St. Louis County, MO Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- SLCRO § 1207.050(1)
- General time limit
- 24 uninterrupted hours on a roadway
- Weekend exemption
- 5 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Monday
- Emergency exception
- Applies during a declared emergency
- Applies to
- Unincorporated roads plus county arterials
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor under § 1201.030
Summary
No one may leave a vehicle parked on a St. Louis County roadway for more than 24 uninterrupted hours, except during a standing weekend exemption running from 5 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Monday. Section 1207.050 sets the limit, defines 'roadway' precisely, and sits alongside a separate, tighter one-hour cap on oversized vehicles in the same section.
1207.050 - Time Limitation on Parking.—
1. No person shall park any vehicle on any roadway for an uninterrupted period of time longer than twenty-four (24) hours except in an emergency, except for the time period between 5:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. Monday.
2.No person shall park or leave a) any boat, or b) any camper, trailer, motor home or commercial vehicle which is more than twenty-five (25) feet in length or nine (9) feet in height or eight (8) feet in width, on any roadway for a period of more than one (1) hour in any one (1) calendar day, except in an emergency or when in the process of loading or unloading the vehicle.3.As used herein, "roadway" shall mean that portion of the road intended for use by the general vehicular traveling public, which portion is typically delineated by curbs, edge lines, or the edge of pavement.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
m. m. Monday. That carve-out means a car can sit at the curb all weekend without tripping the 24-hour clock, but the countdown restarts Monday morning. 050(3) defines 'roadway' narrowly as that portion of the road intended for use by the general vehicular traveling public, typically delineated by curbs, edge lines, or the edge of pavement, so the rule reaches the paved travel lane and shoulder rather than a private driveway or yard. Like the rest of the Traffic Code, the limit binds unincorporated St.
020, so a car parked on a county arterial running through an incorporated municipality is still subject to the 24-hour clock even though most other parking rules on that street may belong to the city. cutoff following the weekend exemption, lapses without the vehicle moving, opening the door to towing.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a vehicle parked past the 24-hour limit, or past the Monday 9 a.m. cutoff following the Friday-to-Monday weekend exemption, is a Traffic Code misdemeanor under Section 1201.030, enforced by the St. Louis County Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol per Section 1201.040. An overstaying vehicle is also subject to citation and tow at the owner's expense once the time limit expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I leave my car parked on the street in St. Louis County?
Does the 24-hour limit apply to my driveway?
What happens after the 24-hour window runs out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
How St. Louis County compares: Cities with the Strictest Overnight Parking Rules·Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri parking rules overview
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