Parking Rules in Durham, NC (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Durham, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Boats, camper trailers, and utility trailers in Durham's residential districts have to be stored off the street: either behind the house or on a driveway at least 25 feet back from the public right-of-way. UDO Sec. 10.2.3.E sets the standard, and Durham City-County Planning enforces it with a $500 civil penalty for violations.
Durham RV, Boat and Trailer Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO § 10.2.3.E
Recreational vehicles such as boats, camper trailers, and utility trailers shall be stored off the street and shall be located to the rear of the primary structure, or on a driveway and parked at least 25 feet from the public right-of-way. Multifamily developments may designate a specific area on a site plan for boat and trailer parking for residents of the development.
Driveway Rules
Durham requires residential driveways and parking areas to be built and maintained with a hard all-weather surface, grass, landscaped areas, and bare earth are prohibited, and caps front driveway width at 30 feet with no extra curb cuts.
Durham Driveway Surface and Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 10.2.3
10.2.3. Vehicle parking permitted in residential districts and uses Other than multiplexes and apartments, residential uses can utilize designated driveways for parking. Parking spaces and driveways to the front and side of the principal building must be clearly defined, constructed, and maintained with a surface pursuant to paragraph 10.4.2D, Surfacing. Grass, landscaped areas, and bare earth ...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance caps how big a vehicle can be if it's parked in a residential district: no more than 35 feet in overall length, eight feet in width, or 12 feet in height, unless a specific exception applies. City-County Planning enforces the limit under UDO Sec. 10.2.3.C, backed by a $500-per-violation civil penalty.
Durham Oversized Vehicle Parking Length Limits
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO § 10.2.3.C
Except as specified below, vehicles parked in residential areas shall not exceed 35 feet in overall length, eight feet in width or 12 feet in height.
Street Parking Limits
Durham requires every roadway-parked vehicle to sit parallel to the curb, headed with the flow of traffic, and with its curbside wheels within 12 inches of the edge under City Code § 66-176: parking against traffic draws a $30 civil penalty. Blocking a driveway is a declared public nuisance under § 66-186, and Durham police can tow the vehicle away at the owner's expense.
Durham Street Parking Direction & Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code §§ 66-176, 66-186
"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 12 inches of the edge of the roadway, except that upon those streets which have been marked or signed for angle parking vehicles, the vehicle shall stand or be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by s...
Overnight Parking
Durham bans parking any motor vehicle wider than 6½ feet on a public street between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under City Code § 66-187, with an exception only while actively loading or unloading. Violating the overnight width restriction carries a $30.00 civil penalty under § 66-370(a)(17).
Durham Overnight Wide-Vehicle Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code § 66-187
"It shall be unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle of a width exceeding 6½ feet on any of the public streets in the city between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. following, except when necessary to stop for the purpose of loading or unloading, and then only during the period in which such loading or unloading operation is being carried out." (Sec. 66-187)
EV Charging
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance doesn't require electric vehicle charging citywide, but downtown Design District developments can earn 30 extra feet of building height by dedicating public parking with charging built in. Under UDO § 16.3.3(C)(1)'s Public Parking bonus, at least three of the required public spaces, a minimum of 50 spaces or 20% of the project's required parking, whichever is greater, must be electric vehicle charging spaces.
Durham UDO Downtown EV Charging Parking Bonus
Light RestrictionsUDO § 16.3.3(C)(1)
Provide parking within the development dedicated for public use. The public parking provided shall not count towards maximum parking allowed for the project. The public parking shall be in structured parking. The amount of parking shall be at least 50 spaces, or an amount equal to at least 20% of the minimum amount of parking required for the development, whichever is greater. At least three of...
Abandoned Vehicles
Durham bans leaving an abandoned motor vehicle on a public street for more than seven days, on city property for more than 24 hours, or on private property without the owner's consent for more than two hours. A separate junked-vehicle rule lets the housing code administrator order removal of dismantled, inoperable, or under-$500 vehicles.
Durham Abandoned & Junked Vehicle Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code §§ 26-146, 26-147, 26-149
It shall be unlawful for any person to leave an abandoned motor vehicle: (1) On any public street or highway longer than seven days; or (2) On property owned or operated by the city for longer than 24 hours; or (3) On private property without the consent of the owner, occupant or lessee thereof for longer than two hours. (Sec. 26-147) -- Junked motor vehicle means a vehicle that does not displa...
Loading Zones
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance bars deliveries at off-street loading docks next to residential uses between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless the site sits in the Downtown Design District. Loading spaces are mandatory for commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet, industrial plants, warehouses, freight terminals and hospitals, and must meet minimum dimensions, setback and screening standards enforced under UDO Article 15.
Durham Loading Zone Delivery Hour Limits
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO § 10.6.5
Loading spaces shall be required for commercial establishments greater than 20,000 square feet, industrial plants, wholesale establishments, warehouses, freight terminals, and hospitals. Loading spaces can be provided for other uses. Off-street loading spaces can be either inside or outside the building and on the same or adjoining lots. Any loading area outside of the DD District located adjac...
Towing & Impound Rights
Durham puts hard dollar ceilings on a nonconsensual tow, which North Carolina does not do statewide. Fee Schedule Part 12-104 caps a police-initiated rotation wrecker tow at $125.00 for a non-collision tow, $225.00 for a basic collision tow and $325.00 when recovery services are needed, sets storage at $35.00 a day for a vehicle under 10,000 pounds, and limits the charge for releasing a vehicle or letting an owner retrieve personal property outside business hours to $50.00. Those caps do not reach the tow charge for a heavy-duty vehicle, a private-lot tow, or a tow that follows a wheel lock for unpaid parking tickets.
Durham Tow Fee Caps and Impound Release Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham Fee Schedule Part 12-104 (Police-Initiated Nonconsensual Tow Fees)
Pursuant to City Code Section 50-391, the following maximum charges are allowed and apply to police-initiated (Durham rotation wrecker request) nonconsensual tows in the City. (a) Towing of vehicles as a result of Durham rotation wrecker request: Non-collision tows: maximum charge of $125.00 Basic collision tows (includes use of dollies and basic winching): maximum charge of $225.00 Collision t...
Looking for Durham County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Durham city rules.
Parking Rules in Durham County →