Bellingham, WA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Bellingham addresses loading and unloading in two distinct ways. First, BMC Title 20 (Land Use Development) requires off-street loading and unloading spaces for any use requiring frequent loading or unloading from trucks or other large vehicles, so businesses receiving regular deliveries must accommodate them on private property rather than on the public street. Second, on the on-street side, BMC Chapter 11.39 (Loading and Loading Zones) governs signed loading zones; under BMC 11.39.020 (Standing in loading zone), no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of property in any place marked as a loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such zone are in effect, and in no case shall the stop for loading and unloading of property exceed thirty minutes. State law RCW 46.61.570 (Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places) treats stopping, standing, and parking distinctly: a vehicle actively engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or goods is generally not 'parked' for purposes of the standard parking restrictions during the active loading window, but the distance setbacks still apply (fifteen feet from a fire hydrant, twenty feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, no stopping on a sidewalk, in an intersection, or in front of a driveway). Downtown Bellingham loading vehicles must also comply with the BMC 11.36.030 meter rule during paid hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except as carved out by a signed loading-zone or permit. BMC 11.33.060's seventy-two-hour continuous-parking limit also applies. Truck travel between loading destinations is governed by BMC 11.63.140 (Arterial street system for trucks). Complaints about vehicles blocking signed loading zones go to Bellingham Parking Services at (360) 778-7780.