Loveland's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Loveland, Colorado, there are 8 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.

Street Parking Limits

Loveland, Colorado bars stopping, standing or parking in ways that block traffic, cut clearance too tight, or overstay an alley loading zone. Loveland Municipal Code § 10.04.020 adds five parking prohibitions to the adopted Model Traffic Code's Section 1204, covering alleys, unlicensed vehicles, traffic interference, spacing between parked cars, and bus stops.

Key details: Governing section: § 10.04.020 (amends MTC § 1204(1)). Alley stops: Capped at 20 minutes. Clearance rule: 3 feet minimum from parked vehicles. Catch-all ban: Interfering with traffic flow/maintenance. Bus stops: Parking always prohibited.

Any violation of subsections (l) through (p) is enforced by Loveland Police as a parking citation under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010; parking offenses do not carry the Code's standard $15.00 surcharge. Under the amended Section 1209, the registered owner is presumed to be the person who parked the vehicle, so ownership records alone can support a citation absent contrary proof.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Loveland, Colorado caps how long an oversized vehicle can sit on a residential street: under Loveland Municipal Code § 10.20.040, no truck tractor, semitrailer, mobile home, overweight vehicle or detached trailer may park longer than one hour on a public right-of-way in a residentially zoned area or next to any residence in any zone.

Key details: Governing section: § 10.20.040 (Residential areas). Time limit: 1 hour max on residential right-of-way. Covers: Overweight vehicles, trailers, semis, mobile homes. Exception: Motel/hotel guests, active service calls. Exempt: Tow trucks, City vehicles, emergency vehicles.

Exceeding the one-hour limit under § 10.20.040 is a parking citation issued by Loveland Police, enforced under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010; parking violations are exempt from the Code's standard $15.00 ordinance surcharge. A vehicle left in violation may also be tagged and towed under the abandoned and illegally parked vehicle procedures of Chapter 10.28 if it obstructs traffic.

Abandoned Vehicles

Loveland, Colorado bars abandoning a motor vehicle on public property and lets police tow any vehicle blocking a street, alley or right-of-way. Loveland Municipal Code § 10.28.020 requires officers to remove or store an abandoned vehicle in an impound lot, and separately authorizes towing any vehicle, attended or not, that obstructs traffic or maintenance.

Key details: Governing section: § 10.28.020, Chapter 10.28. Private-property trigger: Unattended 24+ hours without consent. Reclaim window: 30 days from mailed notice. Low-value sale cap: $200.00, junk-only, no title. Private lots: Unlawful (junk) vehicles barred, Ch. 16.20.

Abandoning a vehicle on public property or keeping an unlawful vehicle on private property is punishable under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010. An abandoned vehicle may be towed and stored, and if unclaimed within 30 days of notice, appraised and sold under § 10.28.040; vehicles appraised at $200.00 or less may be sold only for junking, scrapping or dismantling, with no title issued to the buyer.

Loading Zones

Loveland's Unified Development Code requires off-street loading spaces for non-residential buildings, sets screening standards for loading areas, and caps trailer storage in loading spaces at 48 hours. Blocking a loading space is prohibited citywide except under a temporary use permit, enforced by the City's code enforcement officers under UDC Chapter 18.18.

Key details: Required spaces: 1 per building 5,000-20,000 sf, plus more per 20,000 sf. Trailer storage limit: 48 hours maximum in a loading space. Screening trigger: Within 150 ft of residential zone, street or park. DT Zone option: Director may allow alley or over-the-curb loading. Criminal penalty: Fine up to municipal code max or 1 year jail.

Blocking a required loading space or leaving a trailer parked in one past 48 hours violates UDC § 18.05.05.01 unless covered by a temporary use permit. Under § 18.18.02.01, each day a violation continues is a separate offense, and a duly appointed code enforcement officer, peace officer, or building official may issue an order to abate. Conviction under § 18.18.03.02 carries a fine up to the maximum set in the Loveland Municipal Code, up to one year of incarceration, or both.

EV Charging

Loveland allows accessory DC fast-charging (DCFC) EV stations in every zone district under UDC § 18.04.07.03, reviewed through the standard building permit process; Level 1 and Level 2 chargers are exempt from land-use permitting entirely. Stations in walkways must keep a 3-foot clear path, and digital ad screens over 2 square feet are banned near residential zones.

Key details: Applies to: DCFC (fast) chargers only. Level 1/2 chargers: Exempt from land-use permitting. Walkway clearance: 3 feet minimum. Ad screens: Banned over 2 sq ft near homes. Review process: Building permit.

Installing a DCFC station without going through the required building permit, or blocking a walkway's 3-foot clear path, is a UDC violation under § 18.18.02.01, with noncompliance persisting as a separate offense each day. The Code Enforcement Officer or Building Official may order corrective work under § 18.18.02.03, and continued noncompliance risks a fine or up to a year's imprisonment under § 18.18.03.02.

Driveway Rules

Loveland bans parking in a required front setback except on a single-family, duplex, townhome or multiplex driveway or parking pad crossing that setback, and requires all parking, loading and driving surfaces to be paved with asphalt, concrete or a similar permanent material approved by the City.

Key details: Governing section: UDC § 18.05.04.01.C-D. Front-setback parking: Only on a driveway or parking pad. Surface required: Asphalt, concrete or similar permanent material. Waiver: Extraction/agricultural uses only, with dust control. Last amended: Ord. 6636 §31, effective 9/19/2023.

Unpaved or front-setback parking outside a designated driveway is a zoning code violation handled by Loveland Code Compliance under the UDC's Chapter 18.18 enforcement provisions. The City typically issues a written notice directing the property owner to cease the unpermitted parking or pave the area to an approved permanent surface within a stated correction period before further enforcement action follows.

RV & Boat Parking

Loveland, Colorado lets residents park or store an RV, camper or boat on private property, but Loveland Municipal Code § 16.24.020 bars using a parked motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, boat, tent or other camping facility to live in on any private lot in any zone unless the Code expressly allows it.

Key details: Governing section: § 16.24.020, Chapter 16.24. Prohibited: Residing in a parked RV, boat or tent. Applies: Any private property, any zone. Street limit: 72 hrs max, § 10.20.030. Also declared: A public nuisance, Ch. 16.44 abatement.

Occupying a parked RV, boat, camper or tent on private property to reside in violates § 16.24.020, is punishable under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010, and is independently declared a public nuisance subject to a Notice and Order to Abate under Chapter 16.44. On public streets or alleys, exceeding the 72-hour limit under § 10.20.030 is a separate citable offense.

Overnight Parking

Loveland, Colorado limits overnight parking on streets posted against all-night parking: under Loveland Municipal Code § 10.04.020, amending Model Traffic Code Section 1202, no vehicle may sit on a signed street for more than 30 minutes between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., except physicians or other persons on emergency calls.

Key details: Rule: 30-min max, 2 a.m.-6 a.m., on signed streets. Governing section: § 10.04.020 (amends MTC § 1202). Exception: Physicians, emergency-call responders. Applies: Only where 'no all-night parking' is posted. Related rule: § 10.20.030 sets a 72-hr RV/camper limit.

A vehicle left more than 30 minutes on a street posted against all-night parking between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is subject to a parking citation issued by Loveland Police, punishable under the general penalty clause § 1.12.010; parking offenses are exempt from the $15.00 surcharge that applies to other ordinance violations. Repeated or obstructive violations can trigger towing under Chapter 10.28.

The Bottom Line

Loveland'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 Loveland is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Loveland's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.