Nashville Sets Downtown Parking Maximums

Nashville is the latest city to enact a substantive change to the parking requirements set by the city’s zoning code—doing away with parking minimums and setting parking maximums in the city’s Urban Zoning Overlay.

1 minute read

November 20, 2022, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Nashville City Council approved a bill that will replace the city’s downtown parking minimums with parking maximums in the zoning code. The city is the latest to implement changes to its parking regulations in a wave of reform—Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Cincinnati, California, and Oregon have approved historic parking reforms in the second half of 2023.

Previously in Nashville, “property owners and developers seeking permits were required to provide a minimum number of on-site parking spaces. Under the new ordinance, those old parking space minimums have become the new maximum number of spaces allowed for developments on urban-zoned land,” according to an article by Cassandra Stephenson reporting on the change.

“The changes impact Nashville's "Urban Zoning Overlay," an area stretching from East Nashville to Interstate 440 and from Hillwood to portions of South Nashville. Most of the land in this area lies within a quarter mile of bus service lines offered by WeGo, Nashville's public transit system,” adds Stephenson.

The ordinance was approved with the support of politicians and planners. Some opposition was reported among councilmembers who say that the city’s public transit system is not robust enough to reduce parking in downtown. Some residents opposed the change out of concern about spillover parking in nearby residential neighborhoods.

A lot more detail about the ordinance and the surrounding political debate are included at the link below.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022 in The Tennessean

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Two yellow and white Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail streetcars at station in Dallas, Texas.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region

At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

April 3, 2025 - KERA News

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Aerial view of Spanish revival style buildings with red tile roofs in downtown Santa Barbara, California.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land

County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

7 hours ago - The Santa Barbara Independent

Green and white interstate freeway signs pointing to Hayward and San Mateo and Half Moon Bay exits in Northern California.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project

The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

April 9 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Kingsbridge Armory, large hangar-like brick building in the Bronx, New York City with brick lower floors and glass/metal curved roof..

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard

After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.

April 9 - Shelterforce Magazine