GENERALLY

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 25, art. V, div. 1

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-201 Fines.

Sec. 25-201. - Fines. (a) For the following violations, the parking fines, in addition to court costs, shall be as follows: (1) Meter violation .....$ 10.00 (2) Excessive overtime .....10.00 (3) Prohibited parking .....15.00 (4) Improper parking .....15.00 (5) Loading zone violation .....15.00 (6) No permit .....15.00 (7) Handicap space violation, see section 25-221 .....50.00 a. Second offense, 40 hours community service .....100.00 b. Third offense, 40 hours community service .....500.00 (8) Facing traffic .....15.00 (9) Parking on sidewalk .....15.00 (10) Parking on private property .....30.00 (11) Abandoned vehicle .....100.00 (12) Emergency lane violation .....50.00 a. Second offense .....100.00 b. Third offense .....500.00 (13) Partial payment parking .....50.00 (14) Other parking violations not listed .....15.00 (b) For each parking violation still outstanding seven days past the scheduled court date, a $10.00 penalty charge shall be assessed in addition to the normal fine and applicable court costs. (Ord. No. 82-486, § 14-224, 12-9-1982; Ord. No. 86-699, 7-8-1987; Ord. No. 87-285, 7-9-1987)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-202 Application of article.

Sec. 25-202. - Application of article. The provisions of this article prohibiting the stopping, standing or parking of a vehicle shall apply at all times or at those times specified in this article or as indicated on official signs, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device. The provisions of this article imposing a time limit on parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles in specified places or at specified times. (Code 1982, § 14-139)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-203 Signs and/or markings required.

Sec. 25-203. - Signs and/or markings required. Whenever by a provision of this article parking is prohibited or restored on any street, section of a street or in any municipal off-street parking facility, the mayor shall have the duty and is empowered to cause to be installed appropriate signs and/or markings on such street or part of the street giving notice. Markings are described but not limited to as follows: stop line markings, crosswalk markings, curb markings, or yellow or white pavement markings on areas of pavement that prohibit parking in the absence of curbs. No such regulations shall be effective unless such signs or markings are in place on any street, section of a street, or off-street municipal parking facility at the time of any alleged offense. (Code 1982, § 14-140; Ord. No. 88-631, 11-22-1988)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-204 Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places.

Sec. 25-204. - Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places. (a) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall: (1) Stop, stand or park a vehicle: a. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street; b. On a sidewalk; c. Within an intersection; d. On a crosswalk; e. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings; f. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic; g. Upon any bridge or other elevated structure, upon a highway or within a highway tunnel or beneath a highway viaduct; h. On any railroad tracks; i. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping. (2) Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers: a. In front of a public or private driveway; b. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; c. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection; d. Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway; e. Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of said entrance (when properly signposted); f. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking. (3) Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers: a. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail or railroad crossing; b. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking. (b) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful. (c) Penalties for violation of this section shall be as provided in section 25-201 of this Code and as may be further provided in Ala. Code § 32-5-312 (1975), as may be amended. (Ord. No. 10-607, § 1, 8-26-2010)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-205 Violations.

Sec. 25-205. - Violations. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this article, or to counsel or aid or abet any such violation or failure to comply. (Code 1982, § 14-141)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-206 Parking not to obstruct traffic.

Sec. 25-206. - Parking not to obstruct traffic. No person shall park any vehicle upon a street, other than an alley, in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of the roadway for free movement of vehicular traffic. (Code 1982, § 14-142)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-207 Bus stops.

Sec. 25-207. - Bus stops. The director of parking and public transit shall from time to time designate and establish places or stops for the stopping or parking of buses operating within the city, and such stops shall be plainly marked. It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle within the spaces designated as bus stops. (Code 1982, § 14-143)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-208 Unauthorized vehicles parking in designated stands.

Sec. 25-208. - Unauthorized vehicles parking in designated stands. It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle other than a bus, taxicab or for-hire automobile to stand or park in an officially designated bus, taxicab or for-hire automobile stand; except that the operator of any passenger vehicle may temporarily stop in any such stop or stand for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers. (Code 1982, § 14-145)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-209 Spaces for government vehicles.

Sec. 25-209. - Spaces for government vehicles. The director of parking and public transit is authorized to designate certain on-street and off-street parking spaces for official government-owned law enforcement vehicles, provided that unmarked law enforcement vehicles shall be subject to citations by meter enforcement personnel. (Code 1982, § 14-146)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-210 Parking or standing on railroad tracks.

Sec. 25-210. - Parking or standing on railroad tracks. It shall be unlawful for any person to leave standing or cause to be left standing any vehicle, motor or otherwise, upon or within 50 feet of any railroad track, spur railroad track or side railroad track within the city. (Code 1982, § 14-147)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-211 Obstructing alleyways prohibited.

Sec. 25-211. - Obstructing alleyways prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to park, place, cause to be placed, or leave unattended any automobile, vehicle, structure or obstacle which would prevent the free passage of emergency vehicles or personnel through any alley or alleyway. (Code 1982, § 14-148)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-212 Parking vehicles more than 20 feet in length.

Sec. 25-212. - Parking vehicles more than 20 feet in length. Motor vehicles more than 20 feet in length may be parked only on those streets on which parallel parking is allowed. This section shall not apply to any truck parked not longer than 30 minutes for the purpose of loading or unloading merchandise. (Code 1982, § 14-149)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-213 Parking on service drive or alley in public housing project.

Sec. 25-213. - Parking on service drive or alley in public housing project. It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle upon or along any service drive or alleyway in any public housing project within the city. (Code 1982, § 14-150)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-214 Parking at entrance to hotels, theaters, and bus stations.

Sec. 25-214. - Parking at entrance to hotels, theaters, and bus stations. It shall be unlawful to park any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle within 12½ feet on either side of the center of the entrance of any hotel, picture theater, theater or bus station in the city for more than five minutes. (Code 1982, § 14-151)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-215 Parallel and angle parking; manner of parking.

Sec. 25-215. - Parallel and angle parking; manner of parking. Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway where there are adjacent curbs shall be so stopped or parked with the righthand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within 18 inches of the righthand curb, and shall be so parked as to leave a space of at least three feet between such vehicle and any other vehicle parked on such street; except where signs are posted requiring bumper-to-bumper parking, vehicles shall park in such a manner so as to be as close as practical to adjacent vehicles. These provisions shall not apply in the following circumstances: (1) Upon one-way streets, vehicles may be parked with the lefthand wheels adjacent to and within 18 inches of the lefthand curb. (2) Upon any street which is officially designated and lined for angle parking, vehicles shall be parked at an angle parallel to the painted parking lines and markings, and at least three feet from any other vehicle parked on such street, and not more than 12 inches from the curb. (Code 1982, § 14-159)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-216 Parking for certain purposes.

Sec. 25-216. - Parking for certain purposes. It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the business of dealing in, selling or repairing automobiles, trucks, motor vehicles or other kinds of vehicles in his possession or under his control to allow them to be parked upon or along any of the streets or alleys of the city except when in actual use by such person. (Code 1982, § 14-160)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-217 Limited parking.

Sec. 25-217. - Limited parking. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any motor vehicle upon a street whenever such conduct has been proscribed by law or traffic control device. (b) A motor vehicle shall be permitted to stand in a designated pull-off bay for a maximum of 30 minutes for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or for unloading and delivery or pickup of articles, materials, or merchandise. This shall be called the 30-minute parking zone. (c) A commercial motor vehicle having the business or company clearly identified by markings visible on the outside of such vehicle shall be permitted to stop or stand in a designated pull-off bay for a period of time not exceeding 30 minutes for the purpose of unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of articles, materials or merchandise. (Code 1982, § 14-163; Ord. No. 97-291, § 1, 4-10-1997)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-218 Stopping or standing prohibited during certain hours on certain streets.

Sec. 25-218. - Stopping or standing prohibited during certain hours on certain streets. When signs are erected on any street or part of a street in each block giving notice, no person shall stop or stand a vehicle on any such street or part of a street in each block so designated between the hours specified by the signs. (Code 1982, § 14-164; Ord. No. 97-291, § 2, 4-10-1997)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-219 Loading and unloading trucks.

Sec. 25-219. - Loading and unloading trucks. It shall be unlawful for any person to park, load or unload any truck having a length greater than 22 feet in meter zone 1, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; however, where deliveries must be accepted from trucks longer than 22 feet during the business day, the director of parking and public transit is authorized to issue and place meter bags or traffic cones upon application and payment of fees, wherein two or more adjacent metered spaces may be reserved from 8:00 a.m.—12:00 noon, or 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. at the applicable hourly meter rate per metered space reserved. (Code 1982, § 14-165)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-220 Street cleaning.

Sec. 25-220. - Street cleaning. The director of parking and public transit is authorized to prohibit parking on any street when proper signs are posted giving notification, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. for street cleaning purposes. (Code 1982, § 14-166)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-221 Parking for disabled individuals.

Sec. 25-221. - Parking for disabled individuals. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "disabled individual" means any person having a physical impairment or permanent mental impairment which limits mobility to the extent that the individual would have difficulty safely walking alone a distance of 50 feet or more. (b) Beginning with the implementation of the staggered system of motor vehicle license plate registration, any person who submits to the judge of probate, license commission or other issuing authority medical proof satisfactory to the commissioner of revenue that he is a disabled individual shall be issued either a distinctive license plate or a decal and a special identification placard displaying the international system of access, thereby designating the driver of the vehicle or the passenger as being a disabled person. The distinctive license plates, decals and placards shall be prepared by the commissioner of revenue and shall be issued in the same manner as motor vehicle license plates. (c) The disabled individual to whom valid distinctive license plates and/or decals or placards are issued shall be allowed to park for unlimited periods in parking zones designated for disabled persons; however, such disabled persons shall pay parking fees the same as any other person. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to zones where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited to all vehicles, or zones which are reserved for special types of vehicles; nor will these provisions apply where there is a local ordinance prohibiting parking during heavy traffic periods during morning, afternoon or evening rush hours, or where parking would clearly present a traffic hazard. In designated disabled loading zones, disabled persons shall be limited to one-hour parking, as these loading zones are not intended for unlimited parking usage. (d) It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a disabled individual to willfully and falsely represent himself as a disabled person to obtain the distinctive license plate and/or decal or placard or to misuse or abuse the parking privilege protected by this section, or to own a vehicle bearing distinctive license plate and/or decals when not entitled to do so under the provisions of this section. (e) It shall be unlawful for any person to park or allow to be parked any vehicle in any zone designated for "handicap only" or "disabled only" parking, not bearing the distinctive license plate and/or decal or placard. It shall also be unlawful for any person to park or allow to be parked any vehicle or allow the placement of any material or other equipment which would block an access ramp or curb cut. (f) Any automobile unlawfully occupying a parking zone designated for disabled or handicapped persons may be towed away at the owner's expense. (Ord. No. 94-337, §§ 1—6, 5-12-1994)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-222 Parking in emergency lanes.

Sec. 25-222. - Parking in emergency lanes. (a) As used in this section, the following words and phrases will have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Emergency lane means a part of a public access area which is designed to provide clear and unobstructed access to emergency vehicles, equipment and personnel to and from all 30,000 square feet and above mercantile occupancies adjacent to or served by such public access area. Emergency lanes shall be a minimum of 60 feet in length and 20 feet in width and shall be located in front of or adjacent to each public entrance to such occupancies and structures. Public access area means any publicly owned property or any privately owned property provided for the general public for the movement or parking of vehicles in connection with a shopping center or publicly owned structures used for assembly or educational purposes. (b) No parking shall be permitted at any time on any emergency lane, and no parking shall be permitted at any location which would prevent access to any emergency lane by any emergency response equipment. (c) No person shall stop, let stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, on any emergency lane at any time; and no owner, manager or tenant of any premises shall permit any customer or visitor to stop, let stand or park any unoccupied vehicle on any part of any emergency lane at any time. Notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of this subsection, a person may stop a vehicle temporarily in an emergency lane for the limited purpose of allowing passengers on the vehicle to disembark or allowing persons waiting on the vehicle to board; and a person may stop, let stand or park a commercial vehicle temporarily, but in no event for a period of time exceeding one hour, in an emergency lane for the limited purpose of: (1) Waiting for passengers to return to the vehicle from the public access area; (2) Performing commercial pickups or deliveries within the public access area which require only a single trip between the public access area and the subject vehicle, or which, for security or other compelling reasons, cannot be completed using standard parking facilities or loading bays; so long as the commercial vehicle is occupied by a person properly licensed and authorized to operate and move the vehicle at all times during which the limited purposes identified in this sentence are being accomplished; however, no exception provided in this sentence shall apply within any area or zone identified in subsection (c) of this section or excuse noncompliance with or violation of such subsection. (d) The property owner of any property subject to the emergency lane requirements of this section shall mark each emergency lane with red painted curbs or where curbs are absent, with a red painted six-inch-wide lane line along the entire length of the emergency lane to warn people against blocking the lane. The owner of the area where an emergency lane is located shall also post appropriate signs, in words and dimensions as indicated on exhibit A attached to Ordinance No. 95-429, indicating that the emergency lane is an emergency lane, and indicating that no parking is permitted on the emergency lane. The owner shall erect one such sign for every 50 feet of distance along the curb adjacent to the emergency lane or, where curbs are absent, adjacent to the red painted lane line. Signs shall be posted so that the bottom edge of the sign is not less than 42 inches from the ground or more than seven feet from the ground. Each sign shall be maintained in a good state of repair by the property owner. (e) No person shall stop, let stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not: (1) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or within an area clearly marked with red painted curbs, spanning 30 feet along the curb of the public parking area by every fire hydrant; or (2) Within any zone, not less than 30 feet in length, designated by official signs denoting "No parking—standpipe or sprinkler system connections," as indicated on exhibit B attached to Ordinance No. 95-429, and further designated with red painted curbs. The owner of the area or property where a standpipe or sprinkler system connection is located shall post appropriate signs indicating that no parking is permitted in the zone. (Ord. No. 95-429, §§ 1—5, 6-22-1995; Ord. No. 98-288, 4-7-1998)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-223 Parking on private property.

Sec. 25-223. - Parking on private property. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave or cause to be parked or left any automobile or other motor vehicle on the premises of another after having been warned not to do so by word of mouth or sign or otherwise, but this section shall not apply to employees of the city in the discharge of their official duties. (b) The presence of an unattended automobile or other motor vehicle on the premises of one who is not the owner or in control of such automobile or other motor vehicle shall raise a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of the automobile or other motor vehicle parked or left or caused to be parked or left the automobile or other motor vehicle on such premises, and the burden of proof shall be upon the registered owner to show otherwise. (c) The police department or any member of the police department or a member of the department of parking and public transit is authorized and directed to issue a citation to any respective automobile or any driver of that automobile, that is otherwise violating this section on request of the owner, operator of the premises where the violation is occurring. (Ord. No. 83-325, §§ 1, 2, 4, 9-22-1983)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25TRVE_ARTVSTSTPA_DIV1GEFetched: 11/6/2026