Jefferson County, MO Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- Unincorporated Jefferson County only
- Allowed surfaces
- Driveway, paved pad, or open street
- Banned surfaces
- Grass, dirt, gravel, unpaved ground
- Acreage exception
- Lots of 1 acre or more
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 1 year jail
- Enforced by
- County Code Enforcement Division
Summary
In unincorporated Jefferson County, residential parking is confined to the driveway, an adjoining paved pad, or a legally permitted public street. Parking on grass, gravel, dirt or any other unpaved surface is banned outright under UDO Section 400.4130, with one exception: parcels of one acre or larger are exempt.
Parking in residential districts/areas shall be limited to the driveway, adjoining asphalt/concrete pad or public street, if permitted, and not specifically signed "no parking". Parking on other than asphalt/concrete driveways or pads is expressly prohibited, except for lots of one (1) acre or more.
Full Breakdown
120 on April 2, 2008 and re-codified by Ordinance No. 07-30-2008A, limits residential parking to a driveway, an adjoining asphalt or concrete pad, or a public street where street parking is not restricted by a posted 'no parking' sign. Parking on any other surface, meaning grass, dirt, gravel or mulch, is expressly prohibited. The single carve-out is for lots of one (1) acre or more, which are not bound by the paved-surface rule. 4130. County staff in the Planning and Code Enforcement Divisions enforce the driveway-surface rule alongside the rest of Article XII, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
140 directing correction before any court referral. The rule reaches ordinary passenger vehicles and daily-use trucks; it works alongside the separate freight-vehicle and inoperative-vehicle storage limits nearby in Article XII that keep large commercial trucks and dead cars out of residential zone districts entirely.
Violations & Fines
Parking-surface violations fall under the UDO's general violations section, 400.140: a first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), up to one (1) year in the County Jail, or both, and each day the unpaved parking continues counts as a separate offense. The Director of County Services and Code Enforcement can order the condition corrected in writing before pursuing prosecution or injunctive relief in Jefferson County Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on my gravel driveway in unincorporated Jefferson County?
Does the Section 400.4130 driveway rule apply inside Arnold or Festus?
What happens if I ignore a parking violation notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Missouri parking rules overview
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