Evanston 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.
Understanding Evanston street parking rules:
Keep reading to find out about Evanston parking rules and discover tips and tricks to avoid surprise regulations and find the best parking spots near your destination.
Tips to avoid a parking ticket
- Never park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- In the winter, never park on a snow route overnight if snow is in the forecast.
- Get a residential parking permit if you’re a resident to avoid moving your car every few hours on neighborhood streets.
How does residential parking work?
If you live in a neighborhood with a residential permit, get yourself a pass. Here’s what you’ll need:
1. Proof of current residence in the parking district
2. Purchase/proof of payment of annual wheel tax.
3. Your current State Vehicle Registration
4. Payment of all unresolved parking tickets.
If you’re in a crunch, you can also buy one-day parking passes for friends and guests. Only residents are able to purchase these.
Both residential permits and wheel tax receipts can be taken care of online.
What do street parking signs in Evanston mean?
Here’s how to read the parking signs you’ll come across while parking in the city:
Time limited parking: Only park in this area for the time allowed on the sign.
Residential permit parking sign: If you have a permit for this neighborhood, you can disregard the time limit posted.
Snow Route: Don’t park here if there is more than 2-inches of snow or risk being towed.
What are street parking rules for metered spaces?
Evanston has plenty of street and metered parking that costs between $0.5 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.
Which hours is metered parking in effect?
Parking meters and pay stations are active from 8 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday citywide, and 1 PM to 9 PM on Sundays.
How to find the best cheap parking in Evanston?
Pay attention to Evanston 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:
Where can I find parking garages near downtown?
The easiest way to find parking garages in Evanston 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 Evanston parking ticket?
Costs for parking tickets in Evanston aren’t cheap. If you’re already facing a steep parking ticket bill, you can pay or contest your ticket online.
| Parking Violation | Fee |
| Expired Parking Meter | $25 |
| Street Sweeping Ticket | $75 |
| Sherman Ave. Garage Monthly Permit Fee | $125/month |
| Surface Parking Lot Monthly Permit Fee | $90/month |
How do I pay an Evanston parking ticket?
If you’ve received a parking ticket, you have 10 days to pay or contest it before the fine increases.
What do I do if my car gets towed?
Before you jump to any conclusions, visit the official city towing page. There are several ways you can find out if your car was towed or stolen.
Is metered parking suspended today?
Evanston does give people a break every once in a while. Street parking is free on select parking holidays throughout the year.
Which days are Evanston parking holidays?
Below are the official parking holidays in the city. To know which specific regulations are suspended on these days, please check the SpotAngels app.
| 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 |
| 2024-11-28 | Thanksgiving Day | 2024-11-28 |
| 2024-12-25 | Christmas Day | 2024-12-25 |