The Enquirer’s Just Askin’ series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, not even Google.
Question: Can my neighbor park in front of my house?
Summer means it’s time for graduation parties, cookouts, and bonfires. If your neighbor throws a party, your street may be filled with cars all the way down the road. How do you feel about mysterious cars parking in front of your house?
Your neighbor is under no legal obligation to park on or in front of their own property. According to Ohio state law, cars can be parked in front of any home as long as there are no other parking restrictions, such as:
If the vehicle blocks a fire hydrant
How long you can park in front of your neighbor’s house in Cincinnati
According to previous Enquirer reporting, Cincinnati Municipal Code 508-12 states that any registered and properly tagged passenger vehicle can legally park on any curb, including in front of your home, for up to 24 hours, as long as the curb does not have parking restrictions in place.
However, parking is not permitted in residential spaces for commercial vehicles, vehicles for sale and trailers that are not actively loading or unloading.
Columbus law prevents your neighbor from parking in front of your house for too long
Columbus has restrictions on residential street parking. According to Columbus city code chapter 2151.09, it is illegal for the same car to be parked in the same spot on the road for over 72 hours. It must be moved at least 75 feet away after three days.
If your neighbor hasn’t moved their car on the road in three days, this is where you can file a complaint with the city’s 311 service, or you can contact the Division of Parking Services.
Here’s where you can’t park your car in Ohio
Here is a general list of places you can’t park in Ohio, according to the Ohio Revised Code:
In front of a public or private driveway.
Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
Within 30 feet of, and upon the approach to, any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control device.
Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
Within 20 feet of a driveway entrance to any fire station and, on the side of the street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within 75 feet of the entrance when it is properly posted with signs
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
Alongside any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
Upon any bridge or elevated structure on a highway.
At any place where signs prohibit stopping.
Within one foot of another parked vehicle.
On the roadway portion of a freeway, expressway, or thruway.
The only instance where parking in these areas is allowed is when it’s to “avoid conflict with other traffic” or if you’re instructed to by law enforcement or a traffic control device, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.68.
Nathan Hart contributed to reporting.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Can my neighbor park in front of my house? How long can a car stay on the road?