Bristol's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Bristol, Pennsylvania, there are 4 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 Vehicle Restrictions

Bristol Borough Ch. 27 requires unlicensed vehicles/trailers in commercial/industrial zones to be stored in enclosed buildings. Off-street loading requirements apply per use. No trailers on any lot more than 30 days.

Key details: Unlicensed Vehicles: Enclosed building required. Trailer Limit: 30 days max on any lot. Truck Idling: Restricted 10 PM-7 AM near residential. Loading: Off-street requirements per use.

Zoning violations for non-compliant vehicle storage. Noise violations for truck idling after hours.

Street Parking Limits

Bristol Borough has metered on-street parking zones (9 AM-9 PM daily). Coin rate $0.50/half hour, 4-hour max. Parking app $1/hour. Tickets payable at Police Department. Ch. 15 Part 2 establishes traffic and parking regulations.

Key details: Meter Hours: 9 AM-9 PM daily. Coin Rate: $0.50/half hour. App Rate: $1/hour. Max Duration: 4 hours.

Parking tickets for meter violations and time exceedances. Payment at Police Department.

Driveway Rules

Bristol Borough Ch. 27 requires off-street parking per Table 27-7-A by use type. All parking areas must be separated from roads by raised curbs or barriers. Multiple uses require combined parking calculation. Stormwater management applies to new impervious surfaces.

Key details: Standards: Table 27-7-A by use type. Barrier Required: Curb/wall between parking and road. Multiple Uses: Sum of each use's requirement. Stormwater: Applies to new impervious surfaces.

Non-compliant parking areas: zoning violation. Missing barriers between parking and road: correction required.

RV & Boat Parking

Bristol Borough Ch. 27 limits RVs to one per residential lot in R-1, R-1A, and R-2 districts, max 9% of lot area. RVs may not be used for living or sleeping. No trailers (except RVs) for more than 30 days. Planned developments prohibit outdoor RV storage.

Key details: Residential Limit: 1 RV per lot, max 9% lot area. Living Use: Prohibited. Trailer Limit: 30 days max (non-RV). Planned Dev.: Outdoor RV storage prohibited.

Zoning violations for non-compliant RV storage. May require removal of vehicle.

Compared to other cities, Bristol takes a harder line on rv & boat parking. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Bristol'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 Bristol is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Bristol's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.