Parking Tips

Proper parking on Seattle streets helps everyone, and accomodates the different needs of many users. It enables people to get where they need to go safely and contributes to the business vitality of our community. Illegal parking, on the other hand, creates safety hazards and is an inconvenience.

The Seattle Police Department is responsible for enforcing parking restrictions and regulations on the streets and curbs to ensure public safety in driving, taking the bus, making deliveries, biking and walking.

WHERE PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED

All of the following are subject to ticket and/or towing:

• ALLEYS - No passenger vehicles are allowed to park or stop in alleys. Only commercial vehicles are allowed to temporarily stop to load/unload for up to 30 minutes.

• CROSSWALKS - Do not park within 20 feet of marked or unmarked crosswalks.

• DRIVEWAYS - Do not park within 5 feet of driveways.

• FIRE HYDRANTS - Do not park within 15 feet of fire hydrants.

• SIDEWALK & PLANTING STRIPS - Do not park on or over the sidewalk, or on any gravel and/or concrete planting strip areas between the curb and sidewalk.

• STOP SIGNS/YIELD SIGNS - Do not park within 30 feet of stop signs and yield signs.

• TOW-AWAY ZONES - No stopping, standing or parking of vehicles are allowed in these zones or zones that are painted red.

• NO PARKING ZONES - No parking is allowed in these zones. There is also no parking permitted at curbs or zones that are painted red or have temporary "No Parking" signs.

• BUS ZONES - No passenger or commercial vehicles other than buses are allowed in this zone.

• TEMPORARY NO PARKING ZONES - No parking is allowed during the times/dates posted on the temporary "No Parking" signs.

OTHER PARKING CONSIDERATIONS

• PERMIT ONLY - Do not park in Disabled Parking, Carpool Parking, Residential Parking Zones unless you have the proper permits or placards.

• TIME RESTRICTIONS - Peak Hours, Load/Unload, Passenger Load and Truck Load/Unload signs are tow away zones, and strictly enforced. All vehicles however, may park before and after the posted times/dates as indicated on the signs.

• LICENSE PLATES/TABS - Do not park on-street with missing front or rear plates or expired tabs.

• 72-HOUR ON STREET - Do not park a vehicle on any city street longer than 72 hours. When left unmoved longer than 72 hours, the vehicle is considered abandoned and can be ticketed or towed. A vehicle must be moved to a different block at the end of 72 hours.

• UNPAID TICKETS - If you have more than four outstanding tickets that are more than 45 days old, your vehicle will be impounded.

PARKING METERS/PAY STATIONS

• Most paid parking is in effect Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Most paid parking costs $1.50 per hour.

• Pay station receipts are portable, and may be used at pay stations and parking meters.

• Only one pay station receipt may be displayed on a vehicle.

Find our more about parking pay stations at: www.seattle.gov/transportation

PARKING TICKETS

If you receive a parking ticket, you have 15 days to act on one of three options as instructed on the back of the ticket.

Find out more about your options or pay online at: www.seattle.gov/courts

Download brochure

The "Can I Park Here?" Brochure is a handy guide to types of areas and signs where parking is not allowed.

RELATED

Seattle Department of Transportation's Parking Program page