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Winston-Salem, NC Parking Rules: RV & Boat Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Improved pad required: minimum 10 feet wide
Front-yard coverage cap: 30% of front yard area
Where it applies: designated no-parking-on-lawn areas only
Per-vehicle penalty: $25.00 civil penalty
Eligible zoning: RS, RSQ, RM districts only

Summary

Winston-Salem bars parking boats, campers, trailers, and vehicles on front lawns, but only inside neighborhoods that petition the city for a 'no parking on the lawn' designation: like the permanently designated Stonewall neighborhood.

It shall be prohibited for any person owning or having control of a motor vehicle, water craft, non-motorized camper or any trailer designed to either be pulled by a motor vehicle or to carry a water craft, camper or motor vehicle to park or allow to be parked at any time in the front yards ... other than on an improved driveway or improved parking pad that is a minimum of ten feet in width.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).

Full Breakdown

Winston-Salem bars motor vehicles, boats, campers, and trailers from front yards unless parked on an improved driveway or pad at least 10 feet wide, capped at 30% of the front yard (up to 40% for circular drives on qualifying lots). The ban only takes effect inside city council-designated 'no parking on the lawn' areas, created when 60% of an area's property owners petition, and only in RS, RSQ, and RM residential zoning districts. The Stonewall neighborhood carries a permanent designation; elsewhere in the city the front-yard rule doesn't apply until a neighborhood petitions for it.

Violations & Fines

Parking on an unimproved front lawn area in a designated zone draws a $25.00 civil penalty per vehicle (Code § 42-175(c)(10)); the city can also issue a correction notice and, if unresolved in 30 days, remove the violation and assess a $150.00 penalty (§ 42-173(h)(4)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I park my boat or RV on my front lawn in Winston-Salem?

Only if you're outside a designated 'no parking on the lawn' area: most of the city has no such designation. Inside one, you need an improved driveway or pad at least 10 feet wide.

How does a neighborhood get a 'no parking on the lawn' designation?

At least 60% of property owners in a proposed area (minimum 100,000 square feet) must sign a petition to the neighborhood services department, then win city council approval after a public hearing.

What's the penalty for violating the front-yard parking rule?

A $25.00 civil penalty per vehicle under § 42-175(c)(10); unresolved violations can trigger city abatement plus a $150.00 penalty under § 42-173(h)(4).

Sources & Official References

[1]Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances § 42-173

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All Winston-Salem rules

How Winston-Salem compares: Cities with the Strictest Parking Rules·Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina parking rules overview

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