Parking a Truck or Commercial Vehicle
This page outlines the New York City traffic rules that apply to commercial vehicles. For the purposes of parking, stopping and standing, a truck is considered a commercial vehicle. The full listing of regulations for parking, stopping and standing a vehicle in New York City can be found in Section 4-08 (pdf) of the New York City Traffic Rules.
Definition of a Commercial Vehicle
For the purposes of parking, standing and stopping, a commercial vehicle is defined as a vehicle that
- bears commercial plates, and
- is permanently altered by having all seats and seat fittings, except the front seats, removed to facilitate the transportation of property (for vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered), and
- displays the registrant's name and address permanently affixed in characters at least three inches high on both sides of the vehicle, with such display being in a color contrasting with that of the vehicle and placed approximately midway vertically on doors or side panels.
For the purposes other than parking, stopping and standing rules, a vehicle designed, maintained, or used primarily for the transportation of property or for the provision of commercial services and bearing commercial plates is considered a commercial vehicle.
Vehicles from other states or countries bearing commercial or equivalent registration plates from other states or countries shall not be deemed trucks or commercial vehicles unless they are permanently altered and marked as required in the above bulleted list.
Parking, Standing and Stopping Rules for Commercial Vehicles
Additional restrictions may apply to these rules, especially in midtown Manhattan. See the Additional parking restrictions for more information.
Parking of unaltered commercial vehicles prohibited
No person shall stand or park a vehicle with commercial plates in any location unless it has been permanently altered with all seats and rear seat fittings, except the front seats, removed except that for vehicles designed with a passenger cab and a cargo area separated by a partition, the seating capacity within the cab shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is properly altered, and has the name and address of the owner as shown on the registration certificate plainly marked on both sides of the vehicle in letters and numerals not less than three inches in height, in compliance with Section 10-127 of the Administrative Code and is also in compliance with the definition of commercial vehicle .
No standing except trucks loading and unloading
Where a posted sign reads "No Standing Except Trucks Loading and Unloading," no vehicle except a commercial vehicle, or a service vehicle as defined in the Section 4-01(b) (pdf) of the New York City Traffic Rules, may stand or park in that area, for the purpose of expeditiously making pickups, deliveries or service calls, and except that in the area from 35th St. to 41st St., Avenue of the Americas to 8th Avenue, inclusive, in the Borough of Manhattan between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, no vehicle except a truck as defined in Section 4-13(a) (pdf) may stand or park for the purpose of expeditiously making pickups, deliveries or service calls.
Angle standing or parking of commercial vehicles
Commercial vehicles standing or parking in authorized areas shall not be placed at an angle to the curb unless such positioning is essential for loading or unloading and then only for such period of time actually required for such purposes provided that a sufficient space shall be left clear for the passage of a vehicle between the angle parked vehicle and the center of the street, the opposite curb or a vehicle parked or standing thereat, whichever is closest. In no event shall an angle-parked vehicle occupy more than a parking lane, plus one traffic lane.
Parking of trailers
No person shall park any trailer or semi-trailer on any street or arterial highway, except while loading or unloading at off-street platforms, unless such trailer or semi-trailer is attached to a motor vehicle capable of towing it. Notwithstanding these provisions, where posted signs permit, a trailer or semi-trailer may park while unattached to a motor vehicle capable of towing it on streets in industrial zoned property as defined in the Zoning Resolution . Such trailers or semi-trailers may park for the length of time indicated on the posted signs. An owner of a trailer or semi-trailer parked pursuant to this provision shall protect the streets from damage that may be caused by parking the unattached trailer. All doors located on such trailers or semi-trailers must be locked while the trailers are parked.
Street storage of commercial vehicles prohibited
When parking is not otherwise restricted, no person shall park a commercial vehicle in any area, including a residential area, in excess of three hours.
Nighttime parking of commercial vehicles prohibited
No person shall park a commercial vehicle on a residential street, between the hours of 9 pm and 5 am. In the case when a commercial vehicle is parked in violation of this rule, the burden of proof is placed on the person who received the summons, to prove that he or she was actively engaged in business at the time the summons was issued at a premises located within three City blocks of where the summons was issued. This paragraph shall not apply to vehicles owned or operated by gas or oil heat suppliers or gas or oil heat systems maintenance companies, the agents or employees thereof, or any public utility.
Vehicles equipped with platform lifts
Commercial vehicle may not be parked on any City street with a platform lift set in a lowered position while the vehicle is unattended.
Double Parking
Under the New York City Traffic Rules, double parking is when the driver of a vehicle stands or parks that vehicle on the roadway side of another vehicle that is stopped, standing, or parked at the curb.
In most situations, a driver may stand a commercial vehicle alongside a vehicle parked at the curb at such locations and during such hours that stopping, standing, or parking is not prohibited, while expeditiously making pickups, deliveries or service calls, provided that (1) there is no unoccupied curb space within 100 feet on either side of the street that can be used for standing, and (2) that the standing is in compliance instructions from police officers and flagpersons.
Parking and Standing Near Bicycle Lanes
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, including trucks or commercial vehicles, within a designated bicycle lane. It is illegal and subject to a fine. A person may stand a commercial vehicle along the roadway side of a bicycle lane provided it meets the criteria set forth in § 4-08 (f) (1) of the New York City Traffic Rules.
Drivers must not drive a motor vehicle on or across a designated buffer zone, except when it is reasonable and necessary to enter or leave a legal curbside parking space or driveway. Learn more about buffer zones in § 4-12 (s) (1) (2) of the New York City Traffic Rules
Parking restricted in limited truck zones
No operator of a truck shall stop, stand or park his/her vehicle upon any streets designated as "Limited Truck Zones," except for the purpose of making a delivery, loading or servicing within said zone, and except as otherwise provided in Section 4-13(d)(3) of the New York City Traffic Rules (pdf).
Additional Parking Restrictions
Special Midtown Manhattan Rules
The two rules below apply in Manhattan from 14th to 60th Streets, and from First to Twelfth Avenues, all inclusive. They are in effect between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm daily, except Sundays. There may be different restrictions on particular blocks, check carefully.
Standing time limit
No driver shall stand a commercial vehicle for period of more than three hours unless otherwise posted. A commercial vehicle not being used for expeditious pickups, deliveries or service calls counts as a parked vehicle subject to the parking rules applicable at that particular location.
Method of Parking
From 7 am to 7 pm daily, except Sundays, commercial vehicles that are stopping, standing, or parking must do so parallel and no more than 12 inches from the curb, and cannot occupy more than ten feet of roadway space from the nearest curb, and no truck or commercial vehicle may backed in at an angle to the curb.
Parking in Garment District restricted to trucks and vans
Notwithstanding any provisions of these rules to the contrary, no vehicles except trucks and vans bearing commercial plates shall stand at the curb for the purpose of expeditiously loading and unloading between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, daily, including Sundays, from 35th Street to 41st Street, between Avenue of the Americas and Eighth Avenue, all inclusive, in the Borough of Manhattan. For the purpose of this paragraph (4), passenger vehicles or station wagons bearing commercial plates shall not be deemed trucks or vans.