King County, WA Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Time limit
- 3 minutes maximum
- Base penalty
- $20 traffic infraction
- Applies to
- Unincorporated King County roads only
- Governing section
- K.C.C. 14A.50.090
Summary
In unincorporated King County, drivers may stop in a marked passenger loading zone only to load or unload passengers, and only for a maximum of three minutes: anything longer or any other use is a $20 traffic infraction.
Passenger loading zones. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with traffic or in compliance with the law or at the direction of deputy or official traffic control device, it is unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or period other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers in any place marked as a passenger loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to the loading zone are effective, and then only for a maximum of three minutes. (Ord. 18743 § 26, 2018).
14A.50.100 Buses, taxicabs, for-hire vehicles.
A. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with traffic or in compliance with the law or at the direction of a deputy or official traffic control device, it is unlawful for an operator of a bus to stop, stand or park the bus upon any county road at any place other than a designated bus stop. This subsection does not prevent the operator of a bus from temporarily stopping in accordance with other stopping, standing or parking provisions at any place for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers or their baggage.
Full Breakdown
King County Code § 14A.50.090 makes it unlawful to stop, stand, or park a vehicle in a marked passenger loading zone for any purpose or period other than the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers, capping that use at three minutes during the zone's posted hours. The rule doesn't apply when a driver is avoiding a traffic conflict, complying with the law, or following a deputy's or traffic-control device's direction. It reaches only unincorporated King County roads. Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Redmond, Kirkland and the county's other roughly 30 cities set their own curb rules under their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Stopping in a passenger loading zone past the three-minute limit, or using it for anything besides passenger pickup/drop-off, is a traffic infraction with a $20 base penalty under K.C.C. 14A.50.180, plus a $25 penalty for failing to respond to the infraction notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover passenger loading zones in Seattle?
Can I stop there just to pick up a rider?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
Compare King County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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