Scranton, PA Parking Rules: Preferential Parking Districts (2026)
Key Facts
- Impacted-area threshold
- 70%+ of on-street capacity filled
- Non-resident threshold
- 10%+ of parked cars unregistered locally
- Annual permit fee
- $5 per registered vehicle
- Guest permit
- $5/year, one per household
- First-offense fine
- $25 plus costs
Summary
Scranton designates residential parking permit districts under City Code § 439-63 et seq. once on-street parking in a neighborhood fills 70% of legal capacity and at least 10% of the parked cars belong to non-residents. The Bureau of Police runs the program, charging $5 a year per permit good only on the resident's own block.
§ 439-66. Residential area eligibility. A. A residential area shall be deemed impacted and thereby eligible for residential permit parking if: (1) During any period between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. weekdays, except holidays, the number of vehicles parked (or standing) legally or illegally, on the streets in the area equal to 70% or more of the legal on-street parking capacity of the area. For purposes of this criteria, a legal parking space shall be 20 linear feet. (2) During the same period as in Subsection A(1) above, 10% or more of the vehicles parked (or standing) on the streets in the area are not registered in the name of a person residing in this area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4719898; v25 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
The Residential Parking Permit Program in Article VI of Chapter 439, added by Ord. No. 114-1992, lets the Bureau of Police, acting as Administrator, restrict specific streets listed in § 439-64 to permit holders on weekdays. on weekdays, parked vehicles fill 70% or more of legal on-street capacity (a legal space is defined as 20 linear feet) and 10% or more of those vehicles are not registered to a resident of the area. Before designating or removing a district, the Administrator holds a public forum after newspaper notice and reports a recommendation to City Council within 30 days.
Once Council approves a district, § 439-67 limits permits to owners or operators who reside on, or are proprietors adjacent to, a designated street, one permit per vehicle. Section 439-70 sets the annual fee at $5 per registered vehicle, plus $5 for a residential guest permit (one per household per year, usable within one block of the residence) and $5 per thirty-day cycle for a contractor permit, capped at three active permits per property. Each household may hold up to three regular permits and one guest permit.
Permits run January 1 through December 31 and must display on the driver's-side rear window; free temporary special permits for gatherings or visitors are capped at 48 hours and four uses per year.
Violations & Fines
Section 439-71 fines any violation of the article $25 for a first offense and $25 for each subsequent offense, plus costs. A ticket is placed on the windshield and must be paid within three days at Police Headquarters, by mail, or online before the underlying fine rises, and nonpayment can carry up to 10 days' imprisonment. The Administrator may also revoke a permit for a violation, and failing to surrender a revoked permit is a separate violation of the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Scranton street qualify for a residential parking permit district?
How much does a Scranton residential parking permit cost?
Can a visitor legally park in a Scranton residential permit zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scranton
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