(*Adapted from the Clayton, NC Code of Ordinances – Chapter 73: Parking)
Did You Know?
1) You have to Parallel Park within 18 inches of the curb?
73.01- Method of Parking:
(A) Standing or parking close to curb. No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of a lawful traffic movement and with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle with 18 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(B) Vehicles backed up to curb. In no case shall a vehicle remain backed up to a curb, except when actually loading or unloading.
(C) Left-side parking prohibited. No vehicle shall stop or park with its left side to the curb except that on one-way streets vehicles shall stop headed in the direction of traffic.
2) You can’t park overnight in Municipal Parking Lots?
73.04 - Municipal Parking Lots
(A) The regular operating hours for all designated municipal parking lots shall be between 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday.
(B) The regular operating hours for all designated municipal parking lots shall be between 5:30 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday.
(C) It shall be a violation of this section for unauthorized persons to remain in a municipal parking lot or to park unauthorized vehicles in a municipal parking lot outside of established operating hours.
3) There are places you cannot park?
73.10 Parking Prohibited in Certain Places
(A) No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk.
(2) In front of a public or private driveway.
(3) Within an intersection.
(4) Within 30 feet of an intersection.
(5) On a crosswalk.
(6) Within 30 20 feet of the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway. (Amended 10/2010)
(7) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless signs or markings indicate a different length.
(8) Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly marked.
(9) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic.
(10) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
(11) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure or within any underpass structure.
(12) Within an officially designated fire lane.
(13) Within five feet of a private road or driveway, or in such a manner as to block the passage of vehicles to or from such road or driveway.
(14) At any place where official signs or markings prohibit stopping or parking.
(B) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful.
4) That you can’t block traffic?
73.11 Obstruction of Traffic Prohibited
No person shall park any vehicle upon a street, other than an alley, in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for free movement of vehicular traffic, nor shall any person park or leave standing any vehicle upon a street in such a manner or under such conditions as to obstruct the vision or view of the operator of another vehicle.
5) That you can’t stop or park in the street?
73.12 Stopping or Parking in Street
(A) No vehicle shall stop in any street except for the purpose of parking as prescribed in this chapter unless that stop is made necessary by the approach of fire apparatus, by the approach of a funeral or other procession which is given the right-of-way, by the lowering of railway gates, by the giving of traffic signals, by the passing of some other vehicle or pedestrian, or by some emergency.
(B) In any case covered by these exemptions, vehicles shall stop so as not to obstruct any footway, pedestrian aisle, safety zone, crossing, or street intersection if it can be avoided.
6) About parking in alleys?
73.13 Parking in Alley
No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic. No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within an alley in such position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property.
7) About parking on One-Way Streets?
73.14 Parking on One-Way Street
In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways and traffic is restricted to one direction upon any such roadway, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon the left-hand side of that one-way roadway unless signs are erected to permit such standing or parking.
8) You can’t park near a dangerous or congested area?
73.15 Parking Near Dangerous or Congested Area
When official signs or markers are erected at hazardous or congested places, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such designated place.
9) Parking near a school?
73.16 Parking Near School
When official signs or markers are erected limiting parking on either side of streets adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
10) You can’t maintain, wash or repair your vehicle on a town street?
73.17 Parking for Certain Purposes Prohibited
(A) Parking for sale or maintenance prohibited. No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any street for the principal purposes of:
(1) Displaying it for sale.
(2) Washing, greasing, or repairing a vehicle, except repairs necessary in emergency situations.
(3) Storage thereof by garages, dealers, or other persons.
(4) Storage of any detached trailer or van when the towing unit has been disconnected, or for the purpose of transferring merchandise or freight from one vehicle to another.
(B) Parking for advertising purposes. No person shall stand or park a vehicle on any street for the primary purpose of advertising except in the case of political signs as provided for in § 155.083(C) of the Zoning Ordinance.
*This is not the complete, official ordinance. The complete ordinances can be found in the Town Clerk office at 111 E Second Street, Clayton, NC or online at www.townofclaytonnc.org or www.amlegal.com.
