Parking Permit Applications & Instructions

Please choose the appropriate application:

Town Center Parking Permit Application

Temporary Contractor Parking Permit Application

Restricted Parking District (RPD) Permit Application (What is the RPD?) 

Guest Parking (within an RPD) Permit Application

The basic instructions for obtaining a permit are as follows:

• A resident can apply for a permit for each licensed vehicle.
• For each permit requested, the applicant must supply the Vehicle License Number and the year, make and model of the automobile. A copy of the vehicle registration for each vehicle for the current year must be provided.
• For residents whose automobiles are registered to an off-Mercer Island address, other proof of residence/vehicle ID will be required.
• For a Mercer Island resident who drives a car that is not registered to his/her home address, such as a company car, a letter on company stationery stating the following is required:
  - That the applicant is a company employee and has sole use of a company vehicle.
  - The plate number of that vehicle.
  - That the vehicle is normally parked at the applicant’s Mercer Island home address before and after work.
  - The letter must include the company's Washington State Unified Business Number.
• Permits are valid for two years (e.g. 2010-2011).
• Permits are nontransferable.
• Parking permits will be reissued and a new fee collected every two years.

The fee for each parking permit has been set at $10, which includes the direct costs of the parking permit, mailing and postage costs, and the cost of a temporary clerk to enter and process the information during the annual renewal period.

Permits will be issued in two colors, one color specifically for the residents north of the park and ride. These residents will be identified by their address using the City’s Geographic Information System.

Placement of Stickers

Permits in the form of stickers are to be placed on the inside of the rear windshield in the lower corner of the driver's side of the vehicle.)

Temporary parking stickers will not be issued. Parking restrictions will not be enforced after 5pm, so that guests can park in the streets where allowed. Residents should make provision for daytime guests and trades people to find legal parking on their property. They cannot park in the permit zone without a permit.

Service vehicles, including City vehicles are exempted from posted parking restrictions. Utility companies providing emergency repairs requiring access to street lights, signals, utility boxes, and other facilities can park anywhere (with the proper signs, traffic safety cones, flaggers, etc.)

Enforcement

Mercer Island Police Officers will enforce the parking restrictions every weekday. They will regularly check the North Mercer neighborhood and the leased parking lot at least twice a day.

Officers will also be enforcing the safety violations in the North Mercer neighborhood. This includes vehicles parked blocking fire hydrants or driveways and vehicles parked within eight feet of the center of the roadway or too close to intersections.

Officers will also enforce parking without a permit in the restricted zone of the Central Business District. This enforcement will occur between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on weekdays.

Penalties

The penalty for parking in a permit restricted area without a valid permit is $35 and a penalty for any transfer, attempt to transfer or other unauthorized use of a parking permit is $250.