Beaverton's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Beaverton, Oregon, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Beaverton bars parking a motor truck on a street between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. in front of or next to a residence, motel, apartment house, hotel, or other sleeping accommodation.

Key details: Governing section: BC 6.02.310.C. Restricted hours: 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.. Vehicle type: Motor truck (Oregon Vehicle Code). Max fine: $75 (BC 6.02.900.B).

Violation of BC 6.02.310 is punishable by a fine up to $75 under BC 6.02.900.B.

RV & Boat Parking

Beaverton bars leaving an RV, trailer, camper, or boat parked on a city street unless it moves at least a tenth of a mile every 48 hours.

Key details: Governing section: BC 6.02.310.I. Move requirement: 0.1 mile every 48 hours. Covers: RV, boat, trailer, camper. Max fine: $75 (BC 6.02.900.B).

Violation of BC 6.02.310 is punishable by a fine up to $75 under BC 6.02.900.B.

Abandoned Vehicles

Beaverton bans leaving an abandoned vehicle on any street or public property, defining abandonment at 48 hours for motor vehicles and letting the city tow, store, and sell it.

Key details: Motor vehicle threshold: 48 hours on a street. Trailer threshold: 24 hours on a street. Liable party: Registered owner. Disposition: Tow, store, sell per BC 6.05.025.

Owner liable for towing and storage costs; vehicle subject to lien, sale, or disposal under BC 6.05.025 and ORS 819.210/819.220.

Loading Zones

Beaverton requires off-street loading docks to sit on the same lot as the building they serve, never inside required parking area, and never positioned so a loading vehicle sticks out into a public street.

Key details: Location: Same site as building served. Cannot use: Required off-street parking area. Street projection: Prohibited into any public street. Access: Via alley, or street if none. Yard use: Front, side, rear yards allowed.

Loading layouts that violate these siting standards are denied at site-plan review, and a built-out noncompliant loading area is addressed through the city's standard code-enforcement process.

Driveway Rules

In Beaverton's RMA, RMB, RMC and CM-RM residential zones, houses and middle housing can park only two vehicles in the front yard: extra spaces must go in the side or rear yard, and all parking must be paved.

Key details: Front-yard cap: 2 spaces in RMA/RMB/RMC/CM-RM. Overflow: Must go in side or rear yard. Other zones: Driveway-area front parking allowed. Surface: Asphalt, concrete, or pervious paving only. Applies in: City of Beaverton, Washington County, OR.

Parking more than two vehicles in the front yard of these zones, or parking on an unpaved surface anywhere, violates the approved site design and can draw a Beaverton code-enforcement complaint.

Preferential Parking Districts

Beaverton can designate residential permit parking districts where only permit holders may park beyond the posted time limit, once occupancy and resident-support thresholds are met.

Key details: Governing section: BC 6.02.080. Occupancy threshold: 75% of spaces, 4+ days/wk. Resident support needed: 2/3 of property owners. Jurisdiction: City of Beaverton, Washington County.

Parking without a valid permit in a designated district beyond the posted time limit is a parking-limitation-sign violation under BC 6.02.310.A, fined up to $75 under BC 6.02.900.B.

Street Parking Limits

Beaverton requires vehicles parked on streets to sit parallel with the curb, facing the direction of traffic, with curbside wheels within 12 inches of the curb.

Key details: Governing section: BC 6.02.300. Curb distance: Within 12 inches. Direction: Must face traffic flow. Max fine: $75 (BC 6.02.900.B).

Violation of BC 6.02.300 is punishable by a fine up to $75 under BC 6.02.900.B.

The Bottom Line

Beaverton's parking rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Beaverton is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Beaverton can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.