Texas City, TX Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Chapter 72 of the Texas City Code of Ordinances creates two kinds of curb loading zone and sets a clock for each.

Designation comes first. Under § 72.26, the City Director of Transportation and Planning, or a designee, determines and designates the location of passenger and freight curb loading zones and places and maintains signs indicating the zones and stating the hours during which the provisions are applicable. A zone binds drivers only during its posted hours.

Passenger zones are covered by § 72.27. No person shall stop, stand or park for any purpose or period of time other than the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers in a marked passenger curb loading zone during the hours the regulations are effective, and then only for not more than three minutes. The exception is a space adjacent to and serving a hotel or bus station, where the limit is 15 minutes.

Freight zones are covered by § 72.28. Under division (A), no person shall stop, stand or park for any length of time in a marked freight curb loading zone during the hours set aside, except that commercial vehicles can stop for the expeditious unloading and delivery or loading and pickup of material. In no case can that stop exceed 30 minutes. Division (B) lets the driver of a passenger vehicle stop temporarily at a freight zone for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers, but only when that does not interfere with a materials vehicle waiting to enter or about to enter the zone.

Two neighboring rules affect loading behavior. Section 72.25 says all freight trucks shall be loaded and unloaded from the alley entrance, if practicable, and where an alley is impracticable, the truck is parked on the street in accord with the subchapter. Section 72.10 bars parking in an alley within the fire limits except while actually loading or unloading merchandise or passengers, and § 72.07 allows a temporary stop during the actual loading or unloading of passengers even where less than ten feet of a lane would remain.

Sections 72.27 and 72.28 each carry the notation 'Penalty, see § 10.99'; §§ 72.25 and 72.26 carry no penalty notation of their own.