The Metropolitan Police has issued guidance clarifying the rules on on-street parking, confirming that parking on a public road outside another person's home is not illegal, while also warning that residents who reserve spaces with objects such as traffic cones or wheelie bins are breaking the law.
For many Britons, the road outside their house can feel like part of their property, which has led to parking disputes across the country. With parking spots becoming increasingly scarce, questions have arisen over whether homeowners have the legal authority to safeguard the kerb outside their front window.
What the Law Says About Public Parking
According to the Metropolitan Police, if a parking bay is free on a public road, anyone is legally entitled to park there. Officials recognise that finding parking can be frustrating when bays are limited, but parking on a public carriageway outside another person's home is not illegal.
However, residents who block off public parking bays with items such as traffic cones or wheelie bins are breaking the law. Under section 137 of the Highways Act 1980, it is an offence to obstruct the highway without proper permission.
The Act states: "If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway, he is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine or both." Placing objects to reserve a parking space is considered an unlawful obstruction of the highway.
How to Report Obstructions
Residents who find their neighbours doing this are within their rights to report the matter to the local council or highways authority, both of which hold the power to demand the removal of such objects or to clear them away themselves.
The police may become involved in cases where antisocial behaviour is an issue, for example, if a resident finds their vehicle blocked in and unable to pull out onto the road. Officers may also step in when a vehicle poses a serious hazard or an immediate physical obstruction.
When Police Can Intervene
Both homeowners and renters can seek police assistance in specific circumstances, including when a car is parked dangerously, when a car is left on official zig-zag markings, or when a car is positioned in such a way that it prevents emergency service vehicles from gaining access.
