Shoppers and diners heading to Canton Street will get two free hours of on-street parking starting Saturday, Aug. 1, the first time the city has offered no-cost daytime parking since its paid pilot launched in May.
The catch: once those two hours are up, the meter rate rises 50%, from $2 to $3 per hour.
The free window runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at four downtown locations, according to a City of Roswell announcement published Thursday, July 30:
- Canton Street between Magnolia Street and Norcross Street
- Elizabeth Way between Canton Street and Alpharetta Highway
- East Alley between Canton Street and Norcross Street
- East Alley Parking Lot
Two new 30-minute, no-charge quick-stop spaces on Elizabeth Way will also be available for visitors making brief stops at local businesses. Those spaces won't require starting a parking session.
What drivers need to know
Even during the free two-hour window, drivers must register their vehicle by scanning a QR code, texting to pay, or using one of two payment kiosks located at Canton Street and Elizabeth Way and along East Alley. Skipping that step means a $20 fine.
No app download is required. Google Pay and Apple Pay work for return visitors.
After the free period expires, rates climb incrementally: $3 for the third hour, $6 total through hour four, and so on up to a $24 daily maximum. Parking outside the 8 a.m.–3 p.m. window costs $3 per hour from the start. Enforcement runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Under the previous structure, which took effect May 15, drivers paid $2 per hour with a $16 daily cap and no free window.
Part of a pilot ending Dec. 31
The rate change falls under Roswell's downtown parking pilot program, which City Council approved 4–2 on March 9. The pilot runs through Dec. 31, 2026, and the city says data collected on parking demand and usage patterns will inform longer-term strategy.
Mayor Mary Robichaux said in April, when the city adjusted the pilot to offer free parking at the new Green Street deck during construction, "We understand how important convenient parking is for our downtown businesses, employees, and visitors."
The program is managed by 12 Oaks Parking, LLC, a Georgia-based company handling operations, enforcement, and citation appeals. Drivers with questions can reach the operator at (678) 973-0348 or [email protected].
Green Street deck still free
As we reported July 17, the 394-space parking deck at 1056 Alpharetta St. continues to offer free parking during active Green Street construction. The city says early usage data has been strong.
No specific post-December decision date has been announced for on-street rates. The city says it will use the pilot data to inform what comes next.
