Guide · Renting and leases

Parking and Shared Driveways

A friendly, practical guide to parking courtesy, shared driveways, guest parking, oil leaks and EV charging, so everyone gets where they’re going.

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Where to start

Blocked in right now?
Take a breath. Most blocked in moments are honest mistakes. See if someone is blocking you.
Sharing a driveway?
Tick through the good parking habits.
Own the home?
Start with setting up clear parking rules.

The short version

Clear spots, clear rules and a little courtesy keep everyone moving and neighbors friendly.

Park only in your own spot or guest parking, and never block a shared driveway, sidewalk, hydrant or fire lane.

Tell guests where to park before they arrive, catch oil leaks, and move your car once it has finished charging.

If someone is blocking you, a friendly knock or note solves most problems. Ask the owner or manager for help if needed.

Rules about towing and parking differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.

Four simple rules

1
Know your spot
Park only in spots assigned to you or open to everyone, and follow any signs or the lease.
2
Never block a driveway or path
Leave room for others to get in and out, and keep sidewalks, hydrants and fire lanes clear.
3
Guests need a plan
Tell guests where they may park before they arrive, so they never take someone else’s spot.
4
Talk first, kindly
If a car is in your way, a friendly knock or note solves most problems faster than anything else.

If someone is blocking you

Take a breath. Most blocked in moments are honest mistakes.
If you know whose car it is, knock or send a friendly text and ask if they could move it.
If you don’t know, leave a kind note with your number, and check with others in the home.
If you are still blocked and need to leave, contact the owner or manager for help.
If a car is blocking a fire lane or hydrant, or there is an emergency, call the local non emergency police number or 911.
Take a photo for your records and share what happened in writing. You did exactly the right thing.

A kind note works wonders: “Hi, I think this might be my spot, number 4. No worries at all, just wanted to let you know. Thank you!” Kindness gets cars moved.

Try it

Good parking habits

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

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Learned which spots are mine, which are shared and where guests may park
Parked squarely in my space, with room for doors on both sides
Let others in a shared driveway know about very early or late trips
Told guests where to park before they arrive, with any time limits
Oil and fluid leaks fixed or caught, and any stain I can’t clean shared in writing
Registration current and car in running condition if the lease requires it
Broken lights, potholes or a confusing sign shared in writing
Shared driveway kept clear of bikes, bins and toys
Car moved once it has finished charging

Try it

For owners: setting up clear parking rules

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

0 of 6

Parking spots, guest parking and any rules put in the lease or a written parking plan
Assigned spots marked clearly with paint, numbers or signs
Parking area well lit, with potholes, cracks and trip hazards repaired
Snow removal planned, with who clears what and when cars should move
Any towing policy explained in writing, following the posting and notice rules where the property is
Clear rules for sharing EV charging, if offered, and how electricity is paid for

For owners: when a parking concern is shared

Listen to both sides with kindness. Parking issues are usually misunderstandings.
Remind everyone of the parking plan in writing, without singling anyone out in public.
Address repeated problems privately and respectfully before considering any stronger step.
Handle oil stains and abandoned vehicles according to the lease and local rules.
Write down what was reported, what was done and when, and follow up kindly to make sure all is well.

A simple parking map with numbered spots and guest parking, shared at move in and posted near the parking area, prevents most parking disagreements.

Helpful resources

The guide points to these for details. Rules differ from place to place, so the official pages where your home is are the best guide.

Printable checklist

Like it on paper?

The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.

Get the printable checklist

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Test yourself

How much do you remember?

4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.

From The Perfect Series

Go deeper with The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook

Simple, step by step checklists you can write in for moving in: the move in walk, moving day, your first week, utilities, keys and more.

See The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook All books in The Perfect Series

Keep the full guide handy

The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.

Download the PDF

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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal advice. Bunklow does not tow vehicles or decide parking disputes.