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Guide to Columbia Parking

Tiger Towing • Aug 12, 2015

With the school year fast approaching for Columbia-area colleges and universities, a sudden influx of drivers can be expected. But with the increase in students comes a heightened demand for parking around downtown. The spot you enjoyed all summer may be quickly taken, leaving you to navigate the confusing and cluttered parking inventory with little direction. If you’re new to Columbia, you may find yourself in a similar situation. To make this process easier the team at Tiger Towing has aggregated all the information you will need to avoid unnecessary tickets or towing. It is important to review the new times and locations because they have changed since the beginning of this year and we want you to be informed. Here is a complete list of parking locations, times and prices throughout town.

On street parking meters are offered throughout downtown. The metered spaces are enforced by the City of Columbia Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. When it comes to rates, street parking is the most expensive option. You’ll have to pay 75 cents per hour inside the campus zone and 60 cents outside of it. To learn more about the various zones within Columbia, visit the City of Columbia’s website here.

In addition to on street parking, there is variety of parking garage options available. There are six different garages scattered throughout downtown that offer over 500 hourly parking spaces. The spots are enforced by the city Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. As you can see, all of these garages offer free parking during the weekend. Along with the different times, the price differs from the on-street meters. Costing 50 cents per hour, this is the most economical option for hourly parking. If you’re looking for a more consistent location, a handful of the garages boast permit parking and reserved spaces. For more information, click here.

Furthermore, the City does not enforce metered parking on municipal holidays. This includes: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas (specific dates may vary). On these days, parking is free all day at every parking location provided by the City of Columbia. Even though this information is fairly straightforward, parkers can run into trouble when it comes to time limits. These times can range from 24 minutes to ten hours; each street and garage is different. Getting deeper into the details, the city allots spaces for taxi, food vending, residents and special accessibility. Although parking regulations are not enforced 24 hours a day, it is important to stay mindful of them. To find a full map of the various streets and zones, click here. Lastly, it is important to be mindful of private parking locations as they are strictly enforced, as well. Whether you’re a newcomer to Columbia or a veteran of the city, parking can be confusing. With this information the team at Tiger Towing hopes you will be equipped to park throughout the city without the fear of facing unnecessary tickets or expenses.

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