Driveway Red Zones

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SFMTA.com/RedZone

Example of a painted driveway red zone.

Driveway red zones are for added clearance for vehicles turning into or out of a garage. They may be painted on the curb next to a driveway or within the driveway itself, depending on the exact length of available curb. 

Please note: it is illegal to park in any red curb and vehicles parked in red curb are subject to towing and citation.   

Requirements

Please be aware that application fees are non-refundable and review the following requirements before you apply: 

  1. Photos showing that the garage can fit a vehicle with clearance on both sides and can be used for parking a car. For commercial applicants please reach out to us first, we may waive this requirement. 

  1. The curb next to the driveway must be undamaged and paintable.  

  1. The property must have a properly constructed standard-sized driveway with curb cuts.  Non-conforming/oversized driveways may result in a denial.

  1. If your property is governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA), the applicant must contact the HOA and inform it of the proposed change.

  1. If the proposed red curb will cross the neighbor's property line, the applicant is responsible for contacting the impacted neighbor so they can have a chance to comment. In some cases, the neighbor must be in agreement prior to the red curb being approved or installed.

  2. Carports must be a minimum of 15 feet long.  

Considerations   

Exact amount of available curb length is key in determining whether Driveway Red Zones can be installed and what part of the curb or driveway can be painted in order to minimize the loss of street parking. 

  1. If the curb next to your driveway is 15 to 19 feet long, a Driveway Red Zone cannot be installed on top of the curb as the remaining curb would be too small for a standard size vehicle to park in. However, you may qualify for paint inside of the driveway instead of next to it.

  2. If the space next to your driveway is less than 15 feet, which is considered too small to fit a standard sized vehicle you may qualify for a Driveway Red Zone next to your driveway on top of the curb as it isn't removing a parking space. 

  3. If the space next to your driveway is more than 19 feet, you may qualify for a Driveway Red Zone next to your driveway on top of the curb as it isn't removing a parking space.

Diagram of a Driveway Zone

Fees and the Approval Process

Driveway red zones require application and installation fees for unmetered areas and streets with Pay or Permit regulations. There are no driveway red zone fees for buildings fronted by parking meters. Because application fees are non-refundable, please carefully assess your driveway prior to applying.   

Each site is surveyed within 60 days after the application fee is paid. The Surveyor will make a determination and send it back to the applicant along with the paint fee invoice if the application is approved.  Installation fees are due only when and if the application has been approved. Please read the details of the approval notice carefully and ask questions if the requirements are unclear. The survey is valid for 6 months from the completion date. After this period, a new application fee will be required.  

  Application Fee Paint Fee
Red Zone $411 for one or two adjacent driveways $352 per each 6-foot increment

Apply

To apply for a driveway red zone please visit the Curb Zone Application Webpage.

Contact Information
Color Curb team
415.646.2599