Curb colors tell drivers where they may stop or park. Under California Vehicle Code 21458, red means no stopping, yellow is for loading passengers or freight, white is for passenger pick-up or mail, green is time-limited parking, and blue is disabled parking. Most states we checked ban parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Tap a curb color to see whether you can stop, load, or park, then check how far you must stay from a fire hydrant, crosswalk, stop sign, railroad crossing, or fire station in your state.
15 states, each checked against its vehicle code. More coming.
No stopping, standing, or parking
No stopping, standing, or parking at any time, whether the vehicle is attended or unattended. The one exception: a bus may stop in a red zone marked or signed as a bus zone. CVC 21458
Time limit: None. You may not stop at all, not even with the engine running.
| Do not park within | Distance |
|---|---|
| Fire hydrant | 15 feet |
| Crosswalk at an intersection | 20 feet |
| Stop sign or traffic signal (approach side) | Not set by this section |
| Railroad crossing (nearest rail) | Not set by this section |
| Fire station driveway | 15 feet |
Source: California Vehicle Code 22514 and 22500. You also may not park in front of a driveway, in an intersection, or on a crosswalk.
Too close. California requires at least 15 feet (Vehicle Code 22514 and 22500).
1. Your front bumper is 12 feet from a fire hydrant on an unpainted, unsigned curb. Can you park here?
2. The curb is painted red. You stay in the driver's seat with the engine running for 1 minute. Is that allowed?
3. Your front bumper is 25 feet from the crosswalk at the corner on an unpainted, unsigned curb. Can you park here?
4. The curb is white. You leave the car for 20 minutes to shop. Is that allowed?
5. The curb is green with a 15 MIN stencil. You park for 10 minutes during posted hours. Is that allowed?
Minimum distance from a fire hydrant in each state's vehicle code. Cities can post a different distance.
Choose one of the 15 states. The distances and quiz update to that state's vehicle code.
See what red, yellow, white, green, or blue paint means and whether you can stop, load, or park.
Pick a hydrant, crosswalk, stop sign, railroad crossing, or fire station and enter how many feet away you are.
Take the 'can I park here?' quiz, then print a one-page cheat sheet for the glove box.
In California, which defines curb colors in Vehicle Code 21458: red means no stopping, standing, or parking; yellow means stop only to load or unload passengers or freight; white means stop only to pick up or drop off passengers or mail; green means parking for a limited time; and blue means parking only for vehicles with a disabled placard or plates. Cities set the time limits and hours.
In California a yellow curb is a loading zone: you may stop only to load or unload passengers or freight, for the time the city sets. Many cities reserve yellow zones for commercial vehicles during posted hours, so read the curb stencil or nearby sign. In other states yellow paint often marks a no-parking area near a hydrant, corner, or crosswalk.
No. California's code says a red curb means no stopping, standing, or parking whether the vehicle is attended or unattended. The only exception is a bus stopping in a red zone marked as a bus zone.
15 feet in 10 of the 15 states we checked, including California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Ohio, Oregon, and Minnesota use 10 feet, Vermont 6 feet, and Iowa 5 feet. Cities can set a different distance with signs or paint, so follow what is posted.
No. California spells out all five colors in its vehicle code, while the parking sections we read for the other 14 states set distances, not color meanings, so cities usually decide what each color means. Red and yellow usually mean no parking, and posted signs always control.
Curb color meanings: California Vehicle Code 21458. Distances come from each state's stopping and parking statute, linked above and in the state picker, read on 2026-11-07. We list a state only after reading its code; several popular "by state" lists online disagree with the statutes. A plain-language guide, not legal advice. Cities can add stricter rules, and posted signs and curb paint always control. Check your city's parking ordinance before you rely on a distance.
Look up meter hours, permit zones, and overnight rules by city.
See what a fire hydrant, no-parking, or expired-meter ticket costs in major cities.
Write a contest letter if you were ticketed under a faded, missing, or unclear sign.
Count the accessible spaces a lot needs, including van-accessible spaces.
Check whether your car fits a curb gap and practice the steps.
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