Parking Management

Most non-arterial streets in the City of Seattle are 25 feet wide with parking on both sides. Neighborhoods with higher density see greater demand for on-street parking, as well as more trips from emergency vehicles. Changing your community's parking restrictions is another way to deal with speeding and improve the walking experience.  

How does parking affect speeds?

• Cars parked on both sides of a 25-foot wide street reduce the width of the road so two cars cannot pass each other at the same time. Typical vehicle speeds on these streets are 20 miles an hour, which is the speed limit on non-arterial streets.
• On streets without curbs, cars tend to park outside of the edge of the road. This effectively widens driving lanes and contributes to speeding.

How does SDOT decide where to restrict parking?

SDOT installs parking restrictions in higher density neighborhoods to increase visibility, which reduces collisions. Other reasons for parking restrictions include accommodation of high traffic volume, facilitating emergency response vehicles, and to respond to the needs of adjacent property owners.  

How can the community request parking restrictions?

Email Neighborhood.traffic@seattle.gov to inquire about removing existing parking restrictions or installing new ones.

How long does it take to change parking restrictions?

Three months to two years. Sometimes you need a simple petition to remove parking restrictions. At other times, some type of curbing is needed to establish the parking.