Port St. Lucie's Parking Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Port St. Lucie, Florida, there are 5 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.

RV & Boat Parking

Port St. Lucie restricts recreational vehicles, boats, and boat trailers (collectively major recreation equipment) to enclosed garages, paved driveways, or the side or rear of the home, subject to a ten-foot rear setback. They may not be used for living or sleeping while parked on a residential lot.

Key details: Code Section: Sec. 73.04(B); Sec. 158.217 (major recreation equipment). Where allowed: Enclosed garage, paved driveway, or side/rear of home. Rear setback: 10-foot rear lot setback required. Living/sleeping in RV: Prohibited on a residential lot. Front yard: Not permitted (no parking on wide side of front yard).

Recreational-vehicle and major-recreation-equipment parking violations are enforced by Neighborhood Services Code Compliance and are punishable under the Chapter 73 penalty provisions (Sec. 73.99) and the city's code-enforcement process, which can escalate to daily fines through the Special Magistrate if not corrected.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Port St. Lucie actively enforces its rv & boat parking requirements.

Overnight Parking

Port St. Lucie has no blanket citywide overnight street-parking ban, but Chapter 90 deems any vehicle left unattended on public property or a road right-of-way for more than 36 hours an abandoned vehicle subject to towing, and unregistered vehicles are removable after 72 hours.

Key details: Code Section: Sec. 90.01 (Abandoned vehicles). Right-of-way time limit: 36 hours before towing. Unregistered vehicle: Removable after 72 hours' notice. Citywide overnight ban: None in adopted Ch. 72 text. Tow cost: Lien against the vehicle (Sec. 90.02).

Vehicles violating the 36-hour rule may be towed to the nearest place of safety, with the cost of removal becoming a lien against the vehicle under Section 90.02. Parking citations under Chapter 72 carry a $25 fine plus a $10 surcharge per Section 72.99.

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Port St. Lucie is governed by Chapter 72 of the Code of Ordinances (Stopping, Standing, and Parking), which adopts the Florida Vehicle Code parking prohibitions and adds local front-yard rules. Vehicles may not be parked in the wide side of a residential front yard or on a public right-of-way to display the vehicle for sale.

Key details: Code Chapter: Ch. 72 (Stopping, Standing, and Parking). Front-yard parking: Banned on the wide side of the front yard (Sec. 72.01(h)). Standard parking fine: $25 + $10 surcharge (Sec. 72.99). Abandoned on right-of-way: Towable after 36 hours (Sec. 90.01). State law basis: F.S. 316.1945.

Under Section 72.99, most parking violations carry a $25 fine plus a $10 school-crossing-guard surcharge; illegal use of a handicapped space is $250. Vehicles parked or left unattended on a public right-of-way more than 36 hours may be towed at the owner's expense as abandoned vehicles under Section 90.01.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Section 72.03 of the Port St. Lucie Code makes it unlawful to park a commercial vehicle, bus, or heavy equipment in any residential zone or on streets abutting residentially zoned lots. Pickups and vans may only stop in residential zones for up to one hour between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Key details: Code Section: Sec. 72.03 (Commercial vehicles in residential zones). Commercial vehicle threshold: GVW 10,000 lbs or more (plus listed types). Pickup/van exception: Up to 1 hour, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.. First-offense fine: $100 (Sec. 72.99(b)). Repeat fine: $150 second / $250 third+.

Section 72.99(b) sets escalating fines specifically for Section 72.03 violations: $100 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense, and $250 for a third and subsequent offense, plus a $10 school-crossing-guard surcharge.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Port St. Lucie actively enforces its commercial vehicle restrictions requirements.

Driveway Rules

Port St. Lucie requires driveways to be paved with concrete, asphalt, or pavers and connect to the street via an approved culvert or apron. Maximum driveway width and impervious coverage limits apply per zoning district.

Key details: Surface: Concrete, asphalt, or pavers. Max Width: 20-24 ft at ROW. Culvert: Required at swale. Impervious: 50-60% lot max. Permit: Required for new/expand.

Unpermitted driveway work: $100-500. Gravel driveway in prohibited zone: $100/day until compliant.

The Bottom Line

Port St. Lucie is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Port St. Lucie, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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