Parking Ordinance
Parking Ordinance
Amending the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, Chapter 12, Motor
Vehicles and Traffic, Article II, Stopping, Standing and Parking, Division 1, Generally, Sec. 12-51, Use of
Loading Zones, Sec. 12-53, Immobilization and Impoundment of Vehicles, Division 2, Parking Meter
Zones, Sec. 12-72, Location and Operation of Meters, Sec. 12-75, Deposit of Payment, Sec 12-79,
Violations; Citations; Penalty, Sec. 12-81, Exemptions, Division 3, Residential Permit Parking Districts,
Sec. 12-111, Permit Fees, Sec. 12-115, Appeals, Division 4, Valet Parking, Sec. 12-121, Definitions, Sec.
12-123, Process for Permits and Renewals, Sec. 12-125, Operating Requirements, Sec. 12-126, Penalties,
Sec. 12-127, Grounds for Revocation and Denial, Sec. 12-130, Conformance with Applicable Laws, Sec.
12-131, Conditions Imposed on Permit and Article IV, Garages and City Owned Parking Facilities,
Sec.12-150, Fees
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council this _______ day of ________________, 2024, that
the 1998 Code of Ordinances of the City of Columbia, South Carolina, Chapter 12, Motor Vehicles and
Traffic, Article II, Stopping, Standing and Parking, Division 1, Generally, Sec. 12-51, Use of Loading
Zones, Sec. 12-53, Immobilization and Impoundment of Vehicles, Division 2, Parking Meter Zones, Sec.
12-72, Location and Operation of Meters, Sec. 12-75, Deposit of Payment, Sec 12-79, Violations; Citations;
Penalty, Sec. 12-81, Exemptions, Division 3, Residential Permit Parking Districts, Sec. 12-111, Permit
Fees, Sec. 12-115, Appeals, Division 4, Valet Parking, Sec. 12-121, Definitions, Sec. 12-123, Process for
Permits and Renewals, Sec. 12-125, Operating Requirements, Sec. 12-126, Penalties, Sec. 12-127, Grounds
for Revocation and Denial, Sec. 12-130, Conformance with Applicable Laws, Sec. 12-131, Conditions
Imposed on Permit and Article IV, Garages and City Owned Parking Facilities, Sec. 12-150, Fees is
amended to read as follows:
DIVISION 1. GENERALLY
Sec. 12-51. Use of loading zones.
(a) Parking places marked as loading zones may be used only by vehicles actually actively engaged in
loading or unloading, pickup or delivery of merchandise to or from a business which can be served
from the loading zone within a period of 30 minutes.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any vehicle, regardless of size or tonnage, to occupy any loading zone unless
the owner has first obtained an annual permit from the parking services division, which shall run
from July 1 to June 30. The parking services division shall issue permits only for those vehicles
which have as their principal business purpose the transporting of goods and merchandise, and he
may collect an annual fee as provided in the table below. of $5.00 for one vehicle permit, provided
that. Additional vehicles under the same ownership may be issued permits Additional vehicles under
the same ownership may be issued permits as provided in the table below. for a fee of $2.00 each.
Fee
First 10 Permits $100 each
Additional Permits (same vehicle ownership) $50.00 each
(c) The owner of any vehicle found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
punishable, upon conviction, in accordance with section 1-5, and the permit, if any, issued for the
vehicle, shall be revoked in addition to other penalties provided by law.
may be installed and set to display, upon the deposit of coins, credit cards, prepaid parking card or by an
electronic payment method authorized by the city, a signal indicating purchased parking for up to the
maximum time allowed by the meter parking space, in such zones as are designated by the city council.
Each meter parking space shall also be arranged so that upon the expiration of the purchased parking
time, it will indicate by a mechanical operation and the dropping of the proper signal or through an
electronic method of notification that the purchased parking has expired. Parking payment methods such
as pay-by-space and pay-and-display may be installed in areas designated by the city manager within
parking meter zones to provide convenient methods of payment for parking. Where meters or other
devices are not practical in the judgment of parking services, signage may be erected at parking spaces
and at the entrance to public off-street parking lots or garages to allow members of the public to use
alternative methods of payment. The city may provide a pay-by-phone or other remote payment service to
the public for payment of parking fees.
(Code 1979, § 2-3066; Ord. No. 2001-078, 10-17-01; Ord. No. 2016-090, 10-18-16)
Fee
(a) It shall be the duty of city police officers, other city employees, designated by the city manager, or any
other state or federal government agency designated by the city manager with such
responsibility to report:
(1) The number of each parking meter, parking control device or space controlled by a remote
payment method which indicates that the vehicle occupying the parking space adjacent to
such parking meter is or has been parked in violation of any of the provisions of this division;
(3) Any other facts, a knowledge of which is necessary to a thorough understanding of the
circumstances attending such violation.
(b) Each such police officer, other city employees designated by the city manager, or any other state or
federal government agency designated by the city manager shall also attach to such vehicle a
notice to the owner thereof that such vehicle has been parked in violation of a provision of this
division, stating the bond set by the city court in regard to such violation.
(1) In any parking meter zone, every hour or fraction of any hour of overtime parking shall constitute
a separate offense.
(2) Persons who receive a parking ticket may elect to pay the bond amount of the parking ticket or
they may invoke the right of trial upon their acceptance of a courtesy summons in substitution
of each parking ticket issued. Upon receiving a request for such trial, a courtesy summons shall
be issued and a copy of that courtesy summons will be mailed to the owner's address listed in
the vehicle's registration information along with the date and time of the trial. The original
courtesy summons will be served at the time of the trial. Service of a courtesy summons vests
the municipal court with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of the charge for which the courtesy
summons was issued and served. Upon conviction after trial, the person shall be punished for
each violation in accordance with section 1-5.
(Code 1979, § 2-3073; Ord. No. 2000-002, 1-19-00; Ord. No. 2003-029, 5-7-03; Ord. No. 2008-090,
10-22-08)
Citation Type Initial 30-Day Late Fee 60-Day Late Fee 90-Day Late Fee
Fine
(c) Disabled operators of vehicles bearing license plates issued by the state highway department
indicating that the operator is disabled shall be exempt from the requirements of this division
pertaining to the payment of on-street parking fees. All other parking and meter regulations, except
timed parking, shall apply to such operators.
(d) Witnesses who testify or are subpoenaed to testify in criminal cases in the circuit court, while in
attendance at court, shall not be subject to parking meter requirements for deposit of coins or
overtime parking, and parking meter tickets certified by the clerk of court as exempt under this
subsection shall be cancelled.
(Code 1979, § 2-3075; Ord. No. 2016-090, 10-18-16)
Fee
Tenant vehicle permit – per the current lease term $5.00 per vehicle/per month
Tenant visitor permit – per the current lease term $4.00 per vehicle/per month
For purposes of this division, the following words shall have the following meanings:
Applicant means a person requesting a valet parking permit.
Director of general parking services means the director of general parking services or his or her designee.
Permit means a valet parking permit.
Public right-of-way means any area dedicated for public use as a public street, pedestrian way, or other
thoroughfare, including but not limited to streets, roadways, parkways, alleys, sidewalks, and pedestrian
ways.
Valet parking means typical practices associated with, and the act of, driving another person's vehicle to
and from a parking location so that said person and any passengers originally within the vehicle may
unload and load at or near their immediate destination.
Valet parking service means a person valet parking, including any persons, subcontractors, or agents
employed or otherwise assisting said person.
(Ord. No. 2004-022, 7-28-04)
(9) A signed statement from the operator of any parking facility designated as the parking location
regarding that facility's ability to accept the vehicles. The statement shall include:
a. The total number of parking spaces within the parking facility.
b. The number of parking spaces within the parking facility to be reserved for the premises
that would benefit from the valet parking.
c. An estimate of the percent usage of the parking facility prior to and subsequent to the
proposed valet parking were it approved.
d. The number of parking spaces within the parking facility that is reserved because they
satisfy the parking requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
(10) A contract pending approval of a permit or an executed contract between the applicant and
each operator of a parking facility designated as a parking location. Each contract shall contain
a provision that it cannot be canceled without at least 60 days notice to the other party and to
the city.
(11) The location of any proposed signs for the valet parking service and any proposed attendant
stands.
(12) Proof that the applicant has insurance in force satisfying the requirements of section 12-128.
(13) Payment of a nonrefundable permit fee plus a parking space use fee. The new permit fee is
$30.00. The permit and fee to renew a previously approved permit are provided in the table
below. $5.00. The parking space use fee shall equal the prevailing hourly rate of the associated
parking meter(s), parking control device or space controlled by a remote payment method
multiplied by the number of hours the parking meter(s), parking control device or space
controlled by a remote payment method would otherwise have been in service. A parking
space use fee shall not be charged where the parking space is not regulated by a parking meter
space, parking control device or space controlled by a remote payment method; however, the
city reserves the right to install a paid parking meter space at any time. Fees shall not be pro-
rated based upon when the application was submitted during the calendar year.
Fee
New Valet Operation Permit Fee $100.00
Renewal Permit Fee $100.00
(14) Where the applicant proposes to valet park in conjunction with a once-a-year or otherwise
special event that lasts no more than seven calendar days, the items required within subsections
9 (d) and 10 may be excluded from the application. However, the director of general parking
services reserves the right to require that the applicant submit these documents upon his or her
determination that the information is necessary to make his or her decision.
(b) Applications to renew a previously approved permit may be limited to:
(1) A cover letter signed by the applicant and the owner of each premises that would benefit from
the valet parking stating that the items provided within the previously approved application
have not changed;
(2) A contract for the parking location (in accordance with subsection (a)(10) above);
(3) Proof of insurance (in accordance with subsection (a)(12) above); and
(i) The valet parking service shall notify the city police department whenever a vehicle has been left for
a period longer than 48 hours without a prior contractual arrangement for such period of time.
(j) Each person employed by or otherwise assisting the valet parking service shall have a valid driver's
license.
(Ord. No. 2004-022, 7-28-04)
(1) Arsenal Hill, Freed Street, Lady Street, Lincoln Street, Park Street, PJ Cannon, Sabal
Street, Sumter Street, Taylor Street and Washington Street Parking Decks;
Public / Visitor Parking First Hour Free
Second Hour $3.00
Each Additional Hour $1.00
Maximum Daily Rate $15.00
Lost Ticket $15.00
(2) Arsenal Hill and Taylor Street Garages Deck (all spaces)$65.00
Parking meters, per hour0.75
Fee
Monthly unreserved space $85.00
Monthly Unreserved Hospitality Roof Only $35.00
(3) Arsenal Hill and Taylor Street Garages Deck (all spaces)$52.00
Parking meters, per hour0.75
Fee
Monthly unreserved space $65.00
Monthly Unreserved Hospitality Roof Only $35.00
(4) Lady Street, Sumter Street and Washington Street Garages Decks:
Unassigned spaces78.00
Assigned spaces105.00
Hourly rate:
First 30 minutes1.00
Second 30 minutes1.00
Each additional hour1.00
(Maximum of $10.00/day)
Fee
Monthly unreserved space $85.00
Monthly reserved space $155.00
Monthly Unreserved Hospitality Roof Only $35.00
Unassigned spaces65.00
Assigned spaces85.00
Parking meters, per hour0.75
Fee
Monthly unreserved space $85.00
Monthly reserved space $130.00
Monthly Unreserved Hospitality Roof Only $35.00
(c) In/Out permit parking on street (unassigned space monthly) 35.00 $50.00
(d) Residential Parking, non-residential neighborhood areas
Fee
Monthly unreserved, nights and weekends only $50.00
(e) Electric Vehicle Charging
Fee
Level 2 Charging Station $0.1900/kWh
Level 2 Charging Station dwell-time $2.00 / hour ($25 per dwell session max)
DC Fast Charging Station $0.3469 /kWh
DC Fast Charging Station dwell-time $2.00 / hour ($25 per dwell session max)
All Electric Vehicle Charging fees are in addition to any applicable posted parking facility fees.
(Ord. No. 2006-80, 12-13-06; Ord. No. 2008-091, 10-22-08; Ord. No. 2011-102, 2-21-12)
Requested by:
_____________________________
City Manager
_____________________________ ________________________________
Deputy City Attorney City Clerk
Introduced:
Final Reading: