A “no parking” sign is a good way to make sure drivers follow the rules about parking in your area, and can help stop accidents, lessen traffic, and make the roads safer for everyone. However, you need permission to get a No Parking sign put up in front of your property as you cannot just put it up on the street without the city’s permit.

How to get a No Parking sign put up

If you don’t know the rules and procedures in your area, getting a No Parking sign put up can be confusing and time-consuming. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you put up a No Parking sign outside your house:

1. Research local laws and rules

Before you start the process of putting up a “no parking” sign, you should know what the local laws and rules are in your area. Use the information to figure out where you can put it.

Usually, it depends on where you want to put the “no parking” sign. If you put a No Parking sign by the road to discourage people from parking there, it would not be permissible because the street in front of your house is not your property. However, if you put a No Parking sign on your own driveway or private parking lot, that’s OK. But you would need to check local codes and laws.

2. Determine why you need the sign

Find out why you need a “Do not park here” or No Parking sign. Is it because people parked their cars in a dangerous place or in front of a fire hydrant? If you know what the problem is, you can make a strong case for why a “no parking” sign is needed.

Talk to your neighbors, local businesses, and community groups to see if they agree that a “no parking” sign would be a good idea.

3. Contact the government in your area

Reach out to your city or county government and tell them about your problems. Explain why you need a sign that says “Do not park here” and what the problem is.

Present any relevant information, like pictures or maps, to help your case.

If there is a public meeting about the no Parking sign, attend and speak in favor of it. You can also bring any neighbors or people from the community who agree with the idea.

4. Find the right organization to contact

To get a “no parking” sign put up, the first step is to find the right agency to call. Most of the time, the Department of Transportation or the public works department of the city or town is in charge of putting up street signs.

You can find these agencies’ contact information online or by calling the city or town hall in your area.

Once you know who is in charge of putting up street signs, you will need to ask them for it.

Usually, you can do this by filling out a form or writing a letter to the person or group responsible. Make sure to include the following information in your request:

• your name, address, and telephone number;
• the spot where you want the sign to go;
• a full explanation of why the sign is needed; and
• any important information, like how close it is to a school or if it has a busy sidewalk.

5. Fill out any appropriate forms

Your local government may ask you to fill out a request form or give them more information. Make sure you fill out all the forms and give all the information you are asked for on time.

In some situations, the agency may need supporting documentation or proof to back up your request for a “No Parking” sign.

This could include a map of the area, pictures of the spot, and any other information that helps explain why the sign is needed. Give as much information as you can to help support your request.

6. Wait for a response

Once you’ve asked for a “no parking” sign, you’ll have to wait for the agency to get back to you. In Philadelphia, for example, a Right-of-Way Unit reviewer will process your application.

This could take a few weeks or even a few months, depending on how many requests the agency has to process and how much money the agency has.

You should be patient and give the agency enough time to look over your request and decide what to do.

7. Follow up with government officials

Once you’ve sent in your request, check back with government officials to see if anything has changed. If there has been a delay, let them know how you feel and ask what you can do to speed things up.

Pay online using the payment center or by one of the other methods listed on the invoice for your temporary no parking sign.

Be ready to work with the agency to make sure your request is met as soon as possible. This could mean giving more information about the location or working with the agency to figure out where the sign should go.

8. Wait for the sign to be put up

Once you’ve given the agency all the information they need and they’ve agreed to your request, all you have to do is wait for the “No Parking” sign to be put up.

Depending on how busy the agency is and how much money it has, this process can take weeks or even months. Be patient and follow up as often as you need to so that your request doesn’t get forgotten.

Once you have the No Parking sign put up, make sure it is set in a place where people can see it and that it is well taken care of.

9. Monitor the situation

Once the sign is up, keep an eye on it to make sure it’s having the effect you want. If the problems still exist, you may need to take more steps to fix them.

If you see that drivers are not paying attention to the sign or that it can’t be seen from the road, you may need to ask for more signs or for the sign to be moved.

You can also work with the authorities to make sure the parking rules are followed, such as by telling the police about people who don’t follow them.

If someone parked in your zone during your permit dates, contact your local police district and request that the vehicle be issued a ticket and towed. Also, make sure nobody steals your sign.

Read also: how citizens get rid of stolen street signs

Legal requirements for No Parking signs

Consider the following legal requirements:

Size and placement of signs

“No parking” signs have to be a certain size and be put in a place where drivers can see them.

The sign should be put up at least 5 feet above the ground and near the spot where parking is not allowed.

Symbol and text

The parking signs must use the internationally recognized “no parking” symbol, which is a circle with a line through a parked car.

The sign must also have clear text that says “No Parking” or something similar such as “Do Not Park Here”.

Color and illumination

The “No Parking” signs must be reflective red and white, which makes them easy to see at night and in bad weather.

Regarding illumination, if a “do not park” sign is in a place where it is hard to see, it may be necessary to add more lights so that the sign is easy to see.

Duration

No parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.” or “No parking at any time” must be written on No Parking signs to tell people how long they can’t park.

The signs must also be obeyed by the local police. Drivers who park illegally may have to pay fines or face other punishments.

Cost and duration

The permit cost and duration depend on how you will use the parking space. It may also be affected by the location or size of the vehicle or equipment that you’re parking. The estimated cost of a parking sign permit is $25 to $50.

Read also: are landlords allowed to take away parking spaces?