Parking Information

Parking Information

Our goal is to provide easy and convenient access to parking for everyone.   To help keep parking available to people during the busy times of the day, the City has implemented parking restrictions on certain streets and parking lots in the city.  To avoid fines, please take the time to read the information on nearby parking signs. 

 

 

Observed Holidays

New Year's Day                                                      Labor Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day                                      Veterans Day
President's Day                                                       Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day                                                          Day After Thanksgiving Day
Independence Day                                                  Christmas Day

Downtown Street Parking

Downtown parking is divided into a Blue Zone and Green Zone, noted by the appropriate color of stripe on the signage.  Once a day parking in each color zone is free as long as you don't park longer than the time noted on the signs.  Chain parking (parking more than once per day per color zone) is prohibited. 

Parking time limits are enforced Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm excluding observed holidays and weekends or unless otherwise posted. 

What if I need to park longer than two hours in the downtown area?

If you need additional time, parking extension passes are available through downtown businesses displaying a parking extension seal or directly through the police department.  An extension pass allows the holder to park for an additional two hours past the posted parking time limit.  Each pass can only be used once and must be dated in order to be valid.

Where do businesses purchase parking extension passes?

Extension passes may be purchased from the Chehalis Police Department.

Truck Routes and Truck Parking

No truck with a gross weight of twenty thousand pounds or more, including their trailers, are allowed to park on any streets, alleys or other thoroughfares, including unimproved parking strips, within the city unless they are in the process of loading, unloading, or providing a service to an individual or business located within the City.

Please consult CMC 10.20.020 for the official truck route through the City.
 

Disabled Parking

People with disabilities displaying a Washington State Disable Placard or Plate are exempt from time limits within the city limits.  Authorized vehicles must display the official valid Disabled Persons placard or plate issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing.  Out of state vehicles with Disabled Persons plates or permits are also honored if valid and properly displayed.

The permit must be clearly visible and openly displayed. The expiration date must show.

It is against the law to use a disabled permit if …

     • The driver is not disabled, or
     • The passenger being transported is not disabled

A law enforcement officer may request a person show their special identification card. If the request is refused, the person in charge of the vehicle may be issued a notice of infraction for violating the disabled parking regulations (RCW 46.16.381).

Vehicles parking in violation of disabled parking regulations are subject to a monetary penalty of $450.

Other Types of Common Parking Violations

Blocking Driveways - Vehicles cannot block a paved or unpaved driveway, or within five feet of the end of the driveway's curb radius.

Blocking Sidewalks - Vehicles cannot stop, stand or park a vehicle on a sidewalk.

Expired Registration - Vehicles parked on the public right-of-way must have a current registration or current permit.

Fire Hydrants - Vehicles cannot park within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant.

Parked Left Side to Curb - Vehicles on a two-way roadway must be parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within twelve inches of the right-hand curb.

Planting Strip - Vehicles cannot park on the planting strip, the area between a curb/road and the sidewalk.

Time Limits - A vehicle may not be parked longer than the posted time limit.

Yellow Zone - Vehicles cannot park in an area that has been painted yellow or has been posted as a no parking zone.

Overtime Parking - Vehicles cannot remain parked in any parking space beyond the time limit for that parking space.

Recreational Vehicles - Campers, motor homes, travel trailers, and boat trailers cannot park on a city street, alley, or right-of-way, unless the owner/operator is in the process of loading or unloading supplies or cleaning the recreational vehicle.

Abandoned Vehicles - A vehicle abandoned on the public right-of-way will be issued a 24-hour Notice to Remove. If the vehicle is not removed or arrangements have not been made with the Chehalis Police Department, the vehicle will be towed at the expense of the registered owner.  An abandoned vehicle is one that is illegally stored on the city right-of-way and either does not display a valid license plate, appears inoperative, or is leaking fluids.
 

How To Pay or Contest a Parking Ticket

If you receive a parking infraction, you must do one of the following within 72 hours or the infraction will be delinquent.

To Pay Your Ticket - Enclose the amount of the infraction in the envelope, place a stamp on it and mail it OR Enclose the amount of the infraction in the envelope and place it in the drop box located in front of the Municipal Court entrance at 350 N Market Blvd OR
Pay online at www.ci.chehalis.wa.us located under Municipal Court, Payments Online.  A convenience fee will be charged.

Please make checks payable to City of Chehalis.

To Schedule a Court Hearing - Check the box to request a hearing to explain the circumstanced OR Check the box to request a hearing to contest the notice.

Failure to respond, appear at a hearing you request, or pay the parking infraction may result in non-renewal of your motor vehicle license.

Failure to pay three or more parking infractions could result in the impoundment of your vehicle at which point the vehicle will not be released until full payment of all unpaid parking violation penalties, plus a $50 immobilization fee, and towing and storage costs is received.