Dearborn, MI Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 18-343
- Position required
- parallel, within 12 in. of curb
- Wrong-way parking
- barred except signed one-way streets
- Default penalty
- up to $500 fine (§ 1-9)
Summary
Dearborn requires every vehicle parked on a street to sit parallel and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb, which rules out parking against the flow of traffic on the wrong side of the road.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a highway shall be so stopped or parked with the wheels of the vehicle parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of any existing righthand curb. (b) Parking of vehicles with the lefthand wheels adjacent to and within 12 inches of the left-hand curb shall be permitted on a one-way street if appropriate signs permitting such parking are posted.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 18-343 sets the baseline for on-street parking: wheels parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of the existing right-hand curb, unless another provision says otherwise. Because parking has to hug the right-hand curb, a driver can't legally park facing traffic on the left side of a two-way street, the classic 'wrong-way' violation. The one carve-out is a posted one-way street, where left-hand curb parking within 12 inches is allowed if signs specifically permit it. The rule applies citywide to any street in Dearborn and works alongside the separate list of prohibited spots in Section 18-345, which bars parking in front of driveways and other specific locations.
Violations & Fines
No fine is stated here, so violations fall under the Chapter 1 general penalty: up to $500 and/or 93 days in jail under Sec. 1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to park facing oncoming traffic in Dearborn?
Is blocking a driveway a separate violation from wrong-way parking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle street parking limits.