Shelby, NC Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 42-167
- Marking method
- Curbing painted yellow or red in lieu of signs
- Default rule
- No parking at any time
- Zone designation
- As provided in section 42-41
- Prior code
- Code 1985, § 12-110
Summary
In Shelby, a curb painted yellow or red stands in for a no-parking sign under City Code § 42-167, and parking in that zone is banned at any time unless signs limit the ban to certain hours.
When signs are placed, erected or installed giving notice, or the curbing has been painted yellow or red in lieu of such signs, no person shall park a vehicle at any time in any zone designated as a no parking zone, as provided in section 42-41. If parking is prohibited in such zone only between certain hours, this section shall apply only between such hours, as indicated on the signs erected in such zone.
(Code 1985, § 12-110)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 42-167 gives Shelby a choice in how it tells drivers about a no parking zone. The city can place, erect or install signs giving notice, or it can paint the curbing yellow or red "in lieu of such signs." The phrase "in lieu of" matters. In Shelby the paint is not a supplement to a sign. It replaces the sign, and a painted curb with nothing posted beside it is still a marked no parking zone.
The section treats the colors alike. Yellow and red appear together in the same clause, and either one produces the same result: no person shall park a vehicle at any time in the zone. A Shelby driver does not need to work out whether yellow is milder than red, because § 42-167 draws no distinction between them.
The section also shows where the zones come from. It applies to any zone designated as a no parking zone "as provided in section 42-41." Section 42-41 is the source of the designation, and § 42-167 is the rule a driver breaks by parking there once the notice is in place.
The default is a full-time ban, but the second sentence allows for part-time zones. If parking is prohibited in a zone only between certain hours, the section applies only between those hours, "as indicated on the signs erected in such zone." The hour limit is tied to signs. The ordinance describes restricted hours as something shown on signs erected in the zone, so a painted curb with no posted hours falls under the at-any-time rule.
The rule is carried forward from Shelby's 1985 Code, where it appeared as § 12-110.
Violations & Fines
Parking against a painted red or yellow curb is a citable parking violation, prosecuted criminally or civilly at the city's election under Shelby's traffic ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shelby need a sign if the curb is painted red?
Can I park at a red curb for just a minute?
Is a yellow curb less strict than a red curb in Shelby?
How do I know if a Shelby no parking zone is only part-time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shelby
Compare Shelby to another location·View the North Carolina parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.