Parking Basics

Improper parking on public streets can lead to a citation. Fargo city ordinances prohibit stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in the following places:

on or across a sidewalk.
within an intersection.
in front of a public or private driveway, including parking to encroach upon the radius of the driveway.
within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
on a crosswalk.
within 10 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
in front of or in any alley (you may stop in an alley to load or unload freight or merchandise).
within 15 feet of a railroad crossing.
within 15 feet of a stop sign or traffic light.

Commercial vehicles are allowed to double park for the purpose of loading or unloading freight, only as long as absolutely necessary, but not between 4 and 6 p.m. (8-1005)

To report a parking problem on a public street or in an alley, call the Police Department at 701-235-4493.

Loading zones

Loading zones are designated exclusively to facilitate loading and unloading of merchandise but are only to be used for as long as is necessary. There are several restrictions on loading/unloading outlined in the Fargo Municipal Code (8-1005):

It is unlawful to load or unload freight or merchandise from a semi-trailer between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m. or between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m.
It is unlawful to load or unload freight or merchandise from a semi-trailer on all principal and minor arterial roadways.
It is unlawful to park or permit any vehicle to stand so that it is backed against the curb except when actually loading or unloading freight or merchandise.

Handicapped placards/plates

Handicapped placards and plates are valid only in marked handicapped parking areas. They are not valid in no parking or loading zones. Placards should be displayed by hanging it from the rear view mirror.

"Time zones"

Time zone parking is parking that is time-limited (ex., 90 minutes, 2 hours). Timed parking is enforced by the block with both sides of the street included. This means that you may park on any time-zone limited block (both sides included) only once per day.

"Time zone" parking is only in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, the time zone restrictions do not apply. Time zone restrictions also do not apply on City of Fargo holidays. (8-1006.)

The time zone starts when the vehicle is parked, not when a community service officer marks the tire. Vehicles do not have to be chalked to be monitored in time zones. City code specifically addresses "short moves" in 8-1006. When the allowed time specified by the time zone sign has elapsed and a vehicle is moved and parked again within the same block, the vehicle is considered to have remained stationary. Each 10-, 30-, 60-, 90-, or 120-minute period during which a vehicle is parked shall constitute a separate and additional violation of this section. Source: 1965 Rev. Ord. 8-1006, 1450 (1972, 2019 (1981), 3086 (1999).

Parking on private property

Parking in yards and on sidewalks generates many calls to Fargo City Hall. Here are some rules to keep in mind:

You may not park on grass or dirt.
The only acceptable parking spots in the front yard are on a private driveway or driveway approach.
Your vehicle may not block the sidewalk or extend into the street.
You may park in the side yard if your vehicle is on an all-weather surface (concrete, paving stones, asphalt, etc.).

You may receive a parking ticket if you are in violation of these ordinances. To report a parking problem on private property, e-mail or call the Inspections Department at inspections@cityoffargo.com or 701-241-1561. If you received a parking ticket from an inspector, you may appeal it using our form (as a Microsoft Word document or an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file) and bring or mail it to the Inspections Department with a copy of the ticket.