Can you park next to a fire hydrant?

No! Parking in front or next to a fire hydrant is unsafe and may delay your local fire department from accessing valuable resources in the event of an emergency! 

Is it illegal to park next to a fire hydrant?

Yes! Your specific jurisdiction will vary on the laws, but all states have traffic laws that establish a proper minimum parking distance restriction. 

How close can I park to a fire hydrant?

Generally, in most states of America, you can only park at 15 feet or further from a fire hydrant. You must also be careful, as not all fire hydrants will denote the emergency zone, where no cars can park, with red curb paint. This zone is also often called the “fire lane.”

In California, as well as the majority of states, you can only park 15 feet or further away from a fire hydrant. 

Can I park closer to a fire hydrant than 15 feet in America?

In the 4 states of Iowa (5 feet), Vermont (6 feet), Tennessee (7.5 feet), and Rode Island (8 feet), you can park closer than 10 feet. 

In 9 states, as well as the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), you can park closer than 15 feet. 

All other states only allow parking near a fire hydrant at a distance of 15 feet or further. 

See the below table for all 50 states’ restrictions on parking near a fire hydrant as well as their relevant state laws. 

STATE	FIRE HYDRANT PARKING DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS	STATE LAW
Alabama	15 feet	Ala. Code § 32-5A-137
Alaska	15 feet	13 Alaska Admin. Code § 02.340
Arizona	15 feet	Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-873
Arkansas	15 feet	Ark. Code § 27-51-1302
California	15 feet	Cal. Veh. Code § 22514
Colorado	15 feet	Colorado Title 42. Vehicles and Traffic § 42-4-1204
Connecticut	10 feet	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-251
Delaware	15 feet	Del. Code Tit. 21, § 4179
District of Columbia	10 feet	D.C. Code § 2405.2
Florida	15 feet	Fla. Stat. Ann. § 316.1945
Georgia	15 feet	Ga. Code Ann. § 40-6-203
Hawaii	15 feet	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 19-15.1-8
Idaho	15 feet	Idaho Code § 49-660
Illinois	15 feet	Illinois Statutes Chapter 625. Vehicles § 5/11-1303
Indiana	15 feet	Indiana Code Title 9. Motor Vehicles § 9-21-16-5
Iowa	5 feet	Iowa Code §. 321.358
Kansas	15 feet	Kan. Stat. § 8-1571
Kentucky	15 feet	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.450
Louisiana	15 feet	Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 32, § 143
Maine	10 feet	Title 29-A, §2068: Parking
Maryland	15 feet	Maryland Code, Transportation § 21-1003
Massachusetts	10 feet	Parking, 720 Mass. Reg. 9.03
Michigan	15 feet	MCL – Section 257.674 – Michigan Legislature
Minnesota	10 feet	Minn. Stat. § 169.34
Mississippi	10 feet	Miss. Code § 63-3-901
Missouri	15 feet	Mo. Rev. Stat. § 300.440
Montana	15 feet	Mont. Code Ann. § 61-8-354
Nebraska	15 feet	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,166
Nevada	15 feet	Nev. Rev. Stat. § 484B.450
New Hampshire	15 feet	N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265:69
New Jersey	10 feet	N.J. Stat. 39 § 4-138
New Mexico	15 feet	N.M. Stat. § 66-7-351
New York	15 feet	N.Y. St. VAT Sec. 1202, Art. 32, Tit. 7, Ch. 71
North Carolina	15 feet	N.C. Gen. Stat. Ch. 20. Motor Vehicles § 20-162
North Dakota	10 feet	N.D. Cent. Code § 39-10-49
Ohio	15 feet	Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.68
Oklahoma	15 feet	Okla. Stat. 47-11-1003
Oregon	10 feet	Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.550
Pennsylvania	15 feet	75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3353
Rhode Island	8 feet	R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-21-4
South Carolina	15 feet	S.C. Code § 8-912
South Dakota	15 feet	S.D. Codified Laws § 32-30-6
Tennessee	7.5 to 15 feet (decided by each incorporated municipality)	Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-160
Texas	15 feet	Texas Transportation Code – TRANSP § 545.302
Utah	15 feet	Utah Code § 41-6a-1401
Vermont	6 feet	Vt. Stat. Tit. 23, § 1104
Virginia	15 feet	Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1239
Washington	15 feet	WAC § 132N-156-550
West Virginia	15 feet	W. Va. Code § 17C-13-3
Wisconsin	10 feet	Wisc. Stat. § 346.53(3)
Wyoming	15 feet	Wy. Stat. § 31-5-504

Can I park at a fire hydrant if there’s no red lane / fire lane?

No! It is still illegal to park next to a fire hydrant and violate the minimum distance requirements of your state’s laws, as it is a separate law from the fire lane laws.

Is there any exception that will let me park at a fire hydrant?

California Vehicle Code 22514 allows 3 exceptions for you to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant:

1. Your vehicle has a licensed driver in the driver’s seat who can move the vehicle immediately in the event of a necessity.

2. If your local county or city adopts laws that reduce the minimum distance down from the state-wide 15 feet standard. If these local laws reduce the distance to below 10 feet away from a fire hydrant in total length (when measured along the curb or edge of the street), the reduced minimum distance must be clearly indicated by signs or markings.

3. If your vehicle is owned or operated by a fire department and clearly marked as a fire department vehicle.

If you were unfairly given a parking ticket by a cop or other official for violations like parking near a fire hydrant, you do not need to give up on justice!

The expert attorneys of Win Nguyen Law can help you to overcome the prejudices of Orange County’s traffic laws and save you the headache of fighting an unfair ticket alone! Book a free consult now to learn more about your options.