Dallas, TX Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- State authority
- TX Transportation Code 544.011
- City code
- Dallas Code Chapter 28
- Red curb
- No stopping or standing
- Yellow curb
- Commercial loading only
- Self-painting
- Not legally enforceable
Summary
Dallas City Code Chapter 28 and Texas Transportation Code Section 544.011 give official painted curb markings the force of regulatory signs. Red curbs prohibit stopping; yellow indicates loading; only the City of Dallas Transportation Department may legally paint curbs.
Sec. 544.011. LANE USE SIGNS. If, on a highway having more than one lane with vehicles traveling in the same direction, the Texas Department of Transportation or a local authority places a sign that directs slower traffic to travel in a lane other than the farthest left lane, the sign must read "left lane for passing only." Added by
Full Breakdown
Under Texas Transportation Code Section 544.011, official traffic-control markings include painted curb colors that must be obeyed as if they were posted signs. Dallas City Code Chapter 28 authorizes the Transportation Department to designate no-parking, loading, and passenger zones with red, yellow, white, or green curb paint. Red means no stopping or standing at any time. Yellow indicates a commercial loading zone with time limits posted. White denotes passenger pickup, typically three-minute limits. Green is short-term parking. Private property owners and businesses may not paint public curbs themselves; unauthorized markings have no legal effect and may be removed. Faded curb paint near schools, fire hydrants, and bus stops still reflects underlying statutory restrictions independent of paint condition.
Violations & Fines
Parking against red, yellow, white, or green curb markings results in a citation under Chapter 28, typically $40 to $75, plus possible towing if blocking a fire lane, hydrant, or transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I paint the curb in front of my Dallas home red to keep people from parking?
What if the red paint has faded: can I park there?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas to another location·View the Texas parking rules overview
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Curb Color Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle curb color rules.