The city’s paid parking and residential permit programs return Friday, May 1, with metered pay-by-plate parking, residential parking restrictions and beach access for residents all back in effect for the summer season.
Newport residential parking pass holders will again be entitled to three free hours of parking in every metered space across the city, as well as in the Mary Street Parking Lot. Parking at Easton’s Beach will also be free for Newport residents throughout the summer, with no separate pass required.
To claim the three free hours of street parking, residents must enter their registration plate number at a pay station or in the Passport app. No fee is charged.
The city has also streamlined the Residential Parking Permit program this year, introducing a new online payment and application portal at newportri.cmrpay.com. Both Resident Parking and King Park parking permit applications are now available entirely online at NewportRI.gov/Parking.
Pay-by-plate parking is in effect from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. downtown and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in other metered areas — drivers are advised to check signage — through Oct. 31. Hourly rates range from $1.50 to $2 depending on location.
Motorists are encouraged to pay from their smartphones using the Passport Mobile App, available at CityofNewport.com/Parking or through any mobile app store. Users create an account, select the zone number posted on nearby signage and enter the vehicle’s license plate number. The app allows drivers to view parking history and extend sessions with one tap. City pay stations accept credit cards and coins, with a one-hour minimum for credit card transactions.
The Mary Street Parking Lot operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a self-pay lot, with rates of $3 per hour and $20 per day. Newport residents again receive three free hours there.
Parking fees at the Gateway Center Parking Lot are $5 per hour, billed in 30-minute increments, with discounted weekly and monthly rates available. The Long Wharf Lot is expected to remain closed for the duration of the summer to accommodate ongoing infrastructure upgrades to the Long Wharf Pump Station.
For drivers headed to Lower Thames Street, additional public parking is being offered on Dearborn Street through a partnership with Emanuel Church.
The city’s residential sticker parking program is also back in effect through Oct. 1. Visitors should note that parking in many residential neighborhoods is restricted to vehicles registered with residential permits, or those displaying a general visitor pass or temporary residential parking permit.
Beginning this year, each full-time Newport resident is entitled to three free residential parking permits. Non-resident property owners and tenants with leases of more than seven months but less than 12 months are eligible for no more than one permit per property. Properties owned by limited liability companies or trusts are limited to no more than two permits per address.
Approved permit holders will receive a confirmation email as proof that their vehicle has a permit. Permits are tied to specific vehicle registrations and verified by police traffic aides and electronic license plate readers.
Motorists are reminded to check posted signage before parking. Questions about city parking lots and metered parking can be directed to the transportation supervisor at 401-845-5712.
