Title
Notice/Advertisement Title: Permit Parking Rules and Regulations
Contact Name: Justin Goodwin
Contact Telephone Number: (614) 724-1893
Contact Email Address: jmgoodwin@columbus.gov
Body
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
I. PURPOSE
The Division of Mobility and Parking Services is committed to providing safe, equitable and predictable mobility and parking options for all residents, guest and visitors in the City of Columbus. We aim to increase mobility choices, manage congestion and facilitate access to goods and services in a city experiencing enormous growth.
The purpose of these rules and regulations is to establish procedures for virtual Permit Parking. The goal of the permit program is to prioritize neighborhood parking, manage the demand for on-street parking created by commercial attractions, promote retail patronage, encourage the use of alternate forms of transportation, and manage congestion in and around Permit Parking Zones.
II. AUTHORITY
A. Pursuant to the authority granted under Section 2105.21 of the Columbus City Codes, as amended, the Director of Public Service hereby adopts, establishes, and publishes these rules and regulations to be effective at the earliest time allowed by law.
B. These rules and regulations supersede all previously promulgated rules and regulations for the permit parking program.
III. DEFINITIONS
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in these rules and regulations, shall have the meanings ascribed to them, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
A. Business Permit means a permit, obtained from the Department, designated for a specific Permit Parking Zone and linked to a license plate number that gives a business owner, manager, or employee permission to park legally, exempt from the posted restriction, within the designated Permit Parking Zone
B. Department means the City of Columbus Department of Public Service.
C. Director means the Director of the Department of Public Service, or designee.
D. Guest Permit means a permit, obtained from the Department, designated for a specific Permit Parking Zone and linked to a license plate number that gives a resident guest permission to park legally, exempt of the posted restriction, within the designated Permit Parking Zone for a defined period of time.
E. Institutional Permit means a permit, obtained from the Department, designated for a specific Permit Parking Zone and linked to a license plate number that gives an institution guest or employee permission to park legally, exempt from the posted restriction, within the designated Permit Parking Zone.
F. License Plate Recognition (LPR) Camera means a device installed upon a City of Columbus parking enforcement vehicle used to efficiently enforce parking restrictions by capturing an image of a vehicle and license plate.
G. Mobile Parking Application (App) means a mobile payment platform, authorized by the City of Columbus, provided to customers to pay for parking at single space and/or multi-space parking meters and mobile payment only zones. Customers of the App are required to enter the appropriate vehicle license plate and Mobile Pay Zone number when using the application.
H. Mobile Pay Zone means the zone number displayed on the posted mobile payment application sign.
I. Parking Services Personnel means any employee or agent of the City of Columbus, Division of Mobility and Parking Services.
J. Parking Permit means a permit, obtained from the Department, designated for a specific Permit Parking Zone and linked to a license plate number that allows that vehicle to park legally, exempt from the posted restriction, within the designated parking permit zone.
K. Permit Parking Zone means an area within the City of Columbus established by the Department where parking is regulated and managed through the issuance of Parking Permits.
L. Property Manager Permit means a permit, obtained from the Department, designated for a property manage to manage a rental property that is located in a Permit Parking Zone and linked to a license plate number that allows that vehicle to park legally, exempt from the posted restriction, within the designated parking permit zone.
IV. PROCEDURE TO ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR REMOVE PERMIT PARKING ZONES
A. Intake
1. A request to establish, modify, or remove a Permit Parking Zone shall be made by the appropriate area commission, civic association, business district, special improvement district, or initiated by Parking Services Personnel.
B. Outreach
1. Parking Services Personnel shall meet with the appropriate area commission, civic association, business district, and/or special improvement district to document the need and potential impact of permit parking.
C. Parking Study
1. Parking Services Personnel shall initiate a parking study and consider the following criteria:
1. Land use makeup of the area to determine the zone boundary; and
2. On-street parking occupancy rates (average occupancy greater than or equal to eighty percent (80%) prompts additional steps in the process).
2. If Parking Services Personnel determines, based on the parking study, the Permit Parking Zone is merited, personnel shall develop a parking plan by working with the area commission, civic association, business district, and/or special improvement district to determine the optimal zone and restriction for the area.
1. Parking Services Personnel shall solicit feedback on the proposed parking plan and must notify, in writing, all addresses in the affected area by United State Postal Service mail of the final parking management plan.
D. Permit Zones
1. Permit Parking Zones are determined by evaluating parking demand and land use makeup to draw boundaries that can easily be understood and efficiently enforced. The zone shall be as broad as possible so that parking pressures are not moved from one area to the next.
2. The Department shall install official parking restriction signs within a Permit Parking Zone displaying the following information:
a. Time limits of the restriction (e.g. 3 hour parking);
b. Hours of the day the restriction is to be enforced (e.g. 8am-10pm);
c. Days of the week the restriction is to be enforced, if not enforced every day of the week;
d. Identification of the permit zone; and
e. Identify if the street is paid parking.
3. If changes are required to the boundaries of an existing Permit Parking Zone, the Director shall notify, in writing, all existing permit holders and potential permit holders impacted by the change through electronic mail or the United States Postal Service.
E. Enforcement
1. Parking Services Personnel shall enforce permit parking with LPR. LPR captures the license plate image when digitally marking a vehicle for movement, identifying permit holders, and vehicles that have paid for parking, where applicable.
2. Images captured by the LPR system shall be purged nightly from the system unless a vehicle is issued a parking citation.
1. Images associated with a vehicle issued a parking citation shall be attached to the citation as evidence of the parking infraction.
3. Plate images are only captured for parking enforcement purposes and are not transmitted to any agency or organization.
F. Evaluation Period
1. The City shall evaluate an existing Permit Parking Zone at the request of the applicable area commission, civic association, business district, and/or special improvement district and may be initiated by Parking Services Personnel. The following variables will be used to evaluate the success of a Permit Parking Zone:
1. On-street parking occupancy;
1. Paid parking (where applicable); and
2. Unpaid, managed parking (where applicable).
2. Permit utilization; and
1. Resident permits;
2. Resident Guest Permits and passes;
3. Business Permits; and
4. Institutional Permits.
3. Mobility option utilization (where applicable).
2. Any modifications to an existing Permit Parking Zone requires notification to stakeholders and property owners.
V. GENERAL RULES
A. Permit Parking General Rules
1. Parking Permits are provided by the City of Columbus as an ability for the permit holder to park in exemption of the posted parking restriction and does not entitle the Parking Permit holder to park illegally or in prohibition of other posted parking or traffic signage. Improper use of a Parking Permit may result in the revocation of the current Parking Permit and/or non-renewal of any future Parking Permits, as determined by the Department. The vehicle in violation may be subject to a parking citation and vehicle impoundment.
2. Only one (1) license plate may be assigned to a Resident, Guest, Business or Institutional Permit at any given time.
3. No Parking Permit shall be issued to a resident, business owner, or employee with unpaid City of Columbus parking tickets.
4. Parking Permits are not valid at single space or multi-space parking meters, or mobile payment only spaces unless otherwise indicated on the posted sign.
5. Parking Permit applications and required documentation may be submitted online at www.parkcolumbus.com, by United States postal mail, or at the Division of Mobility and Parking Services, 2700 Impound Lot Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207. Renewals may be completed online, by United States postal mail, or at the Division of Mobility and Parking Services.
6. A Parking Permit shall become null and void when a resident, business or institution ceases to:
a. Reside or be located within the Permit Parking Zone; or
b. Own property within the Permit Parking Zone; or
c. Be a business owner or an employee of a business within the Permit Parking Zone.
7. If a permit holder changes vehicles, it is the responsibility of the permit holder to update the vehicle license plate number. This can be done online by logging in to the permit holders' account portal at www.parkcolumbus.com or at the Division of Mobility and Parking Services.
VI. PERMITTING
A. Resident Permitting
1. See Table 1 for zone-specific eligibility requirements, required documentation, and fee structure.
2. Any resident that resides in a Permit Parking Zone and meets all eligibility requirements may obtain a Parking Permit by providing a valid government issued photo ID and proof of residency. Acceptable proof of residency shall include one of the following (must match the address of the permit application):
1. Current signed lease or mortgage statement; or
2. Current property tax bill; or
3. Current landline telephone, gas, water, internet or electric bill (mobile phone and cable bills will not be accepted).
3. Applicants who meet specific income guidelines, as stated on the permit application, are eligible for a discounted residential permit for ten dollars ($10) each, which may be renewed on an annual basis. Residents must meet all residency requirements in this Section and provide proper documentation. Documentation is required annually to verify the applicant meets specific income guidelines. Required documentation shall be noted on the application and is subject to change.
4. All permit holders are encouraged to utilize the online permit management system to register the appropriate license plate with each permit. Permit holders not using the online permitting system may contact Parking Services at 614-645-7903 or in-person at 2700 Impound Lot Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207, to update the license plate associated with the resident permit.
B. Resident Guest Permitting
1. See Table 1 for zone-specific eligibility requirements and fee structure.
2. Residents that do not obtain a resident permit but are eligible for a Guest Permit must provide a valid government issued photo ID and proof of residency. See Section VI A(2) for acceptable proof of residency.
3. All permit holders are encouraged to utilize the online permit management system to register the guests’ license plate to access guest parking privileges. Permit holders not using the online permitting system may contact Parking Services at 614-645-7903 or in-person at 2700 Impound Lot Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207, to update the license plate associated with the Guest Permit.
4. Guest parking privileges are only valid in the Permit Parking Zone the resident guest resides in.
5. Reselling guest parking privileges is strictly prohibited. Resident guests found guilty of reselling guest parking privileges shall have all permit privileges revoked.
6. Resident guest privileges may be restricted to manage on-street parking demand and mitigate prohibited uses of guest parking privileges.
C. Business Permitting
1. See Table 1 for zone-specific eligibility requirements, required documentation, and fee structure.
2. Businesses located in a Permit Parking Zone must provide a copy of the business’ active Article of Incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State and a current building lease or proof of building ownership to be eligible for a Parking Permit. Proof of lease must indicate the business as the primary leaseholder and must match the applicant's address.
3. All businesses are required to use the online permit management system to register the employees’ license plate to access parking privileges.
D. Institutional Permitting
1. See Table 1 for zone-specific eligibility requirements, required documentation, and fee structure.
2. Institutions located in a Permit Parking Zone must provide a letter, on organization letterhead, indicating the institution's parking need that supports the number of permits requested and a current building lease or proof of building ownership to be eligible for a Parking Permit. Proof of lease must indicate the institution as the primary leaseholder and must match the application address.
3. All institutions are required to use the online permit management system to register the guests’ license plate to access parking privileges.
E. Miscellaneous Permitting
1. Property Owners/Landlords
a. Upon verification of ownership, property owners that do not reside in a Permit Parking Zone but own a property in the Permit Parking Zone are entitled to one (1) Property Manager Permit for the Parking Permit Zone in which the property is located. If the property owner owns more than one (1) property in the same permit zone, only one (1) Property Manager Permit will be granted. No resident guest parking privileges shall be granted. The cost of the permit is the same as a resident permit.
2. Short-Term Rentals
a. Short-term rentals, as defined under Section 598.01, will be classified as a residence unless the owner can meet the requirements of the business parking program.
VII. REFUNDS, TRANSFERS, AND EXPIRATION
A. Permit fees shall not be refunded.
B. A Parking Permit is specific to a Permit Parking Zone, and shall not be transferred to another permit zone, subsequent household, or business address occupant.
C. See Table 1 for zone-specific expiration information.
VIII. ENFORCEMENT, DENIAL, REVOCATION, SUSPENSION, AND TERMINATION
A. The Department shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of these Rules and Regulations.
B. The Department or the Columbus Division of Police may temporarily suspend permit parking if the public right-of-way is needed for an emergency or temporary use, including, but not limited to, the construction, maintenance, or repair of a street or utility.
C. The use of a Parking Permit is subject to the enforcement of applicable local and state traffic, parking, general offenses, and right-of-way occupancy codes and regulations. Enforcement of these rules and regulations may include parking citation and/or impoundment, suspension, revocation, termination, or denial of a Parking Permit.
D. The Department may deny issuing a Parking Permit or revoke or suspend without refund any portion of any fees for a Parking Permit if:
1. The permit holder fails to comply with the requirements of these rules and regulations or other applicable law;
2. The permit holder makes a false statement of material fact on an application for a Parking Permit;
3. The permit holder misuses, duplicates, or transfers a Parking Permit; or
4. A new owner or tenant provides proof of residency and notification that the permit holder is no longer living at that address
IX. APPEALS
A. The application for appeal shall be on a form provided by the Department; such form shall contain the following information, at a minimum:
1. The name, address, telephone number, and email address of the applicant(s);
2. The reason for the requested appeal; and
3. Any other information requested by the Department for processing and considering the application and under the requirements of these rules and regulations.
B. The Department may request comments from the applicable area commission, civic association, business association, and/or special improvement district that represents the Permit Parking Zone or whose jurisdiction otherwise intersects with permit parking.
C. The Director will review each appeal and provide a decision within thirty (30) days of receiving the appeal and supporting documentation.
D. The Director’s decision is the final appealable order.
BY ORDER:
KELLY SCOCCO, DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE