Editor's note: The article was updated to clarify why the item was pulled from the May 25 meeting.

Houston City Council approved a recommendation from the Houston Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department at its June 1 meeting to require residential parking permits in certain designated areas around the Washington Avenue corridor, Montrose and River Oaks.

To park in those areas, residents will be required to have a valid permit for on-street parking during certain hours of the day. According to the ordinance, all the recommended streets for the program are areas in neighborhoods where commuter parking has been deemed an excessive problem for residents.

The item was first brought before the council at its May 25 meeting but was pulled due to an error. During a May 24 public session, Edward Abud, a resident from the 2000 block of Converse Street in Montrose, said he is in support of the item. He said he has to deal with ongoing problems from parked cars from people who do not live in the area.

According to Abud, those going to popular bars in the area take up all the street parking late at night and during the early morning, using the street for overnight parking throughout various days.



When the bars close, the issue is exacerbated, Abud said. Residents hear excessive noise from car horns, music, revving engines and car alarms. Bargoers often will sleep in cars, vomit in residential yards or crash into parked cars due to intoxication, he said.

The affected areas that will now require permits for parking include:

  • the 2000 block of Converse Street from 11 p.m.-5 a.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays
  • the 2200 block of Whitney Street from 11 p.m.-5 a.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays
  • the 1300 block of Moy Street Park from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays
  • the 5100-5200 blocks of Allen Street from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays
  • the 5300 block of Rose Street from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Wednesdays-Sundays
  • the 3100-3200 blocks of Reba Drive from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. Mondays-Fridays
  • the south side of the 100 block of Avondale Street from 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Sundays

During those times, the blocks will be a tow-away zone.

Other portions of some of the targeted streets are already designated permit areas, including parts of Avondale and Rose. More information on residential parking permits, including how to apply and other streets that are covered, can be found here.