Columbia Stopping, standing or parking prohibited ordinance (§ 14-286)
Chapter 14: Motor Vehicles and Traffic · Article V. Stopping, Standing and Parking
In short: Drivers may not stop, stand or park on sidewalks, in intersections, on crosswalks, bridges or railroad tracks, or beside a parked car. No standing in front of driveways or within 15 feet of a hydrant except briefly for passengers; no parking within 50 feet of a rail crossing or at yellow curbs except while loading.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(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 of the street.
b. On the sidewalk, between a roadway and the property line, or other public property where no provision therefor has been made.
c. Within an intersection.
d. On a crosswalk.
e. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty (30) feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the traffic engineer indicates a different length 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.
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 fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant.
c. Within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
d. Within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
e. Within twenty (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 seventy-five (75) feet of such entrance (when properly sign posted).
f. At any place where official signs prohibit standing.
(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 fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
b. At any place where official signs prohibit parking.
c. Alongside of or adjacent to any curb when properly marked with official yellow paint.
(b) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under such person's control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 14-286
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.