Is It Legal to Park on a Curb in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois?

We've all been in one of these situations: we're in a new city and/or area and we're unsure if we can park in a specific spot. Or there's the case of being in a rush and mulling over the risk/reward of parking somewhere we maybe shouldn't.

After examining the speed limit laws and ramifications in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, I thought it'd be fun to examine something different: the legality of parking on a curb in all three states. I combed through legislature in all three states in order to figure out if parking alongside a curb is legal.

Can You Park on a Curb in Iowa?:

According to Iowa.gov, here is the cut and dry of parking on a curb in the Hawkeye State:

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places:

 

14. Upon any street within the corporate limits of a city when the same is prohibited by a general ordinance of uniform application relating to removal of snow or ice from the streets.

 

15. In front of a curb cut or ramp which is located on public or private property in a manner which blocks access to the curb cut or ramp.

Can You Park on a Curb in Wisconsin?:

According to the website Your Mechanic, Wisconsin is a little more lenient with curb-parking. Also keep in mind the fact this quote is lifted from a third party website; this isn't the exact letter of the law, but a distillation of it:

When you park alongside a curb, you need to make sure that your wheels are within 12 inches closest to the curb. You can’t park within 15 feet of a crosswalk or intersection, and you cannot park in a construction zone, as your vehicle might block traffic.

When it comes to parking in Wisconsin, it's also worth noting that there are restrictions regarding parking in school zones:

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It is also unlawful to park in front of a school, (K through eighth grade) between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on school days. In addition, they may have other signage posted outside of the school that will let you know what the hours are for that particular location.

Can You Park on a Curb in Illinois?:

For a state that has a city as big as Chicago in it, it would be a little odd if the rules about parking on a curb weren't cut and dry. Horwitz & Associates Law Center makes things pretty easy to distill:

When parallel parked with two-way traffic, park so that the right-side wheels are parallel with and within 12 inches of the curb. If you are parallel parked on a one-way street, park within 12 inches of the right or left curb.

Click on the respective state for more parking laws in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois.