Tuscaloosa, AL Parking Rules: Curb Color Rules (2026)

City Code Sec. 22-6 authorizes the fire chief to establish fire lanes in any "public parking area," a term that reaches privately owned shopping-center and business lots open to the public, not just city streets. Once a lane is marked by a painted yellow curb and posted signage, it is a misdemeanor to park, stand, or stop there, or to place any item that would block fire, EMS, or police access. Separately, Sec. 22-5(2) gives the director of transportation authority to designate no-parking, no-standing, or time-limited zones "by placing appropriate signs or by painting the curb yellow," and Sec.

22-95 requires the director to erect signs or paint curbs yellow whenever a parking time limit or prohibition takes effect elsewhere in the chapter. Sec. 22-78(14) confirms the enforcement link: stopping, standing, or parking is unlawful anywhere "the curb is painted yellow," regardless of whether a sign is also posted. Because only the fire chief or the director of transportation (or their designees) may lawfully paint a curb yellow or post such signs, Sec. 22-77 separately makes it unlawful for any private person to paint any part of a public way yellow, to post a sign claiming a public parking place is off-limits, or to place a barrier to prevent parking there; it is likewise unlawful to sell, rent, or attempt to sell or rent the use of a public parking place.

All of these sections trace to Ordinance No. 3327, adopted November 19, 1991, and remain in force under Chapter 22, Article I of the Code of Tuscaloosa.