A "do not block driveway" sign in Oregon is enforceable when it identifies the driveway, names the consequence (typically tow-away), references ORS 98.812, and includes the tow contractor's name and 24-hour phone number. The standard sign is 12 by 18 inches with red lettering on white field, mounted at 7 feet to bottom of sign per MUTCD §2A.18. The legend reads "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY" or equivalent, with supplementary tow-warning lines below.
This guide walks the wording, posting placement, and city-jurisdiction variations our crew at Cojo references on every Oregon driveway-blocking signage install. It covers private commercial driveways, residential driveways with public-right-of-way exposure, and the layered enforcement chain.
When does a property need a "do not block driveway" sign?
Three common scenarios:
- Private commercial driveway exposed to public street parking. Retail drive-thru entries, apartment-complex driveways, and office park entrances often have curbside public parking on the adjacent street. Without signage, drivers occasionally park across the driveway.
- Multi-tenant commercial property with shared driveway. Two-tenant or three-tenant retail strips often share a single driveway. Tenant or customer vehicles parked across the driveway block deliveries.
- Residential driveway in dense neighborhoods. Portland Northwest, Salem downtown, Eugene University District, and similar dense residential zones have recurring visitor-parking issues that block resident driveways.
In all three scenarios, a posted "do not block driveway" sign provides the legal foundation for tow-away enforcement under ORS 98.812 (private property) or local municipal code (public right-of-way).
What does the legend need to say?
For private property enforcement under ORS 98.812:
> DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY > VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE > PER ORS 98.812 > Acme Towing -- 503-555-1234
For public right-of-way enforcement (city-issued residential parking restrictions):
> NO PARKING -- DRIVEWAY ACCESS > Per [Portland City Code 16.20.640 / Salem Chapter 79 / etc.]
The private-property variant requires the tow contractor name and phone. The public right-of-way variant defers to city tow contracts. Mixing the two on a residential driveway adjacent to public street parking is common -- a property owner posts both legends to cover both enforcement paths.
How does Portland City Code 16.20.640 affect this?
Portland City Code 16.20.640 covers parking near driveways on Portland public streets. The code prohibits parking within 5 feet of a driveway entrance unless signed otherwise. PBOT enforces this directly through parking enforcement officers, with tow authority through Portland's contracted tow companies.
Portland-specific implications:
- A resident with a sign reading "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY" reinforces the existing 16.20.640 prohibition
- Tow execution still goes through the PBOT enforcement chain or through private-tow under ORS 98.812
- Signage that names a private tow contractor adds the private-tow path on top of the city-enforcement path
Salem, Eugene, Bend, and other Oregon cities have analogous codes (Salem Chapter 79, Eugene Code 9.6750, Bend Development Code 3.3) with similar 5-foot or 10-foot driveway buffer rules. Verify the local code before posting custom legend.
Where does the sign mount?
Standard placement:
- Wall-mounted directly above the driveway entrance. 7 feet AFG to bottom of sign. Visible from oncoming street traffic. Most common at residential driveways.
- Post-mounted on the sidewalk side of the driveway. 7 feet AFG on a 7 to 9 foot post planted in a planter strip or near the curb. Common at commercial driveways without a wall mount option.
- Both sides of the driveway when the driveway exceeds 25 feet wide. Larger commercial driveways need bilateral signage so drivers from either direction see the sign before parking.
Mount height of 7 feet to bottom of sign is the same MUTCD §2A.18 standard that applies to all regulatory signs. Lower mounts get blocked by parked vehicles.
What size does the sign need to be?
Practical spec:
| Driveway type | Sign size | Letter height (primary) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential driveway, 12 to 14 ft wide | 12 x 18 | 2 to 2.5 in |
| Multi-tenant commercial driveway | 18 x 24 | 3 in |
| Industrial or warehouse driveway | 18 x 24 or 24 x 30 | 3 to 4 in |
| Hospital ambulance bay driveway | 24 x 30 with tow-warning supplement | 4 in |
Color rules and sheeting grade
The standard color for "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY" signs is white background with red primary legend. Some jurisdictions accept yellow background with black legend. Red-on-white is the most common and the most recognizable.
Sheeting grade:
- ASTM D4956 Type III HIP minimum for outdoor private commercial driveways
- HIP Type III with anti-graffiti laminate for downtown Portland and Eugene high-tag corridors
- Engineer-grade Type I acceptable for residential driveways with overhead street lighting
We do not specify engineer-grade Type I on outdoor commercial driveways. The cost difference between engineer-grade and HIP is $8 to $14 per sign and the lifespan difference is 3 to 5 years.
Industry Baseline Range
| Component | Cost per sign / per driveway |
|---|---|
| 12 x 18 standard sign HIP Type III | $36 to $58 |
| 18 x 24 sign with tow-warning supplement | $58 to $96 |
| 24 x 30 sign for industrial or hospital | $86 to $138 |
| Sign post and footing (installed) | $244 to $410 |
| Wall-mount kit | $14 to $28 |
| Custom screen-print with tow contractor info | $14 to $28 per sign upcharge |
| Full driveway signage (sign + post + tow supplement) | $340 to $610 |
Current Market Reality
Reflective sheeting prices climbed 4 to 6 percent annually from 2023 to mid-2026. Custom screen-print pricing has stabilized at minimum order quantities of 4 to 6 units. The biggest cost driver is whether the sign mounts to an existing wall (low cost) or needs a new post and footing (full $244 to $410 per post). Bundling driveway signage with commercial striping Portland refresh cycles cuts mobilization costs.
Real install reference -- Eugene University District residential
In March 2026, our crew installed driveway-blocking signage on a 4-unit Eugene University District rental property facing weekend visitor-parking blocking from nearby student events.
Spec delivered:
- 1 wall-mounted sign above the driveway entrance, 12 x 18 HIP Type III with anti-graffiti laminate
- Red legend on white: "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY -- VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE -- PER ORS 98.812 -- Acme Towing 541-555-2345"
- Mount height: 7 feet AFG to bottom of sign on the property's brick fence wall
- 1 secondary post-mounted sign 30 feet from the driveway on the property frontage as additional reminder
Total: $480 installed. The owner has had no driveway-blocking incidents requiring tow execution in 13 months -- the sign system itself deterred most visitors.
Common "do not block driveway" sign mistakes
- "DO NOT BLOCK" without the supplementary tow-warning. Cannot be enforced without ORS 98.812 language.
- Tow contractor name omitted from the sign. Required by ORS 98.812.
- Mount height under 7 feet. Parked vehicles block the sign and undermine enforcement.
- Sign mounted on the wall above the garage but no sign on the side of the driveway facing oncoming street parkers. Drivers approaching the driveway from down the block do not see the sign.
- Sign legend in foreign language only at properties in Oregon's diverse residential neighborhoods. English is the primary language for ORS 98.812 enforceability -- supplementary translations are acceptable but English is required.
For broader sign-category context, see our parking sign buyer's guide hub, the ORS 98.812 private property sign wording reference, and the MUTCD parking sign code cheatsheet for related R-series codes.
Do not block driveway sign FAQ
What does a "do not block driveway" sign legally need to say in Oregon? "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY -- VIOLATORS TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE -- PER ORS 98.812 -- [Tow Company Name and 24-Hour Phone]" is the standard enforceable legend on private property. Without the tow contractor info, the sign does not satisfy ORS 98.812. Public right-of-way driveway signage on the city street is governed by local code (Portland 16.20.640, Salem Chapter 79) and references the city tow contractor.
Can I tow a vehicle blocking my driveway in Oregon? Yes on private property if the driveway is signed under ORS 98.812 and the property has a tow contract with a licensed Oregon tow contractor. On public right-of-way, the city parking enforcement officer typically handles the tow execution. In both cases, photo evidence of the violating vehicle alongside the visible sign is required for tow execution.
How tall does a "do not block driveway" sign need to be mounted? 7 feet minimum from finished grade to the bottom of the sign per MUTCD §2A.18. Lower mounts get blocked by parked vehicles. Most installations default to 7.5 to 8 feet for additional clearance above SUVs and trucks.
Does Portland have a separate driveway-blocking law? Yes. Portland City Code 16.20.640 prohibits parking within 5 feet of a driveway entrance on public streets. PBOT enforces this directly. A private property owner with a "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY" sign reinforces the existing law and adds private-tow authority through ORS 98.812 to back up the city enforcement.
What size driveway-blocking sign do I need at a residential property? 12 by 18 inches is standard at most residential driveways with 12 to 14 foot widths. Wider commercial driveways and any property with high recurring blocking warrant 18 by 24. Letter height should be 2 to 3 inches on the primary "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY" line and 1.5 to 2 inches on the supplementary tow-warning line.