Parking and Curbside Management

Parking is an immensely valuable asset to the city. The space by the curb is often in high demand from competing needs – moving people and goods efficiently, accessing businesses and residents, promoting safety for all street users, and enabling business and neighborhood vitality. The Parking and Curbside Management Division works to balance and serve those competing needs as effectively as possible.

There are a number of parking and curbside management programs and policies in place in the City of Providence, described below.

Types of Parking and Curb Uses
Overnight Parking Program
Temporary Parking Needs
Snow Storm Parking
Links, Forms, and Documents
Pilot Parking Program

For overnight, temporary, and other parking permits:
Department of Public Works
(401) 680-7500

For curbside management questions:
Melanie Jewett
Curbside Administrator
mjewett@providenceri.gov
401-680-7573

For parking ticket issues:
Providence Municipal Court
(401) 243-6414

Types of Parking and Curb Uses in Providence

Metered Parking

There are over 2,300 metered parking spots located Downtown, Jewelry District, College Hill, Wayland Square, Atwells Avenue and Smith Hill. The current meter rate is $1.25 per hour, or 25 cents for every 12 minutes. Short-term parking costs are $0.75 for 30 minutes or 25 cents for every 10 minutes.

Parking meters accept coins, but the easiest way to pay for parking is with a credit card or debit card through Passport Parking, which is integrated into the PVD311 app available for download on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Using passport parking through the PVD311 app, add money to your passport account using the wallet feature by credit card and avoid the 2-hour minimum requirement

For information on paying a parking ticket, click here.

Non-metered, free parking

Many non-metered parking spots exist in the City of Providence, some non-metered spaces have time restrictions. On-street parking in Providence is never allowed between 2 AM and 5 AM without an overnight parking permit or guest parking permit.

Please comply with all posted curb use signs. Do not park your vehicle in a No Parking zone, or a zone dedicated to another use, like handicap parking, commercial or passenger loading, or bus stops.

Parking on the sidewalk is illegal. Though many Providence roads are narrow, it is important to maintain accessible sidewalk space for pedestrians and people who may be using mobility devices.

Parking within 25' of  an intersection is illegal. Even without a posted sign State and City prohibits parking within 25' of any intersection.

Accessible Parking

Parking spaces designated for people with disability parking placard are placed throughout the city, focused primarily in business corridors. Stay tuned for a map of these locations, coming soon!

Anyone with a disability parking placard can also park in any legal on-street parking space, including metered spaces, for free.

You may also request accessible parking signs in front of your house if you live in a multi-family building or if your driveway is inaccessible. You’ll find the form below in the “links, forms, and documents” section.

Off-street parking

There are well over 20,000 parking spaces in public and private parking lots and garages within walking distance of most destinations.

Link to a (non-comprehensive) map of off-street parking locations.

Non-Parking Curb Uses

There are also many uses of the curb beyond storing private vehicles. Curbs in Providence may also be dedicated to:

For Providence to be accessible and vibrant for all, these many different curb uses must be managed effectively. The Parking and Curb Management Division is working to strategically plan for the curb to be used most efficiently, accessibly, equitably, and sustainably.

Business interested in passenger pick up / drop off or commercial loading zones should read the forms linked below, compile required information, and contact Melanie Jewett to apply: mjewett@providenceri.gov.

Overnight Parking Program

The Overnight Parking Program helps to manage the number of vehicles that park overnight in Providence neighborhoods. The parking program ensures residents have space to park on the street when needed.

An overnight parking permit is required in the City of Providence from 2 AM to 5 AM.
The Overnight Parking Program helps to manage the number of vehicles that park overnight in Providence neighborhoods. The parking program ensures residents have space to park on the street when needed.

Eligibility requirements for the Overnight Parking Permit:

Each residence may receive up to a total of two overnight parking permits.

To obtain an overnight parking permit, apply online at the link below. You may also apply in-person at the Department of Public Works (700 Allens Avenue, Providence, RI 02905) or the Municipal Court at the Public Safety Complex (325 Washington Street, Providence RI 02905).

Apply for an Overnight Parking Permit

Please note: The City of Providence is transitioning away from overnight permit stickers. Overnight parking permit enforcement is now tracked by license plate. If you apply or renew online, you will not receive a permit sticker in the mail.

Students living in on-campus housing are not eligible to purchase an overnight parking permit.

If you purchase a guest pass, you will need to print the guest permit and tape the pass in the vehicle’s rear window.

Guest Permits
When applying for an overnight parking permit, you can also choose to add on a $25 guest permit. This allows your guests to park overnight on the street five times per month.

Temporary Overnight Parking Permit
This permit is for residents of Providence who have temporary circumstances that require them to park on the street overnight. Some examples of these temporary circumstances are: having a driveway redone, getting work done on your roof requiring machinery to be in your driveway, etc. This permit is NOT for visitors or guests who don’t live in Providence, and it is not for residents of Providence to use under normal circumstances. Apply here

Multi-Family Exception Request
Residents of multi-family buildings with 6 or more units are not eligible for overnight parking permits until the building owner or manager first receives an Exception Approval from the Curbside Administrator. There is no charge to the building owner or manager for an Exception Request. Learn more and apply here.

Temporary Parking Needs

Temporary Paid Parking Permit
For contractors doing work in Providence who need to park near their worksite during the day, but not in a specific parking space, please apply for a Temporary Paid Parking Permit. This permit will enable you to park within a few blocks of a worksite all day, regardless of the time limits in the area. However, this permit cannot be used overnight and it does not override other parking regulations like loading zones, accessible parking spaces, and no-parking areas. Additionally, permits may not be given for certain streets, including Thayer Street, Meeting Street, and Waterman Street.

The form is linked under the “Links, Forms, and Documents” section. You can fill out the form and e-mail it to mjewett@providenceri.gov. We will contact you for payment, and we need at least 2 business days to process.

Emergency No Parking Tow Zone
If you need to reserve a specific parking space, please apply for an Emergency No Parking Tow Zone permit. This is for people who need a space for a moving van, businesses who have a one-time need for space for a bus or food truck, etc. Temporary paper signs will be posted reserving the space.

The form is linked under the “Links, Forms, and Documents” section. You can fill out the form and e-mail it to Nurso@providenceri.gov and Oacevedo@providenceri.gov. We will contact you for payment, and we need at least 2 business days to process.

Temporary Overnight Parking Permit
As described above, this permit is for residents of Providence who have temporary circumstances that require them to park on the street overnight. Some examples of these temporary circumstances are: having a driveway redone, getting work done on your roof requiring machinery to be in your driveway, etc. This permit is NOT for visitors or guests who don’t live in Providence, and it is not for residents of Providence to use under normal circumstances. Apply here

Guest Permits
As described above, guest permits are currently only available to overnight parking permit holders. When applying for an overnight parking permit, you can also choose to add on a $25 guest permit. This allows your guests to park overnight on the street five times per month.

Pod permits
If you need to keep pod temporarily on the street, you can apply for a Dumpster or Pod Permit. The online form can be found here.

Snow Storm Parking

During parking bans all residents are asked to remove their vehicles from the street. This allows our snow plows to safely and effectively clear the streets to improve safety for all road users.

Sign up to receive Parking Ban alerts.

A map of available parking options is below for those in need of alternative parking options during a winter weather event.

Links, Forms, and Documents

Apply for an Overnight Parking Permit Apply for a Guest Parking Permit Parking and Curb Management FAQs Overnight Parking FAQs Report a broken meter or parking payment kiosk Request a Temporary Paid Parking Permit Request an Emergency No Parking Tow Zone permit Apply for a dumpster or pod permit Handicap Parking Street Signs Requests Temporary Overnight Parking Permit 15 Minute PUDO Space Application Commercial Loading Zone Application Pilot Parking Program