Under Rochester City Ordinance, vehicles with a state issued disability plate or tag may:

• Park free at any metered space up to 4 hours in 1 hour, 90 minute, 2 hour, and 3 hour metered zones.
• Receive a 50% discount when parked in a cashiered municipal ramp as an hourly customer.

The 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. no parking restriction is to allow the street maintenance division to sweep, flush, empty trash cans and remove snow (in the winter months) during off hours. This is to ensure Rochester’s streets are clean for the next day. If you plan on staying downtown after 2 a.m. you are encouraged to park in the City parking ramps.

Regarding the 9 a.m. restriction on 1st Ave SW on Saturdays -it is respect to businesses in the area. Since meters are not enforced on Saturdays many of the on-street spaces fill up with all day employees leaving no curb spaces for customers and visitors. The extended restriction until 9 a.m. past the work start times helps leave some spaces open for customers.

For general questions about your parking ticket (NOT to contest your ticket), contact Rochester 311.

If you believe the citation was issued in error, you can request an administrative review of the citation by submitting an electronic review request form. Once this form is submitted online, it is reviewed by parking enforcement and administration.

If you wish to contest the citation in District Court including for any reason other than an error in issuance, please review the back of the citation for instructions on the process to plead not guilty in District Court. If you have a question regarding court, please call 507-722-7279.

More information about parking citations is available on the Pay a Parking Ticket information page.

Information about how to report a malfunction is printed on all parking meters in the City. If a meter is not operating correctly, please notify the City at the time you first park and discover the malfunction. Call 507-328-2900 and be prepared to provide the specific meter number (NOT the zone number), a description of the issue, and your license plate number. 

If you already loaded money into the meter, you may remained parked for the duration of the meter time limit. A parking technician will be dispatched to check on the meter, and if a malfunction is noted, any ticket issued to you will be voided. Tickets issued as the result of an unreported meter malfunction cannot be voided. Falsely reporting a broken meter will not result in ticket dismissal. 

Please note that issues with reloading additional time in excess of the posted time limits on a parking meter is not a malfunction. City ordinance requires you move your vehicle at least one block after the time limit on a meter expires.

For general questions about your parking ticket (NOT to contest your ticket), contact Rochester 311.

If you believe the citation was issued in error, you can request an administrative review of the citation by submitting an electronic review request form. Once this form is submitted online, it is reviewed by parking enforcement and administration.

If you wish to contest the citation in District Court including for any reason other than an error in issuance, please review the back of the citation for instructions on the process to plead not guilty in District Court. If you have a question regarding court, please call 507-722-7279.

More information about parking citations is available on the Pay a Parking Ticket information page. 

City Ordinances include several guidelines for parking.

Chapter 11-6 of the Rochester Code of Ordinances contains the City's parking regulations.

Sec. 11-6-10. - Prohibited Stops:
No person shall park a vehicle, whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk or on an improved boulevard between a sidewalk and a roadway;
(2) In front of a public or private driveway or alley or within five feet of the intersection of any public or private driveway or alley with any street;
(3) Within an intersection;
(4) Within ten feet of a fire hydrant located on or near any public street. This distance is measured by taking a direct line to the nearest street and measuring ten feet in either direction. All other fire hydrants will be measured as having a no parking zone within a ten foot circumference of the hydrant itself;
(5) Within ten feet of any curb side mailbox, public or private;
(6) On a crosswalk;
(7) Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
(8) Within 30 feet upon the approach of any flashing school signal, stop sign, traffic control signal, or school sign at the side of a roadway;
(9) Within a designated or marked Bus Stop or taxicab stand;
(10) Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;
(11) Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and, on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within 75 feet of said entrance when properly sign-posted;
(12) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic;
(13) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a street except the Fourth Street Southeast Bridge over the Zumbro River and the East Center Street Bridge over the Zumbro River;
(14) So as to block a fire escape or the emergency exit from any building;
(15) At any place where temporary signs prohibit parking, stopping or standing as long as such signs are in place;
(16) At any place where official signs or markings prohibit stopping, standing or parking;
(17) On a street or alley when directed or ordered to proceed by any person or police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic.

Information about how to report a malfunction is printed on all parking meters in the City. If a meter is not operating correctly, please notify the City at the time you first park and discover the malfunction. Call 507-328-2900 and be prepared to provide the specific meter number (NOT the zone number), a description of the issue, and your license plate number. 

If you already loaded money into the meter, you may remained parked for the duration of the meter time limit. A parking technician will be dispatched to check on the meter, and if a malfunction is noted, any ticket issued to you will be voided. Tickets issued as the result of an unreported meter malfunction cannot be voided. Falsely reporting a broken meter will not result in ticket dismissal. 

Please note that issues with reloading additional time in excess of the posted time limits on a parking meter is not a malfunction. City ordinance requires you move your vehicle at least one block after the time limit on a meter expires.

The answer to this depends upon how long visitors will be staying at your home. A temporary permit cannot be purchased for more than 30 days at a time.

If a visitor is coming to your home for less than 14 days:

1. Create an account on parking permit portal: https://rochestermn.thepermitportal.com/
2. Select "Buy Permit" and enter required information. (Parking Zone, Address, Vehicle info, upload documents)
3. Call City Clerk's Office: 507-328-2900 and let staff know you have selected a temporary parking permit. 

If a visitor is staying between 14 and 30 days, they must purchase a Temporary Parking Permit for $18.

1. Create an account on parking permit portal: https://rochestermn.thepermitportal.com/
   • If an account is already created, select "Buy Permit" and enter required information

2. Select "Buy Permit" and enter required information. (Parking Zone, Address, Vehicle info, upload documents)

3. Once permit is approved, you will receive an email to pay for the temporary permit

 For questions or assistance please call City Clerk's Office: 507-328-2900

There is a $33 per year per vehicle permit fee for all new and renewal parking permits. 

Temporary Residential Parking Permits cost $10 and are valid for 30 days. 

You are required to present Proof of Residency and Vehicle Registration in order to apply for a Residential Parking Permit (RPP). This should be done at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall.

The following are acceptable documents for Proof of Residency:

• Valid Drivers License with current address
• OR, current electric/phone/cable bill
• OR, lease agreement

Vehicle Registration must have:

• License Plate Number
• Make, Model, Year of Vehicle

No, per city ordinance Sec. 11-6-23:

(b) No person shall park any of the following described vehicles on any street, alley or city-owned public parking lot for more than one hour:

(1)Trucks or motorhomes having an overall length of more than 23 feet, or overall width of more than eight feet.

(2)Dump trucks, tractors, truck-tractors, trailers, boats and boat trailers, semi-trailers or any heavy machinery.

(3)Any truck, trailer or semi-trailer which is being used for the transportation of livestock or has been used for the transportation of livestock and has not been cleaned.

(4)Any vehicle, truck, trailer or semi-trailer which is being used for the display of advertising.

This restriction means it is not eligible for a permit.

For more information please visit: Chapter 11-6 Parking Regulations  or contact the Office of the City Clerk at 507-328-2900.

Under Rochester City Ordinance, vehicles with a state issued disability plate or tag may:

• Park free at any metered space up to 4 hours in 1 hour, 90 minute, 2 hour, and 3 hour metered zones.
• Receive a 50% discount when parked in a cashiered municipal ramp as an hourly customer.

In the City of Rochester, parking meters are enforced from 8:00 AM-5PM Monday-Friday, with the exception of the following days:

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day (December 25)

The 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. no parking restriction is to allow the street maintenance division to sweep, flush, empty trash cans and remove snow (in the winter months) during off hours. This is to ensure Rochester’s streets are clean for the next day. If you plan on staying downtown after 2 a.m. you are encouraged to park in the City parking ramps.

Regarding the 9 a.m. restriction on 1st Ave SW on Saturdays -it is respect to businesses in the area. Since meters are not enforced on Saturdays many of the on-street spaces fill up with all day employees leaving no curb spaces for customers and visitors. The extended restriction until 9 a.m. past the work start times helps leave some spaces open for customers.

Information about how to report a malfunction is printed on all parking meters in the City. If a meter is not operating correctly, please notify the City at the time you first park and discover the malfunction. Call 507-328-2900 and be prepared to provide the specific meter number (NOT the zone number), a description of the issue, and your license plate number. 

If you already loaded money into the meter, you may remained parked for the duration of the meter time limit. A parking technician will be dispatched to check on the meter, and if a malfunction is noted, any ticket issued to you will be voided. Tickets issued as the result of an unreported meter malfunction cannot be voided. Falsely reporting a broken meter will not result in ticket dismissal. 

Please note that issues with reloading additional time in excess of the posted time limits on a parking meter is not a malfunction. City ordinance requires you move your vehicle at least one block after the time limit on a meter expires.