Beaufort starts New Year with Parking Meter Changes

Following a lengthy review of recommendations by the City of Beaufort Parking Task Force, the Beaufort City Council this month changed some parking meter rates and times in downtown locations to take effect Jan. 4, 2016.

City Council gave final approval to the changes at its meeting Dec. 8, 2015. The changes reflect current parking policies and recommendations made by the Parking Task Force.

“These changes will take effect Jan. 4, 2016 as we roll into the New Year. We believe these changes reflect the strongest recommendations from the Parking Task Force as well as what’s best for our downtown merchants and the vitality of our downtown commercial district,” Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop said.

Changes include:

• Enforcement of all parking meters in downtown Beaufort will change to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to encourage locals to shop downtown in the morning
• Rates for parking meters on Port Republic Street increase from 75 cents per hour to $1 per hour
• Rates for parking meters on side streets north of Port Republic Street decrease from 75 cents per hour to 50 cents per hour
• Time limits for metered parking spaces on Bay Street and side streets from Bay to Port Republic Street change to two hours; some spaces had been marked for three and four hours. The shorter time limit will allow more turnover of the parking spaces to benefit merchants
• Increases the “boot fee” to $100 for people with multiple unpaid parking tickets
• Increases the fine for illegally parking in a handicapped space to $500 to conform to state law.

The amendments come as a result of recommendations made by the Parking Task Force on June 11, 2015 during its final report. The changes align the city’s parking ordinance to current parking policies.

To view the Parking Task Force’s final report, go to www.cityofbeaufort.org, click on Parking Information on the right, then scroll down to Parking Task Force.