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Bloomington, IL Parking Rules: Overnight Parking (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Core restriction
3:00-5:00 a.m. alternate side
Governing section
§ 29-1810 (Schedule X)
Enforcing agency
Bloomington Police Department
Fine range
$50-$500 under § 29-1701
Sign requirement
Posted signs required first

Summary

In the City of Bloomington, City Code § 29-1810 (Schedule X) bars parking between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on posted alternate-side streets inside a mapped zone bounded by Gridley, Douglas, East, Locust, U.S. 51, Monroe, Roosevelt, Grove and Olive Streets, with day-specific side exceptions on parts of Jefferson, Main and Washington Streets. Signs must be posted before the restriction applies.

In accordance with § 29-1604, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle between the hours specified herein on the specified days upon any of the streets or parts of streets as follows: Alternate Side Parking — 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. ... Jefferson Street between Prairie Street and Gridley Street. In the area described above, vehicles are allowed to park during this period on the west side and north sides of the streets on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and on the east and south sides of the streets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Full Breakdown

Bloomington City Code § 29-1810, added as Schedule X under Ordinance No. 2012-57, prohibits parking on designated streets between the hours specified once warning signs are erected, with authority traced to § 29-1604. S. 51 southbound, Monroe, Roosevelt, Grove, Olive and Madison Streets before closing the loop, covering much of central Bloomington near downtown. Three segments carry their own side-by-day pattern instead of a strict alternate-side rule: on Jefferson Street between Prairie and Gridley, parking is allowed on the west/north sides Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and on the east/south sides Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; on Main Street between Market and Mulberry, the west side is open six days and the east side only Tuesday and Sunday; and on Washington Street between Center and Main, only the south side opens, on Tuesday and Sunday.

Separate Schedule X entries added under Ordinance No. ) and the Atwood Wayside Lot area (24-hour restriction). Enforcement runs through the Bloomington Police Department, which issues citations under Article XVII of Chapter 29.

Violations & Fines

Parking on a posted alternate-side or restricted-hours street listed in § 29-1810 during the prohibited window is a citable offense once warning signs are up. Because Schedule X sets no fine of its own, the general Chapter 29 penalty in § 29-1701 applies: not less than $50 nor more than $500 for a violation, with repeat offenses within a twelve-month period tracked separately. Vehicles may also be ticketed and are subject to towing under related chapter provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the overnight parking ban apply citywide in Bloomington?
No. Section 29-1810's 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. alternate-side rule only covers streets inside the mapped boundary running through Gridley, Douglas, East, Locust, U.S. 51, Monroe, Roosevelt, Grove and Olive Streets, plus separately listed streets with their own posted hours; check for posted signs before assuming a block is covered.
What happens if I park on the wrong side during the alternate-side window?
The vehicle is cited under Chapter 29, and because Schedule X sets no special fine, the citywide parking penalty in § 29-1701 applies: not less than $50 and up to $500.
Are Jefferson, Main and Washington Streets covered by the same rule?
They follow a side-by-day pattern instead of alternating nightly. Jefferson between Prairie and Gridley, for example, opens its west/north side Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and its east/south side the other days.

Sources & Official References

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