The following terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
PARKING
The stopping of a vehicle upon a restricted street otherwise than in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals for a period longer than reasonably necessary to load or unload passengers or freight.
PARKING LOT
Any municipally controlled property or structure designated for the parking of motor vehicles, whether for a fee or at no charge.
PARKING METER
That mechanism having a fee-receiving and a fee-actuating mechanism all enclosed and mounted on top of a post, including electrical and/or mechanical devices designed to indicate entrance or expiration time to a parking space. Any use of the term "parking meter" or "metered" in this article can also mean a parking pay station as the mechanism to pay for the use of a parking space for a period of time.
[Amended 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88]
PARKING METER ZONE
Any restricted street, parking garage or parking lot upon which parking meters are installed and in operation.
RESTRICTED STREET
That part of any public street, avenue, road, boulevard, highway or other public place established for the use of vehicles within the City and with parking restricted to a limited period only.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property may be or is transported upon a highway.
[Amended 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88; 10-9-2018 by Ord. No. O-18-023; 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to assure the general public a free use of the City's streets by regulating and enforcing the privilege of parking, compliance with posted time limits and turnover of parking spaces in the areas of high demand, and to aid parking enforcement necessary to ensure fair and equitable access to all members of the general public in service of continued civic vibrancy and prosperity.
B. 
Parking a vehicle within a parking zone for a period of time not longer than the established time limit shall be permitted only upon the payment of a fee, as designated on the parking meter.
The revenue derived from the use of meters shall be expended to finance the purchase, maintenance and policing of such meters, or to maintain and improve streets and highways, or to acquire, construct, improve, maintain and manage public parking areas and public transportation systems, or for any combination of the foregoing purposes, but for no purpose not expressly authorized in this section.[1]
[1]
Editor's note: Former § 320-43.1, Funding for downtown improvements, added 8-9-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-76 and amended 3-9-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-047; and § 320-43.2, Downtown Improvements Committee, added 8-9-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-76 and amended 10-24-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-0418-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014, were repealed 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014
A. 
This article shall not apply to the Police Department or Fire Department of the City.
B. 
The Chief of Police, upon due cause shown, may permit the use of the restricted area free from any cost to the user.
C. 
Aldermen shall be entitled to receive a parking sticker or placard for their vehicle which entitles them to park in parking meter spaces for free while they are conducting City business.
[Amended 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88; 9-12-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-020]
Parking meters shall be installed, operated, maintained, policed and supervised on the restricted streets, lots and garages as designated in this chapter. Such parking meters shall be so devised and regulated as to provide for parking periods not in excess of the legal time limit within the restricted streets, lots and garages.
[Amended 1-26-2010 by Ord. No. O-10-04; 6-28-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-71; 11-12-2014 by Ord. No. O-14-008; 9-9-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-058; 9-22-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-054; 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-060; 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. O-16-023; 11-28-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-052; 9-12-2018 by Ord. No. O-18-021; 10-9-2018 by Ord. No. O-18-022; 10-9-2018 by Ord. No. O-18-023; 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-049; 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-050; 9-10-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-051; 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-035; 11-9-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-072; 12-13-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-033; 12-27-2022 by Ord. No. O-22-038; 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-060; 3-26-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-003; 3-12-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-004; 3-26-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-013; 7-9-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-019; 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014; 2-11-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-047; 4-8-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-052]
A. 
The parking fee for all public metered parking lots, garages and metered on-street parking shall be as follows:
(1) 
In Zone I, $1.50 per hour.
(2) 
In Zone II, $1.00 per hour.
(3) 
In Zone III, $0.75 per hour.
(a) 
The parking fees in Subsection A(3) above shall not be enforced from December 15 through January 1 every year.
(4) 
In Zone IV, $2.00 per hour for the first three hours, $4.00 per hour for the fourth hour and thereafter.
(5) 
In Zone V, $0.75 per hour.
(a) 
The parking fees in Subsection A(5) above, shall not be enforced for the street level in each garage from December 15 through January 1 every year.
B. 
The Parking Department is authorized, in its sole discretion for short-term, irregular or temporary circumstances, to issue meter bags or traffic cones. Unless used by the City or for funerals, each meter bag or traffic cone shall cost the equivalent of the day’s lost revenue so Zone 1 bags will cost $18.00 per day, Zone 2 bags will cost $12.00 per day, and Zone 3 bags will cost $9.00 per day, per space, paid in advance. No meter bag shall be issued for a period longer than two weeks, at which time the applicant may apply for an extension of time.
C. 
Use by multiple vehicles. Any designated parking meter space may be used by more than one but not to exceed three motorcycles, mopeds or similar motor vehicles, provided that the meter fee is paid in accordance with this article, and provided that no vehicle using the space extends outside the space designated.
[Amended 6-28-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-71; 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88; 11-26-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-063; 2-28-2023 by Ord. No. O-22-042; 12-26-2023 by Ord. No. O-23-068; 3-12-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-004; 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014; 4-8-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-052; 9-9-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-064]
The following described areas lying within the corporate limits of the City are designated as public parking areas and shall constitute parking meter lots in the listed zones:
A. 
Zone II.
(1) 
Railroad Square parking lot.
(2) 
Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Francaise parking lot.
(3) 
Pearson Avenue parking lot.
(4) 
Spring Street parking lot.
(5) 
City Hall parking lot (west and south of City Hall, north of Nashua Heritage Rail Trail).
(6) 
Garden Street parking lot (north and east of Elm Street parking garage).
(7) 
Factory Street parking lot.
(8) 
High Street parking lot.
(9) 
Water Street parking lot, with the exception of any space or spaces with approved leases.
B. 
Zone III.
(1) 
Maple Street parking lot.
(2) 
Library parking lot.
(3) 
Library annex lot.
C. 
Zone IV.
(1) 
The School Street parking garage.
D. 
Zone V.
(1) 
Elm Street parking garage.
(2) 
High Street parking garage.
[Amended 6-28-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-71; 8-24-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-81; 10-8-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-053; 11-26-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-063; 3-12-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-004; 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014; 4-8-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-052]
A. 
Time limits in parking lots shall be as follows:
(1) 
In Zone II, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily, except for Sundays, and legal holidays, with a three-hour time limit.
(2) 
In Zone III, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, with an eight-hour time limit.
(3) 
In Zone IV, 24 hours a day, daily, including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, with no time limit.
(4) 
In Zone V, 24 hours a day, daily, except for Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and during snow emergencies, with a nine-hour time limit.
B. 
Overnight parking of private passenger vehicles shall be permitted in Zone II and Zone III parking meter lots between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
[Amended 6-28-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-71; 8-24-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-81; 9-12-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-020; 10-8-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-053; 8-13-2024 by Ord. No. O-24-014]
A. 
Except as otherwise provided, the time limit during which the parking meter regulations shall be effective in streets shall be as follows:
(1) 
In Zone I: from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, except Sundays.
(2) 
In Zone II: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, except Sundays.
(3) 
In Zone III: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays.
B. 
In Zone I and Zone II, the parking meter regulations shall not apply on Sundays and legal holidays, and no deposit shall be required in the meter. In Zone III, the parking meter regulations shall not apply on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, and no deposit shall be required in the meter.
C. 
The parking time limit on all parking meter streets shall be as follows:
(1) 
In Zone I: two hour time limit.
(2) 
In Zone II: three hour time limit.
(3) 
In Zone III: eight hour time limit.
[Amended 11-25-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-47; 6-28-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-71; 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88]
The following streets are designated as parking meter streets in the listed zones, and authority is hereby granted to install and maintain parking meters on these streets in appropriate locations:
A. 
Zone I.
Name of Street
Side
Location
East Pearl Street
Both
Between Main Street and Spring Street
Factory Street
South
From the Factory Street parking lot to the High Street parking garage
Garden Street
[Amended 12-22-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-078]
West
Adjacent to the Elm Street Parking Garage, excluding spaces reserved for use of the transit system
High Street
Both
Between Walnut Street and Main Street
Main Street
Both
Between East and West Hollis Streets and Franklin and Canal Streets, with the exception of that portion of the west side of Main Street commencing at the south line of the premises at 221 Main Street, and extending north a distance of 25 feet
Spring Street
East
Between East Pearl Street and Eldridge Street
Temple Street
Both
Between Main Street and Spring Street
West Pearl Street
Both
Between Main Street and Elm Street
B. 
Zone II.
Name of Street
Side
Location
Court Street
Both
Between Temple Street and Park Street
Elm Street
Both
Between West Pearl Street and Pleasant Street
Factory Street
South
From Water Street to the Factory Street parking lot
Franklin Street
South
Between Main Street and Front Street
Main Street
Both
Between Franklin and Canal Streets and Amherst Street
Railroad Square
North
From Main Street east to the exit from the Railroad Square parking lot
Railroad Square
South
From Main Street to the west line of Orange Street projected
Railroad Square and Deschenes Oval
Both
Between Canal Street and Clinton Street
School Street
North and west
Between Walnut Street and High Street
Spring Street
Both
Between Temple Street and East Pearl Street
Spring Street
East
Between the south and north entrances to the United States Post Office
Water Street
South
Between Main Street and Factory Street
West Hollis Street
Both
Between Main Street and Maple Street
West Pearl Street
Both
Between Elm Street and Walnut Street
C. 
Zone III.
Name of Street
Side
Location
Canal Street
South
Between the west line of Orange Street projected and the west line of the west portion of Nashua Drive
Church Street
Both
Between Cottage Street and Court Street
Clinton Street
Both
Between Lowell Street and Railroad Square
Cottage Street
[Repealed 11-28-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-049]
Cottage Street
[Repealed 11-28-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-049]
East Hollis Street
[Amended 3-9-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-041]
North
Between Spring Street and Main Street
East Hollis Street
North
Between Quincy Street and Mason Street
East Pearl Street
North
Between Spring Street and Holmes Street
East Pearl Street
South
Between Spring Street and Quincy Street
Elm Street
Both
Between Pleasant Street and Mulberry Street
Factory Street
South
From Walnut Street to Water Street
Lowell Street
Both
Between Main Street and Clinton Street
Quincy Street
[Repealed 12-23-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-058]
Temple Street
[Amended 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-89]
Both
Between Spring Street and Cottage Street
West Hollis Street
Both
Between Maple Street and Beech Street
A. 
The fact that time has expired on any parking meter shall be presumptive evidence that the person who parked the vehicle then found standing in the parking space controlled by the meter failed to pay a fee as required therein; and the indication by the meter of illegal parking shall be presumptive evidence of overtime parking.
[Amended 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-88]
B. 
Any overtime parking violation under this article shall raise the presumption that the vehicle involved was operated by the person in whose name the vehicle is registered.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 320-53, Use by multiple vehicles, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 4-8-2025 by Ord. No. O-25-052.