Parking Permits on Mercer Island
In September 2024, the City Council sunsetted the Town Center Commuter Parking Permit Program (Ordinance No. 24C-14). All existing permits will expire on December 31, 2024, and no Town Center Commuter Parking Permits will be issued for 2025. The North Mercer Restricted Parking District (RPD) is not impacted by this change.
North Mercer Restricted Parking District
In 2003, the City Council created a restricted parking district in the North Mercer neighborhood to prevent Park-and-Ride overflow parking. View a map showing the North Mercer Restricted Parking District.
Residents who whose home address is within the boundaries of the North Mercer Restricted Parking District can get permits for themselves, guests, and temporary contractors to park in restricted areas.
- Resident Parking Permit Application
- Guest Parking Permit Application (maximum of two) – see MICC 10.74.020 and MICC 10.74.030(A) for regulations.
- Temporary Contractor Parking Permit Application - see MICC 10.74.030(A)(1)(b) for regulations
Permits
The fee for each resident parking permit is $5 per year. Guest and temporary contractor permits are $10 per year.
Permit stickers should be placed on the inside of the rear windshield in the lower corner of the driver's side of the vehicle.
Permits are valid for one year and expire December 31. Permits are nontransferable.
Enforcement
Mercer Island police officers will enforce the parking restrictions and safety violations in the North Mercer neighborhood every weekday. 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.
Note: In general, a vehicle cannot be parked in a public right of way longer than 72 hours.
Service vehicles, including City vehicles are exempted from posted parking restrictions. Utility companies providing emergency repairs requiring access to streetlights, 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 $54 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.
