The City of Burien enforces parking laws on a citywide basis in an
effort to improve compliance with parking regulations. Parking may be
prohibited for safety reasons, such as near a crosswalk or areas
designated No Parking Any Time. There may be limits on the amount of
time a vehicle may park to support the needs of businesses, or parking
may be reserved for a special group, such as individuals with
disabilities.
When vehicles are parked in violation of a
parking regulation, a citation may be issued. All parking violations are
written into:
Burien Municipal Court
601 SW 149 St.
Burien, WA 98166
(206) 205-9200
Burien's parking enforcement objectives are to enhance public safety,
ease parking congestion, and promote business parking turnover
throughout the city by enforcing regulations.
Burien parking regulations may be found in the Burien Municipal Code, Chapter 10.15.
Abbreviations:
Burien Municipal Code (BMC)
Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Common Parking Violations
Here is a list of Burien’s most common parking violations. Click on the
violation type to see a description of the violation and the associated
fines.
Disabled Parking Violations
Monetary penalty for disability parking violations: $450
- Parking in a disabled zone without the required placard or disabled vehicle license plate. BMC 10.15.135(3).
- To make inaccessible, park in, or block the area with painted lines next to the disabled zone known as the access aisle.
This part of the reserved disabled zone is designed for a vehicle with a
wheelchair ramp to be able to lower the ramp and have room to maneuver
the wheelchair. BMC 10.15.135(2).
- Unauthorized
use of a disabled placard or disabled vehicle license plate. This means
the placard or plate was displayed in order to park in the disabled
zone by some person other than the individual to whom the permit is
issued and that the individual disabled person is not on the premises.
No person other than the registered individual may use the disabled
parking placard or disable vehicle license plate. BMC 10.15.135(1).
Improper
display of a disabled placard or disabled vehicle license plate. This
means the placard or plate was not fully displayed so that the full face
of the placard or license plate is visible, including the serial number
and expiration date of the license plate or placard. RCW
46.19.050(6).
Overtime Parking
Monetary penalty: $50
The
City Manager has the authority to prescribe time limits on the length
of time any vehicle may be parked on the street or public roadway (BMC 10.15.045(1)(a)(vii).
Typical time limits for Burien are 2-hour parking or 30-minute parking.
This means your parking privilege expires at the end of the time
prescribed on the posted sign and your vehicle must be moved or risk
being cited.
The purpose behind prescribing on-street parking
times is to preserve the availability of the limited commercial parking
within the Burien community as the city grows. This insures there will
be adequate opportunity for businesses to be accessed by its customers.
If a police officer or parking enforcement officer chalk marks your vehicle tire (BMC 10.15.130)
and returns after the prescribed time limit has expired and the vehicle
has not been moved, it can be cited for overtime parking BMC 10.15.045(1)(a)(vii).
Off-Street Parking for Residential Property
Penalty: Code Enforcement Action in accordance with Burien Municipal Code Chapter 1.15.
All
vehicle parking and storage must be in a garage, carport or on an
approved impervious surface. Any impervious surface used for vehicle
parking or storage must have direct and unobstructed driveway access.
Parking spaces for a single detached dwelling unit shall be adequately
sized and located to accommodate a standard-sized vehicle without the
vehicle extending into the public right-of-way or vehicular access
easement or tract.
Parking In or Too Close To a Crosswalk
Monetary penalty: $50
- No vehicle is permitted to park in a crosswalk. BMC 10.15.045(1)(a)(iv).
- No
vehicle is permitted to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk. This law
ensures that oncoming traffic, as well as the pedestrian, has full
visibility to ensure that the pedestrian may safely cross the street.
BMC 10.15.045(1)(B)(iii)
Parking on Residential Property
Penalty: Code Enforcement Action in accordance with Burien Municipal Code Chapter 1.15.
No
more than four motor vehicles shall be parked on a residential
lot. Each motor vehicle must be currently licensed and operable.
Exceptions:
- If
more than four licensed drivers reside at the same address, an
additional motor vehicle for each licensed driver over four may be
parked at that particular address; however, each licensed driver must
have that particular address on his or her license.
- Motor vehicles parked inside of a lawfully permitted and constructed building.
- Temporary
parking for a duration not to exceed 72 hours within a 30 day period
on an approved impervious surface or in a garage or carport pursuant
to BMC 19.20.100(10)(B).
- Apartment or other complex with an approved building and parking plan.
- Permitted construction areas.
- Motorcycles or mopeds.
Parking Prohibited By Sign
Monetary penalty: $50.
The
City of Burien uses signs to regulate parking on city streets. Some of
the most common violations for vehicles being cited where signs are
posted are as follows:
- No parking at any time.
This means that parking is not permitted under any circumstances, at
any time in this designated area. Most of the time, traffic visibility
and safety are the primary reasons for the restriction.
- Loading zone.
This parking zone is restricted for the loading and unloading of
products associated with local commercial businesses. However, it is
permissible to park briefly to pick up or drop off passengers, but the
vehicle must then be parked elsewhere.
- No parking on certain days.
This restriction may require that on certain days of the month, parking
in this zone is not allowed. Temporary no parking zones may be created
by the City of Burien for activities such as the Farmer’s Market, 4th of
July Parade, or construction projects.
24-hour Parking Violation
Monetary penalty: $50
No
vehicle may park on a Burien public street for a period exceeding 24
hours without being moved. If the vehicle is not moved within 24 hours,
it shall be considered a hazard, obstruction to traffic, or abandoned
and may be impounded pursuant to BMC 10.12.030 and BMC 10.15.080.
Vehicle Parked on the Wrong Side of the Roadway
Monetary penalty: $50
Every vehicle, when parallel parked, must park in the direction of the flow of traffic for that side of the street:
BMC
10.15.085(1) states that, “. . . every vehicle stopped or parked upon a
two-way roadway shall be so stopped or parked with the right-hand
wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or as
close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.”
Vehicle Posted For Sale
Monetary penalty: $50
No vehicle may be parked on a Burien public street with the purpose of displaying it for sale. BMC 10.15.100.
Disabled Parking
Disabled parking laws, qualification requirements, and fines are established by the Washington State Legislature under RCW 46.19.050
and have been adopted by the City of Burien (BMC 10.05.040, BMC
10.15.135). This law ensures parking is available for Burien’s disabled
residents and visitors. Disabled parking areas are reserved only for
those individual persons who have been issued a disabled parking placard or disabled vehicle license plate. Burien honors disabled placards and disabled vehicle license plates from all states.
Washington issues a disabled identification card for every person who receives a disabled placard or disabled vehicle license plate. The identification card must
be carried and made available for inspection when contacted by a police
officer or parking enforcement officer by the person who is parking in a
disabled zone:
Benefits for Individuals with Disabled Plates
- Park free of charge on all public streets in Washington where pay parking meters are established.
- Park
without time limits where time limits are posted on all public streets
in Washington. A city may impose no less than a 4-hour time limit on
disabled parking, but the restriction must be posted with a sign.