Nashville’s parking enforcement is concentrated downtown, where five Metro enforcement officers write an average of 2,800 tickets per month. Two-thirds of those tickets are issued within the core downtown loop formed by I-40, I-65, and I-24. The rules changed significantly in 2023, and many drivers are still operating on outdated assumptions.
Know the Meter Rules Before You Park
The biggest source of confusion is the 2023 overhaul of downtown metering. Key facts:
- CBD meters run 24/7. The old assumption that meters turned off at night or on Sundays no longer applies in the Central Business District. That changed in February 2023. If there is a meter, it is active around the clock, every day.
- The rate structure is tiered (as of April 2025): $2.00/hour for the first two hours, $5.00/hour for hours three and four, $6.00/hour beyond that. A two-hour visit costs $4.
- Non-CBD meters (neighborhoods like Midtown, Germantown, 12 South) enforce from 6 AM to midnight, seven days a week. Outside those hours, the meter is off and parking is free.
- The old 2-hour hard limit is gone. Since April 2025, you can pay to stay up to 10 hours in the same CBD zone. But the tiered pricing means longer stays get expensive fast.
The ParkMobile app lets you start and extend meter sessions remotely. Use it. You can add time without returning to your car, which eliminates the most common scenario that leads to a ticket.
Understand the Difference Between Metro and Private Lots
A Metro ticket starts at roughly $11 but escalates fast if ignored. If you do not pay or appeal within the compliance deadline, litigation taxes from the state and county are added, and the total can reach $92. Continued non-payment results in a parking warrant, a court appearance, and the possibility of wage garnishment or vehicle seizure. This is not a bluff.
Private lot tickets operate differently. Metro does not regulate private lot fines, which means a private company can charge $60 for going over a one-hour free period. If you ignore a private ticket, you can walk away today, but private lots now use license plate cameras that flag returning vehicles for booting. If you return to a lot operated by the same company with an unpaid balance, your car gets a boot without warning.
Specific Rules to Follow
Read the signs on the block, not just the meter. Street sweeping zones, loading zones, and permit zones are all enforced even if a meter is present or absent. The sign governs; the meter does not override a no-parking restriction.
Check for residential permit zones. Neighborhoods like Germantown, 12 South, and parts of East Nashville have resident-only zones marked with small signs, sometimes only visible on the pole facing one direction. Two-hour limits for non-residents are enforced.
Do not park in tow-away zones near Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium on event nights. Enforcement and private towing companies are very active on event nights. The cost of a tow in Nashville runs $150 to $200 plus storage fees.
Gay Street north of Broadway near 1st Avenue is a known hot spot cited by Metro enforcement officers as their most active zone.
The Safe Driver Waiver
Metro offers a documented safe driver waiver: if you leave your car downtown and choose a rideshare, taxi, or designated driver rather than driving drunk, and you have receipts as proof, Nashville will waive one parking violation incurred during that period. The waiver request must be submitted within 24 hours of receiving the ticket via nashville.gov. This is a genuine policy, not a myth.
If You Get a Ticket Anyway
You have 15 days to appeal before late fees begin. Take photos immediately: the sign, the meter, your car’s position. Submit via the Nashville Traffic Violations Bureau at circuitclerk.nashville.gov. If the meter was broken or the signage was obscured, document it. Appeals on those grounds succeed regularly.
Sources
- Metro Nashville NDOT Parking Enforcement: nashville.gov/departments/transportation/traffic-and-parking/parking/parking-enforcement
- NewsChannel 5: “Public vs. Private Parking Spots in Nashville,” WSMV
- WSMV: “Avoiding paying parking ticket? These could be the consequences,” March 2023
- Nashville Circuit Court Clerk Traffic Violations Bureau: circuitclerk.nashville.gov
- Metro Nashville parking meter rate schedule (2025 update, tiered rates effective April 7): nashville.gov