Is it illegal to park a vehicle on a Portland street to wash or repair it? | Fact brief
Portland, Maine, Enforces New‑Year‑Old Rule That Bars Street Washing and Repairs
The City of Portland has long prohibited motorists from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle on a street when the principal purpose of the stop is to wash, grease, or repair the vehicle. The ordinance, codified in Chapter 28 of the city’s traffic and motor‑vehicle regulations, remains in effect today, and violations can lead to a $25 fine.
The regulation, first adopted in a 1997 amendment to a prior ordinance, specifically excludes emergencies. If a vehicle must be stopped for an emergency repair, the exception applies. Otherwise, parking a car solely for cleaning or maintenance on a public street is illegal. The ordinance also forbids street parking that is primarily intended for advertising, for displaying a vehicle that is up for sale, or for storing a vehicle for more than ten consecutive days.
Portland’s rule is not unique to the city. Similar restrictions exist in other Maine municipalities—including Biddeford, Lewiston, Rockland, and South Portland—generally following the same emergency‑repair exception.
City officials say the ordinance helps keep streets clear for traffic flow and public safety. While the code bars parking for a main purpose of vehicle maintenance, it does not prevent incidental cleaning or other short‑term care performed on a parked vehicle.
The enforcement of the rule falls to the Portland Police Department’s traffic division, which may issue citations for violations. The fine is set at $25, and the city’s code states that it applies regardless of whether the driver has a valid parking permit or is otherwise authorized to park in the area.
Residents who have parked their cars to clean or oil their vehicles on a street in recent months have reported being cited, prompting some to seek clarification from city officials. City code, however, remains clear: the prohibition applies only when the vehicle’s main purpose of the stop is the maintenance activity itself.
The ordinance’s wording and the accompanying enforcement policies underscore Portland’s ongoing commitment to managing street use, a priority that is echoed across the state’s other towns and cities.
