Hamtramck eliminates Parking Meters, Free Parking from July 1

Partha Sarathi Dev

Starting July 1, parking in Hamtramck, Michigan, will be completely free. The city council has voted unanimously not to renew its contract with Municipal Parking Services, the company that had been managing the city’s parking meters since 2021.

The decision came during the council’s June 24 meeting, with members citing the need to boost local businesses and provide relief to residents and visitors.

Business owners along Joseph Campau Street said they had long been calling for the removal of parking meters. Many customers avoided the area for fear of getting ticketed, they explained. With the meters gone, they believe the shopping environment will become more welcoming and vibrant.

Mayor Amer Ghalib said the city will determine new rules regarding parking time limits and may consider a city-managed parking system in the future. “Any new regulations will be designed to be more flexible for both residents and business owners,” he added.

Councilman Muhith Mahmoud noted that parking meters previously brought in about $200,000 a year—mostly through fines issued to drivers who didn’t feed the meters. Still, he emphasized that supporting small businesses and easing public concerns outweigh the revenue loss.

Local residents and shopkeepers have welcomed the move, calling it a major step toward revitalizing small and mid-sized businesses in the city.