Downtown Parking

The City of Milwaukie has embarked on a renaissance for its historic downtown. The community has taken great pride in projects that have included the reconstruction of McLoughlin Boulevard and the creation of a mixed-use, compact development on the former Safeway site. Active plans for future projects include pending plans for a second mixed-use redevelopment, the transformation of Milwaukie's Willamette River waterfront, and the restoration of park and wetland areas on the south end of downtown. The City and its regional partners also anticipate the construction of light rail transit to Milwaukie and the opportunities that investment will bring.

In short, Milwaukie is changing. By building on a sense of place and strong community ties, Milwaukie is on the road to transform its vision into a reality. The City is working to support this transformation through its investment in capital improvements, by refining its policies, and by implementing operational projects that improve the City's interactions with its community. The City's new parking enforcement strategy supports the realization of a lively downtown area that is a cultural and commercial center for the community. The strategy serves to maximize the availability of on-street spaces for customers and visitors of downtown, while ensuring the availability of long-term parking for downtown employees and residents. The end result is an increasingly accessible downtown that upholds Milwaukie's rich history, while moving toward an exciting future.

Why Are Policies Changing?
The City of Milwaukie is working with community members and downtown businesses to address downtown parking problems. Milwaukie's parking policy is changing to be more customer-friendly, while continuing to serve the needs of the broader community.

What's Changing?
The City recently designated long-term parking areas in permit lots as well as on-street spaces on the north and south ends of downtown. This change frees up on-street spaces in the downtown core for the use of customers and visitors to downtown.

How Do I Get a Parking Permit?
The City sells permits to downtown Milwaukie employees only. To get a permit, contact the City's permit provider, Diamond Parking Services online at http://www.dpseugene.com/milwaukie.html or call toll free at (877) 702-3339.

How Much are Parking Permits?
Permits sell for less than a dollar a day, $20 for one month.

Where Can I Park?
Downtown employees are encouraged to use permit parking lots, as well as on-street spaces at the far north and south ends of Main and 21st Streets (see map). Commuters should use designated park-and-ride lots. It is illegal to use on-street spaces in the downtown area to park-and-ride.

There are 189 permit lot spaces in downtown Milwaukie, as well as 71 on-street "or by permit" spaces. Lot spaces are only available to parking permit holders. On-street "or by permit" spaces are available as either timed or permit spaces; therefore, they are not guaranteed to be available to those with parking permits. Permit holders do have the advantage of disregarding posted time limits for these spaces.

There are 275 short-term parking spaces available for customers and visitors of downtown Milwaukie. For customers and visitors with disabilities, there are 14 handicapped-only spaces available in downtown.

Parking fines for:
Overstaying a posted time limit	$25
Overtime parking after 4 citations within one calendar year	$30
Parking in a tow-away or where otherwise prohibited	$50
Parking in a permit-only space without a permit	$30
Blocking a fire hydrant	$35
5 or more unpaid citations	$50
Parking in a handicapped zone without appropriate placard	$250

Can I Order a Parking Permit Online?
Yes, visit http://www.dpseugene.com/milwaukie.html to apply and obtain your permit today. Remember that permits are available to employees of downtown Milwaukie only.

What is the Block Rule?

Parking more than once in the same block is prohibited by the Milwaukie Municipal Code. Where signs designate maximum parking time limits, movement of a vehicle within a block shall not extend the time limits for parking. A block is defined as all four sides or streets surrounding or encompassing a plot of land, including any adjacent street across from the block originally parked in. This prohibition helps keep downtown spaces available for customers of downtown businesses.

Transportation System Plan: Downtown Parking
For more information about the City's policies and priorities for downtown parking improvements, view the Downtown Parking chapter.

Staff Contact Person
If you have any questions or comments about parking in Milwaukie, please contact Sarah Lander at 503-786-7564 or landers@ci.milwaukie.or.us.