Birmingham, AL Parking Rules: Street Parking Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- City Code Title
- Title 10, Ch. 9 (Stopping, Standing and Parking)
- State law
- Ala. Code Sec. 32-5A-136 & 32-5A-137
- Fire hydrant clearance (state)
- 15 feet
- Tow trigger
- 4th violation after 3 unpaid tickets
- Payment
- ParkMobile app / Park Smart meters
Summary
On-street parking in Birmingham is governed by Title 10, Chapter 9 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) of the City Code, layered on top of the Alabama Rules of the Road (Ala. Code Title 32, Chapter 5A). Metered and time-limited curbside parking in the downtown and business districts is managed by the city's Curbside Management division through the ParkMobile / Park Smart program.
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle: (1) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street; (2) On a sidewalk; (3) Within an intersection; (4) On a crosswalk; ... (7) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; ... (12) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
Full Breakdown
Curbside parking in Birmingham is regulated locally under Title 10, Chapter 9 of the General Code (Stopping, Standing and Parking) and is enforced by the Department of Transportation's Curbside Management division. State law sets the baseline: Ala. Code Sec. 32-5A-137 prohibits stopping, standing or parking in specified places (within a crosswalk or intersection, on a sidewalk, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, on a bridge or in a tunnel, alongside an excavation or obstruction, and wherever official signs prohibit parking), and Sec.
32-5A-136 requires that vehicles parked outside business or residence districts be left off the roadway when practicable with a 200-foot clear view in each direction. In the downtown core and other commercial districts, Birmingham operates paid, time-limited on-street parking through its 'Park Smart' program, with payment by meter or the ParkMobile app. In July 2025 the City Council adopted an On-Street Parking Reform Ordinance updating curbside management and enforcement policy.
Violations & Fines
Curbside parking citations are issued by Birmingham Curbside Management and paid through the city's ParkMobile / citation portal. Under the city's enforcement policy, a vehicle that accumulates three unpaid parking violations will be towed upon a fourth violation; the city does not actively search for vehicles with unpaid tickets, but will tow when a new violation is found on a vehicle with three prior unpaid violations. Violations of the state stopping/standing rules (Ala. Code Sec. 32-5A-137) are traffic infractions enforceable by both city and state officers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay for on-street parking in downtown Birmingham?
When will my car be towed for parking tickets?
How far must I park from a fire hydrant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama parking rules overview
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Street Parking Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle street parking limits.