Stratford, CT Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

Section 203-6 is the core on-street rule: it is unlawful to park in a zone where posted signs prohibit parking, to park beyond the time designated where signs restrict parking by time, or to park where markings on pavement or curblines indicate no parking. Section 203-1 lets any police officer orally prohibit parking on any street or public place to prevent obstruction, and § 203-2 makes it unlawful to ignore an officer's direction or any traffic sign, marking or signal.

Penalties come in three tiers under § 203-8. Group I is $25 and covers a no-parking zone, a restricted zone, within 25 feet of a corner, facing the wrong way, double parking, more than the time limit, overnight parking, too far from the curb, obstructing a sidewalk, crosswalk or driveway, a bus stop, a postal zone and a sticker-required zone. Group II is $50 and includes a fire zone, a fire hydrant, alternate-side parking, a registered inoperable vehicle on Town streets for more than 24 hours, and a registered operational vehicle left more than four days by an owner who does not reside on that street. Group III is $100 for handicapped parking zones and handicapped curb cuts.

The ticket process is fixed. An officer attaches a notice to the vehicle, and within 10 days the owner either pays at the Police Department or requests an informal hearing with a police department enforcement representative. Failing to pay or resolve it leads to collection through the Citation process in Chapter 6. Missing the ten-day window doubles the original fee, and if payment is not made within 15 days the owner owes an additional $25 plus court costs, attorneys' fees and collection costs. Three or more violations under Chapters 60 and 203 can get the vehicle immobilized or impounded at the owner's risk and expense (§ 203-14(D)).

Winter changes the rules. Under § 203-7, alternate-side parking takes effect automatically during any period of snow or ice, odd-numbered side on odd days from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next day, and even side on even days. Offending vehicles get a ticket and are towed, and a household with a driveway cannot leave its vehicles on the adjoining street during the emergency.