Durham, NC Parking Rules: Commercial Vehicle Restrictions (2026)

Under the Durham Unified Development Ordinance Section 10.2, heavy equipment and tractor-trailers are generally prohibited from parking in residential zoning districts. The ordinance permits commercial vehicles to enter residential areas only for making deliveries. Vehicles parked in residential areas cannot exceed 35 feet in overall length, eight feet in width, or 12 feet in height, which excludes most large commercial trucks from residential storage. Durham Code Chapter 66, Section 66-187 further restricts vehicles wider than six and one-half feet from parking on public streets between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., effectively preventing overnight street parking of box trucks and larger commercial vehicles. Standard-size pickup trucks and work vans that fall below these thresholds are generally permitted on residential driveways if parked on improved surfaces. Commercial vehicles stored on residential property must comply with all parking surface requirements, meaning no parking on grass or bare earth. Contact Durham One Call at (919) 560-1200 for clarification on specific vehicle types.