City Guide
City Parking
Impoundment Towing
If your vehicle vanishes, call the Ann Arbor Police Department front desk (994–2875) to find out whether it was towed. If it was towed by the city, go to the front desk in the lobby of City Hall, 100 N. Fifth Ave. You must be a registered owner of the vehicle and present your driver’s license. After paying a $60 processing fee (waived if your vehicle was towed from private property) plus any unpaid parking tickets, you must pay the impoundment charges at the towing company before your vehicle is released. www.a2gov.org
The city uses three towing companies: Brewer’s, 1763 Plymouth (665–8888); Sakstrup’s Towing, 3055 Packard (971–5400); and Triangle Towing, 191 Hiscock (761–5696). Towing charges average $130 for a standard wheel-lift tow, plus additional fees for each day the vehicle is stored, and further charges for dollies or other special circumstances.
Parking Lots & Structures
City-owned parking facilities are marked by white signs with a green letter P (lots) or blue signs with a white P (structures). A private company, Republic Parking (761–7235), operates the system. About 100 downtown businesses validate customers’ parking coupons—lists are available at the parking cashier booths. Rates in parking structures are 40˘ / half hour. In surface lots, parking is 50˘ / half hour for the first three hours and 55˘ for each subsequent half hour. Operating hours vary. The Liberty Square structure (on Washington west of State) and the Ann & Ashley structure have a flat fee of $2 between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. weeknights and all day Sat. The lot at the southeast corner of First & Washington is open to the public between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. for a $3 entry fee. All city parking is free on Sun.
Rates in parking structures are 40˘ / half hour. In surface lots, parking is 50˘ / half hour for the first three hours and 55˘ for each subsequent half hour. Operating hours vary. The Liberty Square structure (on Washington west of State) and the Ann & Ashley structure have a flat fee of $2 between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. weeknights and all day Sat. The lot at the southeast corner of First & Washington is open to the public between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. for a $3 entry fee. All city parking is free on Sun.
Parking Meters
Rates at the city’s 1,750 metered curbside spaces in the downtown and campus area are $1/hour. Street meters are enforced Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Meter cash cards can be used instead of coins at every city parking meter; buy them at a Republic Parking office at 324 Maynard or in the Ann & Ashley structure.
For $15/day and a deposit, Republic Parking can reserve metered parking spaces for private occasions such as weddings (call 761–7235). Businesses may also temporarily reserve spaces for construction access or other needs.
Parking Violations
The fine for an expired city meter is $10 if paid by the end of the next business day and $15 within 14 days. Fines for most other parking violations are $25 if paid within 14 days. The fine for unauthorized parking in a handicapped parking space is $100. All fines increase after 14 days. Other penalties may include default fees or impoundment charges if your vehicle is towed. The fine for violating city snow- removal parking restrictions is $125.
Parking tickets can be paid in five ways: on the city’s website, www.a2gov.org (credit card only, $3.50 additional charge per citation); by telephone—call (866) 890–4982 (credit card only, $3.50 additional charge per citation); in person at the Customer Service Center, 220 E. Huron; at 24-hour drop boxes at the police desk in the southwest foyer of City Hall, 100 N. Fifth Ave., or on the north side of City Hall at the drive-up deposit box (check or money order only); or by mail, addressed to City of Ann Arbor Processing Center, P.O. Box 2066, Tarrytown, NY 10591 (check or money order only). Postmarks are accepted as evidence of timely payment.
Parking tickets can be contested in three ways: in writing to the Parking Referee, 100 N. Fifth Ave., P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107; in person during session hours at the Parking Referee office located on the fifth floor of City Hall; or online at www.a2gov.org. For recorded information, call the Parking Referee information line at 994–9172.
Related Topics:
Parking Permits
Parking permits allow 24-hour access to specific lots and structures. Permits cost $125/month for a nonreserved space, $175/month for reserved. Permits are issued first come, first served; call the Downtown Development Authority at 997–1310 to inquire about space availability.
