Parking Rules in Apex, NC (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Apex, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Apex Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Section 8.3.4 expressly prohibits off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes within any front or street side setback area, with one narrow exception: such off-street parking is permitted within that portion of any setback used for driveway access to required off-street parking areas. Storage of mobile homes is not permitted. On the public street, every RV and trailer is bound by NCGS 20-162, which prohibits parking in front of a private driveway, within 15 feet in either direction of a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, and within 25 feet of the intersection of curb lines. HOA covenants in Apex's many planned subdivisions are common and may further restrict RV/boat storage.
RV and Boat Parking in Apex
Some RestrictionsDriveway Rules
Apex UDO Section 8.3.4.E (Residential Driveway Standards) sets the design baseline: driveways serving single-family residential properties shall have a minimum width of 12 feet, and driveways serving all residential properties shall be at least 20 feet in length as measured from the ultimate right-of-way (or from the back of sidewalk if the sidewalk is located on private property). Single-family residential properties are limited to one driveway access point to the public street system except in three narrow cases. Off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes shall not be permitted within any front or street side setback area except in the driveway access portion. Required parking and driveways must be at least five feet from any required buffer or Resource Conservation Area.
Driveway Rules and Front-Yard Parking in Apex
Some RestrictionsCommercial Vehicle Restrictions
Apex does not impose a citywide weight or length cap on commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods, but every commercial vehicle on the public street is subject to Chapter 20 of the Apex Code of Ordinances and NCGS 20-162, which prohibits parking in front of a private driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, and within 25 feet from the intersection of curb lines. UDO Section 8.3.4 (Setbacks) restricts off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes within any front or street side setback area except in the driveway access portion. Storage of mobile homes is not permitted. The Apex Traffic Engineering Manager coordinates with Police, Fire, and Public Works to designate posted no-parking and time-limited zones by ordinance.
Commercial Vehicle Parking in Apex
Some RestrictionsStreet Parking Limits
Apex on-street parking is governed by Chapter 20 (Traffic) of the Apex Code of Ordinances and by NCGS 20-162, which prohibits parking in front of a private driveway, within 15 feet in either direction of a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, and within 25 feet from the intersection of curb lines. The Town's downtown core uses signed time-limit zones (2-hour and 3-hour) enforced Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. By state law, vehicles displaying an accessible parking decal or placard are not restricted by time limits, regardless of whether they are parked in a spot marked accessible. Apex does not have personnel dedicated exclusively to parking enforcement; patrol officers handle citations.
Street Parking Rules in Apex
Some RestrictionsOvernight Parking
Apex does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles. The functional limits on overnight parking are NCGS 20-162 distance restrictions (15 feet from a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, in front of a private driveway, 25 feet from a curb-line intersection), any posted no-parking signs established by Board ordinance through the Apex Traffic Engineering process, and the downtown Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. time-limit zones (2 hr or 3 hr). UDO Section 8.3.4 prohibits off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes within any front or street side setback area except in the driveway access portion. NCGS 20-137.7 defines an abandoned vehicle as one that has remained illegally for more than 10 days without consent.
Overnight Parking in Apex
Few RestrictionsEV Charging
Apex regulates new-development EV charging through UDO Section 8.3.11 (Electric Vehicle Charging Spaces). Multi-family or apartment projects must provide EV-Ready spaces equal to 30% of required motor vehicle spaces and active EV charging spaces equal to 15% of required spaces; Government Service uses must provide 15% EV-Ready / 3% charging; Commercial uses must provide 15% EV-Ready / 3% charging. Projects with fewer than 10 required motor vehicle spaces are exempt. The Town operates public charging at four municipal sites (Saunders Lot, Town Hall, Mason Street, Public Safety Station 6) at 20 cents per kWh. North Carolina has NOT adopted a right-to-charge statute - only CA, CO, CT, IL, OR, and DC do - so HOAs and condominium associations in Apex may still restrict EV charger installation. HB 488 (S.L. 2023-108) froze the state residential building code through 2031.
Electric Vehicle Charging in Apex
Some RestrictionsAbandoned Vehicles
Abandoned, junked, health/safety hazard, and aesthetic nuisance vehicles in Apex are governed by Chapter 20, Article III of the Apex Code of Ordinances, implemented under NCGS 20-137.7, NCGS 160A-303, and NCGS 160A-303.2. NCGS 20-137.7 defines an abandoned vehicle as 'a motor vehicle that has remained illegally on private or public property for a period of more than 10 days without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.' The Apex Police Department uses Form F1313 (Violation Checklist), Form F1313a (Pre-towing Notice and Right to Appeal - 11 days to remove), and Form F1313b (Post-towing Notice and Right to Hearing - 24 hours for NC-registered, 72 hours for out-of-state). Owners may appeal under Section 20-36(b). NCGS 160A-303.2(b) prohibits removal of vehicles in regular business or personal use.
Abandoned Vehicles in Apex
Heavy RestrictionsCurb Color Rules
Curb markings and colored-curb paint on Apex public streets are installed only by the Town, under the coordination of the Apex Traffic Engineering Manager working with Police, Fire, and Public Works. Residents and adjacent property owners may not paint, alter, or add markings to a public curb. Where paint is faded or absent, the state-law distance restrictions in NCGS 20-162 still apply by default: no parking in front of a private driveway, within 15 feet in either direction of a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, or within 25 feet from the intersection of curb lines. Local authorities may by ordinance decrease the distance within which a vehicle may park in either direction of a fire hydrant.
Curb Painting and Colored-Curb Restrictions in Apex
Some RestrictionsLoading Zones
Apex's commercial loading framework lives in UDO Section 8.3.5 (Off-Street Loading Requirements). 'Off-street loading spaces shall be required for industrial, major institutional, and business uses that can be expected to regularly receive or deliver goods,' on a sliding scale by gross floor area in Table 8.3-3: 1 space for 0-40,000 sq ft, 2 for 40,001-100,000, 3 for 100,001-160,000, 4 for 160,001-240,000, and 5 for 240,001-320,000. On-street loading zones in the downtown core are designated by the Town through the Traffic Engineering Manager working with Police, Fire, and Public Works. NCGS 20-162 distance restrictions apply citywide regardless of any loading zone designation.
Loading Zones in Apex
Some RestrictionsOversized Vehicle Parking
Apex does not impose a citywide weight or length cap on oversized vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The functional limits come from UDO Section 8.3.4 (Setbacks), which prohibits off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes within any front or street side setback area except in the driveway access portion (storage of mobile homes is not permitted); from NCGS 20-162 distance restrictions on the public street; and from posted no-parking and through-truck zones established by the Board of Commissioners under Chapter 20. A through-truck restriction exists 'between SR 1011 (Salem Street) and SR 1308 (Apex Peakway).' Apex's many HOA-governed subdivisions commonly impose additional, stricter limits.
Oversized Vehicle Parking in Apex
Some RestrictionsLooking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Apex city rules.
Parking Rules in Wake County →