Port Townsend, WA Environmental Rules: Vehicle Idling Restrictions (2026)

PTMC 10.08.040 bars drivers from idling a vehicle's internal combustion engine more than three minutes anywhere within city limits, on both public property and private property open to the public. Exceptions cover waiting at traffic signals or an officer's direction, protecting driver/passenger health (including at or below 30°F or at or above 85°F), emergency vehicles running equipment, repair/maintenance checks, manufacturer-recommended warm-up for turbocharged heavy-duty vehicles, and running auxiliary equipment like a lift, crane, or refrigeration unit (a heater or air conditioner doesn't qualify). The city says the rule is meant primarily to educate, not punish.