What Are the Parking Rules in Nashville?

February 19, 2026

Nashville’s parking rules have gone through two major overhauls since 2023. The first, in February 2023, eliminated free evening and Sunday parking downtown and moved to 24/7 enforcement in the CBD. The second, in April 2025, replaced the unpopular 2-3 hour hard limit with a tiered pricing structure allowing up to 10 hours at the same spot. Here is the current structure as of April 2025.

On-Street Meters: The Current Rules

Central Parking District (downtown and SoBro):

  • Rate: $2.00 per hour for hours 0-2, $5.00 per hour for hours 3-4, $6.00 per hour for hours 5-10
  • Maximum: 10 hours
  • Enforcement: 24/7, every day including Sundays and holidays

Non-Central Parking District (Midtown, West End, Germantown, Vanderbilt area):

  • Rate: Same tiered structure as above ($2/hr for 0-2 hrs, $3/hr for 3-4 hrs, $4/hr for 5+ hrs)
  • Enforcement: 6 AM to midnight, seven days a week
  • Economy Zone 9 (Edgehill, select underutilized areas): $1.00/hour, 10-hour max

These rates took effect April 7, 2025, replacing the previous $2.25/hour flat rate with 2-3 hour hard limit.

Payment Methods

Nashville uses multi-space pay stations and the ParkMobile app. Payment options at stations: credit card, coin, or phone via the Park Smart QR code. Credit card transactions at the pay station and online incur a small convenience fee. The ParkMobile app is the most practical option because it allows remote session extension.

Handicap Parking

Drivers with valid handicap placards or license plates park free at all Nashville meters, per Tennessee Statute T.C.A. Section 55-21-105. This applies to both CBD and non-CBD meters, at all hours.

Residential Permit Zones

Permit zones exist in several Nashville neighborhoods including parts of Germantown, 12 South, Edgehill, and East Nashville. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours without a permit. The signs are sometimes small and easy to miss. If you see “Permit Required” signage, you need to check what the non-resident time limit is and whether you are within it.

Private Lots

Metro does not regulate private lot pricing or rules. Private operators set their own rates and time limits. Fines from private operators are civil matters, not Metro citations, but they can boot your vehicle and the outstanding balance will follow your license plate to any lot operated by the same company. Do not ignore private lot tickets.

Violations and Fines

  • Expired or unpaid meter: approximately $70
  • Illegal parking spot: approximately $94
  • Unpaid tickets past the compliance date: litigation taxes added, total can exceed $100 from a smaller original fine
  • Three or more unpaid Metro tickets: vehicle subject to booting or towing

The compliance window to pay or appeal is 15 days. After that, fines escalate. Metro can and does garnish wages and levy bank accounts for sustained non-payment of parking judgments.

Tow-Away Zones

Active during events at Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium, and Ascend Amphitheater. Private towing companies operate on event nights near these venues. Towing costs run $150 to $200 plus storage. Always check signs in the event venue radius before leaving your car.

Sources

  • Metro Nashville NDOT: nashville.gov/departments/transportation/traffic-and-parking/parking/paid-parking
  • Metro Nashville Parking Enforcement: nashville.gov/departments/transportation/traffic-and-parking/parking/parking-enforcement
  • WSMV: “Free Sunday, overnight parking eliminated in Downtown Nashville,” February 2023
  • Fox17 Nashville: “Nashville’s parking policies: More meters, stricter enforcement,” November 2023
  • WSMV: “Major changes being rolled out this week across Nashville’s street parking system,” April 2025
  • Fox17: “Nashville rolls out new parking rate changes,” April 2025 (tiered rates confirmed)
  • WKRN: “New 10-hour parking model passed in Nashville,” October 2024
  • Tennessee Statute T.C.A. Section 55-21-105 (handicap placard free meter parking)

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