Parking Rules in Ridgewood, NJ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Ridgewood or are thinking about moving there, parking rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Ridgewood has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of parking rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Overnight Parking

Ridgewood prohibits parking on any village street between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., with limited waivers available through the Police Department for residents.

Key details: Prohibited Hours: 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Scope: All village streets. Waiver Source: Ridgewood Police Department. Max Waiver: Up to five nights.

Vehicles parked overnight without a waiver receive parking tickets, and repeat violators may be towed at the owner's expense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ridgewood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Ridgewood prohibits parking commercial-plate vehicles on designated streets during specified hours, with restrictions detailed in Schedule XXVI of Chapter 265.

Key details: Code Reference: Chapter 265 Schedule XXVI. CBD Employee Parking: 8 hours, 10am to 6pm. Restriction Type: Street and time specific. Enforcement: Tickets and towing.

Violations result in parking tickets and fines, with repeat or extended violations subject to towing under Chapter 258.

Abandoned Vehicles

Ridgewood Chapter 258 governs towing of abandoned, disabled, illegally parked, or stolen vehicles, capping fees at amounts published in Chapter 145.

Key details: Code Reference: Chapter 258 Towing. Fee Cap: Chapter 145 maximums. Fallback Rate: NJ State Police maximum. Triggering Conditions: Abandoned, illegal, stolen.

Towing operators charging excess fees or operating without proper Village authorization face license revocation. Vehicle owners abandoning vehicles may face removal costs, storage fees, and citations.

RV & Boat Parking

Ridgewood permits outdoor storage of camping trailers, boats, and boat trailers in residential side or rear yards only, subject to screening and height limits.

Key details: Allowed Yards: Side and rear only. Height Limit: Six feet maximum. Screening: Fence or hedge required. Living Use: Strictly prohibited.

Violations may result in zoning enforcement actions, daily fines, and orders to remove or properly screen non-conforming RVs, boats, or trailers stored in residential zones.

Driveway Rules

Ridgewood requires zoning permits for driveways and prohibits parking unregistered or uninspected vehicles ungaraged on residential property within the village.

Key details: Permit Required: Yes for driveways. Counts Toward: Lot coverage maximum. Unregistered Vehicles: Must be garaged. Curbing: Village standards apply.

Code enforcement may issue notices for unpermitted driveway work, excess lot coverage, or ungaraged unregistered vehicles, with fines and required corrections.

Street Parking Limits

Ridgewood regulates on-street parking through Chapter 265, controlling angle and parallel orientations, time limits, metered zones, and permit-required areas throughout the village.

Key details: Angle Parking: Nose toward curb. Parallel Parking: Direction of travel. Schedules: Listed in Chapter 265. Meters: CBD and Train Station.

Improperly oriented, expired, or prohibited street parking results in parking tickets, increased fines for repeat violations, and possible towing.

EV Charging

Ridgewood reserves designated EV charging spaces for charging vehicles only and requires premium permits for Hudson Street Garage charging spaces until noon daily.

Key details: Hudson Street Garage: Premium permit until noon. Station Plaza: Two designated spaces. Use Restriction: Charging vehicles only. Zoning Reference: Section 190-121.1.

Non-charging vehicles in EV spaces, or vehicles parked in Hudson Street Garage charging spaces without a premium permit before noon, receive parking tickets and may be towed.

The Bottom Line

Ridgewood'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 Ridgewood is broadly strict or permissive.

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