Parking distances by state
The minimum distances you must keep when parking, one of the most common topics on the written test.
Updated October 20, 2026
Do not park closer than
| State | Fire hydrant | Crosswalk at an intersection | STOP sign or signal | Railroad crossing | Fire station driveway | Wheels from the curb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | — | — |
| Arizona | 15 feet | 20 feet | — | 50 feet | — | — |
| Arkansas | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 18 inches |
| California | 15 feet | 20 feet | — | — | 15 feet | — |
| Colorado | 15 feet | — | 30 feet | 30 feet | — | 12 inches |
| District of Columbia | 10 feet | — | 25 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Florida | 15 feet | — | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Georgia | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 18 inches |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | 12 inches |
| Idaho | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | — |
| Illinois | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Indiana | 15 feet | — | — | — | — | — |
| Iowa | 5 feet | — | 10 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 18 inches |
| Kansas | 15 feet | — | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Maine | 10 feet | 15 feet | — | — | 15 feet | 18 inches |
| Michigan | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Minnesota | 10 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | — | 12 inches |
| Mississippi | 10 feet | 20 feet | — | 15 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Missouri | — | — | — | — | — | 18 inches |
| Montana | — | — | — | — | — | 18 inches |
| Nevada | 15 feet | 20 feet | — | 50 feet | 20 feet | 18 inches |
| New Hampshire | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | — |
| New Jersey | 10 feet | 25 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 6 inches |
| New York | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | — |
| North Carolina | 15 feet | — | — | — | 15 feet | — |
| North Dakota | 10 feet | 10 feet | 15 feet | 50 feet | — | 12 inches |
| Ohio | 10 feet | 20 feet | — | — | — | 12 inches |
| Oklahoma | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 18 inches |
| Oregon | 10 feet | 20 feet | — | 50 feet | 15 feet | 12 inches |
| Pennsylvania | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Rhode Island | 8 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| South Carolina | — | — | — | — | — | 18 inches |
| Utah | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Vermont | 6 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 20 feet | 12 inches |
| Virginia | 15 feet | — | — | 50 feet | 15 feet | 12 inches |
| West Virginia | 15 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | — | 18 inches |
| Wyoming | 15 feet | — | — | — | — | — |
States in the table: 37. A dash means we have not confirmed that rule in the handbook yet; states with no confirmed rules are not listed.
Local signs can be stricter
Cities may post stricter rules. A sign or painted curb always applies.
Where these numbers come from
Each value is the answer to a question in our state practice tests, and each of those questions is backed by a verbatim quote from the state's official driver handbook. Laws change: confirm with your state's handbook (linked on each state page) before you rely on a number.
Questions
It depends on the state; 15 feet is common. See the table for your state.