King County, WA Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCC 14A.50.020
- Base fine
- $20 traffic infraction
- Trigger
- Only where signs posted
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
- No-response penalty
- Additional $25
Summary
In unincorporated King County, parking outside the hours posted on time-limit signs is unlawful. There's no blanket overnight ban: the restriction only applies on streets where the county has actually erected signs.
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 any person to park a vehicle upon any streets or parts of the streets outside the allowed time period when signs are erected giving notice when parking is allowed. (Ord. 18743 § 19, 2018).
14A.50.030 Angle parking. 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 any person to park a vehicle upon streets that have been marked or signed for either back-in or front-in angle parking, at an angle in relation to the curb or margin of the shoulder, other than is consistent with the markings or signs. (Ord. 18743 § 20, 2018).
14A.50.040 Wide commercial vehicles. 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 any person to park a commercial vehicle that is more than eighty inches wide overall on any county road or portion of county road between midnight and 6:00 a.m. (Ord. 18743 § 21, 2018).
Full Breakdown
King County Code 14A.50.020 makes it a violation to park on any county street or portion of a street outside the time period allowed once signs are erected giving notice of when parking is permitted. The rule is sign-triggered: absent posted hours, this section doesn't itself impose an overnight curfew. It applies only in unincorporated King County. Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Redmond, Kirkland and about 30 other cities set their own parking rules under separate municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
A traffic infraction with a $20 base penalty under KCC 14A.50.180. Failing to respond to the infraction notice adds a separate $25 penalty under KCC 14A.50.190.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does King County ban overnight street parking countywide?
What's the fine for parking outside posted hours?
Does this cover Seattle or Bellevue streets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
How King County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·Compare King County to another location·View the Washington parking rules overview
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