How Close to a Corner are You Allowed to Park?

Learning how close to a corner you are allowed to park and understanding the rules and regulations that apply is something that all licensed drivers should do. After all, just about every driver, both new and seasoned, has experienced the struggle of trying to find a parking space, making it quite enticing to grab that corner spot right next to a street corner or a driveway without a second thought.

Before grabbing it, make sure that you are parking a vehicle on a corner legally to avoid conflicting with a parking enforcement officer and obtaining some hefty fines. The best way to know for sure if the corner spot you see is legal or not, boils down to knowing the rules and applying them to every corner parking situation.

Parking a Vehicle on a Corner Rules and Regulations

When parking near a corner, you may park your vehicle no closer than what your state or country’s regulations indicate. Overall, the reality is that parking a vehicle on a corner is a bit more complex, considering there are other aspects to take into consideration. For example, if you are thinking about parking a vehicle on the corner of an intersection with lights, you may park your vehicle no closer than 30 feet away. This equates to about 12 paces from the very front of the car’s bumper to the curb at the intersection. If you happen to park a vehicle closer than that on a corner, there is a good chance you will be ticketed or even towed.

Tip: Keep in mind that this regulation can differ based on the state and country. So, make sure you do your due diligence and check with your local council to see what rules you need to abide by.

What About Driveway Corner Parking?

Driveway corner parking is a tad more complicated. The regulations are less defined, but still tend to hold common ground in most areas. Many places have made it a rule that you cannot park on or across from a driveway, but allow up to two minutes of idling time for cars to park in front of a driveway if they are picking up or dropping off someone. In general, as long as you are not parking in a way that impedes another vehicle from exiting, entering, or turning into a driveway, you should be fine.

Tip: If the corner parking spot near a driveway contains a fire hydrant, you must park at least 10 feet away from it.

Additional Laws to Be Aware Of

• When parking on a curb, ensure that your tires are as close to the curbside as possible. By most laws, you have to be within 12 inches of the curb or roadside, if no curb is present.
• Double parking, which is parking alongside another car that is already parked in the designated spot, is illegal whether it is a corner parking spot or not.
• You are never allowed to park on the sidewalk, railroad tracks, within an intersection, or in a cross-walking area. In addition, you cannot park along the opposite side of a construction or excavation project.
• It is illegal to park on a bridge, highway tunnel, or any other elevated structure.
• If the corner parking is near the driveway of a fire station, you must park at least 20 feet away from it.

Conclusion – Corner Park Safely and Legally

In summary, understanding that when parking near a corner, you may park your vehicle no closer than what your specific location indicates is just as essential as knowing the other rules of the road. Parking a vehicle on a corner illegally, even if by accident, can result in fines, towing, and, if you offend more than once, a suspended license. To avoid those potential adversities, take some time to learn the vital parking laws in your state or country. Just a little bit of time learning how close to a corner are you allowed to park can save you a lot of hassle, money, and challenges in the long run.