City of Houston > Parking Management

Question: Why can't I feed the meter to continue parking in a space beyond the posted time limits (overtime parking)?
Answer: Curbside parking is the most convenient parking available for visitors and patrons in the Central Business District. Time limits are enforced to encourage turnover of these parking spaces and leave them open for drivers requiring short-term parking.

Parkers requiring long-term parking are encouraged to park off-street in a surface lot or garage.

When time limits are not enforced, spaces tend to be taken by employees who keep the spaces busy for eight to 10 hours per day. This forces visitors to use more inconvenient parking spaces that may not be located close to their final destination. The lack of convenient parking also encourages some drivers to circle locations diminishing the air quality as they search for an available metered space.

Moving long-term parkers into off-street parking allows patrons to enjoy convenient parking while visiting downtown attractions.

Parking time-limits vary depending on the business type within the vicinity. Downtown Houston has time limits ranging from 30 minutes for loading zones to two to four hours in other areas. Blocks on the outskirts of downtown have time limits which extend from six to 10 hours.

Question: When are parking meters enforced?
Answer: Parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except where posted signs indicate otherwise. Parking meters are not enforced on Official 2009 City Holidays.

Question: How do I pay my citation online?
Answer: It's easy! Have your citation number and credit card handy, and go to: www.texasonline.state.tx.us

Question: How can I contest my citation?
Answer: To contest a citation, you are required to visit a hearing officer within 45 days from the date your ticket is issued. Stop by the Parking Adjudication office, 1400 Lubbock , Mon. – Fri., between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Appointments aren't necessary, all hearings are held on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking Citation Hearing Procedures
- English (.pdf)
- Spanish (.pdf)

Question: What if I am dissatisfied with the hearing officer's decision?
Answer: You can appeal to the Municipal Court by filing a petition no later than the 30th day after the filing of the hearing officer's order.

The petition must be filed with the Parking Management Cashier at the Municipal Court, 1400 Lubbock. You must post a cash bond for the parking citation(s), a $10 administrative fee for the first parking citation and $5 for any additional citation(s). If the appeal is successful, these fees are refunded.

Question: How can I obtain a residential permit?
Answer: Simply fill out the Residential Permit Form (.pdf) and return, along with payment, to:

Parking Management Division / General Services Department / 1001 Avenida de las Americas / Houston, TX, 77010

$20 for the first two permits
$2 for each additional permit
The maximum number of permits per household is equal to the number of vehicles registered to that address plus two (2) visitor hangtags.

Question: What is the fine for parking in a Residential Parking Permit area without a valid permit?
Answer: Vehicles parked in a Residential Permit area without a valid permit are subject to citation. The violation fine is $65. For a complete list of parking fines, see www.houstontx.gov/parking/violationcodes.htm.

Question: How can I request a meter bagging permit?
Answer: Meter bagging permits are issued for construction, film/photo productions and special events. Commercial loading/unloading zone meters are not available for rent. In addition, if parking restrictions exist on the meter(s) you have rented, these restrictions still must be followed.

For example, Louisiana Street has mobility restrictions from 7 - 9 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m., Mon. - Fri. Even though you have rented the meter for the entire day, parking is not allowed at the meter during these hours. If restrictions are not followed, vehicles will be subject to a parking citation.

To view, please complete and fax this PDF form below (you will need the freely available Adobe Reader software to view the file) to 713.853.8278 or mail to Parking Management at 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX, 77010.

Question: What is a boot?
Answer: The boot is a device designed to immobilize a vehicle. Boots do not damage a vehicle as long as no attempt is made to move a booted vehicle.

Question: How does a vehicle get "booted"?
Answer: Vehicles that have three or more outstanding citations (105 days overdue) are boot-eligible.

Question: What are the boot fees?
Answer: Besides the outstanding parking citations, booted vehicles accumulate the following charges:

$100 boot fee
$100 administrative fee
$134.50 wrecker fee
$15 storage fee per day
$20 impound fee (one-time fee)
$10 document fee
8.25% taxes
$50 notification fee (vehicles that are impounded for more than 24 hours)

Question: I received a notice that my vehicle is "boot-eligible." What do I do?
Answer: You received the notice because you are the registered owner of the vehicle when the citations were issued or the registered owner has identified you to us as being the actual owner of the vehicle at the time the citations were issued. You have until the date on the notice to take action on the parking citations.

Question: My car was booted. What do I do now?
Answer: You have three options:

Go to the Municipal Court, 1400 Lubbock, and pay all the outstanding parking citations and applicable fees.
Call 3-1-1 and pay outstanding citations and applicable fee by Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.
Request a boot hearing by visiting the Parking Adjudication Office, 1400 Lubbock.

Question: I parked my vehicle in a non-City owned parking lot and it’s been booted? What do I do?
Answer: If you paid to park in the lot and can provide a copy of your receipt, the lot owner must release your vehicle, but a $25 administrative fee may be charged. If you cannot provide proof of payment for the parking, you may be charged up to $100 plus the parking fees to remove the boot. If you feel you were unfairly booted, you may request a boot hearing in the Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (http://www.jp.hctx.net/tow/TowHearings.pdf).

If you would like to report unfair business practices of a booting operator, please contact the Police Department’s Auto Dealers Detail at 713-308-1440.

Question: What is a boot hearing?
Answer: At the boot hearing, the hearing officer will determine if you were properly booted according to City Ordinance. If the hearing officer finds you liable, you are responsible for the outstanding citations and boot fees. If the hearing officer finds you not liable, those fees will be waived.

Question: What is a commercial vehicle loading / unloading zone (CVLZ)?
Answer: City Ordinance requires all commercial vehicles to display a registered permit or park at a designated parking meter at $5 per hour.

Question: Where can I report a nonfunctioning meter?
Answer: Call 3-1-1 (inside City limits) or 713.837.0311 (outside City limits). You may also send an e-mail to 311@cityofhouston.net.

Question: Can I legally park at a nonfunctioning meter?
Answer: According to City Ordinance, parkers may receive a citation while parked at a non-functioning meter. We encourage public parkers to report non-functioning meters to 3-1-1 as soon as possible with the exact location and meter number.

Question: I received a parking violation notice in the mail for a vehicle I sold recently. How do I resolve this situation?

Question: Where can I find a list of all parking ordinances?
Answer: Access City of Houston parking ordinances, Chapter 26, at: www.houstontx.gov/codes.

Question: Why can't I park anywhere in my own community? At times, I feel like the city uses parking citations simply as a "revenue generator." What is the reason for so many restrictions?
Answer: At Parking Management, we enforce parking ordinances to ensure the safety of our citizens. Yes, citations do generate revenue, but the restrictions are enforced for the benefit of safety. For instance, vehicles parked on both sides of "skinny" streets make it extremely difficult for large emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances to pass through. Parking Management must enforce restrictions, such as 'No Parking Zones,' in some communities to make way for these vehicles.

Question: My car was towed – is there anything I can do?
Answer: You may contest a tow by visiting the Harris County JP Central Case Processing Unit, 1201 Franklin 7th floor, Houston, 77002 or calling 713.755.2861. Additional information available at www.jp.hctx.net/tow/TowHearings.pdf.