Grand Rapids, MI Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway buffer
- No parking within 3 feet
- Hydrant buffer
- No parking within 15 feet
- Signed zones
- City may restrict parking anywhere
- Curb rule
- Park parallel, within 12 inches
- Citation
- Grand Rapids City Code § 10.45
Summary
Grand Rapids bars parking in front of driveways and alleys, and separately lets the city restrict or prohibit parking on any street where traffic, safety, or roadwork conditions require it, once marked with paint or signs.
No person shall park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the direction of a police officer or traffic control device in any of the following places:
(1)On the sidewalk or the space between the curb and sidewalk, whether paved or unpaved, unless such Section shall be part of the existing roadway;(2)In front of a public or private driveway or alley within three (3) feet of where the course of the curbline has been changed to start the driveway or alley approach
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Section 10.45 lists specific spots where parking is banned outright, including within three feet of a driveway or alley approach, on sidewalks, in intersections, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, on crosswalks, and within 20-30 feet of intersections, safety zones, and railroad crossings. Section 10.41 separately lets the Proper Authority restrict or prohibit parking anywhere "because of the density of traffic, protection of life or property, construction, the condition of roadway, or...any other hazard," once marked with paint or signs. Section 10.44 requires parking parallel and within 12 inches of the curb on the same side as the direction of travel.
Violations & Fines
Violations of § 10.45 are civil infractions under Chapter 181 (§ 10.68); fines set by City Commission resolution double after 10 unpaid days and triple after 90, per § 1.615, and repeat offenders risk impoundment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I park in front of my neighbor's driveway in Grand Rapids?
Can the city restrict parking on my street even without a listed rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle street parking limits.