Can you park across a dropped kerb?
Last updated: 2026-06-15
Short answer
No — parking across a dropped kerb is a contravention in most of the UK, and councils can issue a PCN even when there are no yellow lines. It covers the lowered pavement at driveways and pedestrian crossing points, and applies whether the driveway is yours or someone else's.
What counts as a dropped kerb
A dropped kerb is a section of pavement that has been lowered to meet the road — at a driveway, or at a pedestrian or wheelchair crossing point. Its whole purpose is to let people or vehicles cross between the road and the footway, so blocking it defeats the point and is treated as a parking contravention.
The rule: no parking across it
You must not stop or park across a dropped kerb. Councils with civil enforcement powers can issue a Penalty Charge Notice for it even where there are no yellow lines or markings — the dropped kerb itself is the restriction. This has applied in London since 2008 and is widely enforced elsewhere. It does not matter whether the lowered kerb serves your own driveway or a neighbour's.
If someone blocks your driveway
A vehicle parked across your dropped kerb can be reported to your council's parking enforcement team, which can issue a PCN. The police usually only step in where a vehicle is causing a genuine danger or obstruction to the highway. If you are blocked in, the council route is normally the fastest lawful option — and you should not block someone else in while trying to get out.
White H-bar markings
Some driveways have a white "H-bar" — an access protection marking — painted across the dropped kerb. It is advisory: a visible reminder not to block the access, rather than a separately enforceable line. But because parking across the dropped kerb behind it is already a contravention, the H-bar effectively reinforces a rule that is enforceable anyway.
When the kerb is the only clue
Dropped-kerb rules are the kind that bite precisely because there is no sign or line to warn you. Kerbnow's right-now answer and sign decoder help you read the spot before you commit, and a PCN evidence pack is on the way if you do get an unfair ticket.
Frequently asked questions
Can you park across a dropped kerb?
No. Parking across a dropped kerb — the lowered section of pavement at a driveway or pedestrian crossing point — is a parking contravention in most of the UK, and councils can issue a PCN even where there are no yellow lines or markings. It applies whether you are blocking your own driveway or someone else's.
Can I be ticketed for blocking a dropped kerb without any lines?
Yes. Since 2008 in London, and under civil enforcement powers elsewhere, councils can ticket a vehicle parked across a dropped footway even with no lines present. The dropped kerb itself is the restriction.
Can someone park in front of my dropped kerb driveway?
They should not. A vehicle parked across your dropped kerb can be reported to the council, which can issue a Penalty Charge Notice. If a vehicle is blocking you in or out, contact the council's parking enforcement; the police generally only get involved if it is a dangerous obstruction.
What is a white H-bar marking outside a driveway?
A white "H-bar" (an access protection marking) painted across a dropped kerb is advisory — it reminds drivers not to block the access. It is not legally enforceable on its own, but parking across the dropped kerb behind it can still be a contravention.
This guide is general information about UK parking rules, not legal advice. Kerbnow is a decoding aid — always check the answer against the sign in front of you.
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