Parking Rules in Portsmouth, VA (2026)
9 verified parking rules for Portsmouth, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Portsmouth's zoning ordinance bars parking a boat, camper or recreational vehicle anywhere but the side or rear yard of the home it belongs to, caps heavy trucks, trailers and major recreational equipment at four days a year in a front or street-side yard, and limits most residential lots to one such vehicle at a time.
Portsmouth RV, Boat and Trailer Yard Rules
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth Zoning Ordinance § 40.2-217(I)(3)(n)
It is the intent of this subsection to prohibit the customary or continual parking of certain vehicles and equipment on driveways and within yards adjacent to streets in residential neighborhoods since the presence of such vehicles runs contrary to the intended residential character of such neighborhoods. ... Standards.a.No heavy truck, trailer, other major recreational equipment shall be parke...
Driveway Rules
Portsmouth limits most single-family detached lots to one driveway per block face, with an exception for circular driveways, under Sec. 40.2-217(D)(1)(a)(iii). Two-family homes may have up to two driveways on the same block face, spaced less than 75 feet apart, under Sec. 40.2-217(D)(1)(b)(ii).
Portsmouth One-Driveway-Per-Lot Rule
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth Zoning Ordinance § 40.2-217(D)(1)(a)-(b)
(a)Dwelling, Single-Family Detached. In addition to general requirements, single-family detached dwellings shall comply with the following standards:(i)Only one single-family detached dwelling shall be permitted on a single zone lot.(ii)The principal entrance shall face the street from which the dwelling derives its street address.(iii)Except for circular driveways, no single-family detached dw...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Portsmouth bans parking motorbuses, vans, trucks, trailers, and semitrailers on residential streets overnight. City Code § 22-567 prohibits it from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on weeknights and from 6:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Monday, except small delivery or pickup trucks under 18 feet long, 7 feet wide and 6½ feet tall.
Portsmouth Truck Parking in Residential Areas
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Code of Ordinances § 22-567
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or permit to be parked in the streets of the city, in any residential district, any motorbus, van, truck, trailer, or semitrailer, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. of any day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, except on Saturday and Sunday, and between the hours of 6:00 p.m., on Saturday and 6:00 a.m., the following Monday except for the purpose of tak...
Street Parking Limits
Portsmouth requires vehicles to park close and parallel to the curb, facing with traffic, never against it. City Code § 22-561(b) bans parking on the wrong side, and § 22-562(a) separately forbids parking on a sidewalk, in front of a public driveway, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, or within 30 feet of a stop sign, signal or flashing beacon.
Portsmouth's On-Street Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Code of Ordinances §§ 22-561(b), 22-562(a)(1)-(2)
(b)No vehicle shall be stopped except close to and parallel to the righthand edge of the curb or roadway, except that a vehicle may be stopped close to and parallel to the lefthand curb or edge of the roadway on one-way streets or may be parked at an angle where permitted by posted city signage. Where back-in or font-in parking is required by posted city signage, no vehicle shall be parked in t...
Overnight Parking
Portsmouth outlaws leaving any vehicle on a public street for more than 48 hours. City Code § 22-566(a) makes every day after a police officer's 24-hour removal notice a separate offense, while § 22-566(b) exempts vehicles displaying a valid residential parking district decal issued under § 22-567.1.
Portsmouth's 48-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Code of Ordinances § 22-566
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to leave or cause to be left any motor vehicle for more than 48 hours in any public street. If any such person fails to remove the vehicle within 24 hours after being notified so to do by any police officer, then every day which shall elapse thereafter without such removal shall constitute a separate offense.(b)The provisions of subsection (a) shall not ap...
EV Charging
Portsmouth lets any off-street parking lot include electric vehicle charging spaces, and those spaces count toward the site's minimum parking requirement. Reserve a charging space for public use and Sec. 40.2-301(K) credits it at double: two spaces of credit for every one charging space provided.
Portsmouth EV Charging Parking Credit
Light RestrictionsSec. 40.2-301(K)
(K)Electric Vehicle Changing Stations Provisions.(1)Spaces within parking lots and structures may include designated parking spaces for electric vehicle charging.(2)Spaces reserved for electric vehicle charging count towards minimum parking space requirements.(3)Spaces Available for Public Use.(a)Where electric vehicle charging stations are available for public use, spaces reserved for electric...
Abandoned Vehicles
Portsmouth treats any vehicle left inoperable and unattended on public property for more than 48 hours, or on private property without consent for more than 48 hours, as abandoned. City Code § 22-786 defines it, and § 22-787 lets the chief of police take it into custody for towing and storage.
Portsmouth Abandoned Vehicle Rules
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Code of Ordinances §§ 22-786, 22-787
Abandoned motor vehicle means a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer or part thereof that:(1)Is inoperable and is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours;(2)Has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than 48 hours; or(3)Has remained on private property, including but not limited to any commercial parking place, motor vehicle storage facility, or establishm...
Loading Zones
Portsmouth restricts curb loading zones to actual loading and unloading. City Code Sec. 22-572 bars parking there except for expeditious pickup, delivery, or passenger loading, and requires delivery vehicles to display the owner's or company's name in three-inch letters on both sides.
Portsmouth Curb Loading Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA City Code Sec. 22-572
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or length of time, other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of materials, in any place marked as a curb loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such zones are in effect. All delivery vehicles, other than regular delivery trucks, using such loading zones shall be identified by the...
Preferential Parking Districts
Portsmouth's city manager may create residential parking districts to keep non-resident commuters off crowded residential blocks. City Code § 22-567.1 lets the manager issue permits, capped at one year, to residents and their guests, exempting permit holders from the citywide 48-hour parking limit inside the district.
Portsmouth Residential Parking Districts
Significant RestrictionsPortsmouth, VA Code of Ordinances § 22-567.1(a)-(b)
(a)In order to reduce or prevent congestion in public streets within areas zoned for residential use, to reduce hazardous traffic conditions resulting from the use of such streets for the parking of vehicles by non-residents, to protect the residents of such districts from unreasonable burdens in gaining access to their residences ... to preserve the safety of children and other pedestrians ......