Madison, WI Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MGO § 12.128(15)(e)
- Forfeiture
- $45 flat fine
- Who paints curbs
- Traffic Engineering Division
- Loading exception
- Temporary stop with attended, licensed operator
- Separate park rule
- MGO § 8.18(3)(f) covers park curbs
Summary
Madison bans parking next to any curb painted yellow. MGO § 12.128(15)(e) prohibits stopping, standing, or leaving a vehicle adjacent to a curb marked with yellow paint authorized by the official who maintains that highway, so long as the paint is visible enough for an ordinarily observant driver to notice it.
(15)Parking Prohibited in Certain Specified Places. No person shall park, stop or leave standing any motor vehicle in any of the following specified places, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading or receiving or discharging passengers and while attended by a licensed operator so that it may be promptly moved in case of an emergency or to avoid obstruction of traffic:...(e)On any portion of a highway adjacent to a curb which has been marked with yellow paint authorized by the official in charge of the maintenance of the highway and when such paint is sufficiently visible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.
Full Breakdown
" That official is Madison's Traffic Engineering Division, which decides where curb paint goes based on sightlines, hydrant access, loading needs, or safety near intersections. The prohibition carries a built-in exception mirroring the rest of subsection (15): a vehicle may stop temporarily to load or unload, or to pick up or drop off passengers, as long as a licensed operator stays with it so it can be moved immediately if needed. 18(3)(f), which separately makes it unlawful to parallel park along a yellow-painted curb inside a City park; the two provisions overlap in effect but sit in different chapters with different penalty schedules, so a yellow curb on a city street is governed by Chapter 12, not Chapter 8.
Violations & Fines
The City's citywide parking forfeiture schedule lists "No parking in certain specified places" under MGO § 12.128(15), which includes the yellow-curb ban, at a flat $45 forfeiture per violation. Repeat violations at the same location on the same day can each be cited separately, and vehicles may also be tagged for towing if they obstruct traffic or emergency access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop briefly at a yellow curb in Madison to drop someone off?
Who decides which Madison curbs get painted yellow?
What's the fine for parking at a yellow curb in Madison?
Is the yellow-curb rule the same inside city parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Curb Color Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle curb color rules.