Mid- to late December is often filled with holiday get-togethers, with friends and families flocking to each other’s homes for food, fun and maybe a beverage or two.
That can make for crowded neighborhood streets, as visitors park where they can. Those newcomers can take up spots residents frequently use.
Some people find it unsettling to have unfamiliar vehicles parked in front of their homes, particularly if they have concerns about the cars blocking their ability to get in and out of their own driveway or for emergency vehicles to get through.
But can you have a vehicle removed for parking in front of your home in Colorado?
A stranger parked in front of my house. Can I have them towed?
If they are following the posted rules, city ordinances and state laws and are parking on a public road, you probably can’t have an unfamiliar vehicle towed.
Some neighborhoods do require permits for parking on their streets. Homeowners associations can set rules for parking on private roads. And permits can be required in special circumstances where parking is scarce, such as neighborhoods around Colorado State University’s campus in Fort Collins.
What is not OK when parking on a street?
Colorado has a few additional restrictions for cars and trucks parking on the street that can lead to being towed. You can’t park a vehicle:
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Within 5 feet of a driveway, unless it’s for loading and unloading.
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On the sidewalk, grass strip or median.
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Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane.
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In a handicapped parking spot without a permit.
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Facing the wrong direction.
What should I do if my car was towed?
If your car is not where you left it, it may have been towed. Here’s what you should do:
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Look for a sign indicating which tow company may have towed your vehicle. Contact information should be on the sign.
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Call the tow company as soon as possible and ask for the current price of the tow, why you were towed and how you can get your vehicle.
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If your vehicle was towed from private residential property, see if you can make a smaller up-front payment to get your vehicle back sooner. In such cases, drivers can be granted “retrieval with payment owed,” which is an agreement with the towing company to release the vehicle for a payment of 15% of fees up front, not to exceed $60. The balance would be due at a later date.
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Is it legal for a stranger to park in front of my house in Colorado?
