Gastonia, NC Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway clearance
- No parking blocking a driveway or mailbox
- Fire hydrant buffer
- 15 feet in either direction
- Intersection buffer
- 100 feet of curbline intersection
- Parking direction
- Must head with traffic, curb within 12 in.
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Sec. 6-126(c)
- Enforcing agency
- Gastonia Police Department
Summary
Gastonia bans parking that blocks a driveway or mailbox, sits within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or crowds an intersection, crosswalk, sidewalk or median. Sec. 6-126 lists 15 prohibited locations citywide, enforceable whether or not a sign is posted, and Sec. 6-130 requires cars to park headed with traffic within 12 inches of the curb.
No person may park any vehicle or permit it to stand in any of the following locations:
(1) As provided in G.S. 20-162, in front of or obstructing use of a private driveway or mailbox or group of mailboxes;
(2) As provided in G.S. 20-162, within 15 feet of either direction of a fire hydrant (whether or not located in a public right-of-way) or the entrance to a fire station; ...
(6) On a sidewalk or on the planting strip or utility strip not used for sidewalk purposes which is situated between the edge of the street pavement and the street right-of-way boundary. ... The administrator may install no parking signs, yellow curb markings or other traffic control devices to indicate where parking and standing is prohibited as stated in subsection (a), but enforcement of the provisions of this section is not dependent on the installation of such devices.
Full Breakdown
Article IV, Division 1 of the Gastonia City Code lists fifteen specific places drivers cannot park under Sec. 6-126, and the list runs well beyond driveways. Subsection (a)(1) bars blocking a private driveway or mailbox; (a)(2) sets a 15-foot buffer around any fire hydrant or fire station entrance; (a)(3) bars parking within 100 feet of an intersection of curblines; and (a)(6) bans parking on a sidewalk or the planting strip between the pavement and the right-of-way. Other paragraphs cover marked crosswalks, traffic-signal zones, bridges, alleys narrower than ten feet of clear travel lane, and the median strip.
Subsection (b) makes clear the city administrator's authority to post no-parking signs or yellow curb paint does not limit enforcement to signed locations: officers may cite a car under Sec. 6-126 whether or not a sign is up. Sec. 6-127 adds that any parked, unattended vehicle must have its brakes set, engine off, and ignition key removed, and on a grade its wheels turned to the curb. Sec. 6-130 requires vehicles to park parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb, headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement, meaning parking against the flow of traffic is itself a violation even where no Sec.
6-126 location rule applies. Under the city's towing schedule at Sec. 6-226(b)(1), a vehicle parked in violation of Sec. 6-126 is subject to immediate removal, not just a citation. Violations of Sec. 6-126, 6-127 and 6-130 are each classed as misdemeanors, enforced by the Gastonia Police Department.
Violations & Fines
Parking in a Sec. 6-126 prohibited spot, blocking a driveway, sitting within 15 feet of a hydrant, or parking on a sidewalk, is a misdemeanor and the vehicle can be towed immediately under the Sec. 6-226(b) towing schedule, at the owner's expense. Parking against traffic flow or more than 12 inches from the curb under Sec. 6-130, or leaving a vehicle unattended with its engine running or wheels not turned to the curb on a grade under Sec. 6-127, is also a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in front of my own driveway in Gastonia?
How close to a fire hydrant can I park in Gastonia?
Which way should my car face when parked on a Gastonia street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gastonia
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