Bristol, PA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Who qualifies
- Existing residential building with no present off-street parking
- Minimum lot width
- In excess of 25 feet
- Coverage limit
- Impervious surface coverage permitted in the zoning district
- Space size
- At least eight feet wide by 20 feet deep
- Surface
- Concrete, asphalt, gravel or other suitable material
- Civil penalty
- Up to $500 plus costs, each day separate
Summary
In Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, the owner of an existing residential building with no present off-street parking can install a parking facility in the front yard only if the residential lot is wider than 25 feet and the new paving, added to existing building coverage, stays within the impervious surface coverage permitted in that zoning district. The rule sits in § 27-702, Subsection 9.
9. Off-Street Parking in Existing Residential Areas. Any owner of an existing residential building with no present off-street parking facilities may install such a facility on the front yard area of the property provided: A. That the width of the present residential lot is in excess of 25 feet. B. That the area of the proposed off-street parking facility, when calculated in addition to existing building coverage, does not create an area in excess of the impervious surface coverage permitted in that particular zoning district.
Full Breakdown
The front yard parking rule in Bristol Borough Code § 27-702, Subsection 9, applies to one kind of property: an existing residential building with no present off-street parking facilities. It does not reach a lot that already has a driveway, carport or garage. Two conditions apply. The width of the present residential lot must be in excess of 25 feet. And the proposed parking area, calculated in addition to existing building coverage, cannot create an area in excess of the impervious surface coverage permitted in that particular zoning district. The cap is the one set for the district where the lot sits, so the number to check is in the district regulations of Chapter 27.
Once a front yard space is allowed, the design rules for residential lots in § 27-703, Subsection 1C, apply. Off-street parking can be fulfilled on the lot by driveway, carport or garage or any combination of the three. Each parking space must be at least eight feet in width by 20 feet in depth. Each space and access to it must be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, gravel or other suitable material. If the Borough Engineer determines that traffic on the street from which access is taken is of sufficient volume to make backing into it hazardous, an area for turning the motor vehicle around must be provided on the lot.
What parks on that surface is regulated by § 27-702, Subsection 8. In the R-1, R-1A, R-2 and R-3 Residential Districts only one commercial motor vehicle can park on a residential lot, in a visually screened area. Commercial and recreational vehicles and trailers without current license plates cannot be parked or stored in a residential zoning district unless inside a completely enclosed accessory building, and none of them can encroach on sidewalks or other areas of public right-of-way. Only one recreational vehicle can park on a residential lot in the R-1, R-1A and R-2 Districts, and it cannot occupy more than 9% of the existing lot area. A recreational vehicle on a residential lot cannot be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes.
Site alteration requires a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer under § 27-801.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Officer enforces Chapter 27 and sends a written enforcement notice under § 27-811 naming the specific violation and the compliance dates. A person found liable in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Borough pays a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees. Each day a violation continues is a separate violation, subject to the good faith exception in § 27-812. The recipient can appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pave my front yard if I already have a driveway in Bristol Borough?
How wide does my lot have to be for front yard parking?
How big must the space be and what can it be made of?
Can I park my work truck or boat in the driveway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bristol
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