Parking Regulations

For everyone who drives, parking can be an issue of some significance. That's why the State and the City have specific requirements about parking, regulations that help maintain safety for us all. Several sections of the City Code pertain to parking.

Examples of Parking Restrictions

  • In marked Disabled Zones on public or private property without a valid disabled placard or license plate
  • In a fire lane
  • On a sidewalk
  • Within an intersection
  • In a crosswalk
  • In front of a public or private driveway
  • Between the sidewalk and the street
  • In a loading zone, unless loading or unloading
  • At any place where official signs prohibit parking
  • Within 15' of a fire hydrant
  • In alleys, except for loading and unloading
  • Within 20' of a crosswalk at an intersection
  • Within 30' of the approach of any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control signal
  • Facing oncoming traffic
  • Facing backward in an angled parking meter stall

Blight & Clutter

These parking regulations help keep neighborhoods free from blight and clutter. For this purpose the law states that there is:

  • No parking on the grass of a private residence
  • No on-street parking of buses, trucks, tractors, trailers, semi trucks, or semi-trailers for longer than 30 minutes between 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
  • No on-street parking of buses or taxis except in a bus stop or taxi zone
  • No on-street parking of abandoned or junk vehicles
  • No parking of abandoned vehicles on private property
  • No parking on private property of partially dismantled, non-operating, wrecked or junked vehicles

Seasonal Parking Restrictions

Most drivers are also aware of seasonal parking restrictions. While we hope we don't have to activate it, the City has designated specific streets as Snow Emergency Routes. Streets designated as Snow Emergency Routes are easily identified by posted signs. During extreme winter weather, on-street parking is prohibited during a declared Snow Route Emergency in order to provide snow removal equipment easier access, and to provide access for public safety vehicles.

Other Types of Parking Restrictions

Parking in and around a school zone is especially important, due to the presence of heavy traffic and many pedestrians. Around most schools, parking is restricted during specific times on school days to allow buses and parents to drop off and pick up children. Also, in recognizing that nearby residents also need access to their property, we encourage anyone having parking problems near a school to work with the school principal and the City Traffic Engineer at 368-3842.

The Central Business District is the only section of Topeka with parking meters. We have more drivers who want to shop and work downtown than we have on-street parking spaces available. This is why we encourage parking turnover through the use of parking meters, time-limited parking, and block-parking zones. The enforcement of these policies gives everyone better access to parking. For additional information about these parking regulations, contact the parking office at 785-368-3931 or email parking@topeka.org.

Report Damaged Signs

If you would like to report a parking sign, or any traffic sign, that is faded, vandalized, damaged or is missing contact Traffic Signal Shop at 785-368-3803.