Park Smart: Unsigned Street and Lane Regulations
Streets
Many parking by-law violations have signs indicating that stopping or parking is prohibited or restricted. There are however many by-laws which do not have signs posted. Vehicles parked in violation of these by-laws create a hazard for the safe passage of other vehicles and/or pedestrians. The most common of these parking by-laws include:
Corner clearance - vehicles must not be stopped within 6 metres of the inside edge of the closest intersecting sidewalk. The "corner clearance" by-law is designed to provide clear visibility and ease traffic flow at intersections:
On streets without sidewalks vehicles must not be stopped within 9 metres of the nearest edge of the pavement of an intersecting street:
Lane clearance - vehicles must not be stopped within 1.5 metres of an intersecting lane.
Blocked driveway - vehicles are not allowed to block or stop within 1.5 metres of a private road, boulevard crossing or sidewalk crossing:
Too close to a crosswalk - vehicles are not allowed to stop on or within 6 metres of either side of a crosswalk.
Too close to a stop sign - vehicles are not allowed to stop within 6 metres of the approach side of a stop sign.
Blocked fire hydrant - vehicles are not allowed to stop within 5 metres of a fire hydrant.
On a sidewalk - vehicles are not allowed to stop on sidewalks, sidewalk crossings or boulevards.
On a boulevard - vehicles are not allowed to stop on a boulevard unless it is specifically designated for the parking of motor vehicles.
What is a boulevard?
- On a street with curbs, it is the portion of the street between the outside curb and the adjoining property line.
- On a street without curbs, it is the portion of the street between the edge of the roadway and the adjoining property line.
- On a street where traffic is separated by a median, it includes the median.
Double parking - vehicles must be stopped or parked within 30 cm. of the curb or the edge of the roadway.
Facing the wrong way - vehicles must be stopped or parked headed in the direction of traffic.
Angle parking - vehicles must be stopped or parked parallel with the curb or edge of the roadway unless there are marks or signs which require angle parking (such as in parts of Yaletown).
Three Hour by-law - prohibits non-resident parking in front of any property for more than 3 hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. This by-law is one of several residential parking regulations designed to reduce outside parking pressures.
Lanes
There are dozens of parking by-laws within the City of Vancouver that do not require signed zones. Most lane violations fall into this category and include:
Commercial lane - any lane that abuts commercial property is classified as commercial. Only vehicles with commercial identification are allowed to stop in these lanes. In busy commercial areas, warning signs have been posted in most lane entrances. But driver’s beware! There is no signing within most commercial lanes.
Blocking the lane - vehicles must leave at least 3 metres (roughly 10 feet) clearance in lanes to allow for the free movement of other vehicles.
Blocking a private driveway or garage - vehicles must leave 1.5 metres on either side of and 5.5 metres directly in front of private driveways, roads, and garage entrances:
Blocking access to garbage containers - vehicles are not allowed to stop in front of or within 1.5 metres of either side of a garbage container.
Too close to an intersecting street or sidewalk - vehicles are not allowed to stop within 2 metres of the inside edge of the closest sidewalk, an intersecting street or lane.
Blocking a marked fire door - vehicles must leave 0.5 metres on either side of and 3 metres directly in front of an identified fire door.
These by-laws discourage motorists from leaving their vehicles in a manner that would pose a safety threat or inconvenience other drivers or pedestrians.
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