Parking Rules in Bellingham, WA (2026)
8 verified parking rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Driveway Rules
Bellingham prohibits parking any vehicle inside the required front or flanking-side yard of a residentially zoned lot, confining street-facing parking to the designated driveway surface.
Bellingham Front-Yard Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.33.185
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within the area designated as a minimum front yard, or side yard on a flanking street, as defined in BMC 20.30.040(F), within a residentially zoned area, when the required minimum front or side yard abuts street, road, sidewalk or curb. Parking shall be permitted in and upon designated driveways as provided in this section. The designated driveway ...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Bellingham bars parking any vehicle wider than 80 inches on a public street outside active loading or unloading, unless the street sits in a zone the code designates manufacturing or industrial, under BMC 11.33.060(A)(8). A companion rule, BMC 11.33.060(A)(3), caps commercial-vehicle loading stops in alleys at 30 minutes for a state-licensed commercial vehicle.
Bellingham Oversized Vehicle Street Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.33.060(A)(3), (A)(8)
A. 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 stop, stand, or park a vehicle: ... 3. No person shall stand or park a commercial vehicle in any alley for any purpose or length of time other than the expeditious loading and unloading of goods and then in no case shal...
Street Parking Limits
Bellingham bars parking in front of a driveway or within five feet of its curb cut, and bars parking facing the wrong direction on a one-way-facing section of street, under BMC 11.33.060(A)(11) and (A)(26). A driveway-blocking vehicle may be impounded immediately if it obstructs ingress or egress.
Bellingham Driveway Blocking & Wrong-Way Parking
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.33.060(A)(11), (A)(26)
A. 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 stop, stand, or park a vehicle: ... 11. In front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of the end of the curb leading thereto. A vehicle in violation of this provision may be impounded immediately in the m...
Overnight Parking
Bellingham bars leaving any vehicle in one city street spot for more than 72 consecutive hours unless a posted sign sets a shorter limit, covering overnight and long-term street parking citywide.
Bellingham 72-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.33.060(A)(25)
In one place upon the city street for a consecutive period in excess of the maximum time limit designated on an official posted sign controlling such parking space; or, for parking spaces not controlled by an official posted sign, for a consecutive period of time in excess of 72 hours; 26. On that portion of any street lawfully set aside for the movement of traffic in the direction opposit...
EV Charging
Bellingham's public electric vehicle charging stations are open to any driver who pays the posted rate, but a vehicle left in the space without being plugged in and actively charging is a civil infraction under BMC 11.37.030 and BMC 11.33.060(A)(41). The city sets the fine at $124.00 under BMC 11.33.230(B), separate from ordinary parking penalties.
Bellingham EV Charging Station Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.37.030; § 11.33.230(B)
11.37.030: A. Electric vehicle charging stations may be used by any member of the public, subject to the payment of applicable charges and any posted limitations on hours of operation and length of time a vehicle may be parked in a parking space. B. Vehicles parked in electric vehicle parking spaces must be connected to the charging equipment and in the process of charging. Pursuant to BMC 11.3...
Abandoned Vehicles
Bellingham bans visibly storing a dismantled, wrecked, junked or otherwise inoperable vehicle outdoors on any property unless it's hidden from public and neighboring view or part of a lawful business.
Bellingham Junked Vehicle Storage Ban
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 10.28.020(D)
Exterior storage, or the permitting or allowing of such storage, of any partially dismantled, wrecked, junked, discharged, or otherwise nonoperating motor vehicle, unless the same is stored in a location so as not to be visible from any public place or readily visible from any surrounding private property, or incidental to a lawful business; E. The existence of any fence or other structure or ...
Loading Zones
Commercial vehicles may stop in a marked Bellingham loading zone only to load or unload property, and never for more than 30 minutes; passenger loading zones cap stops at three minutes.
Bellingham Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.39.020
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of property in any place marked as a loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such zone are in effect. In no case shall the stop for loading and unloading of property exceed 30 minutes. B. The driver of a vehicle may sto...
Preferential Parking Districts
Bellingham operates two permit-only Residential Parking Zones near Sehome Hill and downtown, restricting weekday street parking to permit holders and their visitors on designated blocks.
Bellingham Residential Parking Zones
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 11.38.010
On and after September 22, 1997, it shall be a parking infraction to park between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for Morey Avenue only) Monday through Friday, except holidays, on any street within a residential parking zone unless the parked vehicle displays a valid residential parking permit or visitor's parking permit for the residential parking zone in which it...
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