Palatine, IL Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Section 28-85 of the Village Code limits how long a vehicle can occupy a designated loading area in Palatine. A passenger vehicle may stand only as long as necessary to load or unload passengers, capped at three minutes, and a freight-carrying vehicle only as long as necessary to load, unload and deliver materials, capped at thirty minutes. These limits apply in a public alley at any hour, within 75 feet of a hospital or hotel entrance at any time, within 75 feet of a public building entrance between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except Sunday, and directly in front of a theater entrance whenever the theater is open.

The section separately regulates truck deliveries to retail and food establishments: deliveries to a designated on-site loading zone, dock or area (other than a grocery store) must occur between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., trucks may not sit in the rear loading area outside permitted hours, and delivery trucks (except those serving a grocery store) may not idle their engines while unloading or waiting, except between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. or when running air conditioning to prevent food from spoiling. The village requires additional soundproofing at these loading docks and mandates that idling-prohibition signage be posted in the rear delivery area before the village issues an occupancy permit or business license.

Additional loading restrictions may also be designated by separate village ordinance, with a complete listing kept at Village Hall. Violations fall under the chapter's general penalty, § 28-32, unless another section specifies a different fine.