LegitParkParking in New Orleans
Can you park on this New Orleans block — and for how long? Here's how the city's meters, street sweeping and permit zones work, plus local tips — and you can check your exact address free.
🅿️ Check any New Orleans address →What to know about parking in New Orleans
New Orleans has a reputation as one of the trickiest cities to park in, driven less by scarcity than by aggressive, tech-enabled enforcement and confusing block-by-block rules. The French Quarter is the toughest zone — most non-metered curb space is capped at two hours (7am–7pm) unless you hold a resident or guest pass — and Uptown along the parade route becomes nearly impossible during Carnival.
💡 Street parking is free on Mardi Gras Day (the day before Ash Wednesday).
Local tips for parking in New Orleans
- Never park on the 'neutral ground' (the grassy or paved median) even when you see other cars doing it — it's a $75 citation and tow risk.
- Meters are enforced Monday through Saturday, roughly 8am to 6pm, and most take the ParkMobile app plus cards and dollar bills.
- In the French Quarter, expect a strict 2-hour limit from 7am to 7pm on non-metered streets unless you have a residential permit.
- For the Quarter, the Canal Place garage runs about $20–$30 a day and beats fighting for scarce, time-limited curb space.
- Check posted signs for street-cleaning days (often Tuesday/Thursday mornings) and move your car — restrictions vary block to block.
Common New Orleans parking mistakes to avoid
- Enforcement officers use handheld devices and plate-reading cameras, so a broken meter is not a free pass and still earns a ticket.
- Cars on the neutral ground get ticketed ($75) and booted — a recurring source of local outrage, especially during big events.
- Missing a posted street-cleaning window (which changes by block) is one of the most common tickets locals complain about.
How to pay for parking in New Orleans
New Orleans's on-street meters are paid with ParkMobile — enter the zone number posted on the meter or pole, or pay at the kiosk. Open ParkMobile →
What LegitPark shows for New Orleans
📍 LegitPark tracks 1,145 metered blocks and 17 permit zones in New Orleans, updated weekly from official city data.
- RPP permit zones integrated (zone areas; enforcement hours are on the sign). Street sweeping not integrated.
- Meter rate and time limit are posted on the meter (not in the city dataset).
LegitPark reads all of this per block from official city data (and driver-scanned signs) so you don't have to decode the pole.
Parking rules on every New Orleans street
Even where the posted rules vary, these state-law basics apply almost everywhere:
- 🚒Fire hydrant
No parking within 15 ft (10 ft in some states) of a hydrant. - 🚸Crosswalk & corner
No parking on a crosswalk or within ~20 ft of one at an intersection. - 🛑Stop sign & signal
No parking within ~30 ft of a stop sign, yield, or traffic light. - 🚗Driveways
Never block a driveway — public or private — even partially. - 🟥Painted curb
Red = no stopping. Yellow = active loading only. White = quick pick-up/drop-off. - 🚌Bus stop & transit
No parking in a marked bus stop, transit zone, or taxi stand. - 🚲Bike lane
No stopping or parking in a bike lane at any time. - ♿Accessible spaces
Never use a disabled space or block its access aisle/ramp without a valid placard. - ↔️Direction & distance
Park with traffic, within ~12 in of the curb; no double-parking. - 🚂Blocked zones
No parking on a sidewalk, in an intersection, on a bridge, or within 50 ft of a rail crossing.
More on the nationwide rules: curb colors · fire-hydrant & stop-sign distances · how permit parking works · accessible parking.
New Orleans parking FAQ
Can I park on the median (neutral ground) in New Orleans?
No — parking on the neutral ground is prohibited citywide and carries a $75 citation plus boot/tow risk, even if other cars are doing it.
Is street parking free on Sundays or weekends in New Orleans?
It depends on the block. Plenty of US cities don't run meters on Sundays and ease up on weekends — but a growing number now charge seven days a week, and street sweeping, permit, and time-limit rules can still apply on a Saturday or Sunday. Check the posted sign, or look up the exact New Orleans block on LegitPark, before assuming it's free.
How do you pay for parking in New Orleans?
New Orleans meters take ParkMobile — enter the zone number posted on the meter, or pay at the kiosk.
Does New Orleans have street sweeping or permit parking?
Yes — LegitPark reads New Orleans's street sweeping, meters and residential permit zones from official city data where it's published. Rules change block to block, so always check the posted sign.
How do I know if I can park on a specific New Orleans street?
Open LegitPark, drop a pin or search the address, and it shows the meter, time limit, street sweeping and permit rules for that exact block.
Visiting New Orleans?
Driving in from out of town? Comparing rental cars up front usually beats the airport counter. AutoRentals checks the major agencies for the best rate on your dates.
Compare rental cars →Affiliate link — LegitPark may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Shop Mavis Tires & Brakes →Affiliate link — LegitPark may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Check your exact New Orleans spot
Rules change block to block. Drop a pin or search your address and LegitPark shows the meter, time limit, street-sweeping and permit rules for that spot.
Open LegitPark →