Metered parking places designated on the side of the roads are usually at the request of business establishments and/or citizens to maintain parking turnover. The City's Parking Meter inventory provides an efficient and economical means of generating turnover parking in business districts, parking districts and other areas of the City. The approximately 4,600 on-street meters demand an effective preventive maintenance plan which includes constant upkeep, meter replacement and refurbishment.

Meters:

1. You have to deposit coins in the meter.

2. The meter will display the amount of time given corresponding to the amount of coins deposited.

3. You may not refeed the meter.

4. You may not park in the metered space for longer than the maximum time limit displayed on the meter.

5. Upon reaching the expired time, you must move to another meter, but not the same one.

Handicapped Zones ($200.00 ticket):

1. You cannot park in a Handicapped Zone unless you or an authorized Handicapped Placard holder has a Handicapped Placard or Handicapped License Plate issued by a State Department of Motor Vehicles.

 

2. Handicapped decals issued by the University of South Carolina can only be used on university property or at university meters. The University of South Carolina meters display that they are university meters.

 

3. If you have a handicapped placard, and are parking in a handicapped zone, the placard must be displayed in the rearview mirror area. Monitors will not look for it on the front seat of the vehicle or in any other area in the vehicle.

 

4. State law allows persons with valid handicapped plates or placards to park in metered parking spaces without feeding the meter. State law also waives any time restrictions for the handicapped.

Tree Zones, Sidewalks or Driveways:

1. No part of your vehicle may be parked in a Tree Zone. The "Tree Zone" is considered the area between the street curb and the sidewalk, or the City right of way adjacent to the street.

2. No part of your vehicle may be parked on a sidewalk. The "Sidewalk" is considered any paved area adjacent to the street designated for pedestrian walking.

3. You must clear a driveway by 5 feet on either side of the driveway.

Fire Hydrant:

You must clear a fire hydrant by 15 feet on either side of the fire hydrant.

Vendor Delivery Parking:

There are congested parking areas in the City of Columbia. Vendors delivering goods to areas business are allowed consideration for parking only while delivering their goods. They must have a Vendor Permit and it must be displayed while making deliveries. Vendor Permits are issued at 1 Justice Square, Columbia, South Carolina. You must show proof when purchasing the permit.

Median Parking:

Median parking is reserved for police officers conducting official business in congested parking areas of the City and for Vendors delivering goods to an area business only.

Parking in the Wrong Direction:

You must park parallel with the curb and headed in the same direction of traffic as the side that you parking.

Parking Improperly:

1. You must park within the designated space. No part of your tires can be over or on the line.

2. Parking improperly because the vehicle in the adjacent space is parked improperly is not a valid excuse. If you cannot fit your vehicle within the designated space, you must find another space in which to park.

Note:

1. A vehicle that is "standing" in a zone with a passenger inside the vehicle is still considered to be "parked."

2. An expired meter is considered expired immediately upon expiring, even if you are on the sidewalk headed to your vehicle.

3. If a parking space is not specifically designated as such, it is most likely not a parking space and you should not park there.