Atlanta offers travelers and residents alike a wide variety of activities to explore within its city limits, but the local government makes parking tricky. When you’re looking for parking, expect to compete with a high volume of people who are also looking for the most popular spots.
Keep reading to find out about Atlanta parking rules and discover tips and tricks to avoid surprise regulations and find the best parking spots near your destination.
Understanding Atlanta street parking rules:
Atlanta is a big fan of time limited parking. You’ll find parking meters throughout the city where you can park for one hour, two hours, or more. Just make sure you look at the signs so that you know when you’re allowed to park in that particular spot.
Tips to avoid a parking ticket
- Pay the parking meter as soon as you park. Use the SpotAngels app to pay as you go. Never pay more than the duration you stayed & refill the meter remotely!
- Check parking signs both in front of and behind your vehicle.
- Never park for longer than the posted time limit.
- Obey the “NO PARKING” signs. Remember, restrictions vary by time and day.
- Set an alarm to notify you when your time is up, or better yet let us do that for you.
Different zones in Atlanta use different parking enforcement hours:
- Business and Government Zones: 2 Hour Limit, enforced Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM
- Mixed Use Zones: 3 hour Limit, enforced Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM
- School or University Zones: 3 hour Limit, enforced Monday through Saturday , 7 AM to 7 PM
- Entertainment, Restaurant, or Hospital Zones: 4 hour Limit, enforced Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 10 PM
What do the curb colors mean in Atlanta?
- Orange Curb means Commercial Loading Zone: Between 6 AM and 6 PM, only park here with a special loading permit. This is in effect every day except Sundays.
- If you see a yellow curb, don’t park! This means no stopping any time. Look at the sign for when these hours are in effect.
How does residential parking work?
If your neighborhood requires a residential parking permit to park on the street, apply for one here. Even if you have guests, they’re required to have a permit too. Apply for a guest pass here.
Once you have your permit, make sure you attach it permanently to the inside lower left corner of your rear window on the driver’s side.
Where can I park overnight?
In Atlanta, you’re able to park overnight wherever meters aren’t enforced and in neighborhoods, as long as you have a residential permit.
What do street parking signs in Atlanta mean?
Here’s how to read the parking signs you’ll come across while parking in the city:
Event Parking Signs: These signs indicate that there is an event going on nearby and you should not park here or you’ll risk being towed.
Time-limited Parking Signs: The sign to the right indicates that you’re only able to park for 4 hours at a time and you’ll need to pay the meter.
Tow-away Zone Signs: This sign shows that you’re only able to park here during certain hours. At other designated hours, your car will be towed.
What are street parking rules for metered spaces?
Atlanta has plenty of street and metered parking that costs between $2.0 to $2.0 per hour. It’s important to understand the rules of that specific meter if you don’t want to get a parking ticket.
Read all of the street signs carefully before you park.
How to find the best cheap parking in Atlanta?
If you’re looking for free parking in Atlanta, check out this guide. Pay attention to Atlanta parking rules to make sure you don’t end up with a ticket on your windshield. Here is some useful knowledge to find the best parking near your destination:
Cheap parking downtown
The trick to cheap parking in downtown Atlanta is to find a MARTA Station and ride to your destination. Many MARTAs offer long-term parking for only $5 per day.
Parking at Peachtree Center
The Peachtree Center offers a number of ways to reduce your parking bill. If you show up to the garage between 5-9 AM and leave between 2-7 PM, parking will only cost you $8. If you arrive after 4PM, you’re able to stay 12 hours and only pay $8. On weekends, 12 hours of parking at any time during the day or night only costs $7.
Where can I find parking garages near downtown?
The easiest way to find parking garages in Atlanta is by heading to the parking map. There, you’ll find all of the information you need and you’ll be able to reserve a spot right then and there.
What’s the cost of an Atlanta parking ticket?
| Parking Violation | Fine After 14 Days | Fine After 45 Days | |
| WRONG WAY PARKED | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKED ON CROSSWALK OR BRIDGE | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKED WITHIN 20 FT OF CROSSWALK, 15 FT OF FIRE HYDRANT OR 30 FT OF STOP SIGN | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARK IN PASSENGER LOADING ZONE | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARK IN FREIGHT LOADING ZONE | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING IN BUS STOP OR TAXI STAND | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING METER VIOLATION | $35.00 | $70.00 | $95.00 |
| RESIDENT PK PERMIT – FALSE INFORMATION ON APPLICATION | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING PROHIBITED IN BIKE LANE | $100.00 | $200.00 | – |
| GENERAL PARKING VIOLATION | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| NO PARKING ANY TIME OR NO PARKING TOW ZONE | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| VIOLATION OF RUSH HOUR PARKING | $40.00 | $80.00 | – |
| ON-STREET HANDICAPPED PARKING | $100.00 | $200.00 | – |
| PARKING ON NARROW STREETS | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING PROHIBITED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING IN BUSINESS DISTRICT | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING RESTRICT/TRUCK AND BUS | $25.00 | $50.00 | – |
| PARKING ON CITY SIDEWALK | $100.00 | $200.00 | – |
| PENALTY FOR PARKING WITHOUT PERMIT DURING PERMITTED FESTIVALS | $75.00 | $100.00 | – |
How do I pay an Atlanta parking ticket?
Drivers with parking tickets are encouraged to pay online using the city’s website.
What do I do if my car gets towed?
Before you jump to any conclusions, call 311 or visit the official city towing page.
Is metered parking suspended today?
Atlanta does give people a break every once in a while. Street parking is free on select parking holidays throughout the year.
Which days are Atlanta parking holidays?
Below are the official parking holidays in the city.
| Start Date | Parking Holiday | End Date |
| 2024-01-01 | New Year's Day | 2024-01-01 |
| 2024-01-15 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 2024-01-15 |
| 2024-05-27 | Memorial Day | 2024-05-27 |
| 2024-07-04 | Independence Day | 2024-07-04 |
| 2024-09-02 | Labor Day | 2024-09-02 |
| 2024-11-11 | Veterans day | 2024-11-11 |
| 2024-11-28 | Thanksgiving Day | 2024-11-28 |
| 2024-11-29 | Day after Thanksgiving | 2024-11-29 |
| 2024-12-25 | Christmas Day | 2024-12-25 |
To know which specific regulations are suspended on these days, please check the SpotAngels app.
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To find parking on the go & pay meters as you go in Atlanta, download the award-winning SpotAngels app!
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