The Parking Authority of River City, or PARC, is Louisville’s public parking body. It operates 15 garages and four lots in and around Louisville’s downtown — that’s between York Street, I-65, and 10th Street — and oversees other parking rules and regulations around Derby City.
We’ve rounded up the need-to-know details on PARC services, rules, and more.
Parking services
If you spend a lot of time downtown, there’s a good chance you park in a PARC lot a lot. Parking in one of them entitles you to certain services, including:
- Jump starts
- Lock out service
- Air compressor service
- Escorts to your vehicle
To use any of these services, call 587-PARK. Pro tip: Save the number in your phone for the next time you’re at a concert downtown.
Residential Parking Permit Program
Since 2006, PARC has operated an on-street parking permit program for residents of Old Louisville and Butchertown. Residents in these neighborhoods can apply for a street parking permit.
If you live near a PARC garage, you can get a monthly garage pass at a reduced rate.
Meters
You won’t find any meter maids in Louisville — sorry, Rita. PARC’s meter system runs on change + credit cards, depending on the meter. Metered parking is enforced Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. That’s right — metered parking is free after 6 p.m., and all day on Sundays. Metered parking is also free on the following holidays:
- New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)
- Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
If a meter is broken, that doesn’t mean you can park it for free. Parking spots with broken meters are considered out of use. You can report a broken meter online or by calling 587-PARC.
Electric vehicle charging
Electric vehicles, or EVs, can be charged at 11 of PARC’s 15 garages. EV charging is free with your parking pass, but each station has a three-hour limit on continuous charging. See the full list of PARC charging stations. Bonus: There are a total of 257 EV charging stations around Derby City.
