Can You Park on a Dropped Kerb?

After a long day’s work, all you want to do is find a convenient parking space — and that free dropped kerb in front of your neighbour's driveway looks very tempting. But can you park on a dropped kerb, or will it result in a fine? And, what should you do if someone parks on the dropped kerb outside your house? In this article, we’ll answer all of these questions and more.

In This Guide:

What is a dropped kerb?
Can you park across a dropped kerb?
Can you park across a dropped kerb outside your own house?
What is the penalty for parking on a dropped kerb?
How close can you park to a dropped kerb?
What to do if someone is parked on a dropped kerb outside your house
Conclusion
FAQs

What is a dropped kerb?

A dropped kerb (or curb) describes a section of the pavement that has been lowered to make it almost level with the road. It’s designed to allow vehicles to drive from the road to a driveway without destroying the pavement.

You’ll also see dropped kerbs at pedestrian crossings, often with tactile paving (a section of raised bumps). This is to help people with mobility issues and visual impairments (such as white cane users and wheelchair users) to cross the road safely.

Can you park across a dropped kerb?

No. Parking across a dropped kerb is generally prohibited in the UK and may lead to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), particularly if it causes obstruction or affects access.

When you park on a dropped kerb in front of someone’s drive, you obstruct the resident’s access to the public highway. They won't be able to enter or exit their drive or the public road, which is frustrating and may even infringe on their property rights.

But it goes deeper than just being an inconvenience to property owners. Let's say that you park on a dropped kerb outside a community entrance, such as a block of flats. Essential services like ambulances, fire engines, or police cars will be unable to access the area, slowing down their operations and potentially putting lives at risk.

It can also pose pedestrian road safety risks if you park on a dropped kerb designed to be a pedestrian crossing.

And lastly, it puts your car at a higher risk of damage. For example, someone trying to exit their driveway or manoeuvre their mobility scooter past your parked car may accidentally scrape your vehicle in the process. Even if your car insurance covers the cost, you’ll still lose your no-claims bonus, which can put you out of pocket.

Can you park across a dropped kerb outside your own house?

So, you can’t park on someone else’s dropped kerb — but surely you can park on your own dropped kerb, right?

In some areas, you may be allowed to park on your own dropped kerb if you are not obstructing pedestrians or other road users. However, this can vary depending on your local council's policies, so it's important to check the specific rules that apply in your area.

If the dropped kerb serves a shared driveway or pedestrian access, or if parking there would cause an obstruction, restrictions may still apply. This is not only because you don’t own the kerb, but because it can present accessibility and safety issues for pedestrians.

What is the penalty for parking on a dropped kerb?

While parking restrictions and penalties vary between areas, you can expect a Civil Enforcement Officer to issue you with a penalty charge notice if your vehicle is caught parking on a dropped kerb — even if it’s your own. How significant the blockage is will increase your chances of being issued with a PCN. This will result in a fine that must be paid within 28 days; if you miss that deadline, the fine will be increased.

If you’re completely blocking a driveway, for instance, you’re more likely to receive a PCN than if your vehicle's parked slightly on the dropped kerb. That said, it’s still not worth the risk.

Dropped kerb enforcement is carried out by either local councils or local police.

How close can you park to a dropped kerb?

Some local councils may specify exactly how close you can park next to a dropped kerb (e.g., no closer than 1.5 metres (5 feet). But as a general rule, you can park next to a dropped kerb provided that your car isn’t causing any obstruction across the length of the dropped kerb, including the sloped kerb areas.

Make sure to check your local council’s parking restrictions and rules to avoid getting a fine.

What to do if someone is parked on a dropped kerb outside your house

If a car is parked on the dropped kerb outside your house and is blocking your private driveway, report the offence to your local council via phone.

Your local council’s parking enforcement team will collect some basic details, such as your name, address, and phone number, as well as the registration number and make/model details of the offending vehicle. From there, a Civil Enforcement Officer will visit to assess the situation and potentially issue penalty charge notices to the car’s owner.

If vehicles parked across your driveway are a regular occurrence, consider getting access protection markings (also known as H-marks) along your dropped kerb. While not enforceable by law, access protection marking can deter people from using your dropped kerb as a parking spot.

Conclusion

While parking your car on a dropped kerb might seem like a good idea, it can be a nuisance to property owners, a potential road safety risk, and land you with a penalty charge notice. So, it’s best to avoid parking on a lowered kerb, whether it’s outside your house or someone else’s property.

If you're unsure about the rules in your area, check with your local council to avoid unexpected penalties. Taking a moment to check can save you a fine — and a lot of frustration down the line.

FAQs

Is it legal to park in front of a driveway without a dropped kerb?

Yes. If the driveway in question doesn’t have a dropped kerb, you can lawfully park across it. It’s an offence to drive along a pavement to access a driveway if there isn’t a lowered kerb in front of it, so you’re within your rights.

Can you park opposite a dropped kerb?

Yes. As long as there are no yellow lines opposite the dropped kerb and you’re not obstructing vehicles from turning in or out of private driveways, roads, or communal entrances, you’re lawfully allowed to park there.

Can you park on the pavement in the UK?

Parking on the pavement is illegal in some areas of the UK. Take London, for example, where it’s against the law to park either wholly or partially on the pavement. But even in areas where it’s not illegal, parking on the pavement can still incur a fine if it causes an obstruction that poses a danger to pedestrians.