Joliet, IL Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway parking
- Prohibited, Sec. 19-139(a)(3)
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 15 feet minimum
- Intersection approach clearance
- 30 feet (20 feet for alley)
- Bus stop restriction
- 6 a.m.-6 p.m. except Sundays
- Front-yard parking
- Banned outside designated area
- Mailbox cluster clearance
- 15 feet, weekday/Saturday daytime
Summary
Joliet bars parking in two dozen specific spots citywide: on sidewalks, in front of driveways, within intersections or crosswalks, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 30 feet of an intersection approach, in marked bus stops from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in home front yards outside a designated parking area. Sec. 19-139 lists every prohibited location.
No person shall park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places: ... (3)In front of a public or private driveway. ... (5)Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant. ... (16)In any area designated "bus stop" between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except Sundays. ... (24)No vehicles shall be parked in the front yard of a residential use except in a residential parking area. In no event shall vehicles be parked on grassy or open areas not designated for off-street parking or storage of such residential vehicles.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 200).
Full Breakdown
Section 19-139 of the Motor Vehicle and Traffic chapter enumerates the specific places where parking is banned across the city, unless a vehicle is avoiding a traffic conflict or following a police officer's or traffic-control device's direction. The list includes sidewalks, the parkway strip between curb and sidewalk (parking there needs a permit under Sec. m. Monday through Saturday, on any private property without the owner's consent, and in a fire lane. Subsection (a)(24) also reaches front yards directly: "No vehicles shall be parked in the front yard of a residential use except in a residential parking area," and vehicles may not be parked on grassy or open areas not designated for off-street parking.
The section further bars anyone but a police officer from moving a parked vehicle out of a no-parking zone or tampering with its controls, and bars backing into a marked space in the Ottawa Street or Scott Street public parking garages.
Violations & Fines
Parking in any of the two dozen prohibited locations in Sec. 19-139, from blocking a driveway to parking in a front yard, is enforced by the Joliet Police Department and results in a ticket under the Code's general parking-violation penalty in Sec. 19-148, plus towing at the owner's expense if the vehicle is left in a fire lane, blocking snow removal, or otherwise obstructing traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to a fire hydrant can I park in Joliet?
Can I park my car in my own front yard in Joliet?
Is it illegal to block someone's driveway in Joliet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Joliet
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