Denver, CO Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Time limit
- 72 consecutive hours in same spot
- Governing section
- DRMC § 54-465
- RV exception
- Must relocate at least 700 feet
- Enforcement
- Citation, then tow/impound
Summary
Denver bans leaving any vehicle in the same curbside spot for more than 72 consecutive hours, overnight included; the vehicle must be moved to avoid a citation and eventual tow by the city.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or operator of a vehicle to leave that vehicle parked in the same place on a public street continuously for a period in excess of seventy-two (72) hours. Except as provided in section 54-464, subsection (b) of this section, or when posted signage indicates otherwise, a vehicle shall be considered in violation of this section if it has not been moved during the seventy-two-hour period of time.(b)A recreational vehicle that does not exceed twenty-two (22) feet in length shall be considered in violation of this section if it has not been moved to a location that is at least seven hundred (700) feet away during the seventy-two-hour period of time. (Code 1950, § 519.9; Ord. No. 62-87, § 1, 2-2-87; Ord. No. 852-94, § 1, 10-24-94; Ord. No. 373-23, § 4, 5-8-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 54-465 makes it unlawful to leave a vehicle parked in the same spot on a public street for more than 72 continuous hours, whether that time accrues overnight, over a weekend, or across several days. Posted signage can set a different limit for a specific block. A recreational vehicle 22 feet or shorter is treated as violating the rule unless moved at least 700 feet away within the 72-hour window. Enforcement runs through Denver's parking-services unit; the manager of transportation and infrastructure and police department may cite the vehicle and, under separate impoundment authority, eventually tow it.
Violations & Fines
Parking citation for exceeding the 72-hour limit; vehicles left in place can be tagged, immobilized, and ultimately towed and impounded by the city at owner expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park on a Denver street overnight?
Does moving my car a few feet reset the 72-hour clock?
What happens if I don't move my car in time?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
How Denver compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado parking rules overview
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