Parking Rules in Indianapolis, IN (2026)
11 verified parking rules for Indianapolis, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
The Indianapolis-Marion County Dwelling Districts Zoning Ordinance (Sec. 731-219(b)(5)) lets residents park or store recreational vehicles, but only outside the required side/rear yards, and in a front yard only on the hard-surfaced driveway. No more than two RVs may be stored in the open on a lot, and a stored RV may not be occupied for living, sleeping, or housekeeping. RV is defined broadly to include boats, motor homes, travel trailers, and camping trailers (Sec. 731-102).
RVs/boats: driveway only in front yard; max 2; no living use
Some RestrictionsIndianapolis-Marion County Dwelling Districts Zoning Ordinance, Ch. 731, Sec. 731-219(b)(5)
(5) Additional requirements for recreational vehicles. The following additional requirements shall apply to the parking or storage of recreational vehicles: a. Recreational vehicles may be parked or stored inside permitted buildings or outside in such a manner that no part of any such vehicle shall project into any required side or rear yard as established by the ordinance. Provided further, no...
Driveway Rules
Indiana Code 9-21-16-5 prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in front of a public or private driveway. Under the Indianapolis-Marion County Dwelling Districts Zoning Ordinance (Sec. 731-219(b)(5)), recreational vehicles in a front yard may be kept only on the hard-surfaced area of the driveway, reflecting the city's general expectation of an improved parking surface.
No blocking driveways; front-yard parking on drive surface
Some RestrictionsIndiana Code 9-21-16-5(2) (As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9)
Sec. 5. A person may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to avoid conflict with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: ... (2) In front of a public or private driveway.
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Code of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 621-118 bars commercial vehicles and trucks with more than two axles from parking on any street or alley between midnight and 6:00 a.m. for longer than one hour, and from parking in a residential district for longer than one hour at any time (except active loading/unloading or service calls).
Trucks over 2 axles: 1-hr limit overnight and in residential areas
Heavy RestrictionsCode of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 621-118(a) (Code 1975, Sec. 29-264)
(a) Overnight parking. It shall be unlawful for the owner, operator or driver of commercial vehicle or truck if such vehicle has more than two (2) axles ... to park such vehicle or to permit it to be parked or to stand upon any street or alley in the city between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. for a period of time longer than one (1) hour.
Street Parking Limits
Indianapolis requires parallel-to-curb parking within twelve inches of the curb (Code of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 621-108) and bars parking on any street for more than six hours without abutting-owner consent (Sec. 621-117). State law (IC 9-21-16-5) additionally prohibits stopping, standing, or parking on sidewalks, crosswalks, within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, and other specified places.
Parallel to curb; 6-hour street limit; no parking near hydrants/crosswalks
Some RestrictionsIndiana Code 9-21-16-5 (As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9)
Sec. 5. A person may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to avoid conflict with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: (1) On a sidewalk. (2) In front of a public or private driveway. (3) Within an intersection. (4) Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant. (5) On a cros...
Overnight Parking
Indianapolis has no blanket overnight street-parking ban for ordinary passenger vehicles, but Code Sec. 621-117 caps parking on any street at six hours without the abutting owner's written consent, which effectively limits long-term overnight parking. State law (IC 9-21-16-1) bars leaving a vehicle on the traveled part of a highway outside a business or residence district when it is practicable to park off the road.
No general overnight ban; 6-hour street limit governs
Few RestrictionsIndiana Code 9-21-16-1 (As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9)
Sec. 1. (a) This section does not apply to a person who drives a vehicle that is disabled while on the paved, improved, or main traveled part of a highway in a manner and to the extent that it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the disabled vehicle on the highway. (b) A person may not stop, park, or leave standing an attended or unattended vehicle upon the paved or main tra...
EV Charging
Any Indianapolis development with 500 or more required off-street parking spaces must install at least two electric vehicle charging stations under Sec. 744-402.D. Those charging spaces count toward the site's required parking total, and Sec. 744-403.A separately lets any developer, not just large ones, cut its required parking by two spaces for every EV charging station it installs, up to the code's overall 35% reduction cap.
Indianapolis Large Lots Must Add EV Charging Stations
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of Indianapolis-Marion County, Chapter 744, Sec. 744-402.D (Required parking spaces - Electric vehicle charging stations)
D.Electric vehicle charging stations.1.Two electric vehicle charging stations shall be required for developments that provide 500 or more off-street parking spaces.2.Electric vehicle charging stations shall count toward the total required off-street parking spaces.
Abandoned Vehicles
Code of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 621-127 makes it a violation to store, maintain, or keep any inoperable vehicle outdoors on private property in a zoning district that does not specifically permit such a use, with escalating civil penalties for repeat offenses within a twelve-month period.
No inoperable vehicles stored outdoors on private property
Some RestrictionsCode of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 621-127 (G.O. 85, 2008, Sec. 8)
It shall be a violation of this Code to store, maintain, or keep any inoperable vehicle outdoors on private property in a zoning district, the provisions of which do not specifically permit such a use. A person's first and second violations of this section in a twelve-month period shall be subject to admission of violation and payment of the designated civil penalty through the ordinance violat...
Loading Zones
Downtown Regional Center vehicle loading zones run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays only, with a strict 20-minute loading window set by the Board of Public Works.
Indianapolis Loading Zone Hours: 7 AM-6 PM
Some RestrictionsCode of Indianapolis & Marion County, Sec. 621-424 (Hours of operation), Division 2 - Loading Zones Within the Regional Center
(a)The hours of operation for each type of loading zone shall be as follows:(1)Vehicle loading zones shall operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.(2)Hotel loading zones shall operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, Sunday through Saturday.(3)Theater loading zones shall operate twenty-four (24) hours a day, Sunday through Saturday.(b)The loading/unloading time ...
Preferential Parking Districts
Indianapolis residents living on a street inside a designated residential permit parking zone can apply for a one-year parking permit plus up to two visitor permits through Business and Neighborhood Services.
Indianapolis Residential Permit Parking Zones
Some RestrictionsIndianapolis/Marion County Revised Code Sec. 621-601(a) (G.O. 57, 2018, § 1)
Residents of each dwelling located directly adjacent to a street within a residential permit parking zone established under section 621-602 may request a residential parking permit upon an application provided by the department of business and neighborhood services.
Snow Removal Parking Rules
When the mayor declares a snow emergency, parking is banned on all first priority streets in Indianapolis and Marion County until the ban is lifted, with towing and a $25 civil fine for violators.
Indianapolis Snow Emergency Priority-Street Ban
Significant RestrictionsIndianapolis/Marion County Revised Code Sec. 621-306 (Code 1975, § 29-321)
Whenever the mayor or his designee finds...that weather conditions will or could make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on designated streets shall be restricted...the mayor or his designee shall put into effect a parking prohibition on first priority streets...Upon declaration of a parking prohibition, parking of any kind and in any manner shall be prohibite...
Towing & Impound Rights
A non-consensual tow off a private lot in Indianapolis is capped at $150, with storage limited to $30 per twenty-four-hour period and nothing charged for the first day. The caps cover tows originating anywhere in the consolidated city, but not in Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport or Speedway.
Indianapolis Caps Private Tows at $150, Storage at $30 a Day
Significant RestrictionsCode of Indianapolis & Marion County Sec. 995-305 (G.O. 26, 2011, § 1)
Sec. 995-305. - Towing and storage fees. (a) It shall be unlawful to charge any fee associated in any way with the towing and storage of a vehicle under this chapter, except as follows: (1) For the towing of a vehicle, the maximum fee shall be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00); (2) For the storage of a towed vehicle, the maximum fee for each twenty-four-hour period of storage shall be thi...