Milwaukee offers travelers and residents alike a wide variety of activities to explore. The good news is that you can find free street parking all over the city. The bad news is a tricky game to play. But don’t worry SpotAngels is here to the rescue 🙂
This guide will grant you Milwaukee street parking superhero powers:
- An understanding of where free street parking spots are. (Check out this street parking map!)
- Familiarity with parking rules in Milwaukee
Street Parking Map
The map below will show you all the spots where you can park, their price and how long you can stay without getting a ticket.
The map updates in real-time, so simply type in the address you’re parking near, the time you expect to be there, and your duration. The green spots are the ones that are free of charge!
Pro tip: the spots that have a yellow hallo are those where you are more likely to find parking. The information is constantly provided by the SpotAngels community.
Milwaukee Parking Signs
You can find below a list of Milwaukee most common parking signs.
Street Cleaning : You may not park during the posted hours unless the street sweeper has passed by already. Otherwise, you risk a parking ticket if you park when not authorized.
Meters : You may park the hours indicated on the signs for the indicated duration, yet you have to pay. You may not park in the same block right after the end of the time limit.
Time limit: You may park for the time limit posted for free. You may not park in the same block right after the end of the time limit.
Reserved parking : You may park in that spot only if you hold the permit indicated.
Milwaukee Parking Laws
Where not to park
To avoid a ticket, avoid parking:
- In an Intersection
- On a Crosswalk or a Sidewalk
- In a Safety Zone, Loading Zone or School Zone
- Alongside a Highway Excavation
- In an Alley of a Business District
Distances to keep
Keep a distance of:
- Less than 12 Inches From a Curb
- More than 15 Feet From a Crosswalk
- More than 2 feet from another vehicle
- More than 4 Feet from a Driveway/Alley/Entrance
- More than 10 Feet from a Hydrant
Milwaukee Overnight Parking
Overnight Parking Regulations
Overnight Parking in Milwaukee is restricted to Overnight Parking Permit or Temporary Night Parking Permission holders. Night parking hours in which a permit is required are 2:00 a.m through 6:00 a.m. During a Snow Emergency night parking hours are 10 p.m. through 6 a.m.
An Overnight Parking Permit or Temporary Overnight Parking Permission is not needed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on:
- Sunday mornings
- Morning of the day and morning of the day following: New Year’s Day (January 1st and January 2nd), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- Parking is permitted for a period not to exceed 90 minutes in the same block in which a business establishment licensed by the City is open for business between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Overnight Parking Permit
Residents of Milwaukee who want to park their vehicles overnight on city streets can buy the annual or 4-month overnight permit. There is no physical sticker for their vehicles. Instead, customers get a confirmation number and their license plate becomes the permit. Parking Ambassadors then scan the plates of the cars parked overnight to make sure a parking permit has been purchased.
The annual permit is $55, while the 4-month permit costs $20. A $1 convenience fee is added for those buying permits online.
You can buy a permit online here.
You can also request a Temporary Night Parking Permission. The good news: it’s free!
If you don’t have an overnight permit, you face getting a $20 citation.
Milwaukee Residential Daytime Permits
The city of Milwaukee offers 3 types of residential daytime permits:
Residential Non-Conforming Use
Requirements:
- Residents living in houses built prior to October 27, 1970 and a minimum of one parking space per dwelling unit is not provided
- Valid Wisconsin driver’s license with the same address as on the application or a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and a utility bill with the same address on the application.
- Vehicle must have valid Wisconsin license plates, registration form must be brought to Violations Bureau location
1 permit per residence
Cost: $15 per year
Commuter Impacted Residential Area
Requirements:
- Applies to specific locations designated as “Commuter Impacted” by the Common Council. These areas are generally located near factories, schools, hospitals or large employment centers – listing of all eligible areas (MCO 101-27.7-c1-c19).
- Valid Wisconsin driver’s license with the same address as on the application or a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and a utility bill with the same address on the application.
- Vehicle must have valid Wisconsin license plates. If applying in person, registration form must be brought to Violations Bureau location
No Cost
Only one permit may be issued per residence
Resident Only Permit
- Valid Wisconsin driver’s license with the same address as on the application or a valid Wisconsin driver’s license and a utility bill with the same address on the application.
- Vehicle must have valid Wisconsin license plates, registration form must be brought to Violations Bureau location
- 1 permit per residence, unless the residence also meets the criteria under the Residential Non Conforming Use permit then 2 RPP permits are allowed (in addition to the 1 non conforming permit).
Issued annually
No Cost
All these permits are available Online and in person at Violations Bureaus.
Milwaukee Snow Emergency Policy
A Snow Emergency is declared by the Commissioner of Public Works. “Temporary No Parking” signs may be posted by the City to assist in clean-up after major snowfalls.
Vehicles which are not parked in compliance with winter parking regulations during the winter season will be cited $50.
Milwaukee Parking Tickets:
You can find below a list of Milwaukee most common parking tickets. Make sure to use the SpotAngels parking app when you park. You will receive notifications and text messages to remind you to move your car!
| CODE | VIOLATION | FEE |
| 617 | Parked Less that 15 Feet from Crosswalk | $30 |
| 630 | Parked Less than 2 Feet from Vehicle | $30 |
| 640 | Meter Parking Violation | $22 |
| 642 | Parked more than 2 feet from Meter/Marker | $22 |
| 650 | Parked More Than 12 inches from Curb | $30 |
| 660 | Night Parking | $20 |
| 680 | Parked Within 4 Feet of Entrance/Drive/Alley | $30 |
| 720 | Parked Within 10 Feet Of Hydrant | $30 |
| 740 | Snow Emergency (Posted) | $50 |
|
760 |
Parked Within 15 Feet of Fire Station Entrance | $30 |
| 771 | Parked in Excess of 24 Hours | $40 |
You can see the full list here.
If your car is towed to the City of Milwaukee Tow Lot, you can search for it in The City of Milwaukee Towed Vehicle Search. If your vehicle was towed from private property or if your vehicle does not appear in the search results, you can call (414) 286-2700 for assistance with locating your vehicle.
Milwaukee Parking Holidays:
Parking meters are not enforced during certain Holidays! Here they are:
| Start Date | Parking Holiday | End Date |
| 2024-01-01 | New Year's Day | 2024-01-01 |
| 2024-01-15 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | 2024-01-15 |
| 2024-05-27 | Memorial Day | 2024-05-27 |
| 2024-07-04 | Independence Day | 2024-07-04 |
| 2024-09-02 | Labor Day | 2024-09-02 |
| 2024-11-28 | Thanksgiving Day | 2024-11-28 |
| 2024-12-25 | Christmas Day | 2024-12-25 |
To know which specific regulations are suspended on these days and find parking on the go, download the SpotAngels app. It is free, the data is constantly updated by the community and it was featured as the best parking app by Apple and Google!
