Allentown Parking Authority

General Information

Q. Where is the Allentown Parking Authority office located?

A. The Allentown Parking Authority main office is located at 1005 Hamilton Street.

Q. What are the office hours for the Allentown Parking Authority?

A. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Q. What hours does the Allentown Parking Authority have officers patrolling?

A. The Allentown Parking Authority enforces parking Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM through 10:30 PM city wide, and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM through 4:00 PM. To have an illegally parked vehicle ticketed, anytime, call the Communication Center at 610-437-7751.

Q. What methods of payment does the APA accept?

A. The APA accepts cash, checks, money orders, MasterCard, Visa or Discover charge cards.   You may call us to make a charge card payment over the phone or online ticket payment at www.allentownparking.com.

Q. Can I make payments after Allentown Parking Authority business hours?

A. All payments may be made through the mail, online ticket payments at www.allentownparking.com  or may be deposited in the Night Drop slot located outside our office at 1005 Hamilton Street on the Hamilton Street side. Payments deposited in the Night Drop slot go into a secure area and are retrieved daily. Cash should NOT be placed in the drop box. Payments made after hours in the drop box will be credited for the previous day.

Street Cleaning

Q. When is Street Cleaning done in the city?

A. Beginning on December 1st, 2006, street cleaning will be done in Allentown on a year round basis in most parts of the city. If unsure about a specific area, check the signs on that block.

Q. Is Street Cleaning done in the rain?

A. Yes, street cleaning is done in the rain. In fact, when it is raining the street cleaner uses rainwater to pick up debris, rather than using city water.

Q. What is a repeat offender?

A. A second violation of street cleaning within a 30-day period results in a 'repeat offender' designation. This subsequent offense(s) will incur additional penalties.

Q. If a person has a Disabled Person license plate or placard do they still need to move their vehicle for Street Cleaning?

A. Yes, no vehicles are exempt for Street Cleaning. However, if a vehicle with a state issued plate or placard is in a designated Handicap parking space, the vehicle will be warned one (1) time in a calendar year  before a ticket is issued.

Residential Parking Permits

Q. How can I avoid getting parking tickets where I live?

A. Depending on where you live, you may be eligible to purchase a Residential Parking Permit (RPP) to park in the area. The RPP allows residents to park in their zone without feeding the parking meters, or in areas where there is a 2 or 3 hour time limit, they may park in excess of the time limit.

Q. How much does a Residential Parking Permit cost?

A. Residential Parking Permits cost $25.00 for the first year, $20.00 a year for renewals.

Q. How do I get a Residential Parking Permit?

A. You can either mail or bring the Vehicle Registration along with your Driver's License to the Allentown Parking Authority office, located at 1005 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If these documents do not show an address within a Residential Parking Permit zone, please call the APA to determine what other documents will be necessary, such as a lease, major utility bill, etc.

Q. Can guests staying at my home get a Visitors Permit to park?

A. People who are temporarily staying with residents in a Residential Parking Permit zone may purchase a Visitors Permit, which works the same way as the yearly Residential Parking Permit. Each Visitors Permit is valid for 2 weeks and costs $2.00. There will be two (2) Visitors Permits issued per vehicle, for a total period of four (4) weeks. To obtain a Visitors Permit, mail or bring the registration of the vehicle you wish to register as a guest.

Ticketing and Enforcement

Q. How do I report illegally parked vehicles?

A. All citizen complaints must be called into the Communication Center at 610-437-7751 (24 hours a day), this applies to vehicles on the street or on private property.

Q. I received a parking ticket but lost it, how can I find out how much the fine is?

A. If you know or think you may have received a ticket but cannot locate it, you may call the Allentown Parking Authority office at 610-437-2103 with the license plate number of the vehicle ticketed. The staff can check the computer for that ticket information.

Q. Can I check to see if there are any parking tickets issued to my vehicle?

A. Yes. However, to insure the privacy of our customers, you must show proof that the vehicle you are requesting information for is yours. You can do this in person or call the APA office at 610-437-2103 with your license plate number(s).

Q. I received a parking ticket and feel it is not correct. How can I contest this ticket?

A. You may file a complaint. You can write a letter, give the information over the phone or log onto www.allentownparking.com and click on TICKET COMPLAINTS and the APA will investigate the situation. The ticket goes on “suspension” while we investigate, so the fines will not increase until a determination has been made. At that time you will receive a letter stating whether the ticket is valid or not and will have time to pay at the suspended rate. You may also come into the APA offices to file a complaint.

Q. What happens if I do not agree with the decision?

A. If you are not satisfied with the results of the internal complaint process, you may request a hearing on any ticket. The registered owner of the vehicle must make the request. You must provide a copy of your registration as proof of ownership. The Allentown Parking Authority will issue the request and transfer all related documents to the District Justice. If the District Justice upholds the ticket as valid, there are additional court costs and fines that may be due and could total $50.50 or more per ticket. There may be times when your complaint can be handled by the Allentown Parking Authority, without the need for a hearing, call 610-437-2103 to inquire.

Q. My parking ticket indicates that the fine increases after 10 days and again after 20 days; is that working days or calendar days?

A. Ticket fines increase after 10 CALENDAR days and then again after 20 CALENDAR days. If the 10th or 20th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, your ticket is due on the next business day.

Q. How can I get extra enforcement in my neighborhood?

A. Call the Allentown Parking Authority office at 610-437-3366 to request to have your neighborhood patrolled on a regular basis. Also, any time you see an illegally parked vehicle, you should call the Communication Center, non-emergency number at 610-437-7751.

Q. What hours are parking meters enforced?

A. Parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. the rate is $1.00 per hour. They accept nickels, dimes and quarters.

Q. What holidays are exempt from meter enforcement?

A. Parking meters are not enforced on the following holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, Day after Christmas, New Years Eve.

Contractors Parking Permits for On-Street

Q. How can contractors or construction workers avoid getting parking tickets while doing work in the downtown area?

A. Off-Street Parking: The Allentown Parking Authority has several off-street parking lots available for daily parking in the downtown area. We strongly recommend parking on them if at all possible. At most of these lots, the daily rate is $6.00, the weekly rate is $20.00 and the monthly rate is $80.00.

On-Street Parking: Several different types of on-street parking permits are available for construction, renovation, etc. work. Parking Meter Permits are available for $10.00 per day per vehicle, or $100.00 per month per vehicle. If contractors are working in areas where there is a 1, 2 or 3 hour time limit in place, or certain other parking restrictions, a “Special Services” parking permit may be available. There is no fee for “Special Service” permits. To obtain a parking permit, come into the APA office with the location of parking and the make of vehicle(s) and the license plate number(s).

Q. What if I need meters removed in an area where I am working?

A. There is a one time charge of $25 PER meter to remove it. If you require that the pole also be removed, there is an additional one time charge of $15 per pole. The fee includes reinstallation.

Q. What if I just need the spaces 'reserved' and open so no one can park there, including my vehicles?

A. The Authority charges $10.00 per day for lost meter revenue (or $100 per month).

CashKeys

Q. What is a Cashkey and how does it work?

A. A Cashkey is a computerized key that you can obtain at the APA. There is a $20.00 refundable deposit required to get a key. You may then add any dollar amount to the key. When you insert the key into parking meter it automatically downloads $ .25 from the key into the meter and the meter will register the appropriate time. You may insert the key as many times as needed, up to the maximum time limit on that meter.

On-Street Handicap Parking Spaces

Q. How can I get a designated Handicap parking space by my home?

A. The Allentown Parking Authority has the applications for Handicap parking spaces at their office. You may either stop in and pick one up, call and one will be mailed, or download the application. After the application is completed, return it to the Allentown Parking Authority. There is no fee involved. Download handicap application.

Off-Street Parking

Q. Where can I park while at work downtown?

A. We recommend parking at one of the many conveniently located parking lots downtown, many of which are owned or managed by the Allentown Parking Authority. Please call the office at 610-437-3366 for availability and rates.

Q. Can you explain some of the monthly Off-Street parking lot policies?

A. All our new monthly contract parkers are required to pay a security deposit equal to one month rent for the space. This deposit is refundable provided that whatever is issued to the parker is returned to the APA when the parker no longer needs the space. The current monthly rates vary by location but range from $38.00 up to $60.00 per month, per space. Please call 610-437-3366 for further details.

Q. Where can I park to shop or go to an appointment in downtown Allentown?

A. The Allentown Parking Authority has several parking lots in downtown Allentown where you may park your car and pay for the time used when you leave. Go to the map parking map or call 610-437-3366 for the location closest to where you need to be. The rate is .50¢ per ½ hour or fraction thereof, up to $6.00 per day, except at the Walnut & 9th Street deck, which can go up to $8.00 daily.