Multnomah County, OR Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Bus/taxi loading limit
- 2 minutes maximum
- Taxicab restricted hours
- 4:30-6:00 p.m. banned
- Backed-to-curb loading limit
- 20 minutes maximum
- Enforcing agency
- Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Portland
Summary
Multnomah County bars parking in a marked bus loading zone except for a bus or taxicab actively loading or unloading passengers, capped at two minutes, and bans taxicabs from the zone entirely between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.
(T) In any bus loading zone, except a motor bus or taxicab actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers or merchandise for a period not exceeding two minutes. Taxicabs using any bus loading zone shall use only the entrance end of the zone and shall not use the zone between the hours of 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.;
(U) On private property without the consent of the owners of the private property;
(V) In any construction zone except by vehicles actually necessary to the construction work being carried on; (W)On county-owned or county-operated property designated for use for motor vehicle parking by authorized county personnel only, without the consent of the county, if there is in plain view on the property a sign prohibiting public parking or restricting parking;
(X) In any street, road, highway, alley, lane or on any sidewalk, parking strip, public park property, county-owned property or county-operated property for more than 24 hours, if the vehicle is disabled or abandoned;
(Y) On either or both sides of any street adjacent to any school property if there is in plain view on that property a sign prohibiting public parking or restricting parking;
(Z) At any place in which stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would create an especially hazardous condition or cause unusual delay to traffic, if there is in plain view on the property a sign prohibiting public parking or restricting parking;
Full Breakdown
The Sheriff's traffic code defines a bus loading zone as curb space reserved for buses loading or unloading passengers and marked with official signs. No vehicle may stop, stand or park there except a bus or taxicab actually engaged in loading or unloading, and then only for up to two minutes; taxicabs are further barred from using the zone at all between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m., the evening commute window. A related rule caps any vehicle backed to the curb to load merchandise at 20 minutes. These rules govern only unincorporated Multnomah County. Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village each enforce their own parking codes.
Violations & Fines
Parking in a restricted loading zone or exceeding the curb-loading time limit is a Class A violation, punishable by a fine up to the state-set maximum, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense; Multnomah County Sheriff's deputies enforce it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in a bus loading zone in unincorporated Multnomah County?
Does this loading zone rule apply in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon parking rules overview
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