On-street parking in Fort Smith is governed by Chapter 24 (Traffic) of the Fort Smith Municipal Code together with the residential parking rules in Section 14-50 et seq. and the Arkansas state parking framework at A.C.A. §27-51-1301 et seq. Vehicles must be registered to park on residential streets and must be moved every 72 hours. As of August 2025 the Fort Smith Board of Directors voted to remove downtown parking meters.
Fort Smith's street-parking framework combines state statute and local ordinance. Arkansas Code §27-51-1301 through §27-51-1309 establishes statewide parking restrictions, including the setbacks from fire hydrants (15 feet), crosswalks at intersections (20 feet), stop signs and traffic-control signals (30 feet), and prohibitions on parking on sidewalks, in front of driveways, on bridges, in tunnels, and in front of public or private driveways. Chapter 24 (Traffic) of the Fort Smith Municipal Code layers city-specific rules, including signed time limits, no-parking zones and tow-away zones. Section 14-50 governs residential-street parking - vehicles must be registered to park on any residential street and must be moved every 72 hours at minimum. On August 5, 2025 the Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a resolution to remove downtown parking meters; the change followed a study period (Nov. 24, 2023 - Mar. 31, 2024) during which fees were waived. Parking around the Sebastian County Courthouse remains time-limited and is managed by the County. The Fort Smith Police Department handles on-street enforcement and the Engineering Department administers downtown loading zones and signed restrictions.
Parking ticket fines are set by the City's parking-fine schedule under Chapter 24 (Traffic) and the general-penalty provisions of the Fort Smith Municipal Code; vehicles in violation may be towed under A.C.A. §27-50-1201 et seq. and the City's tow contract. A vehicle left more than 72 hours on a residential street in violation of Section 14-50 may be tagged, ticketed and ultimately impounded as an unattended vehicle. Disputed tickets are heard in Fort Smith District Court.
Fort Smith, AR
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See how Fort Smith's street parking limits rules stack up against other locations.
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