Parking Rules in Tempe, AZ (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Tempe, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Parking an RV over 21 feet, a boat, or a trailer on any Tempe street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is banned under Section 19-139, unless the owner holds a Police Chief-issued permit good for just seven days a year, and none of it may ever be used as a dwelling on the street.
Tempe RV, Boat, Trailer Street Parking
Significant RestrictionsTempe City Code § 19-139
(a)No person shall park a recreational vehicle in excess of twenty-one (21) feet, a trailer or a boat on any street in the City between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for forty-eight (48) hours for the purpose of loading, unloading and cleaning. ... (d)No recreational vehicle, boat or trailer parked on any street shall be occupied as a dwelling unit.
Driveway Rules
Tempe bans parking a camper, vehicle or trailer in the front or side yard, visible from the street, unless it sits on an "improved area" tied to the driveway. City Code § 21-3(b)(4) caps that surface at 35% of the visible yard, requires gravel or crushed rock at least 3 inches deep inside a permanent border, and bans weeds on it.
Tempe Front-Yard Vehicle Parking Surface Rule
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 21-3(b)(4)
To leave or permit to remain outside of any single-family or multifamily dwelling or accessory building any camper, vehicle, or part thereof in any portion of the front or side area of the building visible from the street that is not on an improved area designed or intended for such use. An improved area shall: a. Be contiguous to, parallel with, and share an access point with, the required dri...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Tempe bans parking a commercial vehicle or trailer over one ton capacity or longer than 21 feet in a residential district, and bans two or more commercial vehicles of any size at the same residential property. City Code § 21-4(a)(1) makes either condition an enumerated nuisance violation.
Tempe Residential Commercial Vehicle Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 21-4(a)(1)
In a residential district, any vehicle or trailer that was designed or is used for any commercial purpose, of more than one-ton capacity or in excess of twenty-one (21) feet in length; or two (2) or more commercial vehicles, regardless of size;
Street Parking Limits
Tempe regulates on-street parking through posted signs and citywide rules. Vehicles may not park on unpaved surfaces or landscaped areas. Most residential streets allow parking but may have time limits, permit requirements, or restrictions near ASU campus.
Tempe Street Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 28-871 (Stopping, Standing, or Parking Outside Business or Residence District)
On a highway outside of a business or residence district, a person shall not stop, park or leave standing a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, on the paved or main traveled part of the highway if it is practicable to stop, park or leave the vehicle off that part of the highway. If a person stops, parks or leaves standing a vehicle, the person shall leave an unobstructed width of the highw...
Overnight Parking
Tempe has no blanket overnight parking curfew, but Section 19-137 bars leaving any vehicle, including a disabled one, on a public street or right-of-way for more than 120 consecutive hours, roughly five days, after which the Police Department can tag and tow it.
Tempe 120-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 19-137
(a)No person shall park any vehicle, including a disabled vehicle, upon any public street or right-of-way for a continuous period longer than one hundred twenty (120) consecutive hours.(b)Each twenty-four (24) hour period during which a vehicle is parked in violation of this section shall constitute a distinct and separate offense.(c)The Police Department may cause a vehicle parked in violation...
EV Charging
Tempe City Code Section 19-101 bars parking in a marked electric vehicle charging space unless a vehicle is actually charging, and caps that use at six hours or any shorter posted limit. A violation is a civil traffic citation carrying a minimum $350 sanction, one of the steepest parking fines in the general code.
Tempe EV Charging Space Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code § 19-101
(a)No person shall stand or park a vehicle in an electric vehicle charging space at any time except for the use of charging a vehicle. Such use shall not:(1)Block or obstruct the free movement of traffic; or(2)Exceed six (6) hours total usage or the posted time restriction if less than six (6) hours.(b)Violation of this section shall constitute a civil traffic violation and the violator shall b...
Abandoned Vehicles
Inoperable and abandoned vehicles are code enforcement violations in Tempe. ARS §28-871+ governs on public property.
Tempe Abandoned Vehicle Regulations
Some RestrictionsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 28-871 (Stopping, Standing, or Parking Outside Business or Residence District)
On a highway outside of a business or residence district, a person shall not stop, park or leave standing a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, on the paved or main traveled part of the highway if it is practicable to stop, park or leave the vehicle off that part of the highway. If a person stops, parks or leaves standing a vehicle, the person shall leave an unobstructed width of the highw...
Curb Color Rules
Painting a curb, sidewalk or any street surface anywhere in Tempe is flatly illegal unless the City Council itself designated that specific painting purpose. Section 19-121(b) also bars anyone but the City from marking a street as parking-restricted in any manner, so a resident's own red-curb paint job is a straight code violation.
Tempe Unauthorized Curb Painting Ban
Heavy RestrictionsTempe City Code § 19-121(b)
It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person to paint a curb, sidewalk or any part of any street of the City in any manner whatsoever, except for the purposes designated by the City Council, and it shall be unlawful to designate any part of any street of the City as being limited in any manner with respect to parking thereon.
Loading Zones
Tempe curb loading zones exist only for the expeditious loading, unloading, pickup or delivery of goods or passengers, and Section 19-122 caps a stop there at 30 minutes, or 15 minutes for a vehicle using a disability placard to load a passenger.
Tempe Curb Loading Zone Time Limits
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code §§ 19-121(a), 19-122
(a)The City Traffic Engineer shall designate restricted parking zones by use of signs, or painted curbs, or both. ... 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 or passengers in any place marked as a curb loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such z...
Preferential Parking Districts
Tempe creates residential-only parking blocks under City Code Sections 19-111 and 19-112 when the Traffic Engineer finds a street is significantly impacted by nonresident vehicles. Once the City Council approves a designated area, only vehicles displaying a valid parking permit issued to an adjacent resident may park there during posted hours.
Tempe Residential Permit Parking Districts
Some RestrictionsTempe City Code §§ 19-111, 19-112
The City Manager may designate, subject to approval by the City Council, a residential area or areas consisting of streets or portions of streets on which the parking of motor vehicles may be restricted in whole or in part to motor vehicles bearing a valid parking permit issued pursuant to these provisions to residents of the area so designated. ... A residential area shall be deemed eligible f...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tempe city rules.
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