As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
GOOD CAUSE
For purposes of § 184-8, demonstration by the resident applicant that:
[Added 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-15]
A. 
Parking on the street is necessary; and
B. 
The location and size of the vehicle will not create any safety hazard or obstruction for emergency vehicles, motorists or pedestrians.
PARK
The placement of a vehicle which is unattended.
PARKING SPACE
Any space which is duly designated for the parking of a single vehicle by lines painted or otherwise durably marked on the curb or on the parking surface.
PUBLIC STREET
The term "public street" shall include all public streets, avenues, rights-of-way, roads, highways, thoroughfares, lanes and alleys.
[Added 12-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-09]
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
A vehicle used for recreational, travel, or vacation purposes, which is self-propelled and which provides facilities for temporary camping or sleeping and which exceeds a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight specification of 3/4 ton. The term "recreational vehicle" also includes "camper," "motor home," "truck camper," and similar vehicles.
[Added 12-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-09]
STANDING
The halting of a vehicle while attended, other than the brief stopping in compliance with a traffic control device.
STOP
The momentary cessation of motion.
SUBCOMPACT CAR
Cars so defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
[Amended 4-24-1984 by Ord. No. 84-O-5]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park any automobile or other vehicle on any of the streets of College Park for a continuous period of more than 48 hours at any one time, unless an oral or written permit for the same shall have been obtained from the City Manager. Such permit shall be issued only for good cause and for a period not exceeding 14 days, unless a written permit for a longer period shall have been granted by action of the Mayor and Council, and such permit shall be granted only for good cause.
[Amended 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22]
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park any automobile or other vehicles on any off-street parking area owned, leased or otherwise subject to control of the city for a continuous period of more than 18 hours at any one time. Such automobile or vehicle may be immobilized in accordance with the provisions of § 184-16D and/or impounded in accordance with the provisions of § 184-31.
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Ord. No. 93-O-8A]
[Amended 12-11-1979 by Ord. No. 79-O-6; 5-27-1980 by Ord. No. 80-O-6; 11-9-1983 by Ord. No. 83-O-11; 8-14-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-21; 9-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-22; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 12-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-O-09; 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 11-O-01]
A. 
It shall be unlawful to park or leave standing, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., any recreational vehicle, boat, boat trailer, or any type of trailer, or any special mobile equipment, as defined in § 11-159 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, upon any public street in a residential zone within the corporate limits of the City of College Park, unless an oral or written permit for the same shall have been obtained from the City Manager. Such permit shall be issued only for good cause and for a period not to exceed 24 hours, unless a written permit for a longer period shall have been granted by action of the Mayor and Council, and such permit shall be granted only for good cause.
B. 
Parking restrictions for certain vehicles.
(1) 
Within the corporate limits of the City, it shall be unlawful to park or leave standing the following vehicles at any time upon any public street in a residential zone, and between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on each day of the week on any other public street:
(a) 
Any vehicle exceeding 21 feet in length or six feet in width that is used for commercial purposes;
(b) 
Any vehicle exceeding a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight specification of 8,500 pounds and 21 feet in length or six feet in width;
[Amended 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-15]
(c) 
Vehicles exceeding 300 cubic feet of load space and 21 feet in length or six feet in width, and any stake platform trucks, dump trucks, crane or tow trucks.
[Amended 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-15]
(2) 
This subsection shall not apply to vehicles while actually loading or unloading, or to vehicles which are in the course of a commercial purpose and do not park for more than a two-hour period.
(3) 
Permission to park a prohibited vehicle, or to extend the time for parking, may be obtained by means of an oral or written permit from the City Manager. Such permit shall be issued only for good cause and for a period not to exceed 30 days, unless a written permit for a period not to exceed two years shall have been granted by action of the Mayor and Council, and such permit shall be granted only for good cause. Any request to extend the two-year period for good cause must be approved by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 5-25-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-08; 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-15]
(4) 
An application for permission to park a vehicle prohibited by § 184-8B for more than 30 days, or for any extension, shall first be referred to the Advisory Planning Commission for its recommendation to the Mayor and Council with respect to whether the application should be granted for good cause as defined in this article.
[Added 12-7-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-15]
(a) 
A resident shall be entitled to a hearing on the parking request by the Advisory Planning Commission, subject to submitting supporting documentation as required. Prior notice of the hearing at which the Commission intends to consider or take action on a parking request will be sent to the owner of each residence on the block where the vehicle could be authorized to park.
(b) 
Not less than 15 calendar days after receipt of the recommendation of the Commission regarding a request for permission, a majority of the Mayor and Council may adopt the recommendation by consent, unless exceptions thereto have been filed. Failure of the Mayor and Council to act on a recommendation of the Commission within 30 days of the receipt thereof shall result in the denial of the request.
(c) 
Any person of record and/or any Council member may file with the Mayor and Council, within 15 calendar days after notice of the Commission's recommendation regarding the parking request, exceptions thereto and a request to be heard by the Mayor and Council. The City Clerk shall give at least seven calendar days' notice to the meeting at which the exception will be considered to all persons of record and the Commission. After comment by persons of record, the majority of the Mayor and Council may accept, deny or modify the recommendation of the Commission or return the parking request to the Commission to take further testimony or reconsider its recommendation. The Council shall give its decision at a public meeting.
C. 
Any vehicle which is parked in violation of this section shall be subject to being towed from such street and impounded after it has been parked for a twenty-four-hour period or in violation of a permit. The impoundment of the vehicle shall be done pursuant to § 184-31 et seq. of this chapter.
[Amended 5-25-2021 by Ord. No. 21-O-08]
D. 
Any person issued a citation for a violation of this section shall be subject to a fine as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties.
A. 
The Mayor and Council may designate certain residential areas for permit parking upon a determination by the Mayor and Council that such action is reasonably necessary to enhance or maintain the quality of life and peace and good order therein by reducing noise, traffic hazards and congestion, litter, trash and refuse caused by the entry of outside traffic into such areas.
B. 
Once such determination has been made, the Mayor and Council may direct the City Manager to issue parking permits to residents abutting on such streets for their own vehicle(s) and for some visitors.
[Amended 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]
C. 
Residents abutting on such streets in the designated area may apply for parking permits, on forms to be provided by the City Manager, for their own vehicle(s) and for persons doing business with residents there and for some visitors. The City Manager, for good cause shown, may waive the parking restriction as to visitors or persons doing business with residents for a given day or night.
[Amended 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24; 9-9-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-08]
D. 
The City Manager shall cause to be painted or posted in an appropriate manner, on the curb and/or street, markings or signs to serve as notice that such area is for restricted parking by permit only.
[Amended 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]
E. 
The Mayor and Council may determine that restrictions as to parking shall apply only during certain hours of the day or night.
F. 
It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle in a designated restricted parking area when such vehicle does not display a properly issued parking permit.
G. 
Withdrawal of permit parking and the penalty for failure to return the parking permit upon written request shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 151, Permit Parking.
[Added 8-9-1994 by Ord. No. 94-O-8]
H. 
No person shall use a parking permit issued by the city which has been altered, amended or otherwise changed. Any alteration, amendment or change to a parking permit issued by the city shall invalidate the permit.
[Added 9-9-1997 by Ord. No. 97-O-13]
I. 
The purpose of the visitor permit is to allow the parking of vehicles in the immediate vicinity of the property for which the permit is issued for social or business purposes. Visitor permits allow parking only within 200 feet of the property boundary on both sides of the street on which the property fronts and on an intersecting street.
[Added 9-9-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-08]
J. 
In addition to any other enforcement, a resident parking permit or visitor parking permit may be revoked if used in violation of this chapter. Prior to revocation of any permit, the residents and owner of the property to which the permit has been issued shall be given written notice of misuse by the City. Once said notice has been given, the permit may be revoked for continued misuse.
[Added 9-9-2014 by Ord. No. 14-O-08]
[Amended 3-22-1994 by Ord. No. 93-O-8A; 9-9-1997 by Ord. No. 97-O-13]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or stand an automobile or other vehicle in any area marked by parking or standing control signs in violation of the instructions on said signs when such signs have been posted under the authority contained in this chapter, or to park or stand beside a yellow curb or in a yellow hatch-marked area so marked under the authority contained in this chapter.
B. 
The parking of vehicles in violation of loading zone signs which refer to specific times of applicability creates particularly dangerous situations. Accordingly, notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A above, it shall be unlawful for any person to park or stand an automobile or other vehicle in violation of a loading zone sign that references a specific time of applicability. The violation of this subsection shall carry a greater penalty than the violation of Subsection A above.
C. 
Violations of Subsections A and B above shall be parking violations subject to the penalties contained in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties.
[Amended 12-11-1979 by Ord. No. 79-O-6; 10-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-O-5; 9-24-1985 by Ord. No. 85-O-7; 5-25-1993 by Ord. No. 93-O-2; 6-18-2013 by Ord. No. 13-O-08; 8-14-2018 by Ord. No. 18-O-07; 8-6-2025 by Ord. No. 25-O-06]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or allow to be parked any vehicle not bearing valid license plates upon any public street or property under lease, license or easement to the City of College Park.
B. 
No person shall park or allow to be parked any vehicle so as to block any public sidewalk on any property owned by or under lease, license or easement to the city or on grass or dirt located between the curb and the sidewalk or in any alley or in front of any public driveway or nearer than 15 feet to any fireplug or nearer than 25 feet on the approach side of any stop sign or other traffic sign or nearer than 60 feet on the approach side of any bus stop or nearer any intersecting street than 35 feet from such intersecting street; nor shall any person park any automobile or other vehicle in any prohibited area or space designated and indicated by no-parking signs erected under the authority of this chapter; nor shall any person, except a duly authorized taxicab driver who is operating a licensed taxicab, park any automobile or other vehicle in any space designated as a taxi stand and so marked by signs erected under the authority of this chapter. No vehicle shall stand or be parked on any street or passageway so as to block or impede the designated flow of traffic. No person may park or allow to be parked, stand or allow to stand on any City street, roadway or thoroughfare any vehicle headed in a direction other than in the designated flow of traffic. No person may park or allow to be parked, stand or allow to stand, any vehicle so as to block or obstruct any public way, trail or other right-of-way owned, under lease, license or easement, or controlled and maintained by the City.
C. 
No person shall park in front of or within three feet to either side of a private driveway or driveway apron without the consent of the owner or the resident. In the event of repeated violations of this section, the owner or resident may request that the City paint the curb yellow three feet to either side of the driveway or driveway apron pursuant to § 184-10 of the City Code. The yellow curb shall not affect the ability of the owner or resident to consent to parking in the prohibited area.
D. 
Bike lanes.
(1) 
Definitions:
BIKE LANE
Means a portion of a street or shoulder designated exclusively for the single direction flow of non-gas powered micromobility vehicles.
MICROMOBILITY
Means a small, low-speed, human or electric-powered transportation device, including bicycles, and electric scooters (e-scooters).
(2) 
Prohibition: No motor vehicle may park or stand in an area designated and marked as a bike lane on a City street, roadway, or thoroughfare unless the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency, a transit vehicle, a vehicle picking up or discharging disabled individuals, or a vehicle that has become unintentionally disabled.
E. 
Markings.
(1) 
On street. Bike lanes must be clearly marked on the street with 1 or 2 solid white lines and a bike symbol.
(2) 
Signage.
(a) 
Signs must be installed marking the beginning and ending of a bike lane.
(b) 
Signs may be installed to indicate the continuation of a bike lane.
(c) 
These signs must:
[1] 
Be in a form approved by the Director of Public Services or a designee; and
[2] 
Indicate that parking or standing is prohibited in a bike lane.
All vehicles on the streets of College Park, when not in motion, unless specifically directed otherwise by official signs placed under the authority of this chapter, shall stand or park parallel to and within 12 inches of the side of the highway or street.
[Amended 9-9-1997 by Ord. No. 97-O-13]
A. 
It shall be unlawful to park any automobile or other vehicle in any parking space that is marked to show the limits of such space so that said vehicle is not entirely within the limits of said parking space.
B. 
It shall also be unlawful to park any automobile or other vehicle in any portion of a parking lot which is not designated as a parking space.
It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle that is larger than a subcompact automobile in any space reserved for and designated for the parking of subcompact automobiles.
[Amended 9-9-1997 by Ord. No. 97-O-13]
It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park any vehicle in a space designated for the use of individuals with disabilities unless the vehicle bears a special registration plate, a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration, another state, the District of Columbia or another country. Each 24 hours that a vehicle remains unlawfully parked in a space reserved for parking for individuals with disabilities shall constitute a separate violation.
[Added 1-13-1998 by Ord. No. 98-O-23]
It shall be unlawful to park any motor vehicle on the unpaved area of any residential lot, except during a snow emergency. "Unpaved area" shall mean any surface not completely covered by asphalt, brick, block, concrete, gravel, crushed stone or structurally sound porous material. It shall not be necessary to provide a full platform in the surface material under the parked motor vehicle so long as the wheels of the vehicle rest on runners or other surface made of said material. Both city code enforcement officers and parking enforcement officers shall be authorized to enforce this section of the City Code. In the performance of their duties under this section, city enforcement officers are hereby authorized to enter upon private premises in the City of College Park in order to place a parking citation on a vehicle parked in violation hereof if the vehicle is clearly visible from the street. Any restraint or hindrance offered to the entry of a city enforcement officer or the placing of a parking citation on a vehicle by any owner or tenant, or agent of an owner or tenant, is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, of the Code of the City of College Park.
[Amended 9-26-1978 by Ord. No. 78-O-8; 10-26-1982 by Ord. No. 82-O-7]
A. 
It shall be the duty of the police or enforcement officers of the City of College Park to enforce the parking regulations of Article II of this chapter and to submit to the city a written report of each violation or failure to comply with this chapter stating:
(1) 
The address or location and circumstances which indicate that the vehicle has been parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
The make and model of the vehicle.
(3) 
The state license number of such vehicle.
(4) 
The date and approximate time of such violation.
(5) 
Any other facts, a knowledge of which is necessary for a thorough understanding of the circumstances attending such violation.
B. 
Notices; payment; service charge.
[Amended 2-28-1989 by Ord. No. 88-O-5; 12-10-1991 by Ord. No. 91-O-24]
(1) 
The police or enforcement officer making the above-mentioned report shall attach to such vehicle a notice that the vehicle has been parked in violation of the provisions of this chapter and notifying the alleged offender that there is a payment date, which shall be 15 days from the date of issuance, and specifying a fine, as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, if paid by the payment date, which sum shall increase after the payment date, as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, if the alleged offender has not sent timely notice five or more days before the payment date of his/her election to stand trial or to request review by a city Parking Violation Review Officer under § 184-16.1. Conviction in court shall carry a fine as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties. This provision is intended to provide an aid as to strict enforcement of this chapter without imposing an undue burden upon offenders and shall be construed as a method of enforcement in addition to and independent of other methods provided by laws and this chapter.
[Amended 3-28-2000 by Ord. No. 00-O-1]
(2) 
The service charge fee shall be increased as set forth in Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, and the ticket hereby shall read as follows:
"NOTICE: Failure to pay the prescribed fine as indicated within 30 days or to appear in court may result in your vehicle registration not being renewed or transferred by the State Motor Vehicle Administration and in the imposition of a service charge of $10."
C. 
The City of College Park may cause to be impounded, subject to the provisions of Article V, any automobile or other vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this Article. Said impounded automobile or other vehicle shall be removed from the site of violation and stored.
D. 
A vehicle may be immobilized/booted, by placing on one or more of its wheels a device commonly known as a "boot," by the Public Services Department when it meets the requirements of § 184-31A(4) or § 184-7B. Such vehicle shall then be impounded by a licensed towing operator in Prince George's County in accordance with the provisions of § 184-32. When a vehicle is immobilized, notification of the action shall be plainly displayed on the driver's side of the windshield. Immobilization shall carry an immobilization fee as set forth in Chapter 110 of this Code. In the event the owner is able to timely pay all unsatisfied city parking violation citations, as that term is used in § 184-31A(4), prior to impoundment of the immobilized vehicle, and to secure the timely assistance of the Public Services Department, the vehicle shall be released to the owner upon the additional payment to the city of the immobilization fee set forth in Chapter 110. It shall be unlawful and a violation of the provisions of this chapter for any person to deface, injure, tamper with, open or willfully break, destroy or impair the usefulness of any immobilization device emplaced or installed under the provisions of this chapter. Offenders shall be subject to the fines and penalties provisions of § 184-22.
[Added 3-22-1994 by Ord. No. 93-O-8A]
[Added 3-28-2000 by Ord. No. 00-O-1]
A. 
Request for review. Upon receipt of a parking violation notice, the alleged offender may, prior to payment or election to stand trial, request a parking violation resolution review upon timely notice to the city five or more days before the payment date. If a review election is made, a review will be held within thirty days of the request before a city Parking Violation Review Officer. The alleged offender may appear at the review in person or by written submission. A timely request for review will automatically extend the time for payment or election to stand trial until a date subsequent to the review.
B. 
Review Procedure. There shall be a Parking Violation Review Officer, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council, and who shall have the authority to conduct the parking violation resolution review pursuant to procedures adopted by the Mayor and Council, to receive evidence and to issue a recommendation thereon. As part of the review process, the Parking Violation Review Officer shall have the discretion to recommend a fine that is less than that set out in Chapter 110 of the College Park Code. At the time the recommendation is issued, the alleged offender shall have until the date set by the Review Officer to either pay the recommended amount or to request a trial. If the alleged offender pays and satisfies the recommended fine, the city will take no further action. If the alleged offender timely requests a trial, the request will be transmitted to the court forthwith.