# Parking on Residential St.s **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941 "2005-08-14T06:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/1 "2005-08-14T06:25:07Z")
Today I visited a friend’s house and she warned me not to park across the street in front of her neighbor’s house. It would have annoyed them. A long time ago a similar incident occurred when I parked in front of someone’s house and they came outside to tell me not to. I didn’t stay there in either case to be polite, but what if I’d said “it’s a public street, there’s no parking restrictions posted. I can park here if I want to.” Do homeowners have any legal right to prevent people from parking on the street in front of their house? ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/2 "2005-08-14T06:46:32Z")
I don’t believe they have any legal right to stop anyone parking there, but if you’re visiting your friend, why park in front of their neighbour’s house? ---
**Author:** ![FullForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/779978/32.png) [@FullForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FullForce)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/3 "2005-08-14T09:00:40Z")
I have dealt with this myself, on both ends. It is not a right as far as I know. Particually in Queens, NY. “Unfortunately, with the increase of illegal apartments and conversions to two and three family homes, parking spaces are becoming more and more scarce. There’s also the situations where one family may have five or six vehicles. Parking spaces in New York City are not the property of a homeowner, whether they pay a mortgage or rent. While it’s nice to come home and find a spot in front of your house, it’s not a right.” Source: [http://www.creedmoorcivic.org/FAQ.htm#I%20can%20never%20park%20in%20front%20of%20my%20house.%20Years%20ago](http://www.creedmoorcivic.org/FAQ.htm#I%20can%20never%20park%20in%20front%20of%20my%20house.%20Years%20ago), ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/4 "2005-08-14T11:52:19Z")
It may not be illegal to restrict on-street parking, but there are some circumstances when it’s courteous to allow someone the space in front of their house; for example, there might be a disabled person living there who might not be able to walk half a block or a block, or young kids who shouldn’t cross the street. Robin ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/5 "2005-08-14T17:19:24Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > I don’t believe they have any legal right to stop anyone parking there, but if you’re visiting your friend, why park in front of their neighbour’s house? Well, because she lives in an in-law unit, and so parking in front of her house is actually also parking in front of someone else’s house, because parking is often hard to find where I live, and because to park directly in front of her house I would have to do a U-turn on a narrow residential street. I wind up not parking in front of peoples’ houses if they ask me not to, but the first time this happened down in Pasadena, CA, the woman who came out of the house to tell me not to park there was rather rude, and I thought she was overstepping herself because she had no right to the parking space. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/6 "2005-08-14T17:29:56Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Well, because she lives in an in-law unit, and so parking in front of her house is actually also parking in front of someone else’s house, because parking is often hard to find where I live, and because to park directly in front of her house I would have to do a U-turn on a narrow residential street. > > I wind up not parking in front of peoples’ houses if they ask me not to, but the first time this happened down in Pasadena, CA, the woman who came out of the house to tell me not to park there was rather rude, and I thought she was overstepping herself because she had no right to the parking space. Right. Asking nicely can go a long way. A real life example … I parked my large van across the street a few weeks ago. Later my wife tells me that the neighbor across the street politely asked that we not park there because the van obstructs his view of the passing traffic when he’s backing out of his garage. So I moved my van. He later came by to thank me for the courtesy. That’s the way people should act with one another. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/7 "2005-08-14T17:42:55Z")
As might be expected, this varies between cities. Here’s an example of some guidelines from [Seattle](http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/parkingrpz.htm). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/8 "2005-08-14T17:49:54Z")
In general, the resident has no claim on the street parking in front of his house. In many cases- not even a moral claim, as he has converted his garage into more living space, or rented it out. ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/9 "2005-08-14T18:03:19Z")
A couple of residences ago, I parked in front of a neighbor’s house, and he came out and asked me not to park there. When I said that it was a public street and that I lived in the next house over, he made mention of my landlord’s boat trailer in front of my house, which might find itself ticketed for being illegally parked. In the interest of being a good neighbor, I didn’t park there, but I was a bit miffed at my landlord (who also lived in the house). In Boston, when it snows, parking becomes subject to a quasi-marshall law, where people have no problem staking out parking spaces with trash cans. I can understand it (to a point) if they spent the time digging themselves out, but I get fed up when I see the trash cans in April. Of course it is a risk moving the cans to park, because you might return to find your car keyed or tires flat… -Tofer ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/10 "2005-08-14T20:34:19Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Well, because she lives in an in-law unit, and so parking in front of her house is actually also parking in front of someone else’s house, because parking is often hard to find where I live, and because to park directly in front of her house I would have to do a U-turn on a narrow residential street. > I wind up not parking in front of peoples’ houses if they ask me not to, but the first time this happened down in Pasadena, CA, the woman who came out of the house to tell me not to park there was rather rude, and I thought she was overstepping herself because she had no right to the parking space. Fair enough if she lives in a unit, then you’re always going to be parking in front of “someone else’s” house. And people do tend to be insanely protective about the parking in front of their house, but sometimes they’ll have a good reason. If you try and park in front of my house on a Tuesday, you’re going to be told to move in no uncertain terms if I’m there and I see it. Because that’s our trash pickup day, and the space in front of our house is just enough for one car to park there comfortably. Which means if someone’s parked there, the garbage truck can’t pull in and pick up our rubbish, which means we end up with a full bin and nowhere to put our trash for a week, or worse with a full recyclables bin and nowhere to put that rubbish for a fortnight. If they’re just doing it because someone’s there and they believe their strip of road is sacred, then they’re being an ass. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/11 "2005-08-14T21:17:56Z")
> [@tofergregg](#): > > In Boston, when it snows, parking becomes subject to a quasi-marshall law, where people have no problem staking out parking spaces with trash cans. I can understand it (to a point) if they spent the time digging themselves out, but I get fed up when I see the trash cans in April. Of course it is a risk moving the cans to park, because you might return to find your car keyed or tires flat… > > -Tofer Or someone shooting at you: > [@](#): > > "December 7, 2000 > > Snow rage sentencing > > PHILADELPHIA Dec. 7 - The sentencing took place in a deadly case of snow rage. A man killed his neighbor during an argument over a parking space after a snow storm. NBC 10’s Cindy Hamill has more. > > “WE JUST miss Michael,” said the victim’s sister Theresa Quinn. “They still get the chance to visit. We have to go to the cemetery.” Eight years in prison for the man who killed Michael Kirkpatrick won’t bring him back, so for his family, there is no satisfaction. “It’s been so difficult for my parents,” Quinn said. “My mother physically collapsed after the sentence. It’s been overwhelming.” > > No satisfaction either for Sabrina Mockewich. She’s left now, to raise her new baby alone while her husband Louis serves his time. “I love my husband very much,” Sabrina said. “I want him back so we can be a family again. So that my daughter can grow up with her father.” > > Two families torn apart over a snow shoveling incident last January. Mockewich and Kirkpatrick argued over snow being shoveled too close to Kirkpatrick’s truck. Both men had guns. Mockewich says he shot Kirkpatrick in self defense. The jury didn’t buy it. “You talk about these things,” said Assistant District Attorney Ed Cameron. “You don’t pull out guns and shoot each other for no reason at all. > > People like Louis Mockewich shouldn’t be walking around with guns.” Defense Attorney Joel Moldovsky added, “This is a good man who was caught up in tragedy.” Quinn said. “I hope we can start to heal. I want to heal.” Sabrina said, “I guess the lesson would be to stop and think.” I’ve resorted to leaving notes on windshields explaining to people that the space in front of my house is big enough for two cars, and by parking in the middle of the space they’re taking both spots. Used to drive me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/12 "2005-08-14T22:31:27Z")
In my previous house, there were rarely cars that parked in front of my house. And when they did, I didn’t like it. I know there’s no right to the space, but I didn’t like it all the same. Cars parked in front of houses really cheapen the look of an area. I spend all this time on my lawn and the landscape, only to have some POS, rusted station wagon to look at from my window, or have someone think it’s mine? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/13 "2005-08-15T14:24:58Z")
> [@tofergregg](#): > > In Boston, when it snows, parking becomes subject to a quasi-marshall law, where people have no problem staking out parking spaces with trash cans. I can understand it (to a point) if they spent the time digging themselves out, but I get fed up when I see the trash cans in April. Of course it is a risk moving the cans to park, because you might return to find your car keyed or tires flat… > > -Tofer This has actually gone away as a valid way to save your spot. Mayor “Mumbles” Menino (SP?) declared last winter that this practice would no longer be tolerated (the “saving” part), and items left in the on street spots would be picked up by city garbage removal. This has, obviously, caused an uproar by the residents of the area that have been “doing it that way for years.” Granted, if you park in a spot you didn’t clear, you may still get keyed or flattened tires, and since Mumbles doesn’t have to shovel HIS spot, he couldn’t care less. Yet another reason I’m glad I live in the sticks, and have a GREAT plow guy! (Auger Property maintenance, if you’re local to me and need one! 😃 ) -butler ---
**Author:** ![Sensibility](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Sensibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sensibility)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/14 "2005-08-15T14:44:14Z")
Unless of course you live in London - in which case you MAY be lucky enough to have your VERY OWN residents only parking bays right outside your front door!! If you ARENT a resident and park in one, (albeit perhaps accidentally), you are either ticketed, clamped, or towed away!! Been there, done that, paid the fine!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/15 "2005-08-15T15:06:54Z")
A few years ago I lived in the city of Baltimore on a street of rowhouses. Occasionally, I would get a chance to park in from of my home… most often I would not. At that address, you just hoped to get a spot in the same block as your home and park there. Once I actually had to park 8 blocks away. I also got into an argument when I moved someone’s trash can from a snow-free parking spot. A man called down from a second floor window, saying that was his spot. I told him to go to hell, that _I_ had cleared that spot and that he had no right to it. He left it at that. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/16 "2005-08-15T15:18:52Z")
I wonder, then, if there are any municipalities that do have preference for the house owners. I definitely have seen signs that say “resident parking only” or something to that affect, but it seems to me that that’s generally a reference to that entire portion of the street, i.e., that residents of the street are the only ones that can park on the street, but not necessarily only in front of their houses. So: is there a such that we know of? How about new subdivisions, the kind where they’re privately built? Do covenants typically cover such (other than an outright ban)? Finally, if you already have a sign on your front lawn (as did I in my previous house), you could purchase one of those novelty signs that say something like “Cadillac Parking Only” or some such thing as it applies to you, and apply it atop the existing sign in an effort to save your parking space. Remember before taking this approach that I’m not your lawyer; you’re not my client; this isn’t qualified legal advice. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/17 "2005-08-15T15:38:52Z")
I live in a rural location and have “off street parking”. Someone gave me a sign that I have on a post where I like to park my Jeep. It reads, “Veterinarian Parking Only, all others will be neutered”. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/18 "2005-08-15T15:54:43Z")
I’m a new homeowner, and live on a Residential street type area thing. I have a driveway, so as long as that’s not blocked, I don’t have any difficulties. Still, it’s weird to open my window, peek outside, and see a strange car in front of my house… ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/19 "2005-08-15T16:01:28Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I wonder, then, if there are any municipalities that do have preference for the house owners… > How about new subdivisions, the kind where they’re privately built? Do covenants typically cover such (other than an outright ban)? Most of the subdivisions I’ve seen that have parking rules paint numbers on the street and have signs that read “assigned parking only” or some such statement. They also generally have a section for visitors near each subdivided section. -Tofer ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941/20 "2005-08-15T16:04:25Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I wonder, then, if there are any municipalities that do have preference for the house owners. I definitely have seen signs that say “resident parking only” or something to that affect, but it seems to me that that’s generally a reference to that entire portion of the street, i.e., that residents of the street are the only ones that can park on the street, but not necessarily only in front of their houses. So: is there a such that we know of? > > How about new subdivisions, the kind where they’re privately built? Do covenants typically cover such (other than an outright ban)? I know that in some college towns, to prevent students from taking over all nearby residents’ on-street parking, the towns have instituted “neighborhood permits.” The town issues different permits to each household, according to what neighborhood they’re in, and cars displaying that permit may only park in that zone. Doesn’t exactly guarantee you a spot in front of your house, but it’s closer. [Bloomington, Indiana](http://www.bloomington.in.gov/cat_streets.php) is one such town (see under “featured maps” and also “neighborhood parking permit program faqs.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-on-residential-st-s/316941.md?page=2)