Parking Changes for Downtown Longview (Effective 1/1/12)

On September 22, 2011, the Longview City Council modified several of the existing on and off-street parking regulations in downtown Longview.  These changes are based upon recommendations included in the city’s new downtown action agenda, which was developed with the input of many downtown businesses, employees, customers, residents, and others interested in the revitalization of downtown.  Those changes will be effective January 1, 2012.

Below is a summary of the changes.  More detailed information, including the ordinance language and a map of each City parking lot where changes are being made, is available in the important links section below.

These changes are being implemented on a two-year trial basis.  After December 31, 2012, a review will be completed of the parking changes.  Input will be sought from the public regarding these changes and their impact on downtown. 

Parking changes effective January 1, 2012:

1. Most two-hour on-street parking spaces in the downtown Longview area will change to three hours.
2. Permits for most City lots will no longer be available for purchase.  The Broadway lot (north of City Hall) and the Paragon lot (south of City Hall) will remain permitted lots.  Currently, there are four parking spaces available for purchase in the Broadway lot.  Please contact the Police Department at 442-5800 if you are interested in purchasing one of those permits.
3. All other City lots will have a mix of three-hour parking (where signed), or 72-hour parking (in unsigned spaces).  There is no cost for parking in either the three-hour or 72-hour spaces.  However, parking infractions will be issued to vehicles that are parked in excess of the posted time limits.  Parking in the 72-hour spaces is on a first come, first serve basis.
4. There will be NO CHANGES to the existing ten-hour parking spaces or 15-minute, 30-minute and one-hour spaces on streets throughout downtown Longview.
5. Warnings issued for vehicles parked in excess of the timed parking will change from one every six months to one every quarter.
6. The fine structure for overtime parking violations will change from $20 per violation to an escalating fine structure as follows:
   • 1st violation in a calendar quarter = $30
   • 2nd violation in a calendar quarter = $50
   • 3rd violation in a calendar quarter = $75
   • 4th violation in a calendar quarter = $100

Any questions about these parking changes can be directed to the Longview Police Department’s Parking Enforcement Office at 442-5800.