Enforcement of Parking Permits

Residential Parking District:
Mercer Island police officers will enforce the parking restrictions every weekday and will also enforce safety violations in the North Mercer neighborhood. This includes vehicles parked blocking fire hydrants or driveways and vehicles parked within eight feet of the center of the roadway, or too close to intersections.

Parking restrictions will not be enforced after 5pm, so that guests can park in the streets where allowed. Residents should make provision for daytime guests and trades people to find legal parking on their property. They cannot park in the permit zone without a permit.

Town Center District:
Officers will enforce parking without a permit in the restricted zone of the Town Center; this enforcement will occur between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays only. At other times, posted parking regulations apply. Note: In general, a vehicle cannot be parked in a public right of way longer than 72 hours.

Both Districts:
Service vehicles, including City vehicles are exempted from posted parking restrictions. Utility companies providing emergency repairs requiring access to street lights, signals, utility boxes, and other facilities can park anywhere (with the proper signs, traffic safety cones, flaggers, etc.)
 

Penalties

The penalty for parking in a permit-restricted area without a valid permit is $35 and a penalty for any transfer, attempt to transfer, or other unauthorized use of a parking permit is $250.
 

Rules

• The basic rules for obtaining a permit are as follows:
• A resident can apply for one permit for each licensed vehicle.
• For each permit requested, the applicant must supply the Vehicle License Number and the year, make and model of the automobile. A copy of the vehicle registration for each vehicle for the current year must be provided.
• For residents whose automobiles are registered to an off-Mercer Island address, other proof of residence/vehicle ID will be required.
• For a Mercer Island resident who drives a car that is not registered to his/her home address, such as a company car, a letter on company stationery stating the following is required:
  • That the applicant is a company employee and has sole use of a company vehicle.
  • The plate number of that vehicle.
  • That the vehicle is normally parked at the applicant’s Mercer Island home address before and after work.
  • The letter must include the company's Washington State Unified Business Number.
• Permits are valid for a two year cycle (e.g. 2018-2019).
• All permits expire Dec 31 of the second year.
• Permits are nontransferable.
• When parking permits are renewed, a new fee is collected.

For questions, please call 206-275-7783.

History

In 2001, the City Council made policy decisions about how to reduce Park-and-Ride overflow impacts on the north end neighborhood and the Town Center. The overriding objective was to eliminate parking for non-Mercer Island commuters from City streets.

In 2003, the City Council created a restricted parking district in the North Mercer neighborhood to prevent Park-and-Ride overflow parking.