Phoenix, AZ Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Sec. 36-145
- Civil sanction
- $150-$250
- Dust-free gravel option
- 3 in. deep, contained border (single-family/duplex)
- Rear-yard exception
- Applies to single-family/duplex lots
Summary
Phoenix City Code Sec. 36-145 prohibits parking any motor vehicle on a lot or area that is not 'dust-free' (paved, or, for single-family/duplex lots, a 3-inch-deep contained gravel layer). A.R.S. Sec. 28-873 also forbids blocking a public or private driveway or impeding a sidewalk.
Sec. 36-145. Parking on non-dust-free lots. A. No person shall park, or permit to be parked, any motor vehicle upon any lot or area within the City which is not dust-free. Violation of this section shall constitute a civil traffic violation, and the violator shall be subject to a civil sanction of not less than one hundred fifty dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars. B. 'Dust-free' shall mean that a lot or area is maintained by paving with one of the following methods: asphaltic concrete, cement concrete, penetration treatment of bituminous material and seal coat of bituminous binder and a mineral aggregate, or the equivalent as approved by the Zoning Administrator. C. An area which encompasses all or part of a residential lot which contains one single-family or duplex residential unit is also dust-free if covered by a smooth layer of crushed rock or gravel maintained to a minimum depth of three inches and contained within a permanent border ... D. This section shall not be applicable to vehicles parked in the rear yard of a residential lot which contains one single-family or duplex residential unit.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Where you may park on your own property is governed by Phoenix City Code Sec. 36-145, which requires that any lot or area used for parking be 'dust-free.' Dust-free means paved with asphaltic concrete, cement concrete, a bituminous penetration treatment, or an approved equivalent. For a residential lot containing a single-family or duplex unit, an area is also dust-free if covered by a smooth layer of crushed rock or gravel at least three inches deep, contained within a permanent border (or an approved alternative surface). The rule does not apply to vehicles parked in the rear yard of such a single-family/duplex lot. Separately, state law (A.R.S. Sec. 28-873) prohibits stopping, standing, or parking in front of a public or private driveway, on a sidewalk, or in a private driveway in a way that blocks the sidewalk for pedestrians.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 36-145 is a civil traffic violation subject to a civil sanction of not less than $150 nor more than $250. Vehicles parked or stored on non-dust-free areas may also be removed and impounded by police under Sec. 36-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on the dirt or grass in my front yard in Phoenix?
Does the dust-free rule apply to my back yard?
Can I block my own driveway or the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
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