Frederick, MD Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- City Code § 13-25
- Surface requirement
- Paved areas only, no grass/mulch
- Front yard limit
- 8 ft wide/tall, 22 ft long
- Trailers in front yard
- Prohibited, no size exception
- Fine
- Up to $100 per day
Summary
Residential properties in Frederick must park on paved surfaces only; grass, mulch and other unpaved ground are off-limits. Front yards also cannot hold oversized vehicles or any trailer under City Code Sec. 13-25, backed by a $100 municipal infraction fine per day.
(a)Applicability. This section applies to any residential property except for a residential property on which a non-residential use is being operated as a lawfully nonconforming use.(b)Paved areas. A person may not park a motor vehicle on grass, mulch, or any other surface that is not a paved area.(c)Parking in front yard.(1)Prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not park any of the following in a front yard:(A)Any motor vehicle with permanent outside dimensions greater than eight (8) feet wide (exclusive of mirrors), eight (8) feet tall, or twenty-two (22) feet long,(B)Any motor vehicle with externally mounted work equipment that causes the outside dimensions to be greater than eight (8) feet wide, eight (8) feet tall, or twenty-two (22) feet long; or(C)A trailer or semitrailer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 13-25 sets the off-street parking rules for residential lots in Frederick, applying to any residential property except one running a lawfully nonconforming non-residential use. Subsection (b) is a blanket rule: a person may not park a motor vehicle on grass, mulch, or any other surface that is not paved, regardless of the vehicle's size. Subsection (c) then layers on a front-yard-specific ban modeled on the street rule in Sec. 13-23: no motor vehicle wider than 8 feet (excluding mirrors), taller than 8 feet, or longer than 22 feet, no vehicle whose externally mounted equipment pushes it past those dimensions, and no trailer or semitrailer at all may sit in a front yard.
The same three narrow exemptions apply as on the street: emergency vehicles, vehicles actively loading or unloading freight or passengers, and vehicles present to perform a service to the property or a public utility. There is no breakdown exemption for front-yard parking, unlike the 48-hour allowance on residential streets. A violation is a municipal infraction enforced by citation up to $100, and Sec. 13-25(d)(1) makes each day the violation continues a separate offense, so an unpaved parking pad or an oversized trailer left in the front yard can generate a new citation daily until it is corrected. The City also retains any other legal or equitable remedy beyond the citation itself.
Violations & Fines
Off-street parking violations under Sec. 13-25 are municipal infractions carrying a citation of up to $100. Each day the paving or front-yard violation continues counts as a separate offense, so an uncorrected gravel pad or oversized front-yard trailer accrues a new $100 exposure daily, and the City may pursue additional civil remedies alongside the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park my car on the grass in my Frederick front yard?
Can I keep my utility trailer in my driveway in Frederick?
Is there a grace period if I get an oversized truck and can't move it right away?
Sources & Official References
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