Parking and Curbside Management

PROVIDENCE HAS INSTALLED NEW PARKING METERS ACROSS THE CITY. PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE WORK TO UPDATE & REPLACE THE PARKING SIGNS IN THESE AREAS.

Parking is a valuable asset to the city. Curb space is in high demand from competing needs: moving people and goods efficiently, access for residents and businesses, promoting safety for all street users, and enabling business and neighborhood vitality. The Office of Curbside Administration works to balance and serve those competing needs as effectively as possible.

More information on parking and curbside management in Providence can be found below:

Types of Parking and Curb Uses
Overnight Parking Program
Temporary Parking Needs
Other Parking Permits
Parking Bans
Winter 2024 Snow Parking Pilot Program

For curbside management questions:
Melanie Jewett
Curbside Administrator
mjewett@providenceri.gov
(401) 680-7573

For parking ticket issues:
Providence Municipal Court
(401) 243-6414

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Types of Parking in Providence

Metered Parking

There are over 2,300 metered parking spots located in Providence. Metered spaces can be found in Downtown, the Jewelry District, College Hill, Wayland Square, Federal Hill and near the State House and Providence Train Station. The current meter rate is $1.25 per hour (25 cents /12 minutes). Short-term parking costs $0.75 for 30 minutes (25 cents /10 minutes).

Providence replaced every parking meter in the city in Spring 2024. The parking meters accept multiple forms of payment. Residents and visitors can pay via coins, credit & debit cards, mobile parking applications, text to pay, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. For more information on metered parking in Providence, visit www.park-pvd.com.

For information on paying a parking ticket, click here.

Unmetered parking

While there are over 2,000 metered parking spaces in Providence, there are thousands of non-metered spaces throughout the city. In some areas, these parking spaces have time restrictions (most commonly restricting parking to two hours between 8:00am and 6:00pm). On-street parking in Providence is never allowed between 2:00AM and 5:00AM without an overnight parking permit or guest parking permit.

Accessible Parking

Parking spaces designated for people with disability parking placard are placed throughout the city, primarily Downtown and in commercial corridors. Residents and visitors with a valid handicap parking placard can park in ANY legal on-street parking space, including metered spaces, for free.
You may also request accessible parking signage for your house if you live in a multi-family building or if your driveway is inaccessible. Accessible parking signs can be applied for using the city online permitting portal:
Residential Handicap Accessible Parking Signage Application
 

Off-street parking

Providence has over 20,000 parking spaces in public and private parking lots and garages within walking distance of many popular destinations.

TIPS FOR PARKING IN PROVIDENCE

Comply with all posted parking signs: Parking in a posted no parking zone, bus stop, handicap parking, or loading zone will leave you subject to ticketing and towing.

Parking on the sidewalk is illegal: Like many historic cities, Providence has narrow streets, however, it is important to maintain accessible sidewalks for pedestrians and those who may be using mobility devices.  Additionally, in Downtown Providence many of the sidewalks are hollow and could collapse from the weight of a car.

Parking within 25' of an intersection is illegal. Even without a posted sign city ordinance prohibits parking within 25' of any intersection.

Parking within 8’ of a fire hydrant is illegal.  Parking too close to a fire hydrant can prevent the fire department from having easy access to the hydrant during an emergency and can result in ticketing and towing.

Curb Uses Beyond Parking

Curb space has many competing demands beyond parking. These include:

For Providence to be accessible and vibrant for all, these curb uses must be managed effectively. The Office of Curbside Administration works to ensure that Providence’s curb space is used in the most efficient, accessible, equitable, and sustainable way possible.

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Overnight Parking Program

An overnight parking permit is required to park on-street in Providence from 2:00AM to 5:00AM.

The Overnight Parking Program helps to manage the number of vehicles that park overnight in Providence neighborhoods. The parking program ensures residents have space to park on the street when needed.

Eligibility requirements for the Overnight Parking Permit:

Each housing unit (apartment, condo, single-family home) may purchase two on-street parking permits per year. Permits must be renewed annually. Overnight parking permits can be purchased online at the link below.
Overnight Parking Permit Application
 

An overnight parking permit does not give permit holders the right to a specific parking space. Permit holders can park overnight on any street that allows overnight parking in the police district where they live. Enforcement of overnight parking permits is license plate based. Permit holders will not receive a physical parking permit unless you also purchase a guest pass. Guest permits can be purchased at the same time as an overnight parking permit. The guest permit allows guests to park overnight no more than five times a month. If you purchase a guest pass, you will need to print the guest permit and tape the pass in the vehicle’s rear window.

Students living in dormitories and college & university owned housing are not eligible to purchase an overnight parking permit.

Multi-Family Exception Request
Residents of multi-family buildings with 6 or more units are not eligible for overnight parking permits until the building owner or manager first receives an Exemption from the Curbside Administrator. There is no charge to the building owner or manager for an Exception Request.
Six or More Residential On-Street Overnight Parking Exemption Application
 

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Temporary Parking Needs

Temporary Overnight Parking Permit
This permit is available to Providence residents with circumstances that require temporarily parking on the street overnight Examples include driveway repaving, construction requiring equipment in the driveway, etc. This permit is NOT for visitors or guests who don’t live in Providence, and it is not for residents of Providence to use under normal circumstances.
Temporary Overnight Parking Permit Application
 

Temporary Parking Privileges
This permit enables contractors and others doing work in Providence to park near their worksite during the day regardless of the time restrictions in the area. This permit cannot be used overnight, and it does not permit holders to park in a specific parking space. This permit does not void other parking regulations such as loading zone, handicap accessible parking spaces, and any posted no parking area.

The fee for Temporary Parking Permits is $16.25/day per space. Temporary Parking Permits can be applied for online using the City of Providence online permitting portal:
Temporary Parking Permit Application
 

Emergency No Parking Tow Zone
If you need to reserve a specific parking space, please apply for an Emergency No Parking Tow Zone permit. This is for people who need a space for a moving van, businesses who have a one-time need for space for a bus or food truck, etc. Temporary paper signs will be posted reserving the space.

Emergency No Parking Tow Zone requests can be applied for using the City of Providence online permitting portal.

Emergency No Parking Tow Zone Application (Link coming soon)

Dumpster and Moving Pod Permits
If you need to keep pod temporarily on the street, you can apply for a Dumpster or Pod Permit. Dumpster and moving pod permits can be applied for using the City of Providence online permitting portal:
Dumpster or Moving Pod Permit Application
 

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OTHER PARKING PERMITS

Media/Press Parking Permits

Credentialed members of the press and media organizations can apply annually for a Media Parking Permit.   The permit allows members of the media to park at a legal parking space for longer than the posted time during normal business hours.    Media Parking Permits do not permit the holder to park in any posted No Parking zone, handicap accessible parking spaces, loading zones, adjacent to fire hydrants, or on sidewalks.

Press/Media Parking Permit Application (Link coming soon)

City Employee Parking Permits
City employees who are required to use their personal vehicles to attend work related meetings and events in the city can apply for a city employee parking permit. This permit is only for employees who are required to use their personal vehicle for work-related activities. Applicant’s department Director’s must approve the employee parking permit application along with the Curbside Administrator. The City Employee Parking Permit Application can be found at the City of Providence Online Permitting Portal.
City Employee Parking Permit Application
 

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Parking Bans

As a city located in New England, Providence often receives snow in the winter. If a storm is forecast to result in significant snow for the city, an on-street parking ban may be issued. During a parking ban all residents are asked to remove their vehicles from the street. Parking bans prohibit parking 24 hours a day, not just overnight. This allows city snowplows to safely and effectively clear the streets to improve safety for all road users.
Sign up to receive Parking Ban alerts
 

Winter 2024 Overnight Permit Parking Snow Parking Pilot
During Winter 2024, the city piloted an overnight parking pilot program for existing overnight parking permit holders. Overnight parking permit holders in Wards 8 (West End/Reservoir), Ward 10 (Washington Park), and Ward 13 (West End) were able to park adjacent to Bucklin and Conlan Memorial Parks in Ward 8, Columbia Park in Ward 10, and Dexter Park in Ward 13. The city will revisit the Snow Parking Pilot Program in Fall 2024 to prepare for the Winter 2025 snow season.