City Code

8. Parking Regulations

8.01 : General Parking Regulations.

It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle in any of the following places:

A. Upon a public sidewalk;

B. Upon any public street within four (4) feet of the radius point, taper point or the point on a curb or curbline at which such curb or curbline becomes part of a public or private curb cut of driveway, or between the two (2) such points existing with respect to a given curb cut or driveway;

C. Upon any public street within any intersection;

D. Upon any public street within ten (10) feet of any fire hydrant;

E. Upon any public street on any crosswalk;

F. Upon any public street within twenty (20) feet of a crosswalk at any intersection or within thirty (30) feet of an intersection at which there is no crosswalk;

G. Upon any public street within thirty (30) feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of the roadway;

H. Upon any public street within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of the railroad crossing;

I. Upon any public street within twenty (20) feet of a driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of such entrance when such restriction is properly signposted;

J. Upon any public street alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking may obstruct traffic;

K. Upon any public street on the roadway side of any such vehicle stopped or parked upon such street;

L. Upon any public street upon any bridge or other elevated structure;

M. Upon any public street at any place where official signs prohibit parking, standing or stopping;

N. Upon any boulevard, as defined in Section 6.04 herein, except when such parking, standing or stopping is authorized by the City Council;

O. In any public alley right-of-way other than temporary for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging any passenger or item; provided that any such parking, standing or stopping shall not be unlawful if such parking, standing or stopping is necessary to comply with any direction of a police officer or traffic-control device.

P. On any part of a "front yard", as that term is defined in subdivision 87 of section 10.02 of the City Code, except on a hard surfaced "parking space", as the term parking space is defined in subdivision 61 of section 10.02 of the City Code, or on a legally existing gravel surfaced parking space which was used for parking before November 10, 1975 or as allowed under Section 10.27, Subd. B. This prohibition against parking in the front yard except on a hard surfaced parking space shall not apply during the period that a snow emergency is in effect in the City of Mankato pursuant to section 8.06 of the City Code.

Q. Upon any public street within ten (10) feet of a Cluster Box Unit (CBU) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday. A CBU shall be defined as a delivery center for mail with a group of individually keyed mailboxes, a separate shared box for parcels and a slot for outgoing mail, serving a group of residences or businesses.

8.02 : Parallel Parking Regulations.

Except in such places where angle parking is specifically designated by curb marking or signposting it is unlawful for any person upon a public street, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle, except as follows:

A. Upon a two-way roadway having an adjacent curb, the vehicle shall be parked or stopped in such a manner that the wheels thereof on the right or passenger side are parallel with, and within twelve (12) inches of, the right-hand curb, and, in the event painted parking stall markings exist on the curb or the street, such vehicle shall be parked or stopped within such markings;

B. Upon a one-way roadway, having an adjacent curb, the vehicle shall be parked or stopped in such a manner that the wheels thereof on the right or passenger side are parallel with, and within twelve (12) inches of, the left-hand curb.

8.03 : Angle Parking Regulations.

In any place upon a public street or in a public parking facility where angle parking is designated by curb marking or signposting, it is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle, except with the front wheel thereof touching the curb within any parking stall lines painted on the curb or street.

8.04 : Street Without Curb; Parking Regulations.

It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle upon any street not having a curb unless such vehicle is stopped or parked parallel with on the extreme right portion of the pavement or the improved or main-traveled portion of the street.

8.05 : Unmetered Street Parking Regulations.

Parking in any parking stall upon any public street not controlled by a parking meter shall be limited as follows:

1.000 Continuous Parking.
It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle in a given place upon any public street for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) continuous hours.
2.000 Limited Parking Zones.
The City Manager may, when authorized by the City Council, designate any street, or any portion thereof as a five (5) minute, ten (10) minute, fifteen (15) minute, thirty (30) minute, one (1) hour, two (2) hour, four (4) hour, six (6) hour or eight (8) hour limited parking zone, and shall cause any such zone to be designated by signposting. It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle in any limited parking zone for a continuous period of time in excess of the period of time specified in the signposting of such zone between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any weekday.The limited parking zones on Riverfront Drive and on Hickory Street adjacent to the Midwest Wireless Civic Center shall be enforceable at any time. Vehicles moved within or from one limited parking zone to another, must be moved at least one hundred (100) yards from the previous location.
8.06 : Emergency Parking Regulations.


1.000 Definitions.
For purposes of this section, the term "emergency" shall mean any condition upon any public street, including the presence of snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice or other phenomenon, which condition creates or is likely to create any hazardous road condition or impedes or is likely to impede the free movement of traffic, when such condition shall have been declared by the City Manager, or a designated agent of the City Manager.
2.000 Declaration.
Upon the existence of an emergency as defined herein, the City Manager, or a designated agent of the City Manager may, in the discretion of such person, declare that an emergency exists, whereupon such person shall notify any radio or television station having facilities within or near the City, and request that such media cooperate with the City in giving notice of such emergency to the community. The emergency regulations set forth below shall become effective two (2) hours after such notice has been given by the City to such news media.
3.000 Unlawful Acts.
A. During an emergency, it is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow, or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle upon any street until the street has been completely plowed from curb to curb.

Editor's Note - An ordinance enacted February 9, 1998, deleted Subsection B of Subdivision 3 of Section 8.06. Said subsection pertained to the leaving or parking of vehicles during an emergency on streets other than snow emergency routes or streets regulated by parking meters on specific days of the month and was derived from an ordinance of June 13, 1977; and an ordinance of January 22, 1979, Section 5.

8.065 : Seasonal No Parking.

1.000 When Parking is Prohibited.

During the period from November 1st to April 1st of each year, the City Manager is authorized to enforce no parking on streets or sides of streets in areas where signs indicating "No Parking November 1 to April 1" are permanently posted year around. Any changes to streets involved shall be done by Council resolution. 

2.000 Unlawful Acts.
It shall be unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any vehicle upon any public street where no parking signs have been erected pursuant to subdivision 1 of this section.
8.07 : Temporary Restricted Parking

It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of a vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any vehicle upon a public street where temporary restricted parking signs have been posted. Vehicles left in areas which have been posted as temporary restricted parking for more than twelve (12) hours after the posting may be towed.

8.08 : Truck Parking.

1.000 Detached Trailer.
It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a semitrailer, or as the registered owner of a semitrailer, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, a semitrailer, not attached to a truck or truck tractor upon any public street, municipally owned parking lot or parking facility, or other public property.
2.000 Residential District.
It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a semitrailer or as the registered owner of a semitrailer, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such semitrailer, whether or not attached to a truck tractor, within any area zoned as a residential district, except for the purpose of an while engaged in the loading or unloading of such semitrailer.
3.000 Meter Restrictions.
It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, having a gross weight, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 168, in excess of seven thousand (7,000) pounds, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, loading or unloading any such vehicle within any metered parking space on any public street or in any municipally owned parking facility between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any weekday, Monday through Friday, inclusive; except for a period of not more than thirty (30) minutes for the purpose of and while engaged in loading or unloading such vehicle.
8.09 : Loading Zone.

1.000 Creation.
The City Council may designate any portion of any public street as a loading zone for the purpose of loading or unloading merchandise from a vehicle utilized in the transport or delivery of any ware, goods or commodity. Any vehicle employed for such purpose shall display thereon the name of the company employing such vehicle, either by means of a permanent marking on such vehicle, or by means of a sign containing the word "Delivery", and the name of such company, which sign shall be placed near the front windshield and on the curbside of the vehicle.
2.000 Public Loading Zone.

Upon the creation by the City Council of any public loading zone, the City Manager shall cause such loading zone to be designated and signposted as such by means of one sign, consisting of green lettering and a green border upon a white background, and containing the words "No Parking, Commercial Loading Zone," along with green paint along the curb. Vehicles parking in loading zones will be limited to 10 minutes of inactivity during continuous active loading/unloading and must have vehicle hazard lights flashing. It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, such vehicle in any such designated public loading zone unless such vehicle is employed for the purpose of and engaged in the loading or unloading of merchandise or items described in subdivision 1 herein.

8.10 : Lots and Ramps.

1.000 Parking Restrictions.
The City Council may limit or restrict the size, class or type of vehicle permitted to be parked within any municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility, the hours of parking in any such facility or the permitted manner by which any vehicle may be parked therein, provided that any such limitation or restriction shall be signposted in the area to which the limitation or restriction shall apply.
2.000 Parking Charges.
Parking charges or rates for parking in any municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility shall be prescribed by the City Manager in conformance with existing ordinances and regulations, and may vary between locations.
3.000 Unlawful Acts.
It is unlawful for:

A. Any person to drive any vehicle in a municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility in a direction opposite that direction designated by one-way signs or arrows;

B. Any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in any municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility, any such vehicle backed into any parking stall or space or contrary to any parking restriction or limitation signposted therein;

C. Any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, any such vehicle in any municipally owned parking lot or ramp, which parking lot or ramp is not regulated by parking meter devices, unless, upon exit therefrom, payment of any parking charge due is made according to posted parking rates.

8.11 : Moving; Impounding Vehicles.

1.000 Moving Attended Vehicle.
In the event any police or enforcement officer finds any attended vehicle standing upon any street, alley or municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility in violation of any provision of chapter 6, 7, or 8 of the City Code, such officer is hereby authorized to move such vehicle or require the driver of other person having charge of such vehicle to move such vehicle to a position in compliance with the law.
2.000 Impounding Unattended Vehicle.
In the event a police or enforcement officer finds any unattended vehicle upon any street, alley or municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility in violation of any provision of chapter 6, 7, or 8 of the City Code, such officer is hereby authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle to a position in compliance with the law, and in the event any charge shall be placed against such vehicle for the cost of such removal or subsequent storage, such charge shall be paid by the party claiming such vehicle prior to the removal of the vehicle from such position.
3.000 The Term.
"Abandoned motor vehicle" for purposes of this section shall mean a motor vehicle that has remained for a period of more than forty-eight (48) hours on public property illegally or lacking vital component parts, or has remained for a period of more than forty-eight (48) hours on private property without the consent of the person in control of such property or in an inoperable condition such that it has no substantial potential further use consistent with its usual functions unless it is kept in an enclosed garage or storage building, or a motor vehicle voluntarily surrendered by its owner to and accepted by a unit of government or its agent, or a motor vehicle impounded pursuant to subdivision 2 which has not been reclaimed in conformity with this section. Vehicles on the premises of junk yards and automobile graveyards which are defined, maintained and licensed in accordance with Section 161.242 of the Minnesota Statutes or which are licensed and maintained in accordance with local laws and zoning regulations, shall not be considered abandoned motor vehicles within the meaning of this definition.
4.000 Immediate Sale.
When an abandoned motor vehicle is more than seven (7) model years of age, is lacking vital component parts, and does not display a license plate currently valid in Minnesota or any other state or foreign country, it shall immediately be eligible for sale at public auction and shall not be subject to the notification, reclamation, or title provisions of subdivision 5.
5.000 Notice.
When an abandoned motor vehicle does not fall within the provisions of subdivision 4, the person taking custody of the impounded car from the City shall give notice of the taking within ten (10) days. The notice shall (a) set forth the date and place of the taking, the year, make, model and serial number of the abandoned motor vehicle if such information can be reasonably obtained and the place where the vehicle is being held; (b) inform the owner and any lien holders of their right to reclaim the vehicle under subdivision 6; (c) state that failure of the owner or lien holders to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle and contents shall be deemed a waiver by them of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle and contents and a consent to the sale of the vehicle and contents at a public auction pursuant to subdivision 7.

The notice shall be sent by mail to the registered owner, if any, of the abandoned motor vehicle and to all readily identifiable lienholders of record. If it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and address of the registered owner and all lien holders, the notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle was abandoned. Published notices may be grouped together for convenience and economy.

6.000 Right to Reclaim.
The owner or any lien holder of an abandoned motor vehicle shall have a right to reclaim such vehicle from the unit of government taking it into custody upon payment of all towing and storage charges resulting from taking the vehicle into custody within fifteen (15) days after the date of the notice required by subdivision 5. Nothing herein shall be construed to impair any lien of a garage keeper under the laws of this State, or the right of a lien holder to foreclose. For the purpose of this section "garage keeper" is an operator of a parking place or establishment, an operator of a motor vehicle storage facility, or an operator of an establishment for the servicing, repair, or maintenance of motor vehicles.
7.000 Auction or Sale.
A. If an abandoned motor vehicle and contents taken into custody and not reclaimed under subdivision 6 is sold at public auction or sale, it shall be sold to the highest bidder following reasonable published notice of such auction or sale. The purchaser shall be given a receipt in a form prescribed by the registrar or motor vehicles which shall be sufficient title to dispose of the vehicle. The receipt shall also entitle the purchaser to register the vehicle and receive a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership. Before such a vehicle is issued a new certificate of title, it must receive a motor vehicle safety check.

B. Abandoned motor vehicles not sold pursuant to paragraph A shall be disposed of.

C. From the proceeds of a sale of an abandoned motor vehicle under this subdivision, the City shall reimburse itself as well as pay any person performing services for the City in connection therewith for the cost of towing, preserving and storing the vehicle, and all administrative, notice and publication costs incurred in handling the vehicle pursuant to this section. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the vehicle or entitled lien holder for ninety (90) days and then shall become the property of the City. The City shall not be liable for interest on any such sums of money claimed during such ninety (90) day period.

8.12 : Parking Meter Regulations.

1.000 Installation and Use.
To control and regulate parking upon certain streets and public parking lots or facilities, mechanical devices commonly known as parking meters may be installed on or near the curb of any such street or any parking space in any such lot or facility, at such locations as may be designated by the City Council.
2.000 Parking Space.
Lines or markings painted upon any curb or street upon any public parking lot or facility, near or adjacent to any parking meter shall designate the parking stall or space to which such meter corresponds. It is unlawful for any person, as driver or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, such vehicle, unless such vehicle shall be wholly contained within a single such parking space.
3.000 Prohibition.
It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a vehicle, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, such vehicle within a metered parking space or stall upon any public street or in any municipally owned parking lot, ramp or facility, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any weekday, Monday through Friday, inclusive, and on Saturday, at any time during which the meter device regulating such parking space or stall displays the notation "expired", provided that the prohibition set forth in this subdivision shall not apply to any vehicle so parked on any New Year's Day, January 1; Memorial Day; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; or Christmas Day, December 25.
4.000 Reserved.
5.000 Charges.
The City Manager shall establish parking meter charges which charges may be amended by the City Manager and may vary with the location of a given meter. The parking charge, the coin denominations accepted by the meter, and the time included for each coin denomination shall be set forth on each parking meter.
6.000 Slugs.
It is unlawful to deposit or cause to be deposited in any parking meter any slug, device or metallic substitute for a legal coin.
8.13 : House Trailer Parking.

It is unlawful for any person, as driver or operator of a house trailer as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 171, or as the registered owner of such vehicle, to park, stop or leave standing, or cause, allow or permit to be parked, stopped or left standing, whether knowingly or unknowingly, such vehicle, upon any public street for a period of time of more than twelve (12) continuous hours.

8.14 : Parking Privileges for Physically Handicapped; Scope of Privilege.

Any physically handicapped person, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.345, who displays prominently upon the automobile parked by such person or under the direction and for the use of such person, the distinguishing certificate or insignia for which Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.345 provides shall be entitled to courtesy in the parking of such automobile and shall be relieved of any liability with respect to the parking regulations set forth in this chapter, except such regulations as are set forth in section 8.01.

8.15 : Penalty.

Except as may be otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.