe nearest rail of a railroad crossing | The distance50 feet, no parking except while loading or unloading |
Your own driveway. A city or county may, by ordinance or resolution, let residential property owners park, or let another park, across their own driveway, provided the driveway is no longer than 50 feet and the parking does not obstruct a sidewalk, another driveway or the roadway.
Saving a spot. It is unlawful for any person to reserve or attempt to reserve any portion of a highway for stopping, standing or parking to the exclusion of anyone else, and no person may be granted that right.
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 Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 46.61.570 — Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places; reserving portion of highway prohibited
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.