Bothell, WA Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Chapter 10.30 of the Bothell Municipal Code collects the city's basic street parking rules. Section 10.30.010 bars standing or parking, whether the vehicle is occupied or not, in front of a public or private driveway or within five feet of a driveway entrance. Only momentary stops to pick up or discharge passengers are allowed, and the section yields when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, in compliance with law, or on the direction of a police officer or official traffic-control device. The "driveway entrance" is the portion of a depressed curb between the projections of the driveway edges, or the portion between those projections where no curb exists.

Section 10.30.020 is the wrong-way rule. A vehicle in a roadway must be parallel with the edge of the roadway and headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement, with the right side wheels within 12 inches of the curb. Where no curb is installed, the left side wheels must be at least 24 inches from the right edge of the travel portion of the roadway.

The chapter continues with related limits. Section 10.30.030 bars parking that impedes the free movement of vehicular traffic, and deems a vehicle in violation if it forces another vehicle to cross the centerline. Section 10.30.040 requires at least eight feet of alley roadway to stay open and bars blocking an abutting driveway. Section 10.30.070 requires parking within pavement markings where spaces are marked, § 10.30.080 bars stopping, standing or parking in front of a mailbox, and § 10.30.090 bars parking in a designated fire lane.

Signs drive many of the other rules. Under § 10.10.050 the public works director is the traffic engineer, who under § 10.10.060 erects parking restriction signs. Section 10.10.040 defines "street" to include parking lots open to public vehicular travel, so the rules reach privately maintained lots that are open to the public. Officers impounding a vehicle complete an authorization form citing the Chapter 46.55 RCW section that allows it (§ 10.10.070).