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DeKalb County, GA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)

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

Key Facts

Petition threshold
65% of area's residences
Minimum area size
50 addresses or 4,000 ft frontage
Annual permit fee
$12
Free visitor permits
3 per household, 4 more at $15
Governs
Unincorporated DeKalb residential streets

Summary

Residents in eligible unincorporated DeKalb neighborhoods can petition to create a residential permit parking area under Code § 17-154, letting permit-holders park beyond posted street time limits within that zone. Sixty-five percent of an area's residences must sign the petition, and the county director evaluates whether the street qualifies.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of DeKalb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 17-154. - Program established. There is established a residential permit parking program whereby motor vehicles bearing a special parking permit issued pursuant to this division may be parked in excess of the time limits posted on streets within certain areas known as residential permit parking areas.

Full Breakdown

' To start one, residents petition the public works transportation division director under § 17-156, and the petition needs signatures from at least sixty-five percent of the residences in the proposed area, one signature per street address. Section 17-157 sets the eligibility bar: the area must contain at least fifty single-family street addresses, or at least 4,000 linear feet of street frontage measured from adjacent intersection centers, before the director can designate it. Once approved, § 17-159 sets a $12 annual permit fee, and § 17-160 lets each resident get three free visitor permits, with up to four more available at $15 each, capped at seven visitor permits per household per year.

Permits must be displayed as a decal 'permanently attached to the inside lower corner of the rear window driver's side' under § 17-161. A permit holder gets to park without time-limit restriction inside their designated area, but the permit doesn't reserve a specific space and doesn't override other parking prohibitions, per § 17-165. Areas can also be dissolved: § 17-164 lets residents petition to terminate the program on the same 65-percent threshold, and once terminated a street is ineligible to rejoin the program for 24 months.

Violations & Fines

Section 17-155 makes it a separate violation to furnish false information on a permit application, to let someone else use your permit on a different vehicle, or to display a counterfeit or facsimile permit to dodge posted time limits; each is 'unlawful and a violation of this division,' punishable under § 1-10, the county's general penalty section covering fines and possible jail time for a personally served citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a residential parking permit area created on my DeKalb County street?
You petition the public works transportation division director under § 17-156, with signatures from at least 65 percent of the residences in the proposed area. The area also has to meet the § 17-157 size threshold: at least 50 single-family addresses or 4,000 linear feet of street frontage.
How much does a residential parking permit cost in DeKalb County?
Full-term resident permits run for one year at $12 under § 17-159. Each household also gets three free visitor permits, with up to four additional visitor permits available at $15 apiece.
Does a residential parking permit guarantee me a spot in front of my house?
No. Section 17-165 states a permit lets you park without being limited by posted time restrictions inside your designated area, but it does not guarantee or reserve any specific parking space.
What happens if I let someone borrow my DeKalb County parking permit?
It's a violation. Section 17-155(b) makes it unlawful for a permit holder to let their permit be used or displayed on a different vehicle, punishable under the county's general penalty section, § 1-10.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in DeKalb County

All DeKalb County rules

Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia parking rules overview

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