Frequently Asked Questions
Pilot Residential Parking Program
Q. What is the Residential Parking Program?
A. The Residential Permit Parking Pilot is an experimental program conducted by the City of Providence to allow overnight parking on selected residential streets. As the number of cars increases in the city, off-street parking is becoming harder to find and increasingly expensive and often results in excessive paving of yards. In addition to providing much-needed parking spaces, the overnight on-street parking pilot will have the added benefit of slowing traffic on residential streets. The pilot will run until June 30, 2009. At its conclusion, and after evaluation, the City will decide if the program will become permanent and will consider expanding it to other residential areas of the city based on neighborhood demand.
Q. How can I tell if my street is included in the pilot program?
A. The pilot program is being conducted in Washington Park.
Q. What if my street was not on the list?
A. It means that your street is not included in the pilot program, and your vehicle(s) cannot be parked overnight on city streets.
Q. How does the program work?
A. If you live on a street that is included in the program, and your car is registered with the RI DMV at that address, you are eligible. A window sticker will be provided as evidence of registration, and you will be permitted to leave your registered car overnight on a street within the pilot area. Areas designated for such use are marked by signs reading “NO PARKING 11:00 PM TO 6:00 AM EXCEPT BY RESIDENT PERMIT.” Naturally, you will need to park your car in a space that is otherwise legal (for example, you cannot park in front of a fire hydrant or within 25 feet of a corner). When a parking ban (such as a snow emergency) is declared, you must remove your car from the street for the duration of the ban.
Q. How many cars can be registered for overnight parking?
A. Up to 2 per household. Any more than that must be parked off-street overnight.
Q: If I have two vehicles, do I have to apply individually for a permit for each vehicle?
A: Yes. Separate applications for each vehicle are required, but you need not come in person. They may be submitted at the same time, but the permits will be issued for the vehicles – not for the owner.
Q: If my spouse has a vehicle and I have a vehicle, do each of us have to apply for a permit for each individual vehicle?
A: You do not need to personally apply for a permit, but remember that the permit is issued for a specific vehicle based on the residency of a specific owner. Accordingly, each vehicle requires an individual permit.
Q: I have two roommates, both of whom have resident permits. Am I eligible to receive a permit too?
A: No. Only two permits per household may be issued. Arrangements must be made within households to allocate the resident permits available.
Q. What is the cost?
A. The cost to register is $25.00 per car. Any unpaid tickets issued by the Providence Police and the car’s vehicle (excise) tax must be paid in order to obtain a permit for your car.
Q. How do I apply?
A. Simply come to Providence Municipal Court with a valid (original, no photocopies) RI registration that shows the address of a street in the pilot parking area. Municipal Court is located on the first floor of the City of Providence Public Safety Complex, 325 Washington Street, located between Dean Street and I-95 Service Road #7. Applications can be made between 8:30 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
Q. Must I come in person?
A. No. However, each permit is valid only for the car matching the registration presented. Remember, only 2 are allowed per household.
What happens if:
Q.My car is stolen?
A: Call the police immediately and report it stolen. We will cancel the residential permit for that car. You can obtain a replacement for another car or the recovered car ONLY if you present a copy of the stolen car report. There is no charge for the replacement sticker.
Q.My vehicle is in an accident and the glass is replaced?
A: Bring us a repair receipt to show replacement of the glass. Unless you can prove the window was replaced, we cannot issue another parking permit. If you can remove the parking sticker, bring it in and we will replace it free of charge. If not, you will need to pay an additional $25.00 for a new permit sticker.
Q.I change the license plate or buy a new car and transfer the license plate to the new car?
A: You can get a free replacement ONLY if you bring in the removed original permit sticker. Without the removed original permit, however, you will need to pay an additional $25.00.
Q.I just moved to the neighborhood, and the prior residents had permits assigned to that address?
A: If you are renting, bring in the lease and a note from the landlord indicating the name(s) of the tenants who moved. If you purchased a home, bring a copy of the settlement. In both cases, we will cancel the permits for those who moved and issue a permit to you for the normal fee.
Q.I drive a company car registered to my business address?
A: Your vehicle is NOT eligible for a permit if it is not registered within the pilot area.
Q.I drive a government vehicle?
A: You may obtain a permit if you present a letter from your government agency authorizing you to drive, and which contains the license plate of the vehicle. Your driver’s license must show an address within the pilot area and you must pay the normal fee.
Q. Anything else?
A. The permit must be permanently attached to the upper corner of the interior of the car’s rear window on the driver’s side, and is valid only for the car registered.
City Hall Contact Information & Hours
Providence City Hall
Phone: (401) 421-7740 · TDD (401) 751-0203
25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903Hours *
Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Summer Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm* Special early closing times to service the last customer apply to certain Departments. To ensure that you're not disappointed, please call ahead or arrive before 4:00pm.
