Parking in Madison

Where Can I Park?

Street Parking / Public Parking

Most street parking near campus has meters charging around $2/hour, with time limits ranging from 25 minutes to 3 hours. (There are a few 10-hour "Park & Walk" spots near campus with a reduced rate.) Many new developments on campus and the Isthmus have parking garages, but their rates and restrictions vary. Downtown has limited free parking with 2-hour limits unless you have a neighborhood permit. Neighborhoods in Madison vary in when and where you can park for free. Look out for restrictions and potential fines ranging anywhere from $25 to $100 or more if the vehicle is towed.

People with disabilities can find accessible parking spots in all City lots and garages and on some streets with un-metered parking. Visit the City's website for details.

Residential Parking Permits

Residents may be able to get a Residential Parking Permit for an annual fee to park in their neighborhood’s unmetered spots for up to 48 hours. Some buildings don’t qualify for permits. Tenants should check eligibility before renting, and ask their landlord and others about available parking.

Seasonal Restrictions

Winter Parking (November 15 - March 15)

From November 15 to March 15, winter parking rules apply to allow for street plowing. Alternate side parking is required city-wide, except for Snow Emergency Zones. The City publishes a daily Snow Emergency status on its website and offers text and email alerts. Alternate side parking requires parking between 1-7 a.m. on even/odd sides of the street, depending on the day (even or odd). Residents should plan parking for the date of the next day.

Street Sweeping (May 1 - November 15)

Many neighborhoods in and near the downtown area have additional weekly restrictions from May 1 - November 15 to allow the City to clean the roads. Street sweeping is conducted on a rolling schedule. On a given day of the week, there will be a few hours where parking on a given number of blocks will be restricted. Each affected block will have a sign stating for which day and hours parking is restricted for street cleaning.

Rush Hour Lanes

Many streets that cross the Isthmus (like Johnson, Gorham, and Williamson Street) have a rush hour lane for which parking will be restricted during morning or evening commute times. Each block subject to rush hour parking restrictions will have signage posted with the times when vehicles parked in the rush hour lane will be ticketed and towed. The parking ticket will include the cost of towing a vehicle.

Read Parking Signs Closely

Many spots around the City have exceptions to standard parking rules. These exceptions include loading zones, construction, special event parking, bike parking restrictions, etc. Before leaving a vehicle, people should check their surroundings for applicable parking signs.

What Can I Do if I Get a Ticket?

The options available depend on whether you received a citation from the University or the City of Madison. The ticket generally will include how to pay it. If you currently have a ticket, please check who issued it and then consult the appropriate site:

The Tenant Resource Center does not offer counseling or legal information about parking violations.

Can A Tenant Get a Private, Off-Street Parking Spot?

This depends on the apartment or house being rented, and the lease. Some apartments have a driveway, a small parking lot, or an indoor parking garage. If a tenant’s apartment has an area for parking, the lease will contain provisions regarding the use of that area. Read your lease carefully for parking rules and any fees that apply to parking.

Can my Landlord Ticket or Tow my Vehicle?

Landlords can ticket or tow unauthorized vehicles (they must use a towing company) if a tenant is parked in violation of the posted rules. TRANS 319. If parking signs are properly posted, the vehicle can be towed immediately at the owner’s expense without notice. If signs are not properly posted, the vehicle must first be ticketed. Landlords are allowed to have signs at the entrance of the parking lot (saying that unauthorized vehicles will be towed). Landlords can choose to put signs at the entrances or be visible in the parking spots. The sign must say the parking of unauthorized vehicles is not allowed and that unauthorized vehicles may be towed (for example: “Private Property. Tow Away Zone”).

Towing companies must make a good-faith effort to contact law enforcement before removing any vehicle. Failure to make an effort means the towing company may not collect any charges or fees. Wis. Stat. 349.13(3m). The fees that can be charged include costs associated with the removal of the car and storage, if applicable, of the unauthorized vehicle. Until the charges for removal and storage are paid, a towing company may confiscate the vehicle. If 30 days pass and the charges remain unpaid or no written repayment agreement has been reached, the vehicle can be considered abandoned and disposed of under Wis. Stat. 349.13 (5)(b)4. If a tenant finds themselves in a situation where they are unable to pay the impound lot charges, then they may ask their landlord or law enforcement to request that the towing company release their personal items. The company must comply with Wis. Stat. 349.13 (5)(b)2).

It is important for tenants to know the parking rules and make sure their landlord has in writing the make and model of their car, the license plate, and how to best contact them.

Should I Bring a Car to UW Madison?

UW Madison recommends walking, biking, or taking the bus on campus. Parking is limited and pricey. Madison is a bike-friendly city with resources for beginners. Bike Madison has excellent resources on safety, bike paths, and other commuter tips. The UW Madison Bicycle Resource Center has clinics for students on bicycle mechanics and maintenance. Many local bike shops also sell used bikes, meaning you can try a cheaper bike to see if it’s for you. Check out the Bicycle Benefits program.

UW Madison also offers a free ASM Bus Pass for students to use, and Metro Transit has an app that can be used to plan routes to and from campus.

But What About the Campus Lots?

Students who live more than one mile from a Madison Metro stop, regularly work off campus and have special needs can apply for a few daytime spots. All students can apply for afternoon spots. Students with Department of Transportation disability tags can get UW DIS tags through the McBurney Disability Resource Center. Finally, some UW parking lots are free during limited evening and weekend hours.

For more information on these options and permit applications, visit the UW Transportation Services website.

Mopeds and Motorcycles

Parking permits are available for both mopeds and motorcycles. Click here for more information.