Bethlehem, PA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

Article 534 creates the Residential Permit Parking (RPP) Program to ease resident parking hardship, preserve neighborhood quality and improve air quality, administered by the Bethlehem Parking Authority under Section 534.01. Section 534.02 authorizes the Authority to designate streets and public areas as RPP zones where permitted resident vehicles can park without the time restrictions otherwise posted, while non-permitted vehicles are limited to the time on posted signs. Outside the Central Business District (defined by Section 534.03 as specific boundary streets on both sides of the Lehigh River), Section 534.04 sets the qualifying criteria: at least 50% of street-level front footage must be residential or non-business use, on-street occupancy must hit 70% or more of legal capacity (a legal space counted as 20 linear feet) between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. weekdays excluding holidays, and 25% or more of the parked vehicles must belong to people living more than three blocks away.

Section 534.05 requires resident petitions and Parking Authority surveys before designation. Permits under Section 534.06 go to vehicle owners or operators registered at an address in the RPP area, with separate categories for residents, 14-day visitor permits (capped at two per household), student permits (capped at two per address), employee/business-owner permits (capped at 60% of vacant spaces per block, valid 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays only), and summer student permits valid June 1 through August 31. Section 534.10 sets fees: $20 initial and $10 annual renewal for residents and students, $50 initial and $40 renewal for employees/business owners (plus a refundable $10 deposit), and $20 initial and $10 renewal for special permits. Commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds are ineligible.