Guide · 6 min read
How close can you park to a driveway or alley in DC?
Updated August 2026 · Sources: DDOT, DPW.
The short answer: 5 feet
Leave at least 5 feet between your car and the entrance of a private driveway or a public alley in Washington DC. Measure from the edge of the concrete apron — the flared section of curb cut — not from the property line or the gate.
Five feet is short enough that drivers talk themselves into three. Don't. Driveway and alley violations are the one category a neighbor can trigger: a resident calls it in, and DC can tow rather than ticket. That makes this rule riskier than the fine alone suggests.
And the second half of the rule gets forgotten entirely: your car must sit within 12 inches of the curb and be headed with traffic. Squeezing near an alley mouth at an angle earns a second citation on top of the first.
Clearances DC actually enforces
None of these require a sign. They apply on every residential block, every alley, and every curb cut in the District.
Swipe table →
| Situation | Rule | If you're wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Private driveway entrance | 5 feet of clearance | Ticket plus resident-requested tow |
| Public alley entrance | 5 feet of clearance, mouth fully clear | High tow risk — blocks every vehicle behind it |
| Sidewalk or crosswalk across a driveway | Never block any part | Separate citation, towable |
| Your own driveway (car registered to that address) | Allowed if sidewalk and travel lane stay clear | Ticket if the car overhangs the sidewalk |
| Distance from the curb | Within 12 inches, headed with traffic | Improper parking, often added to another ticket |
| Loading dock or curb cut with a posted sign | Follow the sign, not the 5-foot default | Posted rules are more restrictive, not less |
Corner and hydrant setbacks are different numbers — see the 25-foot intersection rule.
Where DC drivers get this wrong
- Alleys read as gaps, not entrances. DC's rowhouse blocks are threaded with alleys that look like ordinary breaks in the curb. Every one of them is an entrance with a 5-foot setback.
- Retired driveways still count. A sealed or overgrown curb cut is legally still a driveway. The apron is the rule, not the traffic.
- "Just for a minute" is still blocking. There is no grace period for standing across an apron, and a resident waiting to get out has every incentive to call it in immediately.
- Shared driveways are never yours. The own-driveway exception applies only where the vehicle is registered to that address and the driveway serves that address alone.
- The sidewalk is a separate rule. Overhanging the sidewalk while clearing the driveway trades one ticket for another.
Free map
Where does DC write the most tickets?
Explore 1.6 million+ DC parking citations mapped to the street segment — see the hottest blocks before you park.
How to park it correctly
- Find where the apron flares. The setback starts at the widest point of the curb cut, not at the driveway's paint or gate.
- Give two paces, then one more. Five feet is two adult strides. Add a third and you have removed the argument.
- Straighten up and tuck in. Wheels within a foot of the curb, nose with traffic.
- Look up at the sign. Clearing the apron only makes the space legal in space; sweeping, rush hour, and RPP still decide whether it is legal in time. All of them are in the DC street parking rules guide.
Key takeaways
- 5 feet from any driveway or alley entrance, measured from the apron.
- Alley mouths carry the highest tow risk on a residential block.
- Park within 12 inches of the curb, headed with traffic.
- You may park across your own driveway; never a shared or neighbor's one.
- Unused curb cuts are still driveways.
FAQ
How close can you park to the entrance of an alley or private driveway in DC?
Five feet. In Washington DC you must leave at least 5 feet between your vehicle and the entrance of a private driveway or a public alley, measured along the curb from the edge of the apron. Any overlap of the apron itself counts as blocking it, which is both ticketable and towable because the property owner or a resident can request a tow.
Can you park in front of your own driveway in DC?
Yes, with conditions. DC allows a vehicle registered to that address to park across its own driveway as long as it does not block the sidewalk and does not extend into the travel lane. You may never park across a shared driveway or someone else's driveway, even briefly, and blocking the sidewalk is a separate violation.
How far from the curb should your car be parked in DC?
Within 12 inches. DC requires your wheels to be no more than one foot from the curb and your vehicle headed in the direction of traffic. Parking more than 12 inches out is written as improper parking, and it is the rule most often added on top of another citation when a car is left at an angle near a driveway or alley mouth.
Is blocking an alley in DC towable?
Yes. Alley mouths are access routes for trash collection, deliveries, and emergency vehicles, so a vehicle blocking one can be towed rather than just ticketed. DC treats alley entrances the same as driveways for the 5-foot setback, but the tow risk is higher because a blocked alley strands every vehicle behind it.
Does a driveway that is no longer used still count?
Yes. The setback follows the curb cut and apron, not whether a car currently uses it. Sealed or overgrown curb cuts are still legally driveways in DC, and enforcement reads the concrete, not the history.
How much is a DC ticket for blocking a driveway or alley?
Blocking a driveway or alley in Washington DC is commonly written in the $50 to $100 range, plus towing and storage fees if the vehicle is removed. A resident can call it in, so these tickets are frequently written outside normal enforcement sweeps, including evenings and weekends.