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1. What is the 24hr parking rule?

No parking is to exceed 24 hours in the same location on any city street. You must move your vehicle to another location every 24 hours or it may be cited or towed. The city employs a full-time enforcement officer to address 24-hour parking. The 24-hour parking ordinance is enforced in order to allow all residents equal access to parking on city streets and to curb storage parking. If we did not enforce 24-hour parking, it would be possible for a resident of one street, say Franklin Avenue, to park their car on Elmwood Street in front of someone’s house and leave it for months at a time. Before the ordinance was enacted and enforced, we would receive numerous complaints that residents couldn’t park anywhere near their homes, that they had no place for visitors to park, and other similar complaints. Since enforcement of the 24-hour ordinance began, these complaints have subsided. Even though you can’t park in the same place for more than 24 hours, you should remember that no one else can either, and the chances of you finding a parking space near your residence is greatly increased by our enforcement of the ordinance.

2. Which areas are limited to two-hour parking?

The vast majority of parking meters have a two-hour limit, except for the parking meters above the first floor of the parking garage. The two-hour limit meters are clearly marked. After the two-hour limit, you must move your vehicle to a non-adjoining space. Having additional time on the meter after two hours has no bearing on this violation. In other words, you can still be cited for the two-hour limit even though the meter has not yet expired. Each two-hour period over the limit will result in an additional citation, so it is important when parking in a metered space that you move your vehicle every two hours.

3. May I park on the sidewalk?

Parking on or across a sidewalk is prohibited, even if you are parked in your own private driveway. Parking in the area between the sidewalk and the curb line is also prohibited. We enforce this ordinance because we don’t want our pedestrians to have to walk into the street to walk around vehicles that are blocking the sidewalk. It is of special concern when a parent pushing a baby stroller or a person in a wheelchair has to enter into the roadway to avoid a vehicle blocking the sidewalk. For this reason, we enforce this ordinance.

4. What does a yellow curb indicate?

Yellow curbs mean no stopping, standing, or parking. This includes areas near ATMs, Chubb Hall, Alden Library, etc. Yellow curbs are painted as such for a reason, mostly for safety concerns regarding traffic flow and visibility. When someone parks on a yellow curb, they are putting all other motorists and pedestrians at risk. Do not park on a yellow curb to run to an ATM machine. At the very least, you will be asked to move, and most of the time you will be cited. If you decide to park on a yellow curb to go to an ATM machine, you should probably go ahead and get some extra money to pay the parking ticket you will eventually receive once discovered.

5. Is it legal to block a private drive?

Parking spaces are scarce in the areas near campus. Do not block someone’s private drive. For all complaints we receive for a blocked private drive, we will cite and tow the vehicle. Usually we receive complaints from the resident stating they are blocked in and need to leave. This is why we tow the vehicle, to allow the resident to leave. Be considerate and make sure you aren’t making someone late because you have them blocked in.

6. What areas may have restricted parking?

Read and adhere to the language on all no parking and limited parking signs. If you find a parking space that is too good to be true, you might consider looking for signs that restrict parking. Common violations in this area include the theater zone on South Court Street, loading zones, areas marked with “No Parking Here to Corner” signs, the school zones on South Lancaster and North High Street, etc. Take the time when parking to look for signs in the area limiting or restricting parking.

7. What are the restrictions to parking downtown?

Parking is restricted between 4:00 am and 6:00 am on Court Street, South Congress, East and West Union, West State, and West Washington. This restriction is stated in numerous ways to include signs and stickers on each meter. Be sure to move your vehicle from these areas between 4:00 am and 6:00 am.

8. My vehicle has been towed from a private lot. Who do I contact?

Our department does not tow vehicles from private parking lots. Owners of the lots contract with towing companies to patrol their private lots and tow vehicles without permits or permission to park. If your vehicle is towed from a private lot, you must locate the posted sign in the lot to determine where your car has been towed. ORC 4513.60 regulates the requirements of the signage posted in all private lots. If you feel the signage is not in compliance with the legal requirements of ORC 4513.60, or if no sign exists, you can call the Athens Police Department to file a complaint of “Illegal Private Tow.” We would ask that you research the law online prior to filing a complaint.

9. How do I pay a parking ticket?

Pay your tickets promptly. By city ordinance, fines are substantially increased if a ticket is not paid within five straight days. Tickets may be paid as follows: At the Athens Police Department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Online By calling (800) 984-5973 By placing the ticket and exact fine amount in the provided courtesy envelope and depositing it in the yellow courtesy boxes located on various meters throughout the metered parking area. Do not place your tickets in a US Postal Service mail box. If you have questions about parking in Athens, call our Parking Enforcement Division at (740) 592-3308.