New Parking Location Rules Under Saudi Road Code

New technical requirements for the placement of roadside parking have been introduced under the Saudi Road Code, aiming to improve traffic safety and organize how vehicles are parked near intersections and pedestrian areas. The rules apply to road-owning authorities, municipalities, city-development authorities, ministries, and other entities within the road sector.

Under the requirements, the first roadside parking space at signalized intersections must be located at least 15 metres away from the traffic-signal stopping zone. At unsignalized intersections, the first parking space must be no closer than 6 metres from the intersection. A safe distance must also be maintained between pedestrian crossings and the nearest parking space.

The code further specifies that parallel parking spaces must include dividers, so that the gaps between them cannot be mistakenly used as vehicle lanes. It also classifies parking into three main categories: on-street, off-street, and multi-storey parking.

Why it matters

For residents and drivers across cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah, these standards are designed to reduce the risk of accidents at busy intersections and crossings, where poorly placed parking can block sightlines and interfere with traffic flow. Keeping parking a safe distance from signals and pedestrian crossings gives drivers clearer visibility and gives pedestrians safer, more predictable crossing points.

The requirements focus specifically on parking locations and technical design. They do not introduce general parking fees, permit procedures, validity periods, or any application steps. No specific fee, charge, or recent fee change was identified in connection with these Road Code parking requirements.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving