Del Norte County, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Del Norte County regulates driveway access primarily through its road standards and encroachment permitting rather than a stand-alone driveway parking ordinance. Under County Code Chapter 12.04 (Urban and Rural Public Road Standards), road and access plans are reviewed for compliance with county standards and approved by the County Engineer, and improvements must conform 'to the latest edition of Caltrans Standard Plans and Specifications and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).' The chapter repeatedly references the encroachment permit as a trigger for required fees and improvements, meaning a property owner building a new driveway connection to a county-maintained road generally needs an encroachment permit from the Public Works/Engineering office. For off-street parking, Section 20.46.40 of the zoning code sets dimensional standards: each off-street parking space must be at least nine feet wide and twenty feet long, and 'access aisles (drives) shall provide a clearance of not less than twenty feet behind each parking space,' with parking and aisles in urban-designated areas finished in an all-weather surface such as asphalt concrete or concrete. Section 20.46.30 requires off-street parking to be on the same or an adjacent lot and not to occupy any required front yard except in limited cases. There is no general county ordinance prohibiting a resident from parking an operable, registered vehicle on their own private driveway. Verify driveway and encroachment requirements with the Public Works Department before constructing or widening an access.