PARKING METERS

Columbus City Codes tit. 21, ch. 2155

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 2155.01 Definitions.

2155.01 - Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to terms used in this chapter: (a) "Individual street parking space" means a portion of the paved surface approximately twenty (20) feet in length along the curb of streets and shall accommodate a vehicle when the same is parked as prescribed by Section 2151.06. (b) "Parking" means the standing of a vehicle whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading, or in compliance with directions of a police officer or traffic control device. (c) "Parking meters" means any mechanical or electronic device used, placed, installed, or erected at or near the curb adjacent to the parking lane, or otherwise on property which is owned, leased, or operated by the city. A parking meter includes, but is not limited to, single space meters, multi-space meters, and parking mobile payment applications authorized by the city of Columbus. (d) "Vehicle" means any device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported upon a public street, except such devices as are used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks and such devices as are propelled exclusively by human power. (e) "Off-street parking lot" means any lot, piece, or parcel of land owned by the city and designated by council for the purpose of metered, time-regulated storing or parking of vehicles. (f) "Individual off-street parking space" means a portion of the paved surface of the off-street parking lot approximately twenty (20) feet in length and nine (9) feet in width. (g) "Disability designated vehicle" means a motor vehicle that displays either (1) a parking card issued under Section 4503.44 of the Ohio Revised Code or (2) a special license plate issued under Section 4503.44 of the Ohio Revised Code and is being operated by or for the transport of a disabled person. For purposes of this section "disabled person" means any person who has lost the use of one (1) or both legs or one (1) or both arms, who is blind or deaf, or so severely disabled as to be unable to move about without the aid of crutches or a wheelchair, or whose mobility is restricted by a permanent cardiovascular, pulmonary, or other disabled condition. When a motor vehicle displays a temporary parking pass, disabled veteran plate, permanent parking card from the appropriate state agency, or special license plate, that is being operated by or transporting a disabled person, the motor vehicle shall have the decal or parking card clearly displayed on the left dashboard or in the left front windshield of enclosed vehicles so that the parking privilege information is on the front side of the card and is readily readable from outside the windshield. (ORC 4503.44) (h) "Disabled designated parking space" means parking spaces on public or private streets, parking lots and parking garages designated for the exclusive use of a disability designated vehicle and denoted as such in accordance with the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.69 (E), Ohio Revised Code Section 3781.111 (C), the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the city of Columbus Transportation Sign Installation Manual. (i) "Meter day" means any day that parking meters are enforced. (j) "Net revenue" means mobility enterprise operating fund revenues remaining after: payment of Operating expenses, debt service obligations, and debt service reserves in accordance with Section 2155.09(A)(1)-(3). (k) "Operating expenses" means only those direct, actual, and necessary cash expenditures incurred by the Division of Mobility and Parking Services that are indispensable to the daily operation, routine maintenance, and immediate administration of city-managed public parking facilities and mobile parking payment systems. "Operating expenses" includes personnel costs, routine maintenance, software licensing fees, internal service charges, and essential supplies. "Operating expenses" does not include capital infrastructure expansion, real estate acquisition, general roadway paving, or non-specialized non-routine equipment procurement. (l) "Parklet" means a seating area or miniature park created by converting one or more curbside parking spaces into a landscaped extension of the sidewalk. (m) "Tactical urbanism" means a relatively low-cost, short-term approach to traffic design and management, often to advance longer-term goals related to street safety and the design of public spaces. Examples of tactical urbanism include the use of temporary barriers to protect a bike lane, cones to redirect traffic, and pavement markings to delineate pedestrian facilities. (Ord. 581-88: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. 220-06 § 1; Ord. 0867-2006 § 1 (part): Ord. 0105-2007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0128-2009, § 1, 2-9-2009; Ord. No. 1182-2014, § 2, 6-16-2014; Ord. No. 1189-2018, §§ 2, 3, 5-21-2018; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 3, 12-15-2025; Ord. No. 1486-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.02 Meter spaces limited to vehicles only.

2155.02 - Meter spaces limited to vehicles only. (a) Nothing shall be parked or stored in an individual street or off-street parking space where a parking meter is installed other than a vehicle as defined in Section 2155.01(d). (b) A violation of this section constitutes the commission of a parking infraction to be handled pursuant to and governed by the provisions of Chapter 2150. (Ord. 1579-72: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.03 Installation, modification and removal of meters.

2155.03 - Installation, modification and removal of meters. The public service director is authorized to install, modify and remove any parking meters which are leased or purchased by the City, individual on-street or off-street parking spaces. (Ord. 2168-76; Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 3, 12-15-2025.)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.04 Powers and duties of the public service director.

2155.04 - Powers and duties of the public service director. The public service director is authorized to make, modify, change from time to time and promulgate such administrative rules as in the director's discretion shall be deemed necessary to effectuate the provisions of this chapter. The public service director is authorized to establish, modify, and change from time to time, regulations which set forth the days of the week, hours of the day, and the intervals of time for which parking is permissible, and the funds and information required to complete a parking transaction for parking in individual parking spaces so designated by signage pavement marking. Such regulations shall be signed by the public service director, filed with the city clerk, and published in the City Bulletin. The maintenance and repair of parking meters shall be under the supervision and direction of the public service director. The public service director is further authorized to establish the rates for fees to be charged in the event that parking meters are temporarily or permanently removed as described in Sections 2155.055 and 2155.056, in accordance with the guidelines stated therein. (Ord. 486-85: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 1189-2018, §§ 2, 3, 5-21-2018; Ord. No. 2053-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023; Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 3, 12-15-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.05 Deposit of funds required; meter non-payment.

2155.05 - Deposit of funds required; meter non-payment. (a) Whenever a vehicle is parked at a parking meter during the days of the week and during the hours of the day for which the public service director has established regulations as provided for in Section 2155.04, the person parking such vehicle shall immediately deposit or cause to be deposited the required funds, the correct vehicle information, mobile payment zone number and any other information required to complete a parking meter transaction, except as provided for in the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 2105.27. Upon the deposit of such funds, completion of the required correct information, and the placing of such parking meter in operation, the parking space may be lawfully occupied by such vehicle during the period indicated on the parking meter. Any vehicle which fails to deposit the required funds, or fails to complete the required correct information, and remains in an individual street or off-street parking space after the prescribed time for parking will be determined to be illegally parked and in violation of the provisions of this chapter. The fact that the vehicle is in an individual street or off-street parking space when the time on the parking meter for the same shows no parking permitted unless a deposit of the required funds and the completion of the required correct information is immediately made as herein provided shall be deemed prima-facie evidence of the unlawful parking of such vehicle by its owner. When a disability designated vehicle is parked in a disabled designated parking space or any legal available parking space the vehicle shall be permitted to park two (2) hours beyond the legal limits on the meter or applicable parking space but not beyond the designated parking hours or other restricted hours that may apply. (b) A violation of this section constitutes the commission of a parking infraction to be handled pursuant to and governed by the provisions of Chapter 2150. (Ord. 26-91: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2105-2013, § 1, 9-23-2013; Ord. No. 2029-2014, § 4, 9-29-2014; Ord. No. 1189-2018, §§ 2, 3, 5-21-2018; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1811-2021, § 2, 10-18-2021; Ord. No. 2053-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023; Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 3, 12-15-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.06 Reserved.

Columbus City Codes § 2155.07 Use of slugs; defacing or tampering with meter.

2155.07 - Use of slugs; defacing or tampering with meter. (a) No person shall deposit in any street or off-street parking meter in the city any slug, device, or substitute for required funds or deface, injure, damage, tamper with or willfully break, destroy, or impair the usefulness of any parking meter installed under the provisions of this chapter. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (Ord. 1579-72: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 1811-2021, § 2, 10-18-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.08 Collection of funds.

2155.08 - Collection of funds. The Director of Public Service is authorized to appoint "collectors and accountants of parking meter funds" from street and off-street parking meters. In collecting such funds, they shall deliver same to the Parking Violations Bureau for counting, sorting and making ready for deposit. (Ord. 1579-72: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part): Ord. 0105-2007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 1811-2021, § 2, 10-18-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.09 Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund.

2155.09 - Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund. (A) The funds collected into the mobility enterprise operating fund, established by Ordinance 2994-2021, shall be allocated on a monthly basis from the revenues collected during that month, for the following purposes and in the following order of priority: (1) Payment of all budgeted operating expenses necessary for the administration and operation of the Mobility Enterprise; (2) Payment of all required debt service obligations and legally required financial commitments up to one year in advance; (3) Funding of the debt service reserve subfund established in section 2155.10 in an amount equal to not more than two times the annual amount needed for annual debt service; (4) Funding of the mobility innovation subfund established in section 2155.10 of the Columbus City Codes; and (5) Funding of additional reserve accounts established by ordinance of City Council. (B) Annually, the director of public service shall prepare and deliver to City Council, the Mayor, and the director of finance and management a report detailing: (1) Annual enterprise revenues, operating expenditures, and debt service expenditures; (2) Mobility innovation subfund deposits and expenditures, reserve subfund balances, reserve deposits and withdrawals, and anticipated capital maintenance obligations; and (3) Recommendations regarding Mobility Innovation Subfund levels and associated future expenditures and recommendations regarding reserve funding levels. (Ord. No. 1486-2026, § 2, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.10 Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund Subfunds.

2155.10 - Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund Subfunds. (A) The mobility innovation subfund is hereby created within the mobility enterprise operating fund, established under Ordinance 2994-2021. The purpose of the subfund is to support investment in and innovation of mobility initiatives aside from the City's off-street garage assets and other infrastructure that primarily accommodates automobiles. Eligible uses of the subfund include purchases, service contracts, and grant agreements associated with each of the following: (1) Tactical urbanism; (2) Safety equipment for bicyclists or micromobility device users, such as helmets and locks, as well as support for attendant maintenance services for such devices; (3) Passes for public transit or mobility device rental services, such as the Central Ohio Transit Authority; (4) Installation of parklets or bicycle parking facilities; (5) Bicycles, electric bicycles, and other micromobility devices; (6) Capital investments in physical infrastructure, assets, and equipment that support multimodal connectivity, mobility, and vulnerable road user safety such as bicycle and micromobility parking, multimodal mobility hubs, enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, accessible design improvements, traffic calming and neighborhood mobility improvements, and multimodal curb management infrastructure; (7) Other initiatives pertaining to active transportation, shared and micromobility use, transit access, disability access and accommodation, transportation demand management, mobility-focused community partnerships, and transportation innovation pilots as ordained by City Council. (B) Pursuant to division (A) of section 2155.09 of the Columbus City Codes, of the revenue deposited into the mobility enterprise operating fund, the Auditor shall transfer five percent (5%) of the Net revenue into the mobility innovation subfund. (C) Notwithstanding division (B) of this section, no deposits shall be made from the mobility enterprise operating fund to the mobility innovation subfund that the City Auditor determines to threaten the obligations defined in section 2155.11 of the Columbus City Codes. (D) The debt service reserve fund is hereby created within the mobility enterprise operating fund. (Ord. No. 1486-2026, § 2, 6-29-2026)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.11 Mobility Debt Retirement-Parking Meter Contribution Fund.

2155.11 - Mobility Debt Retirement-Parking Meter Contribution Fund. There is hereby created the City Mobility Debt Retirement-Parking Meter Contribution Fund into which City Incremental Parking Meter Receipts shall be deposited in the amounts necessary to maintain a balance of at least one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000.00) in such fund, to the extent necessary to satisfy the City's obligations under Section 3.3 of the Cooperative Agreement among the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, the County of Franklin, Ohio and the City concerning the acquisition, construction, installation, equipping and financing of a full-service convention center hotel to be located on High Street, in Columbus, Ohio, across from the existing Columbus Convention Center. City Incremental Parking Meter Receipts means the incremental increase of receipts from fees and charges imposed by the City for street and off-street parking meters collected by the City as a result of any increase in rates charged after November 1, 2009. (Ord. No. 1578-2009, § 3, 12-9-2009; Ord. No. 2053-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.13 Parking Benefit Districts.

2155.13 - Parking Benefit Districts. a) There are hereby created Parking Benefit Districts. A Parking Benefit District is a geographic area with a higher than optimal parking demand. Designating an area as a Parking Benefit District allows a portion of the on-street parking revenues to be collected and reinvested into transportation related enhancements to improve a neighborhood and promote walking, biking, and public transportation. b) The service director shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to Section 2105.03 for the administration of a Parking Benefit District and shall have the authority to disperse funds generated from parking meter revenue to assist in funding transportation, parking, and mobility related projects and initiatives within the limits of a defined parking benefit district. c) The provisions of this chapter shall only apply when a Parking Benefit District has been designated by ordinance of City Council for a defined geographic boundary. (Ord. No. 1189-2018, § 1, 5-21-2018)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.055 Fees for parking meters out of service.

2155.055 - Fees for parking meters out of service. Whenever a parking meter is temporarily removed from service by hooding or by actual removal for later replacement, due to sidewalk repair, construction or other reason, the person or entity requesting such removal shall be required to pay a fee for each meter day that the parking meter is out of service. Such fee is to be determined by the public service director and shall not exceed the actual revenue loss to the city. Such actual revenue loss shall be determined by the parking meter rate in effect on the day that the meter is removed from service and shall be equivalent to the revenue amount that the parking meter would generate if used continuously during the hours of enforcement for every meter day that the parking meter is out of service. Should it be necessary to remove and reinstall a parking meter post or otherwise remove a parking meter from service by hooding or by other means and restore the same, an additional fee shall be charged which reflects the cost entailed by the city for such removal and restoration or reinstallation. These fees shall be established by the service director, collected by the director's designee, and deposited in the Mobility Enterprise Fund. (Ord. 1334-92: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1811-2021, § 2, 10-18-2021; Ord. No. 2053-2023, § 1, 7-31-2023; Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 3, 12-15-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 2155.056 Fees for permanent removal of parking meters.

2155.056 - Fees for permanent removal of parking meters. (a) Whenever an individual street parking space managed with a parking meter is permanently removed from service due to construction, development or other authorized reason, the person requesting such removal shall be required to pay lost meter revenue, as determined by the Director pursuant to Section 2155.04, per individual street parking space permanently removed from service. The Director shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to 2155.04, for the administration of this section. (b) Should it be necessary to remove a parking meter post or otherwise remove a parking meter, an additional fee shall be charged which reflects the cost incurred by the city for such removal and restoration. These fees shall be established by the public service director, collected by the director's designee, and deposited in the Mobility Enterprise Fund. (c) The Director may waive or reduce the required fees for permanent removal of parking meters when: (1) the public benefit of the project or initiative resulting in the meter removal outweighs the loss in revenue; (2) the potential for undue hardship on the project if the fee is required; or (3) where the project is City-initiated or includes public funding. (Ord. No. 3360-2025, § 2, 12-15-2025)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT21TRCO_CH2155PAMEFetched: 10/27/2026