Parking Rules in Allentown, PA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Allentown restricts on-street parking of recreational and oversized vehicles - including buses, dual-wheel motor homes, oversized vehicles, school buses, tractor trailers, trailers, and truck campers - within residential and most non-industrial zoning districts (Chapter 660, Zoning) under Chapter 615, Part 3, Article XIV. The Allentown Parking Authority issues only short-term (24-hour, renewable) permits to load or unload a truck camper.
Allentown RV, Boat & Camper Parking Limits
Heavy RestrictionsAllentown Codified Ordinances Ch. 615, Pt. 3, Art. XIV (Limitations on the Parking of Trucks and Trailers)
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or allow to remain parked on any street or parts of streets buses, dual-wheel motor homes, oversized vehicles, school buses, tractor trailers, trailers, and truck campers within the districts listed in Chapter 660, Zoning, and on any street abutting such zone, except for I-2 Limited Industrial and I-3 General Industrial Districts.
Driveway Rules
In Allentown's N (neighborhood/residential) zoning districts, Zoning Ordinance § 660-91.P limits how much of a front or corner-side yard can be paved for parking and driveways: no more than 50% of that street yard area. The rule targets oversized driveway aprons and front-yard parking pads that turn residential frontages into pavement.
Allentown Caps N-Zone Driveway Coverage at 50%
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Zoning Ordinance § 660-91.P (Ord. No. 16166, adopted Oct. 15, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026)
Front yard coverage. Total parking and driveway surface area in an N Zone may not exceed more than 50% of any street (front or corner side) yard area.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Allentown bars heavy commercial vehicles from residential neighborhoods both on-street and on-lot. The Zoning Ordinance (Sec. 660-90.C) prohibits parking a tractor trailer, a truck with a Class 5 license or above, or any truck over 11,000 pounds GVW for more than 2 hours per day on a lot in a Neighborhood (N) zone, and Chapter 615 bars tractor trailers, trailers, buses, and oversized vehicles from on-street parking in non-industrial districts.
Allentown Commercial & Heavy Truck Parking
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Zoning Ordinance Sec. 660-90.C (Truck Parking in N Zones)
Tractor-trailer trucks, trailers of a tractor-trailer combination, truck with a Class 5 license or above, or trucks with an aggregate gross vehicle weight of more than 11,000 pounds may not be parked for more than 2 hours per day on a lot in an N zone, except for: (1) Routine parking allowed as part of a lawful nonconforming nonresidential use, and (2) Temporary parking for on-site construction...
Street Parking Limits
On-street parking in Allentown is governed by Chapter 615, Part 3 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) of the Codified Ordinances and enforced by the Allentown Parking Authority and Police, layered on top of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S. Chapter 33). State law sets the baseline rules for where a vehicle may legally stop, stand or park, and the city posts metered, time-limited, and permit zones by signage and Traffic Control Maps.
Allentown On-Street Parking Rules
Some Restrictions75 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3353(a) (Prohibitions in specified places)
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers: In front of a public or private driveway. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Within 20 feet of a crossw...
Overnight Parking
Allentown does not impose a blanket residential overnight on-street parking ban, but a vehicle parked in one place on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours is treated as 'stored'/abandoned and is subject to ticketing, immobilization, and towing. Overnight enforcement otherwise follows posted street-cleaning windows, meter hours, and residential permit-parking zones.
Allentown Overnight & 72-Hour Parking
Some Restrictions75 Pa.C.S. Sec. 3352(b)-(c) (Removal of vehicle by or at direction of police)
Any police officer may remove or cause to be removed to a place of safety any unattended vehicle illegally left standing upon any highway, bridge, causeway or in any tunnel, in such position or under such circumstances as to interfere unduly with the normal movement of traffic or constitute a safety hazard. Any police officer may remove or cause to be removed to the place of business of the ope...
EV Charging
Allentown's zoning code treats private electric vehicle charging as an accessory use permitted outright in every zone under § 660-44, letting homeowners and businesses install chargers without a special exception, while public charging stations serve nonresidential uses and can count toward the site's required off-street parking minimum.
Allentown Allows EV Charging Stations By Right
Few RestrictionsCity of Allentown Zoning Ordinance § 660-44.A-B (Ord. No. 16166, adopted Oct. 15, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026)
The regulations of this section apply to off-street (on-site electric vehicle charging equipment. Private (restricted-access) electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations are permitted as accessory uses in all zones. Public EV charging stations are permitted as accessory uses to allowed nonresidential uses in all zones. Electric vehicle charging stations may be counted toward satisfying minimum off-...
Abandoned Vehicles
A car left unattended and inoperable, unregistered, or on someone else's property without consent for more than 48 hours is legally abandoned under Allentown code. Police can tow it after 5 days' notice, or immediately if it's a safety hazard.
Allentown Abandoned Vehicle Rules (48-Hour Limit)
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 615-103 (Abandoned Vehicles)
No person shall abandon a vehicle within the City on either public or private property. For purposes of this article, an abandoned vehicle shall be: A. The vehicle is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours; or B. The vehicle has remained illegally on a highway or other public property for a period of more than 48 hours; or ... D...
Loading Zones
Vehicles in a marked Allentown loading zone can stay only 20 minutes without active loading, and just 5 minutes in a five-minute zone. Break the limit and it's a $35 ticket plus possible immediate towing.
Allentown Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 615-56
§ 615-56. Parking, stopping, standing or drifting prohibited in loading zone or five-minute zone. No person shall allow a vehicle to be parked, stopped, standing or drifted to conceal an officer's chalk mark without loading activity for more than 20 minutes in a marked loading zone or more than five minutes in a five-minute zone.
Preferential Parking Districts
Allentown designates Residential Permit Parking zones where only permit-holding residents can park past posted time limits. Permits cost $25 to start, $20 a year to renew, and each household can get just two visitor passes at a time.
Allentown Residential Permit Parking Zones
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code §§ 615-82, 615-85A(2)
The City Council of the City of Allentown considers it to be in the interest of the citizens of the City of Allentown to provide for the establishment of a residential permit parking (RPP) program in order to alleviate the hardship experienced by residents in obtaining on-street parking space to preserve the residential quality of neighborhoods and to provide for improvement in air quality. ......
Snow Removal Parking Rules
When the Mayor declares a snow emergency, parking is banned citywide on designated snow emergency routes until the streets clear or the Mayor lifts it. Violators are ticketed $35, rising to $50 after 10 days, and cars may be towed at owner expense.
Allentown Snow Emergency Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code § 615-34 (Declaration of Snow Emergency)
In the event weather conditions make it necessary for motor vehicle traffic to be expedited and parking on City streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the Mayor or the Mayor's designated representative shall declare a snow emergency. The declaration of a snow emergency may be made on any of the seven days of the week at anytime between the hours of 7:00 a.m. an...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Allentown city rules.
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