Parking Rules in Columbia, SC (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Columbia bans parking any RV, camper, boat, trailer, or jet ski outside a defined parking space in the front yard of a single-family or two-family home. Sec. 17-5.2(c)(3)c limits the front-yard zone between the house's street-facing facade and the street to a paved parking area covering no more than 40 percent of that zone, or 500 square feet, whichever is greater.
Columbia RV and Boat Front-Yard Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Unified Development Ordinance § 17-5.2(c)(3)c
c. Parking in Front of Residential Structure On a parcel where a use in the Residential Uses classification other than a mixed-use dwelling, is located, in any area between a street-facing facade of a principal building, the corresponding lot line abutting a street, and either both side lot lines (for interior lots and through lots) or a side lot line and another lot line abutting a street (for...
Driveway Rules
Columbia's Unified Development Ordinance caps vehicle parking in the front yard of a residential lot at 40 percent of that yard area or 500 square feet, whichever is greater, and bars parking outside a defined space. Single-family, two-family, and townhouse driveways may use crushed stone, gravel, or mulch instead of pavement if it's edged and kept neat.
Columbia Driveway Surface and Front-Yard Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC UDO Sec. 17-5.2(c)(2)d; Sec. 17-5.2(c)(3)c
Off-street parking spaces and driveways for single-family detached, two-family, and townhouse dwellings may, in-lieu of surfacing in accordance with a or c above, 1. Be covered with pervious material such as crushed stone, gravel, or mulch, if such material is: (i) Confined to the parking space and/or driveway with a device expressly designed for such purposes including but not limited to brick...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Columbia bans storing commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles, or trailers of any size on city streets. 'Storage' kicks in the moment such a vehicle sits unattended, or unmoved, in the same spot on a public street, including the right-of-way strip between the curb and the property line, for more than two hours.
Columbia's Ban on Storing Commercial Vehicles on Streets
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-42
No person shall store or permit to be stored any commercial vehicle, recreational vehicle or trailer of any size or description, upon any of the streets of the city. For the purpose of this section, storage shall mean the leaving or parking of such vehicle unattended on a street for a longer time than two hours, day or night or unmoved from its location on a street for a longer time than two ho...
Street Parking Limits
Columbia requires every vehicle parked on a street to sit parallel to the curb, headed the same direction as traffic, with its curbside wheels within 18 inches of the edge of the roadway. Parking against traffic, straddling the curb strip, or leaving keys in an unattended car on a public street each draws its own citation under Chapter 12.
Columbia's Curbside Parking Direction Rule
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-47
No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway, headed in the direction of traffic, and with the curbside wheels of the vehicle within 18 inches of the edge of the roadway, except as follows: (1)Upon those streets which have been marked or signed for angle parking, vehicles shall be parked at an angle to the curb indicated by such marks or ...
Overnight Parking
Columbia doesn't set one blanket overnight parking ban; instead it lets the city post hour- and day-specific no-parking signs block by block, and section 12-43 makes it unlawful to park in violation of whatever hours a sign designates, including overnight or rush-hour windows chosen for that street.
Columbia's Posted-Hours Parking Restriction
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-43
When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person may park a vehicle as prohibited by such signage between the hours and days so designated.
EV Charging
Columbia charges by the kilowatt-hour for electric vehicle charging in its city-owned parking decks and lots under Sec. 12-150(e) of the Code of Ordinances: $0.1900 per kWh for a Level 2 station and $0.3469 per kWh for DC Fast Charging, plus a $2.00-per-hour dwell-time fee once a vehicle stays past its charge, capped at $25.00 per session.
Columbia's EV Charging Station Fees
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-150(e)
(e)Electric Vehicle Charging: Level 2 Charging Station $0.1900/kWh; Level 2 Charging Station dwell-time $2.00/hour ($25 per dwell session max); DC Fast Charging Station $0.3469/kWh; DC Fast Charging Station dwell-time $2.00/hour ($25 per dwell session max). All Electric Vehicle Charging fees are in addition to any applicable posted parking facility fees.
Abandoned Vehicles
Columbia declares an unregistered, inoperable, derelict, or abandoned motor vehicle on any road, right-of-way, or public or private property a public nuisance unless it is kept inside a fully enclosed permanent structure.
Columbia Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicle Rule
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances Sec. 8-31(d)(7)
(d)Nuisances affecting public welfare and safety. The following are hereby declared to be public nuisances affecting public welfare and safety:...(7)Any motor vehicle that is unregistered, inoperable, derelict or abandoned on any highway or right-of-way, or other public or private property (including motor vehicles in violation of section 302.8 of the International Property Maintenance Code, as...
Loading Zones
Loading zones in Columbia are timed to the minute: a passenger zone allows only a three-minute stop for loading or unloading people, while a marked loading zone is reserved for expeditious freight loading between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, capped at 30 minutes per stop.
Columbia's Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-45(a)-(b)
(a)No person may stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers in any place marked as a passenger zone during hours when the regulations applicable to such passenger zone are effective, and then only for a period not to exceed three minutes.(b)No person may stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or length...
Preferential Parking Districts
Columbia's city council can designate residential permit parking districts after a traffic survey and public hearing when nonresidential parking severely impacts a neighborhood. Only permit holders may park on posted streets during restricted hours, protecting residential blocks near USC, downtown offices and hospitals from spillover commuter parking.
Columbia Residential Permit Parking Districts
Some RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 12-105
Upon designation by the council of a permit parking district, the department designated by the city manager to enforce residential parking permit regulations shall designate within the district an adequate number of on-street parking spaces to reasonably ensure sufficient parking to residents and visitors of residents of the district. In such district, appropriate signs giving notice of the des...
Looking for Richland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Parking Rules in Richland County →