Baltimore County, MD Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Section 18-2-202 of the Baltimore County Code is the county's driveway and alley obstruction rule. Nobody may stop, park, or leave standing a vehicle on any road or alley in front of or within 5 feet of the edge of any private driveway or parking area, unless the owner or occupant of the premises consents. A second prong applies even outside that 5-foot zone: no vehicle may be left in a manner that prevents free passage of vehicles or the movement of a lawfully parked vehicle to or from a driveway or parking area. In an alley, a vehicle cannot be parked, stopped, or left unattended if that leaves less than 12 feet of clearance parallel to the vehicle.

Towing is written into the section. If a vehicle blocks or impedes another vehicle, the Chief of Police or the Director of Permits, Approvals, and Inspections can tow it after a reasonable attempt to locate the owner, or, when the owner is known, after the owner refuses to move it. The owner pays all towing fees.

Three neighboring rules fill out the picture. Section 18-2-201(b) requires a driver who parks for longer than it takes to load or unload to park parallel, with both bumpers not more than 12 inches from the curb and not less than 30 inches from the front or rear of any other vehicle. Section 18-2-204 bars standing or parking in front of a private driveway, within 10 feet of either side of a fire engine house, and within 15 feet of a hospital entrance, longer than needed to take on or discharge passengers or freight. Under §§ 18-2-101 and 18-2-102, the county and the Director of Public Works and Transportation can also prohibit parking on any portion of a public highway, and signs or markers placed along the road are prima facie evidence of the order. Because Towson, Dundalk, Catonsville, Essex, and the other parking meter districts sit inside county law, these rules are the operative street code there.