Gastonia, NC Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Section 6-203 governs commercial loading zones citywide. Once a zone is designated and marked with traffic control devices under subsection (b), no one may park a vehicle there, or let it stand, for any purpose other than the expeditious loading or pickup of materials and goods, or the unloading and delivery of them, and even then only for up to 30 minutes. The specific street locations that qualify as commercial loading zones are listed in Appendix A, section 6A-23, and the city's traffic administrator is responsible for installing signage or other traffic control devices that give drivers clear notice of the limitation.

This section sits in Article V alongside passenger loading zones under section 6-202, which cap loading and unloading of passengers at just three minutes, so the two adjacent provisions carry different time limits depending on whether the load is people or freight. Bus stop zones under section 6-204 are treated separately again, reserved exclusively for buses. The commercial loading zone rule traces back to Code 1982 section 6-87 and was last amended by Ordinance No. 21-752 on December 21, 2021. There is no permit or registration process for a business to reserve a zone; the 30-minute cap applies to any vehicle using a marked commercial zone.