New Orleans

Most metered street parking in New Orleans accepts coins, cards, and payment by phone, and the city supports paying with the ParkMobile app so you can start and manage a session from your phone. You enter the zone number from the meter or nearby signs, choose how long you want to stay, and confirm payment in the app instead of walking back and forth to a meter. You can also use ParkMobile to reserve spaces in many garages and lots across the city so you arrive with a guaranteed place to park instead of circling busy streets.

If you paid at a meter or with ParkMobile for on street parking, you can extend your active session through the app as long as you have not hit the posted time limit for that block. You do not need to go back to your car, which is especially helpful in the French Quarter or Central Business District where moving your vehicle can be time consuming. When you know you need more time than a meter allows, booking a longer stay in a ParkMobile garage or lot gives you more flexibility for business meetings, dinners, or late running events.

Most New Orleans parking meters operate from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with paid hourly parking during those hours and free parking when meters are not in effect. In busy areas such as the French Quarter and the Central Business District there are strict time limits, often two hours, and some blocks are reserved for residents with permits, so you must read every sign on the block before you leave your car. Where signs show both a time limit and a residential permit zone, visitors without a permit must move their car before the limit expires to avoid a ticket, which is another reason many travelers prefer the predictability of a reserved ParkMobile lot or garage.

Parking enforcement in New Orleans is active and uses handheld devices and cameras to check your license plate against the payment system instead of looking at a paper receipt on the dashboard. Officers ticket for expired meters, parking in restricted residential zones, and violations like blocking hydrants, driveways, or crosswalks, and unpaid tickets can lead to boots or towing. When you pay or reserve with ParkMobile and enter the correct license plate and zone, your parking session is recorded electronically so enforcement can see that you are paid and in compliance.

New Orleans has some specific parking rules that surprise visitors, so knowing a few key distances and habits can save you from tickets and towing.Fire hydrants: Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, even if the curb is not painted and there are no extra signs.Intersections and crosswalks: Keep at least 20 feet of space between your car and any intersection, crosswalk, or stop sign so you do not block visibility.Driveways: Do not park within 3 feet of either side of a driveway and never block a driveway, even partly.Sidewalks: Do not park on or over a sidewalk, including when pulling into what looks like a paved area in front of a home or business.Neutral ground: Never park on the neutral ground, which is the grassy or paved median in the middle of a street, even if you see other cars doing it.French Quarter limits: Many residential blocks near and inside the French Quarter have two hour limits for non permit holders, and enforcement in this area is strict, so garages and ParkMobile reservations are often the safest choice.

By planning ahead and using ParkMobile to pay for meters or reserve secure garage and lot spaces, you can avoid tickets, skip the stress of circling for a spot, and enjoy New Orleans with parking already taken care of.

In busy areas like the French Quarter and Central Business District, metered street parking often starts at about $3 per hour, while some other neighborhoods are closer to $2 per hour, with exact prices posted on each meter. Many meters operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and are free on Sundays, although you must still follow any posted time limits or no parking signs. Most meters accept cards and also allow you to pay through ParkMobile so you can see the rate and total time in the app before you confirm.

Yes. Many garages and surface lots in areas such as the French Quarter and the Central Business District allow you to reserve and prepay for parking before you arrive. Using ParkMobile, you can search for available facilities, compare prices, and book a spot in advance so you know your parking cost and location ahead of time instead of hunting for an open space on the street.

Street parking rules in New Orleans are enforced by zone, so you must always read nearby signs for time limits, rush hour restrictions, loading zones, and no parking areas. You cannot park too close to corners, crosswalks, driveways, fire hydrants, or in bus stops, and you must obey any posted residential permit parking rules, which may limit how long nonresidents can stay. Paying with ParkMobile helps you follow time limits by reminding you when your session is ending and allowing you to extend your time remotely if the rules at that location permit it.

Some New Orleans neighborhoods use Residential Permit Parking zones that restrict long-term on-street parking to vehicles with a valid city-issued permit during posted hours. Residents can apply for these permits through the city by providing proof of residence and vehicle information, while visitors must obey the posted time limits and move their car or choose a paid lot or garage outside the restricted hours. If you are visiting friends or staying near one of these zones, using ParkMobile to find nearby paid parking helps you avoid fines and the need for a residential permit.