Parking Rules in Dearborn, MI (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Dearborn, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Driveway Rules
Dearborn's traffic code bars parking on lawns or unpaved ground on both public and private property, closing off the classic move of pulling a car onto the grass instead of pavement.
Dearborn Prohibits Parking on Lawns
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-345(a)(20)
(a) A person shall not park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: ... (20) On lawns or other unpaved areas on public and private property, with the exception of approved parking areas.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Dearborn bars commercial trucks and other commercial vehicles from parking on any city street or on private property in a residential area, with exceptions for active deliveries, service calls, and a traffic-commission permit for on-call workers.
Dearborn Limits Commercial Vehicle Parking
Significant RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-356
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park any commercial vehicle as defined in section 18-63 or any commercial motor vehicle as defined in section 18-63.1 on any street within the city or upon private property within a residential area of the city. (b) This section shall not apply to commercial vehicles or commercial motor vehicles when the operation of such is necessary for the purpose o...
Street Parking Limits
Dearborn requires every vehicle parked on a street to sit parallel and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb, which rules out parking against the flow of traffic on the wrong side of the road.
Dearborn On-Street Parking Position Rule
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-343
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a highway shall be so stopped or parked with the wheels of the vehicle parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of any existing righthand curb. (b) Parking of vehicles with the lefthand wheels adjacent to and within 12 inches of the left-hand curb shall be permitted on a one-way street if appropriate sig...
EV Charging
Dearborn bars gas-powered cars from parking in a posted EV charging space and bans electric vehicles from squatting there once they're done charging, protecting turnover at public charging stations.
Dearborn EV Charging Space Rules
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-345(a)(21)
(21) When a sign provides notice that a parking space is a publicly designated electric vehicle charging station, no person shall park or stand any non-electric vehicle in a designated electric vehicle charging station space. Further, no person shall park or stand an electric vehicle in a publicly designated electric vehicle charging station space when not electrically charging.
Abandoned Vehicles
Dearborn bans abandoning a vehicle on public or private property, presumes the last titled owner responsible, and fines unredeemed vehicles $50.
Dearborn Abandoned Vehicle Rules
Significant RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-367
A person shall not abandon a vehicle in this state. It is presumed that the last titled owner of the vehicle is responsible for abandoning the vehicle unless the person provides a record of sale... A person who violates this subsection and who fails to redeem the vehicle before disposition of the vehicle under section 18-372 is responsible for a civil infraction and shall be ordered to pay a ci...
Curb Color Rules
Parking next to any yellow-painted curb is illegal anywhere in Dearborn, whether or not a meter sits nearby: the same paid-parking ordinance authorizes towing at the owner's expense for the violation.
Dearborn Yellow-Curb No-Parking Rule
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-762
It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle alongside any curb painted yellow.
Loading Zones
Dearborn limits how long any vehicle can sit in a marked loading zone: only as long as it takes to actually load or unload passengers or property, plus a short grace period for a delivery receipt.
Dearborn Loading Zone Time Limit
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-350
No vehicle may remain in a loading zone for a period of time greater than is necessary to unload or load either passengers or property, nor while the operator thereof is engaged otherwise than in the actual loading or unloading of the vehicle, except that a reasonable time shall be allowed to secure a receipt for delivery of property.
Preferential Parking Districts
Property owners inside Dearborn's downtown-adjacent residential parking district can get free permits so they aren't crowded out by drivers dodging paid parking, but each household's permit count is capped by zoning.
Dearborn Residential Parking Permit Zones
Significant RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-770(a)
In order to protect nearby residential areas from the negative effects of the parking of vehicles in those areas to avoid paid parking, a system of residential parking permits shall be established. The goal of a system of residential parking permits is to avoid the harm to residents that may be caused by individuals attempting to avoid paid parking, not to grant any additional privileges or ent...
Snow Removal Parking Rules
Dearborn's mayor may declare a citywide snow-emergency parking ban that bars all street parking except on posted snow routes, enforced by towing.
Dearborn Snow Emergency Parking Ban
Significant RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 18-357
Whenever the mayor or his duly designated representative finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain, or on the basis of a weather service forecast, that weather conditions will make it necessary that parking on any city street be restricted or prohibited to facilitate snow plowing, the mayor may cause to be put into effect a parking ban... Whenever a parking ban is caused to be...
Towing & Impound Rights
Dearborn regulates non-consent towing through its own wrecker ordinance, Article VI of Chapter 18, not just through state law. A wrecker service must notify the Dearborn Police Department within one hour of any tow taken without the vehicle owner's consent, may charge no more than the maximum service fee the city council establishes, must accept any major credit card, and must keep its lot open 24 hours a day, seven days a week whenever it removes a car from private property between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Breaking those rules is a civil infraction carrying a $1,000 civil fine, rising to $2,500 for a repeat violation within six months.
Dearborn Tow Operator Rules and Impound Release
Significant RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances, Secs. 18-816 and 18-819
Sec. 18-816. - Notice of police department when vehicle moved without consent of owner or custodian. It shall be unlawful for any wrecker or towing service or operator to fail to notify the police department within one hour of the removal of a vehicle from public or private property, when such vehicle was removed without the consent of the owner or custodian of the vehicle. ... Sec. 18-819. - M...
Looking for Wayne County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dearborn city rules.
Parking Rules in Wayne County →