Hawthorne, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Parking on private residential property in Hawthorne is governed by the city's on-site parking and zoning provisions (Title 17, including Chapter 17.58) rather than only the street-parking code. The rule most homeowners encounter is that no portion of any required front yard, or the required side yard on the street side of a corner lot, may be used at any time for the parking or storage of vehicles, except in the portion of the yard area designated as a driveway. In other words, parking on the lawn or landscaped front setback is prohibited; vehicles must be on a paved, approved driveway. The code also limits driveway and walkway dimensions on residential properties: a paved walkway may not be wider than 5 feet, and where a walkway and driveway are adjacent, their combined width may not exceed 16 feet. These dimensional limits prevent paving over the entire front yard to create parking. Blocking a public sidewalk or a driveway approach is separately restricted, and on the street side the general Title 10 parking rules and California Vehicle Code provisions on sidewalk and driveway obstruction apply. Code enforcement (310) 349-2945 handles front-yard parking and nuisance complaints, while the police department handles on-street violations.