Free Parking For Downtown Joliet Proposal Also Carries $30 Fine If You Do This

JOLIET, IL — Joliet's public relations director Rosemaria DiBenedetto issued a Friday afternoon news release revealing that Joliet's elected officials will consider establishing a two-hour free parking rule intended to bring benefit to the community and local businesses.

The ordinance will be reviewed by the Public Service Committee on Monday and presented for a vote at the Joliet City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday night.

“Free street parking has been discussed in the past by both the council and downtown business owners,” explained Mayor Terry D’Arcy in the city's news release. “If the council approves this measure, it will be permanent and another step toward supporting our downtown businesses during the ongoing construction and transformation.”

In Friday's news release, Joliet Public Works Director Greg Ruddy explained how the city will use a vehicle equipped with License Plate Reader cameras to monitor how long and where vehicles are parked. Public Enforcement Officers will issue fines of $30 to vehicles found in violation of the ordinance. The new technology will enable existing staff to work more efficiently, covering a larger area without the need for additional personnel.

The key provisions of the proposed amendment include:

• Two-Hour Parking Limit: A two-hour parking limit will be in effect from Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in Zones A, B and C. Signage will be installed identifying the parking restrictions.
• Re-parking Prohibited: Re-parking within the same zone is not allowed between the hours 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• Exclusion of Early Morning Parking: Parking restrictions will also apply to specific streets between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. for street cleaning including Jefferson Street (between Joliet Street and Mayor Art Schultz Drive), Cass Street (between Joliet Street and Eastern Avenue), and Chicago Street (between Washington Street and Jackson Street).
• Exemptions: The parking restrictions will not apply on holidays.
• Effective Date: The amendment is scheduled to go into effect on September 1, 2025.

“The proposal aims to make downtown parking more accessible for patrons, reduce congestion, and create a turnover of available spaces for businesses, visitors, and residents. This is part of a broader effort to attract more visitors downtown,” Ruddy announced in the press release.