Parking Rules in Westminster, CO

Every city handles parking rules a little differently. In Westminster, Colorado, there are 6 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.

EV Charging

Westminster lets EV charging stations go in as an accessory or primary zoning use under Municipal Code Section 11-4-6(T). Home Level 1 and Level 2 chargers skip the Official Development Plan process entirely, but larger charging projects need an ODP Amendment, and DC fast chargers must be screened with a masonry wall, matching fence, or dense vegetation.

Key details: ODP Amendment: Required except for Level 1/2 charging. DCFC screening: Masonry, fencing, or dense vegetation. Parking credit: EV space counts as 1 standard space. Van-accessible EV space: Counts as 2 standard spaces. PUD/SPD low-density areas: City Council review required.

A primary-use EV charging project in a low-density PUD or SPD district that skips the required City Council review, or DCFC equipment installed without the masonry, fencing, or vegetation screening required by (T)(9), does not qualify for final sign-off. Because the underlying electrical and structural work still falls under the City's adopted Building Codes, installing charging equipment without the associated building or electrical permit exposes the installer to the same permitting and inspection requirements that apply to any other electrical installation in the City.

Loading Zones

Westminster requires all non-parking areas in off-street lots, including loading zones, emergency lanes, and doorway spaces, to be clearly delineated, alongside striping rules for regular parking spaces, under Section 11-7-4(C)(6).

Key details: Governing section: W.M.C. Section 11-7-4(C)(6). Stripe width (regular spaces): 4 inches minimum, white or yellow. Loading zones: Must be clearly delineated. Applies to: All lots except single/duplex units. Layout approval: City Manager or designee, pre-permit.

Failing to delineate loading zones or other non-parking spaces, or maintaining a parking area with inadequate or absent striping, is a failure to meet the construction and maintenance standards of Section 11-7-4(C), enforceable through the City's building permit and site plan approval process and subject to Title I general code penalties for continuing violations.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Westminster gives residents more flexibility on loading zones.

RV & Boat Parking

Westminster caps street parking of RVs, boats, mobile homes and trailers under 35 feet at 72 hours within any seven-day period, and bans anything 35 feet or longer from public streets except while loading or unloading. On private property, these vehicles must sit on a paved driveway or behind a six-foot privacy fence if kept in a side yard.

Key details: Street time limit: 72 hours per 7-day period. Covers vehicles under: 35 feet long. 35-foot+ vehicles: Banned from streets except loading. Yard parking requirement: Paved driveway or 6-ft privacy fence. Anti-evasion rule: No reparking within 700 feet.

Parking an oversized or overstaying RV, boat, or trailer draws a civil parking citation, not a criminal charge. Repeated violations can also trigger code enforcement if the vehicle sits in a yard without a paved surface or privacy fence. Citations follow the same 21-day appeal window and two-level review process (document review, then a Parking Hearing Officer hearing) that governs all Section 10-1-12 citations.

Abandoned Vehicles

Westminster enforces Colorado's state abandoned-vehicle law rather than a separate city ordinance: a vehicle left unattended on public property longer than 48 hours, or beyond whatever limit a local ordinance sets, counts as abandoned under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-4-1802. Officers must have it towed to an impound lot, and knowing violations are a petty offense under § 42-4-1811.

Key details: Default abandonment threshold: 48 hours unattended on public property. Impound-lot threshold: 72 hours after release notice. Owner notice window before sale: 30 calendar days. Penalty: Petty offense under § 18-1.3-503, C.R.S.. Local override: Cities may set their own removal ordinance.

Knowingly abandoning a vehicle on public property is a petty offense under § 42-4-1811, C.R.S., punishable as set out in § 18-1.3-503. Once towed, an unclaimed vehicle can be sold at auction if the owner or lienholder does not respond to certified notice within 30 calendar days of the postmark, and the towing operator can assert a lien under § 42-4-1806 for towing and storage costs against the vehicle itself.

Street Parking Limits

Westminster's traffic code bars parking on any street in ways that block driveways, choke traffic flow, or crowd neighboring cars. Vehicles must keep at least two feet of clearance from each other, stay off the curb-to-sidewalk strip, and avoid bike lanes and marked fire lanes. Parking enforcement officers issue civil citations, not criminal tickets, under Section 10-1-12.

Key details: Driveway blocking: Unlawful under §10-1-12(B)(9). Vehicle clearance: Minimum 2 feet required. Curb-to-sidewalk strip: No parking allowed there. Citation type: Civil, not criminal. Appeal deadline: 21 days from citation.

Parking violations under Section 10-1-12 are civil, not criminal. A cited driver has 21 days to file a notice of appeal, first getting a document-only review by the Director's designee, who may dismiss the citation, reduce the fine, or uphold it. A second-level hearing before a Parking Hearing Officer is available within 21 days of an adverse first-level decision; missing either deadline waives further appeal rights.

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Westminster bars trucks, buses, semi-tractors, truck trailers and construction equipment from parking on any public street or highway in the city under Section 10-1-12(B)(3), with a narrow exception for loading and unloading next to a permitted construction site. Commercial vehicles must also meet the state's federal safety inspection standard under Section 10-1-11 before operating on any city street.

Key details: Truck weight threshold: GVWR over 11,000 pounds. Bus definition: Seats more than 10 passengers. Construction-site exception: Only with a valid building permit. Residential district buffer: Within 300 feet of zoned area. Citation type: Civil parking violation, not criminal.

Parking a truck, bus, semi-tractor, truck trailer or construction equipment on a public street, or in a residential driveway, yard or vacant lot, without the construction loading exception, draws a civil parking citation under Section 10-1-12(E), W.M.C., not a criminal charge. Operating a noncompliant commercial vehicle on a City street under Section 10-1-11, by contrast, is a criminal traffic offense punishable under Section 1-8-1, W.M.C. Citations can be appealed within 21 days, first through a document review and then, if upheld, through a hearing before a Parking Hearing Officer.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westminster actively enforces its commercial & oversized vehicles requirements.

The Bottom Line

Westminster'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 Westminster is broadly strict or permissive.

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