Arlington Heights, IL Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 28-10.2-11 (In Yards)
- Required surface
- Concrete or asphalt, or approved green infrastructure
- Standard driveway width cap
- 22 feet in R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3
- Three-car garage driveway cap
- 32 feet, Village Engineer approval required
- Side drive to rear garage
- Minimum 9 feet wide
- Setback on 70-ft+ lots
- 3 feet off side or rear lot line
- Enforcement
- Building Commissioner; appeals to Zoning Board of Appeals
Summary
In Arlington Heights, Illinois, home driveways in the R-E, R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts must be paved in concrete or asphalt, or an approved permeable "green infrastructure" surface; grass, gravel, and bare dirt parking areas are not allowed. Standard driveways cap out at 22 feet wide, though three-car garages can reach 32 feet with Village Engineer sign-off on drainage.
10.2-11In Yards.10.2-11.1In R-E, R-1, R-2, and R-3 Districts, off street parking spaces are permitted based on the following:a.Off street parking spaces may be located in any yards but only on concrete or asphalt surfaces. Green infrastructure applications for parking surfaces may be utilized in lieu of concrete or asphalt surfaces subject to compliance with acceptable engineering standards and Village Engineer approval.b.Except as set forth in subsection c. below, no driveway and/or parking area shall exceed a width of 22 feet.c.For three car garages, a driveway and/or parking area is permitted to be a maximum of 32 feet in width, within 18 feet of the garage's front elevation when, in the opinion of the Village Engineer, the installation of such driveway is not detrimental to drainage or alter the character of the area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Arlington Heights Municipal Code § 28-10, the village's Off-Street Parking and Loading article, governs where and how residential driveways may be surfaced. 1 applies in the R-E, R-1, R-2, and R-3 single-family districts: off-street parking spaces may sit in any yard, but only on concrete or asphalt, unless the homeowner substitutes a Village Engineer-approved green infrastructure surface such as permeable pavers. A standard driveway or parking area cannot exceed 22 feet in width. Owners of three-car garages may widen the apron to a maximum of 32 feet, but only within 18 feet of the garage's front elevation and only if the Village Engineer finds the wider pavement will not harm drainage or change the character of the area.
Where the garage sits behind the house, the side drive leading to it must be at least nine feet wide, and roof overhangs, chimneys, and awnings cannot intrude on that clearance. On zoning lots 70 feet wide or more, driveway pavement must stay at least three feet off the side or rear lot line. 2 relaxes the rule in the denser R-4 through R-7 and M-1 districts: parking is allowed in any yard except the required front yard, unless the home has a front-loading garage, and shared duplex or townhome driveways serving separate front-loaded garages can total 34 feet, at 17 feet per unit. 1-4, so surface material and width get checked before construction.
Violations & Fines
Grass, gravel, or dirt parking areas, and driveways wider than the code allows, are zoning violations enforced by the Village's Building Commissioner. Property owners cited for a non-compliant driveway must correct the surface or width, and unresolved cases can be escalated for zoning enforcement action. A homeowner who believes a driveway determination was made in error, per Section 28-11, may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which can also grant a variation from strict yard parking standards where a lot's shape creates a genuine hardship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on grass or gravel in my Arlington Heights front yard?
How wide can my driveway be in Arlington Heights?
What if my garage faces the side or rear of the lot?
Do the same driveway rules apply in townhome and multi-family districts?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
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