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Sec. 16-341. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Resident means any person who lives or resides in a structure approved for residential occupancy or up to two owners of such a structure located on a designated residential parking street. Only one sticker shall be issued to a resident or owner.
Residential parking street means a street or a portion thereof where 24-hour curbside parking is limited to vehicles properly displaying a residential parking permit authorized by this article. All other vehicles parking thereon remain subject to parking time restrictions as now and hereafter delineated in the ordinances of the town. Designated streets will be enumerated in this chapter, as amended from time to time.
(Code 1972, § 11-71; Ord. No. 2000-27, 9-13-00)
Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 16-342. - Penalties for violation of article.#
(a)
The parking of any vehicle in a manner contrary to the residential parking provisions established in this article shall be fined in accordance with this article and the parking violations schedule in section 16-45. Each day of a violation of this article shall be a separate offense.
(b)
The use of any residential parking permit in a manner contrary to the provisions established in sections 16-341 through 16-352 is prohibited and the same is hereby declared to be unlawful. Whomever violates or fails to comply with any provision hereinbefore mentioned shall be fined not more than $100.00.
(c)
In addition to those penalties dictated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the director of public safety shall have the responsibility and authority to revoke the residential parking permit of any resident for the abuse of or use of a residential parking permit in a manner contrary to the provisions established in sections 16-341 through 16-352. Revocation of the residential parking permit or conviction of a violation shall be considered just cause for denial of future residential parking permit to such resident.
(Code 1972, § 11-79; Ord. No. 2000-10, 5-31-00; Ord. No. 2017-13, 10-4-17)
Sec. 16-343. - Residential parking zone.#
(a)
The residential parking streets shall be all streets and intersections within and bounded by the following area: from a point at the intersection of Hope Street and Washington Street, continuing easterly to the intersection of Washington Street and High Street, continuing southerly to the intersection of High Street and Franklin Street, continuing easterly to the intersection of Wood Street and Franklin Street, continuing southerly to the intersection of Wood Street and Shaws Lane, continuing easterly to the intersection of Shaws Lane and Ryan Avenue, continuing southerly to the intersection of Ryan Avenue and State Street, continuing easterly to the intersection of State Street and Third School Street, continuing southerly to the intersection of Third School Street and Mount Hope Avenue, continuing westerly to the intersection of Mount Hope Avenue and Wood Street, continuing southerly to the intersection of Wood Street and Walley Street, continuing westerly to the intersection of Walley Street and Hope Street, continuing northerly to the intersection of Hope Street and Constitution Street, continuing westerly to the intersection of Constitution Street and Thames Street, continuing northerly to the intersection of Thames Street and Hope Street, then continuing northerly to the point of origin at the intersection of Hope Street and Washington Street. The residential parking zone shall also include the following: Easterbrooks Avenue; First School Street; Second School Street; Third School Street; Siegel Street; Mount Hope Avenue between Third School Street and Second School Street; and State Street between Easterbrooks Avenue and Ryan Avenue.
(b)
Those streets included within the residential parking zone are limited to two-hour parking, with the exception of:
(1)
State Street between Hope Street and Thames Street, which is limited to one hour between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except Sundays and legal holidays; and
(2)
The streets listed in section 16-345.
(Code 1972, § 11-71.1; Ord. No. 1996-17, § 11-71.1, 9-5-96; Ord. No. 1998-09, 4-22-98; Ord. No. 2001-01, 1-24-01; Ord. No. 2005-29, 8-10-05; Ord. No. 2008-27, 11-12-08; Ord. No. 2010-09, 4-14-10; Ord. No. 2017-14, 10-4-17; Ord. No. 2020-07, 10-21-20; Ord. No. 2021-08, 6-16-21; Ord. No. 2023-11, 6-21-23; Ord. No. 2025-06, 5-28-25; Ord. No. 2025-11, 10-9-2025)
Sec. 16-344. - Procedures for parking in a residential parking zone.#
(a)
Each violation in the zone will be considered a separate violation, and a vehicle parking in excess of six hours is liable to three citations and removal.
(b)
All zones in the residential parking section shall be signed warning that it is a tow zone and that towing is strictly enforced.
(c)
Method of display. Residential stickers shall be displayed in the left rear window of the vehicle. No police officer or traffic aid will be required to look in any other location on a vehicle for a sticker, before citation. If a sticker is displayed in any other fashion, the vehicle will be liable for citation.
(d)
Residential stickers may be issued for nonresidents of the district who can show a special need if the nonresident has appeared before the town council and the town council has determined that a hardship exists necessitating the issuance of a resident sticker to the nonresident.
(e)
No vehicle, truck, bus or trailer over a Class 3 GVWR shall be parked on any town street between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
(f)
Any member of the fire and rescue department properly displaying an active firefighters or rescue members identification on a vehicle shall be allowed to park without violation in the general vicinity of the station to which they are assigned or are a member.
(Code 1972, § 11-71.2; Ord. No. 2000-25, 8-23-00; Ord. No. 2001-12, 6-20-01; Ord. No. 2018-09, 6-13-18)
Sec. 16-345. - Designated residential parking streets.#
(a)
The following streets are designated as residential parking streets, daily, during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.:
Bradford Street, from Hope Street to High Street;
Central Street, from Bradford Street to Wardwell Street;
Church Street, from Hope Street to Wood Street;
Constitution Street, from Bristol Harbor to High Street;
Court Street, from Hope Street to High Street;
High Street, from Church Street to Congregational Street;
State Street, from Hope Street to High Street;
Thames Street, from Franklin Street to Oliver Street;
Wardwell Street, from Hope Street to Central Street.
(b)
The following streets are designated as residential parking streets, daily, 24 hours.
Bradford Street, from Thames Street to Hope Street;
Burnside Street, on the north side beginning at #25 and continuing east until High Street;
Byfield Street;
Central Street, from Bradford Street northerly to dead end.
Church Street, from Thames Street to Hope Street;
Franklin Street, from Thames Street to High Street, except as set forth in subsection 16-146(4);
John Street;
Milk Street;
Thames Street, from Franklin Street southerly to dead end.
Walley Street, south side from Hope Street west to the beach area.
(c)
The following streets are designated as residential parking streets, no overnight parking except with resident sticker:
Bay Street;
Bourne Street;
Bradford Street, from High Street to Wood Street;
Burnside Street, north side, adjacent to the westerly portion of 19 Burnside Street (approximately 52 feet).
Burnside Street, south side, from a point beginning 30 feet east from the southeast corner of Burnside Street and Hope Street and extending 94 feet east on such south side of Burnside Street.
Burton Street;
Congregational Street;
Constitution Street, from High Street easterly to Wood Street, both sides;
Cooke Street;
Cottage Street;
Easterbrooks Avenue;
First School Street;
Franklin Street, from High Street to Wood Street;
High Street, from Church Street southerly to Walley Street, both sides;
High Street, from Washington Street to Congregational Street;
Hope Street, from Washington Street to Franklin Street;
Howe Street;
Mount Hope Avenue, from Wood Street to Third School Street;
Murphy Avenue;
Noyes Avenue;
Oliver Street, from Thames Street to High Street;
Pearse Avenue;
Pleasant Street;
Rock Street;
Ryan Avenue;
Second School Street;
Shaws Lane;
Siegel Street;
State Street, from High Street easterly to Third School Street, both sides;
Summer Street;
Third School Street;
Union Street;
Walley Street, from Hope Street to High Street;
Washington Street, from Hope Street to High Street
William Street;
Wood Street, from Franklin Street southerly to Walley Street, both sides.
(Code 1972, § 11-72; Ord. No. 1998-09, 4-22-98; Ord. No. 2000-27, 9-13-00; Ord. No. 2002-16, 7-17-02; Ord. No. 2005-29, 8-10-05; Ord. No. 2010-16, 9-15-10; Ord. No. 2017-07, 7-5-17; Ord. No. 2020-07, 10-21-20; Ord. No. 2021-08, 6-16-21; Ord. No. 2024-18, 12-19-24; Ord. No. 2025-06, 5-28-25; Ord. No. 2025-11, 10-9-2025; Ord. No. 2026-06, 6-3-26; Ord. No. 2026-08, 6-3-26)
Sec. 16-346. - Criterion.#
No street shall be designated as a residential parking street unless the town council determines that such designation is reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives stated as follows: (1)
Reduce high traffic volumes in certain congested residential districts, and to encourage the use of public transportation and the use of public and private parking facilities.
(2)
Protect certain residential districts from polluted air, excessive noise and from litter resulting from the entry, parking and egress or traffic in higher than desirable volumes.
(3)
Protect the residents of certain residential districts from unreasonable burdens in gaining access to their residences.
(4)
Preserve the character of such districts as predominantly residential districts.
(5)
Promote traffic flow and the safety of children and other pedestrians in congested residential districts.
(6)
Promote the peace, comfort, convenience and welfare of all town residents and visitors.
(Code 1972, § 11-73)
Sec. 16-347. - Posting of signs.#
(a)
Following the town council's decision to designate a residential parking street, parking signs shall be erected thereon.
(b)
Such sign shall inform the vehicle operator that curbside parking on the street is subject to local parking restrictions, unless the vehicle displays a residential parking permit or a general visitor or temporary residential parking permit authorized by this article. Such sign will enumerate all applicable parking restrictions.
(Code 1972, § 11-74)
Sec. 16-348. - Issuance of permits.#
(a)
Any resident or property owner over the age of 16 and a licensed driver may apply for a residential parking permit by completing an application, prepared by the town administrator or his designee, which shall include the following information:
(1)
Name and address of the vehicle owner;
(2)
Name and address of the principal operator of the vehicle (licensee);
(3)
Make, model, color and registration of the vehicle; and
(4)
The name of all other licensed drivers within the same residence.
The driver's license and vehicle registration shall be presented with the application.
(b)
Whenever the town administrator or his designee shall find that the applicant qualifies for a residential parking permit under the provisions of this article, he shall issue one resident parking permit in the form of a sticker or some other method prescribed by the town council.
(c)
The town administrator or his designee may issue one or more temporary residential parking permits for use by a bona fide visitor to a dwelling unit on a residential parking street. Application for such permits shall be made only by a resident of a dwelling unit on a residential parking street on such form as shall be prescribed by the director of public safety or his designee shall place a reasonable limit on the duration of such temporary permit, which time period shall not exceed one week.
(d)
Any business owner may apply for a residential parking permit by completing an application, prepared by the town administrator or his designee which shall include the information required in paragraph (a) above and in addition each business owner shall provide proof of ownership in a business within the town. Each business owner shall be allowed one permit.
(e)
All permit applications shall be handled administratively by the town administrator or his designee; provided, however, that any resident who is refused a residential parking permit by the town administrator may renew their request to the town council for additional consideration. In rendering a decision the town council shall give reasonable consideration to the request for a residential permit and the recommendations of the town administrator and the chief of police.
(Code 1972, § 11-75; Ord. No. 2000-28, 9-13-00)
Sec. 16-349. - Renewal or transfer of permits.#
(a)
A holder of a valid permit from the previous year shall be entitled to a new residential parking permit for the current year upon submission of evidence to the director of public safety or his designee that the holder is still qualified for a residential parking permit.
(b)
The holder of a valid residential parking permit shall receive a new residential parking permit for the purpose of transferring same to another qualifying vehicle upon surrender of the holder's existing residential parking permit and completion of a new application.
(c)
Such permits shall be issued on a calendar year basis with new permits available in December of each year.
(Code 1972, § 11-76)
Sec. 16-350. - Use of permits.#
(a)
A parking permit shall not guarantee or reserve a parking space nor shall it excuse the observance of any traffic or parking regulation.
(b)
It shall be a violation of this article for the holder of a residential parking permit to use such permit when the permit holder no longer fulfills one or more of the applicable provisions of this article controlling the issuance of permits.
(c)
It shall be a violation of this article for any person to represent, in any fashion, that a vehicle is entitled to a parking permit authorized by this article when it is not so entitled. The display of a parking permit on a vehicle not entitled to such permit shall constitute a violation of this article.
(d)
It shall be a violation of this article for any person to duplicate or attempt to duplicate a residential parking permit or to display on any vehicle such a duplicate parking permit.
(Code 1972, § 11-77)
Sec. 16-351. - Special events.#
Any resident on a residential parking street who sponsors a special function or event, which special function or event shall be limited to eight hours in duration, shall notify the town police department at least 24 hours in advance as to the address of the function, approximate duration of the function and an estimated number of vehicles to be present.
(Code 1972, § 11-78)
Sec. 16-352. - Handicapped parking.#
Any parking lot that is open to the general public for the purpose of commercial shopping that has spaces for five or more cars, or any lot that services two or more business establishments is required to have handicapped spaces available with these spaces properly marked. The number of spaces required is to follow the formula listed as follows: 5—25 cars—one space.
26—50 cars—two spaces.
51—150 cars—three spaces.
151—300 cars—four spaces.
Those shopping centers that have multiple stores with one large parking lot will have at least one handicapped space in front of entrance of each store. Responsibility for the signing of the spaces shall be on the owners of the property and shall be erected according to state regulations.
(Code 1972, § 11-80)