Tuscaloosa, AL Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 22-104
- Applies to
- Designated historic districts only
- Grandfather date
- Driveways paved before Oct. 22, 1996
- Exempt vehicles
- Emergency and temporary work vehicles
- Classification
- Misdemeanor (Sec. 1-8 penalty)
- Last amended
- Ord. No. 9590, Sec. 13, Feb. 11, 2025
Summary
Tuscaloosa bars parking cars, trucks, RVs, and similar vehicles in front yards off the paved right-of-way within designated historic districts under City Code Sec. 22-104. Driveways paved before October 22, 1996 are grandfathered.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to park any automobile, truck, bus, camper, trailer, motor home, go-cart, golf cart, tractor, motorcycle, motor bus, or motor scooter in or upon a front yard not on the improved portion of the public right-of-way in any area of the city which is designated as a historic district by the city.(b)The presence of any such vehicle or vehicles in such a front yard as specified hereinabove is hereby declared to be a public nuisance which may be abated in accordance with the methods specified by law.(c)The above provisions shall not apply to paved parking spaces or driveways which were paved prior to October 22, 1996... (d)Violation of this section is hereby declared to be a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with the provisions of section 1-8 of this Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-104(a) makes it unlawful to park an automobile, truck, bus, camper, trailer, motor home, go-cart, golf cart, tractor, motorcycle, motor bus, or motor scooter in or upon a front yard, when not on the improved portion of the public right-of-way, in any area of the city designated as a historic district. Subsection (b) declares any such vehicle sitting in a front yard in violation to be a public nuisance that the city may abate through the methods provided by law, meaning code enforcement can pursue removal beyond a simple citation.
Subsection (c) grandfathers paved parking spaces or driveways in place before October 22, 1996, the ordinance's effective date, so a historic-district homeowner with a driveway paved before that date may keep using it. The subsection also exempts authorized emergency vehicles and temporary parking by delivery, contractor, or other work vehicles when reasonably necessary for work being performed on the property. Subsection (d) sets the penalty: a violation is a misdemeanor punishable under the general penalty section, Sec. 1-8 of the Code. The ordinance originated as Ord.
No. 5436 on October 22, 1996, and was amended three times since, most recently by Ord. No. 9590, Sec. 13, adopted February 11, 2025. Because the rule is keyed to historic-district designation rather than citywide zoning, it applies only within the city's designated historic districts, not to every residential lot in Tuscaloosa.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Sec. 22-104 is a misdemeanor under the general penalty of Sec. 1-8. The city may also treat a vehicle parked unlawfully in a front yard as a public nuisance under subsection (b) and abate it, meaning code enforcement can order or arrange removal in addition to any court fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in my front yard in Tuscaloosa?
Does the Tuscaloosa front yard parking ban apply citywide?
What happens if my driveway violates Tuscaloosa's front yard parking rule?
Sources & Official References
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