Thursday, Sep 17, 2026
Does the Edmonds Police Department enforce the wrong-way parking violation?
Edmonds police cite vehicles parked the wrong way on City streets. They can leave an infraction notice on the vehicle and/or have a conversation with the driver.
A major area of particular emphasis is downtown, where there is a higher concentration of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
However, Edmonds has only one parking enforcement officer whose primary responsibility (70% of their time) is animal control.
On two-way streets, state law requires vehicles to be parked parallel to the road with the right-hand wheels within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or shoulder. This compels vehicles to face the same direction as moving traffic.
On one-way streets, vehicles may be parked on either side, but the vehicle must be in the same direction as authorized traffic.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- City of Edmonds Animal control and parking enforcement
- Edmonds Police Department 2025 Annual Report (page 24)
- Washington State Legislature RCW 46.61.575
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