Bowie, MD Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- No parking near hydrant
- within 15 feet
- No parking near intersection
- within 30 feet of curbline
- No parking near driveway
- within 3 feet without consent
- One-way streets
- must park facing traffic direction
- Curb distance
- wheels within 12 inches
- Fine range
- $25 to $100, doubles after 30 days
Summary
In the City of Bowie, § 14-10 of the City Code bars parking anywhere that blocks a driveway, fire hydrant, crosswalk or intersection, and § 14-10A requires cars on a one-way street to park parallel to the curb facing the direction of travel, with wheels within 12 inches of the curb, so parking against traffic is itself a violation.
§ 14-10. Parking unlawful in specified places. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle at any time if such vehicle or any part thereof is parked: ... ... P. On a street or public way at a location which obstructs the entrance to any driveway or the entrance to any building or garage or prevents passage over and upon any driveway or private vehicle entrance connecting private property with an abutting street. ... ... § 14-10A. Additional parking regulations. ... ... B. Parking on one-way roadway. A vehicle that is stopped or parked on a one-way roadway shall be stopped or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic movement, with: (1) Its right-hand wheels within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway; or (2) Its left-hand wheels within 12 inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 14-10 lists 22 specific places where parking is unlawful at any time, several governing everyday street parking: no parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant (A), within a street or alley intersection (B), within any crosswalk (C), within 30 feet of the curbline of an intersecting street (D), or within three feet of a driveway without the driveway owner's consent (V). Subsection P separately bars parking that 'obstructs the entrance to any driveway or the entrance to any building or garage or prevents passage over and upon any driveway,' covering the classic blocked-driveway complaint.
Section 14-10A sets the manner of parking generally: on a two-way roadway a vehicle must be parallel to the right-hand curb with its right wheels within 12 inches of the curb, and on a one-way roadway it must park parallel to the curb 'in the direction of authorized traffic movement,' with either right or left wheels within 12 inches of the applicable curb, so parking against the flow of one-way traffic is its own violation independent of any blocked lane. Bowie's parking violations are cited under § 14-25 rather than Chapter 1's general penalty: a fire-hydrant violation (Subsection A) carries a $100 fine, a one-way or 14-10A violation carries $50, and most other Subsection violations default to $25, doubling automatically if unpaid 30 days after the citation issues.
Violations & Fines
Parking that blocks a hydrant draws a $100 citation under § 14-25B(1); parking within three feet of a driveway or against one-way traffic direction under § 14-10A draws $50 under § 14-25B(3); most other § 14-10 violations, including blocking a driveway entrance under Subsection P, default to a $25 fine under § 14-25B(5). Every fine doubles automatically if unpaid within 30 days of the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in front of my neighbor's driveway in Bowie?
What's the fine for parking too close to a fire hydrant in Bowie?
Is it illegal to park against traffic on a one-way street in Bowie?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bowie
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