Parking Regulations

The City of Boynton Beach has adopted updated parking regulations under Chapter 14. Ordinance No. 25-018 amends Section 14-5 of the City Code, entitled “Stopping, standing, parking, or storage prohibited in specified places.” The ordinance was adopted to clarify and modernize parking regulations related to public safety, traffic flow, and neighborhood conditions, and it becomes effective February 1, 2026.

The new parking ordinance updates are as follows:

  • A vehicle cannot be parked in a yard (whether it is front or back), a swale or on the street.
  • Vehicles can be parked in your driveway and on a driveway apron, if it is not blocking a sidewalk.

Exception to the ordinance:

  • This provision does not apply to an "open house" or other special or social event in areas where temporary parking is permitted by the host or neighbors and is parked in a manner that does not obstruct traffic flow. Temporary parking of vehicles in a yard is permitted for social or other events held at a residence, provided such parking shall not exceed twelve (12) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period.
  • Although not mentioned in the ordinance, these are other exceptions: If routine maintenance is being done to your driveway, you may park your vehicle elsewhere temporarily. Or if construction/work is being performed, after the work is done, the vehicle should be parked properly in a timely manner.

Ordinance language regarding parking in yards
Ordinance No. 25-018 does not define the term “yard.” Because the ordinance does not define the term “yard,” it is given its plain and ordinary meaning as commonly understood. Section 14-5(4), as amended, prohibits stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle on the public right-of-way or on a public or private yard, swale, or easement adjacent to a paved or unpaved road or street. The ordinance is directed at parking on grassed or unimproved areas in proximity to roadways and does not establish a general prohibition applicable to all areas of private property.

Authority to regulate parking on private property
The City’s authority under Section 14-5 is exercised in connection with areas that affect or relate to the public realm, including the public right-of-way and adjacent areas where vehicle parking may impact traffic safety, drainage, or neighborhood conditions. The ordinance does not assert regulatory authority over vehicle placement on private property that is wholly unrelated to those concerns.

Use of the term “yard” for enforcement purposes
Because the Code does not define “yard” for purposes of Section 14-5, enforcement is not based on lot-line distinctions (such as front, side, or rear yard). Rather, enforcement focuses on whether a vehicle is parked on grass or a similar unimproved surface in an area that is adjacent to a roadway and visible from a public right-of-way or otherwise lawfully observable by Code Enforcement personnel.

Visibility and scope of enforcement
Enforcement under Section 14-5 is limited to conditions that are visible from the public right-of-way or from locations where Code Enforcement officers are legally permitted to observe the property. The ordinance does not authorize entry onto private property or enforcement based on conditions that are not lawfully observable. 

Exceptions
The only exceptions expressly stated in the ordinance relate to temporary parking in yards for social or special events at a residence, subject to time limitations, and excluding short-term rentals. Other situations sometimes referenced, such as construction activity or driveway maintenance, are not codified exceptions within Ordinance No. 25-018.

Enforcement process and penalties
Ordinance No. 25-018 does not amend existing enforcement procedures. Enforcement processes, including notice, compliance periods, and appeal rights, are governed by other applicable provisions of the City Code and established Code Enforcement procedures. If a citation is issued for a parking violation under the City Code, the associated civil fine is $25.

Vehicles parked in fenced backyards
If a vehicle is parked entirely within a fenced backyard on private property, is not visible from the public right-of-way or any other lawful vantage point, and is not adjacent to a road or street, such a condition would not fall within the scope of Section 14-5 as amended.

🚗 General Understanding

🚧 Parking Restrictions

🕒 Signage

Additional tips and information about vehicle parking:

  • A current license plate must be always displayed on a vehicle with the updated registration sticker.
  • All inoperable vehicles are prohibited — for example, those with flat tires, missing license plates, or broken windows.
  • Oversized trucks cannot be parked for a longer period than fifteen (15) minutes in any area of the City zoned for residential use or along any street that faces a residential area.
  • What is a swale? A swale is any area within the right-of-way which is not either a bike path, sidewalk, or roadway. Right-of-way is a type of easement on your property that is owned by someone else, like the City or a utility company. Make sure your parked vehicles aren’t blocking sidewalks and roads.

right of way swale