Blocking Sidewalk With A Car Is Illegal

3800 block of 42nd Ave NE

4600 block of NE 47th Street

The Laurelhurst Blog has received many emails from neighbors that would like to remind others that parking across sidewalks is illegal.


A neighbor reported that the vehicle (pictured above) on NE 47th Street has been parked over the sidewalk for over a year. That area is busy in the morning and afternoon with students walking to the Seattle Public Schools Sun Park bus stop, taking students to and from Eckstein. It seems the owner took it off the street as it had received a ticket for being parked over 72 hours.

Parking over a sidewalk causes obstruction and can be unsafe for pedestrians who have to step out into the street to pass around the car and back on to the sidewalk.

It is illegal to park a vehicle on any portion of the sidewalk, even where the sidewalk intersects with a resident's driveway.

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.360 states:

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on or over a sidewalk, whether constructed or not. The sidewalk is intended for the use of pedestrians.

The City Parking website says:

Do not park on sidewalks, the planting or paved strip between the sidewalk and street.

The following are City codes regarding parking close to driveways, which often happens on the 4500 block of 46th and 47th Avenues NE near Laurelhurst Elementary School.

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.110 states:

Driveway or alley entrance - No person shall stand or park a vehicle in front of a public or private driveway within a street or alley or in front of or in an alley entrance or within five feet (5') of the end of a constructed driveway return or alley entrance return, or if none, within five feet (5') of the projection of the edge of the driveway or alley.

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.120 states:

Driveway - Painted curb - The prohibited area for driveway returns described in Section 11.72.110 may be maintained with traffic yellow paint by the property owner or occupant.

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.185 - Fire Lane states:

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any fire lane.  The infraction is $47.

Seattle Municipal Code 11.72.025 - Alley—Driveway states:

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. (RCW 46.90.433(2))

To submit a parking enforcement service request go here or call the Parking enforcement main line at 206-386-1578.