LegitParkHow far from a fire hydrant can you park? US street parking rules
How far you have to park from a hydrant or stop sign, what the painted curb colors mean, and the rules drivers forget most. These are the common nationwide defaults — your city or state can differ, and the posted sign is always the legal authority.
🅿️ Check the rule for any address →Where you can't park (and how far back)
- 🚒Fire hydrant
No parking within 15 ft (10 ft in some states) of a hydrant. - 🚸Crosswalk & corner
No parking on a crosswalk or within ~20 ft of one at an intersection. - 🛑Stop sign & signal
No parking within ~30 ft of a stop sign, yield, or traffic light. - 🚗Driveways
Never block a driveway — public or private — even partially. - 🟥Painted curb
Red = no stopping. Yellow = active loading only. White = quick pick-up/drop-off. - 🚌Bus stop & transit
No parking in a marked bus stop, transit zone, or taxi stand. - 🚲Bike lane
No stopping or parking in a bike lane at any time. - ♿Accessible spaces
Never use a disabled space or block its access aisle/ramp without a valid placard. - ↔️Direction & distance
Park with traffic, within ~12 in of the curb; no double-parking. - 🚂Blocked zones
No parking on a sidewalk, in an intersection, on a bridge, or within 50 ft of a rail crossing.
💡 Distances are the common US defaults — many states use 15 ft from a hydrant and ~30 ft from a stop sign, but some differ. A painted curb or posted sign always overrides the default.
Confused by a painted curb? See what red, yellow, white, green & blue curbs mean →
How far from a fire hydrant, by state
15 feet — roughly one car length — is the default in most US states, following the Uniform Vehicle Code. Where a hydrant zone is marked, the curb is usually painted red. A few states and counties set it shorter, and a city can be stricter than its state:
- 📏Most states — 15 ft
California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York and most others use the 15 ft standard. - 🌺Hawaii — 10 ft on most islands, 15 ft on Hawaiʻi Island
Set by county traffic code, not one statewide number: Oʻahu, Kauaʻi and Maui generally use 10 ft, while Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) uses 15 ft. One of the few states where this genuinely changes county to county. - 🧭Several states — 10 ft
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington, D.C. are commonly cited at 10 ft. Confirm against your own state code before relying on a shorter distance. - 🏙️Cities can be stricter than the state
Chicago (Municipal Code 9-64-100) and New York City both enforce 15 ft. Where a city and state differ, the stricter distance is the one you'll be ticketed under.
🚒 When in doubt, leave a full car length. A hydrant ticket is one of the most consistently enforced parking violations in the US, and "the curb wasn't painted" is not usually a defense.
Parking rules FAQ
How far from a fire hydrant can you park?
Most US states require at least 15 feet — about one car length — from a fire hydrant; a few use 10 feet. The curb by a hydrant is often painted red. When unsure, leave a full car length and follow the posted sign or curb paint.
How far from a fire hydrant can you park in Hawaii?
It depends on the island, because the rule is set by county traffic code rather than one statewide number. Oahu, Kauai, and Maui generally use 10 feet, while Hawaii County (the Big Island) uses 15 feet. Hawaii is one of the few states where the hydrant distance genuinely changes county to county, so check the county code — and the posted sign or red curb always wins.
How far from a fire hydrant can you park in Chicago?
15 feet. Chicago Municipal Code 9-64-100 prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, which matches the Illinois state standard and the common US default of about one car length. The curb by a hydrant is often painted red, and Chicago tickets this actively.
How far from a stop sign or traffic light can you park?
Typically about 30 feet from a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal, so you don't block sightlines. Some cities post the exact distance; the sign or painted curb is the final word.
What do painted curb colors mean?
Red = no stopping, standing, or parking. Yellow = active loading only (usually time-limited). White = brief passenger pick-up/drop-off. Green = short-term parking with a posted time limit. Blue = disabled/accessible parking, placard required. Colors vary slightly by city — the posted sign wins.
How far from a crosswalk or corner do you have to park?
Don't park on a crosswalk, and stay back roughly 20 feet from one at an intersection so drivers and pedestrians can see. Exact distances vary by state; check the sign or curb paint.
Can you park in a loading zone?
A loading zone (often a yellow or white curb) is for active loading and unloading only, usually with a short time limit posted on the sign. Leaving the car unattended or parking to run errands typically earns a ticket.
How far from a driveway can you park?
Never block a driveway — public or private — even partially; most cities ticket or tow for it. There's usually no minimum distance, just don't obstruct the driveway apron.
Parking rules, in depth
- What painted curb colors mean
- How residential permit parking works
- Handicap (accessible) parking rules
- Loading zone parking rules
- How to read a parking sign
Check the exact rules for your block
General rules only get you so far — meters, street sweeping, and permit zones change block to block. LegitPark reads the real curb rules for any US address, free.
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