Independence, MO Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Near an intersection
- No stopping within 20 feet unmarked
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 5 feet minimum
- Fire station driveway clearance
- 15 feet minimum
- Driveway/alley clearance
- 4 feet minimum, no blocking
- Minimum lane width left open
- 10 feet of roadway
- Central Traffic District
- No parking outside painted stalls
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail
Summary
Independence bans stopping, standing, or parking in over 20 specific situations under City Code § 18.15.006, including within an intersection, within 20 feet of one, on a crosswalk, within 15 feet of a fire station driveway, within five feet of a hydrant, and blocking a driveway or alley.
No driver of a vehicle shall stop, stand, or park, or cause to be placed, left, or stopped, such vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a Police Officer or traffic-control sign or signal: A. Within an intersection. B. Within 20 feet of an intersection (except in a parking space officially marked). C. On a crosswalk. ... E. Within five feet of a fire hydrant. F. In front of a private road or driveway or alley or within four feet thereof or in any manner that otherwise obstructs the reasonable, appropriate, and lawful ingress or egress of private roads, driveways, or alleys. ... I. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street. ... N. Upon any street other than an alley, in such manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for free movement of vehicular traffic. ... V. Stopping, standing and parking prohibited in the Central Traffic District. No driver of any vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle along any street in the Central Traffic District where no painted parking stalls exist.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
' The list runs from A through V and covers the core blocking-and-visibility violations: within an intersection or within 20 feet of one unless a parking space is officially marked, on a crosswalk, within 15 feet of a fire station driveway, within five feet of a fire hydrant, in front of or within four feet of a private driveway or alley, on a sidewalk or parkway, alongside a street excavation that would obstruct traffic, and on the roadway side of another parked vehicle (double parking).
It also reaches less obvious situations: parking on private property or an off-street lot without the owner's consent where restrictions are posted, parking so long in a business's private lot that it amounts to loitering or creates a nuisance, leaving less than ten feet of roadway width for traffic on any street other than an alley, and stopping on a bridge, in a tunnel, or on a limited-access roadway except where signs allow it. 00 range to blocking a posted fire lane.
Violations & Fines
Stopping, standing, or parking in any of the prohibited locations under § 18.15.006, from blocking an intersection to parking within five feet of a hydrant, is a municipal ordinance violation. The section carries no fine of its own, so it is enforced under the general penalty, City Code § 10.04.001: up to $500.00, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with continuing violations charged per day. Vehicles obstructing traffic or blocking access can also be ticketed and towed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to a fire hydrant can I park in Independence?
Can I park in front of someone's driveway?
Is double parking illegal in Independence?
What's the fine for illegal street parking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Independence
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle street parking limits.