Cleveland council lowers parking rates after backlash, adds oversight

Cleveland City Council has approved changes to the city’s paid-parking rollout, lowering rates in downtown and Ohio City after complaints from residents, workers and business owners who said the new system was too expensive and too hard to use.

The final vote came June 1 on Ordinance 522-2026, after the measure cleared committee on May 28. Council did not repeal paid parking. Instead, it trimmed prices, adjusted charging hours and added new rules for how the system can expand.

What changes for drivers

Under the ordinance, neighborhood on-street parking drops to $1 per hour for up to eight hours and then $3 per hour after that. In the downtown parking area, the city can charge Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Sunday paid only during special events.

The measure also requires cash- and coin-paying options within 600 feet of each street parking space, a response to complaints from motorists who do not use smartphones or parking apps.

What council added

The ordinance adds oversight rules too. The director of public works must give council implementation and parking data one year after the ordinance takes effect, file any regulations or changes with the clerk of council and publish them in the City Record. Any new parking meter zones created after May 15, 2026, also need council approval.

For downtown drivers, Ohio City businesses and workers, and commuters who park along the curb, the practical takeaway is simple: Cleveland is keeping paid parking, but at lower rates and under tighter council oversight than the city’s original rollout.

Sources

• Cleveland City Council — Council meeting highlights for June 1, 2026
• City of Cleveland Legistar — Committee calendar / Ordinance 522-2026 agenda item
• News 5 Cleveland — Council moves forward on changes to new metered parking system
• Ideastream Public Media — After backlash, Cleveland is changing parking rates again