# How legal is it for a person/company to block streets and parking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236 "2024-05-29T16:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/1 "2024-05-29T16:35:50Z")
We’ve all seen it. Moving van blocking a street. Company blocking off a lane to repair a water main. I just found out that a cable company has put up signs that no one in the neighborhood can park by the curb for the next two weeks during business hours. I suppose we all accept this because stuff need to get done, but given last night I started thinking: is all of that actually legal? Could I block of my street for a couple hours while I paint house numbers on my curb or work on my truck? And to that point, let’s assume the cable company and not the city put up those no parking signs. Could I be cited by the city for being in a no parking zone? Are they liable for damaging my car or would their defense of “We told him not to park there.” stand up in court? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/2 "2024-05-29T16:39:02Z")
Usually, for anything that lasts more than a few minutes, one asks the town to close the street and put up Detroit signs. At least, that seems to be how it works around here. A moving van usually only blocks party if the street, and traffic stuff gets by. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/3 "2024-05-29T16:46:15Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Usually, for anything that lasts more than a few minutes, one asks the town to close the street and put up Detroit signs. I’m assuming for the hypothetical that the city is not involved unless to cite people. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/4 "2024-05-29T16:48:14Z")
Double parking? No, it’s not always legal but, like a lot of things, it’s tolerated at a low level. If a pattern of abusive blockages emerges, you can contact authorities nonemergency number and hope for the best. But a lot of times, blockages are 100% legal and reasonable. Tree trimming, school busses, utility work, parade routes. Think of it as an easement. There are many obstacles to the driver but a blocked route is one we really notice. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/5 "2024-05-29T16:52:29Z")
There was one case where a large truck was in a No Parking zone right at the corner to make a delivery and it blocked the view of the intersection. I edged out to see around it and got my car’s nose clipped. Cop said 100% my fault and when I complained that the truck blocked my view and at least cite him for where he parked, the cop said where else do you expect him to park to make a delivery. So clearly there is de facto vs de jure legality. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/6 "2024-05-29T17:39:24Z")
Detour. Sorry for the swypo. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/7 "2024-05-29T17:42:19Z")
Where I live, it’s easy to call the non-emergency police number. They will know the rules and can look up who has the proper permits and who doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/8 "2024-05-29T18:17:37Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > and put up Detroit signs > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Detour. Sorry for the swypo You had me going there. I was figuring that maybe those sawhorses with “road closed” signs might be known regionally as “Detroit” signs, kind of like how those cement walls on the median of a divided highway are sometimes referred to as “Jersey Barriers”… But thankfully you corrected that misinformation! ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/9 "2024-05-29T18:52:49Z")
I work for a water and sewer utility, and we block roads all the time. For planned work, we have to obtain an obstruction/encroachment permit or an excavation permit from whomever owns the road: typically either the local municipality or state (for state roads). We have to tell them what kind of traffic management plan we plan to use, and how we will control traffic with signs, flaggers, and/or private-duty police officers. We follow any municipal or state rules governing this. BTW, the bible for traffic management is the [DOT Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for Streets and Highways](https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/). For excavation work, they will dictate to us how to restore the disturbed road surface in the permit conditions. With the local authority’s permission, we can absolutely place “No Parking” signs along a curb. If a vehicle parks there anyway, we have them towed using the local authority’s towing service. For short-term obstruction or emergency repairs, we don’t usually get a permit but instead simply notify the local authority and follow this up with a permit application if they insist on it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/10 "2024-05-29T19:16:18Z")
In my city, blocking off parking during daytime hours for various types of construction is very common, but they have to have city permits to have any force. Otherwise, who is going to ticket you if you violate the restriction? The party doing the blocking has to pay for the permit, which in cases of construction is passed on to whoever is paying the construction bills (property owner or developer, presumably). I live on a one-lane one-way street, and so any moving van or other double-parking that might last for more than a few minutes doesn’t work, and the homeowner (or whoever) has to find a way to clear the parking area for the truck they need to have there. It is certainly possible to buy a permit for one day, or part of a day, to reserve the area in front of your house, and I have seen that done once or twice (on other streets). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/11 "2024-05-29T19:45:33Z")
In the previous city where I lived, you needed to get moving van permits for the days you wanted parking in front of your hours. There was a nominal fee and they lasted up to 3 days. In winter, some home owners insisted on a chair or trashcan to hold a shoveled out parking space but those were honored or not depending on how pissed of people were. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/12 "2024-05-29T20:05:55Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > In winter, some home owners insisted on a chair or trashcan to hold a shoveled out parking space but those were honored or not depending on how pissed of people were. Every time there’s a big storm, the local newspaper runs an article about this. It’s not technically legal to “hold your space” with a chair, or whatever, but the local police generally leave them alone for a day or two, depending on how much snow there was, and also different towns handle it a little differently. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m assuming for the hypothetical that the city is not involved unless to cite people. But i think the answer to the factual question is that the municipality typically is notified, and needs to give a permit for longer road blockages. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/13 "2024-05-29T23:57:08Z")
Here in Florida these folks are a commercial service that does interfacing with the government, and provisions all the traffic control stuff and takes it down when you’re done. Reading their website might give some insight into the whole process. @robby is the pro here. I was tangentially involved in the police and fire/EMS side planning of major spectator events. Everything involving closing a road has significant impacts and the traffic engineering folks are heavily involved. > **[MOTplans, Fort Lauderdale Florida](https://motplans.com/)** > > Maintenance of Traffic plans, Barricades, Cones, Drums, Signs, Channelizing Devices, Trailer Units, Pedestrian Barricades, Water Barricades, and more. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/14 "2024-05-30T13:08:28Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > paint house numbers on my curb I would definitely check on that first; I don’t think the curb belongs to your property. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/15 "2024-05-30T13:50:10Z")
I looked into that once and that turns out to vary quite a lot regionally. My sidewalk, treelawn, and curb are all legally part of the town street. But there are places where they are owned by the homeowner. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/16 "2024-05-30T13:55:14Z")
And some locales allow owners to repaint their numbers on the curb provided they meet the cities specs. Now that I think about, my neighborhood doesn’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/17 "2024-05-30T14:00:13Z")
Huh, i can’t recall ever seeing a street number on a curb. I assumed you were talking about a one-off thing a homeowner wanted to do. Like i rebuilt the retaining wall between my property and the sidewalk, and had the mason include a stone with my street number engraved in it. Because despite some signs, it was really hard for friends to see our street number, especially at night. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/18 "2024-05-30T14:18:03Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Huh, i can’t recall ever seeing a street number on a curb. Some communities do so for improved emergency response. I would imagine it’s more urban/suburban towns with uniform/new curbs. > **[Curb painting on residential address numbers begins Sept. 25 | City of...](https://cityofmissionviejo.org/news/curb-painting-residential-address-numbers-begins-sept-25)** > > The City of Mission Viejo has partnered with the nonprofit Care for the Children to repaint residential address numbers on public street curbs across the City beginning September 25.   The purpose of having the house number painted on the curb in... ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/19 "2024-05-30T14:24:12Z")
Heck, we were doing that as a Scouting project 50 years ago. It was a free service to the home-owners. We used the city’s paint and stencils. This was particularly welcome after the city reassigned/realigned a substantial number of addresses in the older part of town so emergency services knew where to go. My parents address, for example went from 1314 Upyours St. to 1244 Upyours. So you knew it was 2 blocks east of the Reference Street on the south side. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236/20 "2024-05-30T14:41:41Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Huh, i can’t recall ever seeing a street number on a curb. Some cities make them mandatory for emergency vehicles to quickly find an address. Growing up, Los Angeles was one of these, at least in the San Fernando Valley. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-legal-is-it-for-a-person-company-to-block-streets-and-parking/1002236.md?page=2)