Nashville, TN Parking Rules: Dibs & Space Saving (2026)

Nashville does not have a formal 'dibs' or space-saving ordinance for public parking spaces. The practice of placing personal items in parking spots to reserve them after shoveling snow is not a significant cultural practice in Nashville, as the city's winters are relatively mild. Nashville receives an average of about 4 inches of snow per year, with significant snow events being rare. The city's parking challenges are more related to the booming entertainment and tourism industry than to winter weather. Under Metro Nashville code, placing unauthorized objects in the public right-of-way including streets and parking lanes is generally prohibited. Items placed in parking spaces may be treated as obstructions and removed. During occasional winter weather events, the Metro Nashville Department of Transportation manages road clearing on priority routes rather than individual parking space management. The city does not have a formal snow emergency parking system. Nashville's parking regulations focus on metered parking enforcement, residential parking permits, and event-day parking management around entertainment venues. The Metropolitan Traffic and Parking Commission oversees parking regulations citywide.