Small Towns Experience Economic Benefits After Removing Parking Minimums

While major urban centers often dominate discussions about parking reform, smaller municipalities across the United States are increasingly eliminating parking minimums and experiencing significant economic benefits. According to the Parking Reform Network's mandates map, for every large U.S. city that has removed these requirements, two smaller towns have successfully done the same.

Port Townsend, Washington, a historic waterfront town with a population just over 10,000, eliminated parking mandates in 2024, converting minimum parking requirements to recommendations after research showed the city had excess parking that could be better utilized. Similarly, Charlottesville, Virginia, with a population of 47,000, passed a comprehensive zoning code in late 2023 that did away with parking requirements entirely.

These examples are particularly relevant for cities like Haltom City, Texas, where outdated parking mandates are hindering economic development. "It's interesting that many people in Haltom City think parking reform is just for big cities," said Joe Palmer, communications director for Haltom United Business Alliance. "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."

The historical context explains how many municipalities became burdened with excessive parking requirements. While 19th-century transportation focused on walking and streetcars, the 20th century's automobile revolution transformed American cities into vehicle-focused landscapes. By the mid-20th century, individual car ownership became the norm, offering convenience but eventually leading to traffic congestion and reduced public transit use.

In the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st, local zoning codes began requiring developers to construct more parking than needed, creating an overabundance that now presents problems for cities like Haltom City. "Haltom City has a lot of vacant property, with smaller, older buildings," Palmer explained. "Frequently, these properties don't have enough space available to meet the current parking requirements. When someone 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."

Palmer believes eliminating cumbersome parking mandates would help rejuvenate Haltom City's older areas by reviving development, noting that current requirements are effectively costing the city money without serving a necessary purpose. Haltom United Business Alliance is specifically urging the removal of parking minimums in the city's south and central areas, including Denton Highway, and Carson, Belknap and Northeast 28th streets.

Ron Sturgeon, founder of Haltom United Business Alliance, identifies parking mandates as the primary reason vacant properties in Haltom City cannot 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," Sturgeon said, emphasizing that businesses operating in the city would help ease the tax burden on residents.

The economic implications of parking reform extend beyond individual businesses to community-wide benefits. Palmer noted that bringing small businesses back to Haltom City would not only improve the city's aesthetics but also provide much-needed jobs for residents in south and central areas. As smaller towns demonstrate the tangible benefits of eliminating parking minimums, the model offers a practical solution for municipalities struggling with vacant properties and stalled redevelopment.