While major cities such as New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Minneapolis have made headlines for eliminating parking minimums, smaller towns are also reaping significant rewards from these reforms. According to the Parking Reform Network's mandates map, for every large U.S. city that has removed parking minimums, there are two smaller towns that have successfully done the same.
Port Townsend, a historic waterfront town on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula with a population just over 10,000, eliminated parking mandates in 2024, ahead of many larger municipalities in the state. The city converted the minimum parking requirement to a minimum parking recommendation after research and community input indicated excessive parking spaces could be better utilized. Similarly, Charlottesville, Virginia, home to the University of Virginia and about 47,000 residents, passed a comprehensive zoning code in late 2023 that eliminated parking requirements.
These examples resonate in Haltom City, Texas, where the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) is advocating for similar reforms. "It's interesting that many people in Haltom City think parking reform is just for big cities," said Joe Palmer, communications director for HUBA. "I think they'd be pleasantly surprised to learn about the success stories of smaller cities just like Haltom City that have reaped benefits from getting rid of parking mandates."
Eliminating costly parking mandates could help bring small businesses back to Haltom City, particularly in older commercial corridors. "If the city could entice small businesses to set up shop here, it would provide a real boost to rejuvenating the area in so many ways," Palmer said. "As it is now, people driving through see all the vacant businesses, and simply don't want to live here. Not only could we improve the aesthetics of the city, it also would provide much-needed jobs for residents of the south and central Haltom City areas."
The rise of parking minimums is rooted in history. Prior to the late 1800s, cities focused on walking. Streetcars became popular around 1880, and paved streets in the late 19th century aided bicycles, wagons, and carriages. The early 20th century brought the automobile, and by 1930, streets became vehicle-focused. Car ownership became the norm for many American families, offering convenience and flexibility. However, this led to traffic congestion and discouraged alternative transit options.
In the latter half of the 20th century, zoning codes required developers to construct more parking areas regardless of actual need, leading to an overabundance of parking. For municipalities like Haltom City, stringent parking requirements hinder redevelopment of vacant buildings. "Haltom City has a lot of vacant property, with smaller, older buildings," Palmer said. "Frequently, these properties don't have enough space available to meet the current parking requirements. The problem is, when someone comes along and shows interest in leasing a property, they find out there isn't enough space to meet the city's parking mandates. Business owners really have no other choice but to set up shop elsewhere."
HUBA is urging the city to remove parking minimums in specific areas such as Denton Highway, and Carson, Belknap and Northeast 28th streets. "Just imagine what Haltom City would look like if businesses occupied all those vacant buildings," Palmer said. "And it's such an easy fix, too. There's simply no reason it can't be done." HUBA Founder Ron Sturgeon believes parking mandates are the number one reason vacant properties can't attract tenants. "These unnecessary parking regulations serve no useful purpose, other than to hamper the city's ability to bring prosperity back to the area," he said, noting that businesses would help ease the tax burden on residents.
