Hawthorne, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

030(I), "Paved Areas," governs how much of a required yard can be paved and used in Hawthorne's residential zones. Under (I)(1), Driveways, no part of a required front yard, or the street-side yard on a corner lot, may be used at any time to park or store a vehicle except in the portion specifically designated as a driveway. Under (I)(2), Walkways, a paved walkway on residential property cannot exceed five feet in width, and if a walkway runs alongside a driveway, their combined width cannot exceed sixteen feet; the walkway may connect to the public sidewalk or the driveway.

Beyond the driveway and walkway, (I)(3) allows a permeable-paved patio, using materials like brick, stone, decomposed granite, or pea gravel, to cover up to 50% of a front or street-side yard, provided it is separated from the driveway by at least five feet of landscaping or a decorative vehicle barrier and is approved by the director of planning; patio walls are capped at eighteen inches, and permanent shade structures, canopies, tents, built-in barbecues or bars, and storage sheds are explicitly prohibited there. 030(J) for staging garbage and bulk-trash containers in a front or street-side yard around pickup.