Parking Rules in Springdale, AR: What Residents Actually Need to Know

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

RV & Boat Parking

Recreational and utility vehicle parking on residential lots in Springdale is governed by the residential parking and surfacing rules of Chapter 130, Article 7 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) of the Springdale Zoning Ordinance, which limits paved surface in a front yard to 40 percent of the total front-yard area on single-family and two-family lots, and by Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles) of the Springdale Code for on-street RV and trailer parking. RV parks themselves are regulated as the C-7 Recreational Vehicle Park zoning district under Article 4.

Key details: Zoning Code: Chapter 130 Article 7 (Off-Street Parking). Front-Yard Paving Cap: 40% (single/two-family lots). Surface: Durable surface, suitable drainage. RV Park District: C-7 Recreational Vehicle Park. State On-Street Law: A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq..

Violations of the Article 7 front-yard surfacing rules are zoning violations enforced by Springdale Neighborhood Services with notice of violation and a compliance window before citation. Continuing violations are misdemeanors prosecuted in Springdale District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Springdale Code of Ordinances. On-street RV/trailer violations are enforceable by the Springdale Police Department under Chapter 114 and the Arkansas removal-of-abandoned-vehicles framework at A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq. when the vehicle is left in place.

Driveway Rules

Driveways and curb cuts in Springdale are governed by Chapter 110 (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places) for work in the right-of-way and by Chapter 130, Article 7 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) for the access, dimensions and surface of driveways on the lot itself. Single-family and two-family residential lots are subject to a 40-percent front-yard paving cap, a durable-surface requirement, and access-drive minimums of 10 feet for dwellings under Article 7.

Key details: Right-of-Way Permit: Chapter 110 (Streets/Sidewalks). On-Lot Rules: Chapter 130 Article 7. Access Drive Width: 10 ft minimum (dwellings). Right-of-Way Setback: 5 ft (off-street parking). Front-Yard Paving Cap: 40% (single/two-family).

Building or altering a driveway or curb cut in the public right-of-way without the Chapter 110 encroachment permit is enforceable by Springdale Engineering/Public Works and can require restoration at the owner's expense. Front-yard paving in excess of 40 percent, missing-durable-surface or undersized access-drive violations of Article 7 are zoning violations enforceable by Springdale Neighborhood Services, with notice, citation and prosecution in Springdale District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Springdale Code. Access-management violations on commercial sites are reviewed under Article 7 at site-plan stage.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Commercial vehicle parking in Springdale is governed by Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles) of the Springdale Code, the Chapter 130 zoning rules that confine truck terminals and heavy-equipment storage to commercial and industrial districts (C-2/C-4/C-5, W-1, I-1/I-2/I-3), and the Arkansas state framework at A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq. Signed time limits and tow-away zones in downtown Springdale and on industrial corridors are enforced by the Springdale Police Department.

Key details: Local Code: Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles). Zoning Districts: W-1, I-1, I-2, I-3 (heavy uses). State Law: A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq.. Hydrant Setback: 15 ft (state). Stop Sign / Signal: 30 ft (state).

On-street commercial-vehicle violations are enforced by the Springdale Police Department with citation under Chapter 114 of the Springdale Code and the Arkansas state framework; vehicles may be towed under A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq. Storage of a commercial vehicle, semi-tractor or heavy equipment on a residentially zoned lot in violation of Chapter 130 is a zoning violation enforced by Springdale Neighborhood Services, with notice of violation, compliance window, and citation in Springdale District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Springdale Code if not abated. Each day of continuing violation may be cited separately.

Overnight Parking

Springdale does not impose a blanket citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles, but overnight parking is subject to Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles) of the Springdale Code, the 2015 three-hour-front-of-home rule on residential streets, signed tow-away and no-parking zones, the Article 7 surfacing rules for on-lot parking, and the Arkansas state framework at A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq. Removal of unattended vehicles follows A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq.

Key details: Citywide Overnight Ban: None for passenger vehicles. 3-Hour Rule: Front of another's home (complaint). Lawn Parking: Prohibited (Article 7 - durable surface). Front-Yard Paving: 40% cap (single/two-family). State Setbacks: A.C.A. §27-51-1301+ (overnight too).

Signed tow-away and no-parking violations are enforceable on-the-spot by the Springdale Police Department under Chapter 114. The 2015 three-hour residential-frontage rule is enforceable on complaint. Vehicles left unattended on a public street are subject to removal and storage under A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq., with the owner liable for tow and storage fees. Lawn-parking and excessive-paving violations on private property are enforced by Springdale Neighborhood Services under Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance with notice, citation and prosecution in Springdale District Court.

EV Charging

Arkansas has not adopted a statewide EV-ready or EV Make-Ready building mandate, and the City of Springdale does not impose a city-specific EV-ready percentage on new construction through Chapter 130 (Zoning Ordinance) or Chapter 22 (Buildings). EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) is permitted as an accessory use under the underlying zoning district and requires an electrical permit under the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code framework (which adopts the IBC, IRC and NEC) and licensed-electrician installation.

Key details: State EV-Ready Mandate: None (voluntary programs only). State Framework: A.C.A. §19-6-301, §27-14-614, §27-24-201 + HB1354 (2023). Building Code: AR Fire Prevention Code (IBC/IRC + NEC). Electrical Standard: NEC Article 625 (EVSE). Rebates: ADEQ Level 2 EVSE Rebate Program.

Installing EVSE without the required electrical permit is enforceable by Springdale Building Inspection with stop-work orders, fines and refusal to issue a Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection until the work is permitted, performed by a licensed electrician under the National Electrical Code, and inspected. Commercial-site EV charging installations that affect parking layout, lighting or signage may also require Planning Department review under Chapter 130 (Zoning Ordinance) Article 7 (Off-Street Parking).

Springdale is more permissive than most cities when it comes to ev charging. That said, there are still limits.

Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned and unattended vehicles in Springdale are removed under the Arkansas Code framework at A.C.A. §27-50-1201 through §27-50-1224 (Removal of Unattended or Abandoned Vehicles), with the 30-day-unattended definition of 'abandoned' supplied by A.C.A. §27-50-1101. The state recovery law at A.C.A. §27-49-219 (titling, sale and disposition of abandoned vehicles) backstops the process, and on-property junked or inoperable vehicles are enforced as nuisances under Chapter 74 of the Springdale Code by Springdale Neighborhood Services.

Key details: State Removal Law: A.C.A. §27-50-1201 - §27-50-1224. Abandoned Definition: 30 days unattended (A.C.A. §27-50-1101). Title/Sale Process: A.C.A. §27-49-219. Local Nuisance Code: Chapter 74 (Springdale Code). Tow Board: AR Towing and Recovery Board.

Open storage of an inoperable, wrecked, dismantled or unregistered vehicle on residential property is enforced by Springdale Neighborhood Services under Chapter 74 of the Springdale Code, with a notice of violation listing the conditions to be abated and a compliance window; continued violations are misdemeanors prosecuted in Springdale District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Springdale Code. Vehicles on public streets are removed under A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq., with the owner liable for tow contractor and storage fees. Unclaimed vehicles are disposed of through the state's abandoned-vehicle title process at A.C.A. §27-49-219 and §27-50-1208.

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

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Springdale is governed by Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles) of the Springdale Code together with the Arkansas state framework at A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq. A 2015 Springdale ordinance makes it unlawful, on complaint, to park a vehicle in front of a home owned by another person for more than three hours in any 24-hour period. Springdale does not operate downtown parking meters; signed time limits and tow-away zones are enforced by the Springdale Police Department.

Key details: Local Code: Chapter 114 (Traffic and Vehicles). 3-Hour Front-of-Home Rule: 2015 ordinance, complaint-based. State Law: A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq.. Hydrant / Crosswalk: 15 ft / 20 ft (state). Stop Sign / Signal: 30 ft (state).

Parking violations of Chapter 114 are misdemeanor citations issued by the Springdale Police Department and heard in Springdale District Court under the general penalty provisions of the Springdale Code. Tow-away and unattended-vehicle removal follows A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq.; owners must pay tow contractor fees and storage charges to recover the vehicle. The 2015 'three-hour' residential ordinance is complaint-based and prosecutable in District Court when a property owner files a complaint and the offending vehicle has remained in front of the complainant's house more than three hours in a 24-hour period.

The Bottom Line

Springdale'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 Springdale is broadly strict or permissive.

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