A Guide for Parking In and Near Your Driveway

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By
Pamela Johnson
Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Image shows a vehicle parked legally in a driveway, with a yellow arrow illustrating that the car does not block the sidewalk.

This vehicle is parked legally in a driveway. That’s because no part of the car extends onto the sidewalk.

We want to help you understand your options to park legally in front of your home.  

This way, you can avoid tickets and help us keep sidewalks clear for everyone who uses them.  

Parking on the sidewalk, even a little bit, poses a safety hazard. It obstructs the path where people can walk, use a wheelchair or push a stroller or cart. This can make it difficult for seniors, families with small children and people with disabilities to pass by safely.  

We’ll share how to park legally in your driveway. We’ll also cover an option you may not know about – parking in front of your driveway. 

How to park in your driveway

The law

You can park your vehicle in your own driveway. However, no part of the vehicle should extend to the sidewalk. That’s according to according to California Vehicle Code § 22500. 

Both state and city codes prohibit cars from parking on any portion of the sidewalk. When parking in your driveway, always make sure no part of the vehicle extends to the sidewalk.    

Citations

You could receive a citation if your vehicle extends onto even part of the sidewalk. That applies even if it looks like people could still pass by.  

Usually, the dividing line between the driveway and the sidewalk is clear. To find your driveway’s exact street grade, width or curb cut information, San Francisco Public Works Map Viewer. 

Examples: legal parking in a driveway

Here are some images that show how to park legally in a driveway.  


Image shows a blue car parked correctly in a driveway because it does not block any part of the sidewalk. A yellow arrow behind the car illustrates this.

This vehicle is parked correctly. The yellow arrow shows how the sidewalk where people could walk or pass with a wheelchair or scooter is clear. 

Examples: illegal parking in a driveway

The photo below shows an example of illegal parking. The car is parked on the sidewalk even though you might think people can still get by.  


Image shows a gray car parked illegally in a driveway because the car goes over part of the sidewalk, illustrated by a yellow arrow beside the car.

This vehicle extends over the sidewalk (shown by the yellow arrow). 

Here are some examples of illegal parking where the violation is more obvious. These cases clearly make it unsafe or even impossible for people to get by.  


Image shows a vehicle completely blocking the sidewalk, which is made clear by a yellow arrow near the car.

This vehicle is completely blocking the sidewalk (shown by the yellow arrow). People walking or rolling would have to go into the street to pass. 


Image shows a vehicle parked entirely on a sidewalk, demonstrated by a yellow arrow drawn behind the car.

This image shows another violation of the law. The vehicle blocks the sidewalk (defined by yellow arrow).

Do some of these images make you realize your vehicle has been parked on the sidewalk?  

You might want to try parking on the street in front of your driveway instead. We'll share how to do this legally.  

How to park in front of your driveway

Blocking a driveway is illegal according to state law. However, San Francisco allows the blocking of a driveway with restrictions. For information on avoiding parking tickets, read our blog on How to Park Legally in San Francisco | SFMTA.

Understanding the "curb cut"

A “curb cut” is where the curb lowers from sidewalk level down to street level.  

The image below provides an example. 


Image shows a vehicle parked legally alongside a "curb cut" because it does not block the sidewalk, shown by a yellow arrow along the curb cut.

The ”curb cut,” defined by the yellow arrow, shows where this driveway begins. This vehicle is parked correctly because it does not extend over the sidewalk.

Parking across your driveway

The “curb cut,” defined by the yellow arrow, shows where this driveway begins. This vehicle is parked correctly because it does not extend over the sidewalk. 

"Curb cut" parking requirements

In San Francisco, you can park next to (parallel to) the “curb cut” of your driveway if:  

  • Your building has only one or two units  
  • Your vehicle’s license plate is registered to the address  
  • Your vehicle does not block pedestrian walkways  
  • You follow other local parking regulations (for example, street cleaning)  
  • Your driveway is not within the “daylighting zone.”  
    • A daylighting zone is within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk in the direction of approaching traffic. For more information on daylighting and the California Daylighting Law, visit our daylighting page and our recent blog about the daylighting law. 

Image shows a vehicle parked legally near a corner home, illustrated by a yellow arrow showing how the placement aligns with California's daylighting law.

For corner homes, be sure your car is parked at least 20 feet away from the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk. This is due to a new state daylighting law. 

Working together to keep sidewalks clear


Image shows several vehicles parked illegally over the sidewalk on a hilly street with a parent and child walking around them as they climb the hill.

Together, we can prevent situations like this one. Here, it’s difficult for people to use the city’s sidewalks.  

We hope these tips and images help you understand your options to park legally near your home.  

Keeping our streets safe and accessible is a top priority for the SFMTA and the city.

With your help, we can improve neighborhood safety and accessibility. We appreciate your support.  

To learn more about San Francisco’s parking rules, you can visit our:  

Comments are for the English version of this page.