Nashville Sets Downtown Parking Maximums

Nashville is the latest city to enact a substantive change to the parking requirements set by the city’s zoning code—doing away with parking minimums and setting parking maximums in the city’s Urban Zoning Overlay.

2 minute read

November 20, 2022, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Nashville City Council approved a bill that will replace the city’s downtown parking minimums with parking maximums in the zoning code. The city is the latest to implement changes to its parking regulations in a wave of reform—Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Cincinnati, California, and Oregon have approved historic parking reforms in the second half of 2023.

Previously in Nashville, “property owners and developers seeking permits were required to provide a minimum number of on-site parking spaces. Under the new ordinance, those old parking space minimums have become the new maximum number of spaces allowed for developments on urban-zoned land,” according to an article by Cassandra Stephenson reporting on the change.

“The changes impact Nashville's "Urban Zoning Overlay," an area stretching from East Nashville to Interstate 440 and from Hillwood to portions of South Nashville. Most of the land in this area lies within a quarter mile of bus service lines offered by WeGo, Nashville's public transit system,” adds Stephenson.

The ordinance was approved with the support of politicians and planners. Some opposition was reported among councilmembers who say that the city’s public transit system is not robust enough to reduce parking in downtown. Some residents opposed the change out of concern about spillover parking in nearby residential neighborhoods.

A lot more detail about the ordinance and the surrounding political debate are included at the link below.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 in The Tennessean

View of Interstate 205 bridge over Columbia River with Mt. Hood in background.

The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project

The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.

September 19, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Chicago Intercity Rail

Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects

Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.

September 25, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Google maps street view of San Francisco alleyway.

Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’

A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?

September 26, 2023 - Fast Company

Aerial view of coastal development and bright blue ocean in Kaua'i, Hawai'i.

Kaua’i County Uses Long-Range Models to Mandate Resiliency Standards

The county requires builders to assess potential flood risks using models that account for sea level rise projected as far out as 2100.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Semi truck driving down freeway with twilight sky in background.

California Governor Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban

Gov. Newsom called the new law unnecessary, citing existing efforts by state regulators to develop new rules around autonomous trucking.

2 hours ago - Wired

Roadside motel with turquoise room doors in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Low-Barrier Motel Shelter Is a Success—But Not an Easy One

Many guests at Motels4Now are on their second or third stays—but staff say that's doesn't equal failure, and the numbers bear that out.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.