Parking Rules & Street Sweeping

Parking is allowed only on the driveway, the space between the driveway and nearest property line, and the additional two-foot strip adjacent to the driveway, as explained below.

Parking is not allowed on any other paved area in the front yard.

Front yard parking restrictions have always been in effect, per Lakewood Municipal Code (LMC 9373.7). 

On December 8, 2020, the City Council adopted an Ordinance(PDF, 259KB) pertaining to front yard standards for landscaping, permeable and impermeable hardscape surfaces to clarify driveway widths where vehicles are allowed to park, as follows:

• The driveway width shall be no wider than ten (10) feet for each offsite parking space to which it leads (e.g. 20-feet wide drive for a two-car garage or carport). 
• The property owner may pave the area between the driveway and nearest property line.
• The property owner may install an additional two-foot wide paved strip adjacent to the allowed driveway for the purpose of passengers safely exiting from a vehicle.

These two additional paving elements are in excess of the specified standards for driveway widths, and would allow for vehicle parking. 

Why the ordinance?

The purpose of this Ordinance was to modify and clarify the existing development standards pertaining to the ground covering material allowed in the front yards of single-family residences.

Lakewood's goal is to maintain the character of the city, because the prior regulation lacked restrictions on how much paving was allowed in the front yard, and there were no minimum requirements for landscaping. This resulted in some property owners paving all of the front yard area, which was frequently used for parking. The City Council wanted to come up with a fair way to set standards for all property owners to suit the many different configurations, so this new Ordinance was enacted. 

What does the Ordinance do?

It established for the first time minimum landscape standards and clarified the allowed installation and use of permeable and impermeable hardscape surfaces in the front yard for driveways, walkways and other landscaping purposes.  While the Ordinance did not change the existing restrictions on front yard parking (LMC 9373.7), it did clarify the standards for driveway widths and expanded the use of the driveways to allow tandem uncovered parking, as one means of satisfying parking requirements.

What are the new standards?

• Most significantly, the Ordinance established standards for the maximum amount of impermeable hardscape in the front yard area, based on lot frontage widths (60% on lots of 45 feet or more). 
• The remaining portion of the front yard is now designated as front yard landscape area, 50% of which is required  to be planted with organic material. 
• In addition, the Ordinance established standards for acceptable ground cover, front yard walkways and clarified allowed driveway widths and standards. 

On street-sweeping days only, if your driveway is full, you may park:

• In your front or side yard.
• On the apron (the slope leading up to your driveway), including sideways on your apron. Do not obstruct the sidewalk.
• In an alley but only on your street-sweeping day and time. Move it back to the street after your designated time period.

NOTE: Citations are issued only if the sweeper must go around a parked vehicle.

Parking citations will be issued for vehicles parked in:

• Alleys: No vehicle may be parked in an alley for any length of time (except during street-sweeping periods, and must be moved immediately after)
• Fire Lanes: No stopping, standing, or parking at designated fire lanes.
• Any intersection: Do not park or leave your vehicle within an intersection.
• Parkways: Do not park on any portion of a parkway.
• Red Curbs: No stopping, standing or parking at any time.
• Sidewalks: Do not park on any portion of a sidewalk, or overhang the sidewalk from the driveway or apron. 

Also:

• No parking of any commercial vehicles (over three tons). 

• No overnight parking behind commercial centers or city parks.

Your vehicle will be towed if it:

• Was parked for over 72 hours and received both a warning and subsequent citation.

• Had registration expired for more than six months.

• Had five or more outstanding parking citations. 

If your vehicle was towed for delinquent parking citations, you must pay all citations on the towed vehicle as well as all parking citations in your name owed on any other vehicle. Citations must be paid by cash or credit card only; checks will not be accepted. 

For information on why your vehicle was towed and how to get it released, please call 562-866-9771, extension 2621.