Chattanooga, TN Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

Chattanooga City Code § 24-380 defines a 'restricted on-street parking area' as a contiguous area zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3MD, RZ-1, RT-1 or R-4 that the Transportation Department designates for restricted parking, and a 'commuter vehicle' as a non-resident's car parked there without a permit. Under § 24-381, the City Council must approve a designation before the Transportation Department posts signs and records it on the official traffic records; the Department can start a study on its own initiative or on petition of a majority of area property owners addressed to the Mayor.

on weekdays (excluding city holidays), at least 70% of its legal on-street parking capacity (a legal space counted as 20 linear feet) is occupied, and at least 25% of those parked vehicles are not registered to a resident of the area. The Department also weighs factors including reduced vehicle miles traveled, congestion relief, proximity to transit, and property owners' expressed need. 00 annual fee, makes permits nontransferable, and lets the Department issue free temporary permits for bona fide visitors. Section 24-382 confirms that the areas listed in Schedule VI (§ 24-506) constitute the restricted parking areas in force citywide, and § 24-507's Schedule VII names three currently designated zones: the Fort Wood Historic District (the 800-900 blocks of Oak, Vine and Fort Wood Streets, Clark Street, and the 500 block of Fort Wood Place), the Fort Negley neighborhood (parts of Mitchell Avenue, Read Avenue, E. 16th Street and E. 17th Street), and Battery Place from Mabel Street west to the dead end.