Can neighbors block me from parking in front of their house?
| Wednesday, Sep 15 2010 03:54 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Sep 15 2010 03:54 PM
Q: I live in central Bakersfield and parking in front of my home is limited since a lot of the homes do not have driveways. So when family is over, they must park in front of a neighbor's home because of lack of parking in front of my home.
However, I always get a nasty letter on my car warning not to park there again. Am I doing anything illegal when I park on the curb in front of my neighbor's home across from my home due to lack of space? I don't do it often but my neighbors seem to think that the street in front of their home is theirs.
-- Yuri Rodriguez
A: No, people cannot block others from parking in front of their home, officials have told us.
In the past readers have asked if people can block off the parking in front of their home and this was what we learned:
In the county of Kern, you can get a permit from the county Roads Department to temporarily close a road and block parking -- such as for a block party -- but all of the neighbors affected would have to sign a form agreeing to it.
There is no such permit available in the city of Bakersfield, meaning blocking people from parking in front of a home there is illegal.
