Durham, NC Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

UDO Sec. 3 sets the residential parking and driveway standard, tied into the surfacing requirement in Sec. 2(D). Other than multiplexes and apartments, residential properties may use their designated driveways for parking, but those driveways and any parking spaces to the front or side of the principal building must be clearly defined, constructed, and maintained with a hard all-weather surface. Grass, landscaped areas, and bare earth are explicitly prohibited for any driveway or parking area, with the only carve-out being an approved temporary use. In the area between the primary structure and the street, the driveway itself is capped at 30 feet in width unless another provision of the UDO requires something different, and beyond the driveway itself, no additional curb cuts or vehicle access points are allowed onto the site.

The same section adds several related residential parking limits: parked vehicles can't block sidewalks, walkways, or trails; vehicles in residential areas are generally capped at 35 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 12 feet in height; boats, camper trailers, and utility trailers must be stored behind the primary structure or on a driveway at least 25 feet from the public right-of-way; and heavy equipment or tractor-trailer parking is barred outside an approved home occupation, though commercial delivery vehicles are still allowed to make stops.

Because parking standards in Article 10 apply UDO-wide, these driveway rules govern both the City of Durham and the unincorporated parts of Durham County covered by the joint ordinance.