Albany, NY Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)

The core rule of Article VIII is straightforward: no person shall park a vehicle in any one parking zone for more than two consecutive hours per day between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM on weekdays, except holidays, along designated residential parking permit areas, unless the vehicle is issued a valid parking permit. Outside those hours and on weekends, parking is open to anyone, subject to other Chapter 359 restrictions (fire hydrants, crosswalks, etc.). Permits are administered by the Office of the City Clerk. Applicants must present a valid driver's license and current vehicle registration tying the vehicle to a Permit Area address. The City Clerk's Office accepts new applications Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; online renewals and new applications can be submitted at albany.cmrpay.com. There is a limit of one visitor permit per household, activated and renewed at permitvats.com; visitor permits should not exceed consecutive use of more than one week (five business days) unless approved.

The Common Council passed Ordinance 20.62.24 (Romero, AA-25.11.117) authorizing an expansion of the RPPS that took effect February 15, 2026, with modifications to zone boundaries and additional designated permit-parking streets. Penalties for RPPS violations live in Article IX (Penalties for Parking Violations) of Chapter 359; a vehicle parked in a Permit Area in violation of Article VIII may be issued a $50 parking ticket. Outside the RPPS zones, Albany has no general 72-hour citywide limit codified in Article VIII — instead, parking enforcement (Albany Parking Authority, street sweepers, snow operations) is handled under the broader Chapter 359 traffic regulations.