Apex, NC Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

Apex Chapter 20 (Traffic) does not contain a citywide overnight street parking ban for passenger cars and light trucks. Properly registered, operable vehicles may park on most public streets overnight subject only to posted no-parking signs adopted by the Board of Commissioners, NCGS 20-162 distance restrictions, and the downtown time-limit zones (which are not enforced on weekends, holidays, or after 5 p.m.). NCGS 20-162(a) provides: 'No person shall park a vehicle or permit it to stand, whether attended or unattended, upon a highway in front of a private driveway or within 15 feet in either direction of a fire hydrant or the entrance to a fire station, nor within 25 feet from the intersection of curb lines or if none, then within 15 feet of the intersection of property lines at an intersection of highways.' On private residential property, UDO Section 8.3.4 (Location - Setbacks) restricts overnight storage: 'Off-street parking or storage of vehicles, travel trailers, or motor homes shall not be permitted within any front or street side setback area, provided that off-street parking may be permitted within that portion of any setback used for driveway access to required off-street parking areas. Storage of mobile homes is not permitted.' Where a vehicle (passenger car or otherwise) is left on the street for many days, the Apex Police Department may process it as an abandoned vehicle under Chapter 20, Article III. NCGS 20-137.7 defines an 'abandoned vehicle' as 'a motor vehicle that has remained illegally on private or public property for a period of more than 10 days without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.' Apex Police use Form F1313 - Abandoned, Junked and Disabled Vehicle Violation Checklist; before towing, an officer (unless the vehicle is obstructing traffic) must post a windshield notice of imminent towing per General Order 1006 (Supplemental Traffic Services). After the notice and removal procedures in Chapter 20, Article III are completed, the owner is given 11 days to remove the vehicle by registered or certified mail using Form F1313a (Pre-towing Notice and Right to Appeal). The owner may appeal under Section 20-36(b). Apex's many HOA-governed subdivisions commonly restrict overnight parking on private streets and driveways through CC&Rs that are enforced privately, not by the Town.