What are Critical Parking Areas?
Critical Parking Areas are residential on-street permit parking areas that are intended to provide relief to neighborhood residents from parked vehicles by persons who have no association with the residents or businesses in the neighborhood.
Minneapolis Ordinance (Title 18, Chapter 478) states that no Critical Parking Area may be established unless the following findings have been made as determined by an engineering study from the Minneapolis Public Works Department:
- The area is detrimentally impacted by parking of commuter, student, customer or visitor/guest vehicles generated by area businesses, institutions or recreational/entertainment facilities during the proposed hours of restriction;
- The area does not have sufficient off-street vehicular parking for the use and convenience of the residents thereof in the vicinity of their homes;
- Vehicle noise, pollution or congestion will work unacceptable hardships on the residents of the area if present parking is allowed to continue unregulated;
- The health, safety and welfare of residents of the area and the city as a whole and the attractiveness and livability of specific neighborhoods will be promoted by a system of preferential parking enacted under this section
Critical Parking Permits are required to park in designated Critical Parking Areas during the posted times. Permits are only for licensed drivers who are residents and businesses at qualified addresses.
Participation is optional. It is not necessary for residents or businesses to purchase a Critical Parking Permit if they do not plan to park on the street during restricted hours.
Last updated Sep. 27, 2011