Residential Parking Districts Coming Soon to NYC?

It may comes as a surprise that the nation's most sought after free parking in residential neighborhoods is not reserved for the privileged who live there, allowing commuters and others to exploit this unpriced resource. This may end.

2 minute read

November 9, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


On Nov. 3, the City Council held a public meeting to hear from residents about a zoning strategy that has long been popular in other cities, college communities, and other locals where residents have to compete with commuters who seek free, all-day parking.

"Permit parking is long overdue in Downtown Brooklyn, Western Queens, Upper Manhattan and other communities where residents must circle for hours trying to find parking near their homes," said state Sen. Daniel Squadron, who is co-sponsoring the legislation with another Brooklyn Democrat, Assemblywoman Joan Millman.

"Under the proposed legislation, the city would determine which neighborhoods get the permit perks and what hours the new regulations would be in effect.

Residents would pay a fee for the permits, and 20 percent of all spaces in the permit zones would be made available as short term parking for nonresidents. Commercial strips would not qualify

The state Assembly is already supportive of the permit plan but the state Senate is undecided."

Previously, Mayor Bloomberg had included residential-permit parking as part of his failed congestion pricing plan in 2008.

From Streetsblog: Council Committee Endorses Residential Parking Permits Over DOT Objections: "While most council members wanted to see residential parking permits brought to neighborhoods across the city, the Department of Transportation opposed RPP except perhaps in the areas immediately around stadiums. The action in the City Council today marked an early milestone in what would be a complicated path to passage."

Thanks to Mayer Horn

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 in New York Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Aerial view of large complex of apartment buildings surrounded by fall foliage trees in suburban Dallas, Texas.

Renters Now Outnumber Homeowners in Over 200 US Suburbs

High housing costs in city centers and the new-found flexibility offered by remote work are pushing more renters to suburban areas.

June 6 - Point2

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6 - PC Magazine

Worker in hard hat stands in front of oil pipeline under construction with yellow heavy equipment.

Supreme Court Ruling in Pipeline Case Guts Federal Environmental Law

The decision limits the scope of a federal law that mandates extensive environmental impact reviews of energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects.

June 5 - NPR

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.