Nashville, TN Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max paved parking area
- 25% of unimproved lot area
- Surface required
- Paved or graveled, not bare ground
- Sidewalk parking
- Not permitted
- Exemption
- Vehicles with disabled placard or plate
- Enforced by
- Metro Codes Administration
Summary
Metro Nashville requires vehicles parked on private property to sit on a paved or graveled surface, not grass or dirt, and caps that paved parking area at 25% of an unimproved residential lot.
Every motor vehicle located on private property shall be either stored inside a fully enclosed structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes, or parked or stored in a safe manner on a paved or graveled area, other than a sidewalk. For the purposes of this section, "paved or graveled area" includes, but is not limited to, parking areas which use asphalt, concrete, gravel, and pavers. Such paved or graveled area for private residential property shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the unimproved lot area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metro's property maintenance code requires every motor vehicle on private property to be kept inside an enclosed structure or parked on a paved or graveled surface (asphalt, concrete, gravel, or pavers), never directly on a sidewalk. For residential lots, that paved or graveled parking area cannot exceed 25% of the unimproved lot area, which caps how much of a yard can be converted to parking. Vehicles with a state disabled placard or plate are exempt from the surface rule. Where this section conflicts with Title 17 zoning standards, the zoning provision controls. Metro Codes Administration enforces it as a property maintenance violation.
Violations & Fines
Codes Administration issues a violation notice for unpaved or oversized vehicle parking areas; unresolved cases can lead to citation and fines through Metro's property standards enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on the grass in my Nashville front yard?
How much of my yard can I pave for parking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee parking rules overview
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